Ride Free with HONDA REBEL 250 E-Clutch

The HONDA REBEL 250 E-Clutch, released in March this year, is a highly anticipated new model that is equipped with the latest clutch assist system, the E-Clutch, on the popular 250cc class cruiser Rebel 250. The Rebel is already easy to handle, but with the new technology, it's even easier to ride, but what is the actual ride like? I took it for a test ride and the conclusion was immediately clear - it's the best!

What is an E-Clutch?

The HONDA REBEL 250 is a bobber-style cruiser that was released in 2017, and it became popular as soon as it was released. It is a legendary model that has been ranked first in the new car sales ranking for seven consecutive years. The 250cc water-cooled single engine delivers easy-to-handle power, and the retro round headlight is cute, but it is equipped with a powerful body length and thick tires. And yet, the low seat (almost the lowest among current motorcycles!) that is typical of a cruiser makes it easy to reach the ground.

The reason why many beginners who have just obtained their license choose the Rebel as their first bike is probably because of its unique friendliness.

The "E-clutch" that is now installed on the Rebel is a new mechanism that was just announced in 2023. It is a system that allows you to "shift without operating the clutch" by controlling the sensor and motor. In other words, the rider does not need to use the "half clutch" when stepping on or lifting the shift lever or operating the gears. To be precise, the E-clutch automatically controls the optimal half clutch, so the rider can shift at their own convenience.

The clutch lever is installed in the same way as on a normal motorcycle, so you can quickly release the clutch yourself.

Finally, the Rebel 250 is equipped with an E-clutch! The exterior is almost the same as previous Rebels, but the clutch cover distinguishes it from the STD model.

The E-Clutch is a new mechanism that automates clutch operation. There is no need to disengage the clutch when shifting gears.

The E-Clutch is a new mechanism that automates clutch operation. There is no need to disengage the clutch when shifting gears.

When you hear about its function, many riders may wonder if it is really necessary. For riders who are used to manual vehicles, half-clutch operation is not that difficult. However, think back to the day you first rode a motorcycle. At the driving school, you were told to "hold the clutch, put the gear in, and slowly release the clutch," but when you actually tried it, the bike stalled and you couldn't even start... I'm sure there are many people who have memories of this (of course there are!).

And when you do start, this half-clutch appears in all kinds of situations, such as over a crank, a single-plank bridge, and starting up a hill. Every time you do this, the bike stalls, loses balance, falls, and the humiliation and pain are repeated. It's the same even after you make your debut on the public road, and there is not a day that goes by without a manual rider using the half-clutch, including every start. Until you get used to it, the tension will be exhausting (when I talk about this, some people will say, "Then just ride a scooter," but if the bike you want to ride is a manual, there's nothing you can do about it).

The E-Clutch solves all that tension, so it can truly be said to be a new technology that will be a savior for beginners.

When the E-clutch is operating, the indicator above the N lamp lights up.

Completely free from the tension of half-clutch! Starting, deceleration, turning, anything is possible.

However, even with all this prior knowledge, I still wondered, "Is it really necessary?" It's been almost 10 years since I got my driver's license, and it's been a long time since I was nervous about using the half-clutch. Now I can unconsciously release the clutch and never stall when starting off. However, when I first test-rode, I realized that I didn't understand the true benefits of the "E-clutch".

The Rebel 250 has a 250cc displacement. Although it has easy-to-handle torque characteristics, its power is lower than that of a big bike, so if you just put it in gear and engage the clutch, it can easily stall. However, with an E-clutch, you can start moving just by putting it in gear and turning on the accelerator.

The series of actions that go from "release the clutch ➤ put the gear in ➤ use the half-clutch ➤ adjust the engine speed ➤ engage the clutch ➤ go!" becomes "put the gear in ➤ go!", so you can start off incredibly easily. You have plenty of time to look around, and there's no need to worry about concentrating on the controls and getting into a hurry and getting into danger.

Now it's time to set off. I shift into low gear without touching the clutch lever.

Once the gears are engaged smoothly, the car can move off with just the accelerator. No special operations are required.

Beginners are often plagued by engine stalls when starting off, but with the E-clutch there seems to be no need to worry about that at all.

Beginners tend to panic when starting off, but there is plenty of time to check for safety around you.

After riding for a while, there was a U-turn. Many beginners have trouble with U-turns, and to be honest, I am still terrible at it. However, with the E-clutch, you have to bank the bike firmly and maintain balance while using the half clutch to avoid going too fast... so there is no need to make a U-turn. Just bank the bike and adjust the throttle and you're good to go.

