[3] The 1996 Rebel had the best fuel economy, 62.6 miles per US gallon (3.76 L/100 km; 75.2 mpg‑imp), of the 352 past and current models tested in the 2010 Motorcycle Consumer News (MCN) Performance Index.

[2] By 2012, the 1996 Rebel's fuel economy had been exceeded by several models on the MCN Performance Index, led by the Yamaha Virago 250 at 66.9 mpg‑US (3.52 L/100 km; 80.3 mpg‑imp).

The September 1985 issue of Motorcyclist magazine, when the Rebel was first introduced, said, "by targeting the bike to a young audience, such as those who watch MTV, Honda hopes to attract newcomers and expand the motorcycle market ... Honda is not marketing this motorcycle as a woman's bike.

[7] The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., started using Rebels in the early 1980s, replacing Vespa scooters.

[8] However, by the mid-2000s, they started replacing the Rebels with Harley Davidson XL 883 Sportsters, citing a need for more power, durability, and visibility.