I purchased this in 1981, used. A previous owner painted it orange and bored out the mufflers on it. I believe I paid something like $400 for it. I probably rode it 3,000 or so miles or so. I swore I'd never, ever buy a used motorcycle again. I do admit it was a good learning experience: 1) I learned how to ride a motorcycle. And 2) to never buy a used motorcycle. I fell down twice on it.
I bought this one new in 1984, for around $1700, from Wagner's Motorcycles in Michigan City (located at the corner of Michigan Boulevard and Esther Street [it is now a Laundromat]). . It was black, and it was of the "sport bike" genre. 400cc, with five speed transmission. It was adequate, although the skinny tires on it made it unsafe, in my opinion. I fell down a few times on it (on sand in the street and wet autumn leaves). I kept it until 1987, and rode it around 15,000 miles total. Putting an aftermarket fairing from J.C. Whitney and luggage rack wasn't a good idea (I swore I'd never do that again: parked outside, the fairing acted as a sail; a good wind, and the motorcycle would be laying on its side).
I bought this brand new in 1987 (and traded in my Honda Hawk for it). It was black, of the "cruiser bike" genre. 450cc, with a six speed transmission (the top gear was an overdrive). I acquired a genuine Honda luggage rack for it. A wonderful, wonderful motorcycle. I bought it in 1987 for $2,000, kept it for four years (until July 1991), sold it for $1,000 cash from some guy who ships these motorcycles to the Netherlands... apparently they're quite popular over there. I rode it for 15,000 miles.
After being without a motorcycle for nine years, I finally bought a new one. I would have loved to have gotten another Rebel 450, but only a Rebel 250 is being made. So I bought one, brand new, in March of 2000, for $3,000. Being only a 250cc motorcycle, I had misgivings about its lack of power. But I was pleasantly surprised at its power. And the muffler sound is deep, sounding just like a 450. At 55mph, the engine is working hard, so it wouldn't last long if I took it on a lot of long distance trips. Also, being a short motorcycle, I developed cramps in my legs. I sold this, in July 2000, at 1,486 miles, to my wife, Rita.
At long last, my dream bike! Words cannot express the joy of riding this wonderful motorcycle. And I heard positive comments from onlookers often. I bought this new on July 3, 2000, for $5,500.
I bought this, brand new, on May 1, 2018. On June 1, 2018, I was sitting at a stop sign, waiting for traffic to clear so that I could enter the highway. A Dodge Ram 3500 turned off of the highway, took the corner short, and ran into my motorcycle, totalling it. This is my last motorcycle. I am now finished with motorcycle riding. Too many idiots in cars and trucks staring at their stupid "smart" phones instead of driving. I always considered myself a good defensive driver, but if you're sitting at a stop sign, defensive driving is useless.
I didn't get horribly injured. No broken bones, not even a cut (except where my left thigh swelled up so big that the skin split open. Ouch!). I also injured a hip tendon. It could have been much worse.