Sometimes you can feel the engine speed going up and down on its own, but this is because the E-clutch is automatically operating the half clutch, and of course the clutch never suddenly disengages or engages, making for a very comfortable ride. This allows you to focus on the feeling of grip of the tires and the direction of travel of the bike, and naturally makes for a smoother turn than you've ever made before.

Suddenly, a U-turn appears. You should be careful with the clutch half engaged, but the bike just goes right into the turn.

Since you don't have to worry about the half-clutch, you can clearly see the path you should take!

So I tried turning at low speed. There was no sign of stalling at all, and no fear!

This is especially evident in situations where you have to stop while turning, such as turning right or left at an intersection. Since there's no need to pay attention to clutch operation, you can corner at a pace that's comfortable for you while keeping an eye on your surroundings, and even if you suddenly need to stop, you can just brake without worrying about stalling. It's just like an automatic! You might think that, but you have to shift up and down properly to get going. The fun of feeling the engine revs and controlling it is just like with a manual motorcycle.

The stability at low speeds is also beneficial at intersections, and turning left is also a breeze.

Even if you have to stop while turning, don't panic or make a fuss.

When riding at a high pace, you can concentrate solely on your line and the engine.

The benefits of the E-clutch are not only felt at low speeds, but also when the bike is at speed. Even when the engine is running at high speeds, clutch operation is not required to shift gears. This means that there is no stress when you want to accelerate quickly or drop a gear, and the half clutch is activated instantly and the RPMs settle down. Of course, the same applies when shifting up.

This makes speedy cruising very easy, and I was surprised at how little fatigue I felt. And in situations where acceleration and deceleration are repeated and shifting gears have to be done continuously, such as on winding roads, the surprisingly stress-free gear selection allowed me to concentrate firmly on the driving line and engine rotation and enjoy riding. The Rebel 250 is sometimes said to be difficult to turn because of its low and long cruiser style, but in fact, if you pay attention to weight transfer and bank it firmly, it shows amazing cornering ability, and the torque unique to a single engine makes it powerful when starting up. It is also a machine that is really fun to ride on winding roads.

The fact that any rider can feel such fun is one of the great benefits of the E-clutch.

Things were starting to get fun, so we headed out onto some winding roads. The Rebel is a brisk ride and a lot of fun!

Even when cornering and accelerating and decelerating a lot, it's nice to have the freedom to pay attention to your line and the vehicle's behavior.

You can also downshift even when the engine is running at high speed.

The best new mechanism that allows beginners and veterans alike to enjoy riding without straining their shoulders

So, although I was a little skeptical at first, I was able to fully appreciate the appeal of the Rebel 250 E-Clutch even during the short test ride, and it was a very satisfying experience. Furthermore, it was raining heavily that day, and the conditions were wet with puddles, but even so, I was able to test the tire grip and suspension feel, such as making small turns and U-turns, without any stress. This is probably because the E-Clutch allowed me to focus my concentration on the finer details of riding.

For beginners who are afraid of stalling, it is a safety device that prevents this, and for veterans who want to enjoy riding, it helps them communicate with their bikes more than ever before. That is the E-Clutch.

Wet roads are supposed to be stressful, but with the E-clutch it's not noticeable at all.

This is a feature that beginners will of course want to try out, but even veterans should try it out at least once.

In an interview with the development team, we learned that they were even more particular about the motorcycle than we had expected.

As expected, orders for the Rebel 250 E-Clutch have been flooding in since its release in February, with some saying that 80% of Rebel orders are for the E-Clutch model. What's great is that there isn't much of a price difference with the standard model, and although the E-Clutch model is only $379.03 more expensive, I would say that it's worth more than its price. The Rebel has already firmly established itself as a popular model, and I'm sure it will continue to be supported by many riders in the future.

In addition, during the test ride, we were able to hear various thoughts and ideas from the Rebel 250 E-Clutch development team. We hope to share this information with you next time.

HONDA REBEL 250 / E-Clutch / S Edition E-Clutch (2025) Main Specifications

・Overall Length x Width x Height: 2205 x 810 x 1090mm
・Wheelbase: 1490mm
・Seat Height: 690mm
・Vehicle Weight: 171kg/174kg/175kg
・Engine: Water-cooled 4-stroke DOHC 4-valve single cylinder 249cc
・Maximum Output: 26PS/9500rpm
・Maximum Torque: 2.2kgm/6500rpm
・Fuel Tank Capacity: 11L
・Brakes: F = disc, R = disc
・Tire: F=130/90-16, R=150/80-16
・Price: $4396.80/$4775.84/$5041.16

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