Approximately a million years ago (give or take), I first learned to ride a motorcycle. It was the mid-2000s, and while I don't remember everything clearly from that time, I can tell you for a fact that I was definitely some mixture of both excited and nervous about the entire endeavor.
The community college parking lot where I took my very first MSF Basic RiderCourse had all of us go into a classroom for the classroom portion. They also had a little trailer out in the parking lot that was full of the motorcycles we'd be riding for training.
Since I'd already attained all 27 inches of the inseam length that I'll likely ever have (such lofty heights, I know), the instructors quite rightly stuck me on a first-gen Honda Rebel 250. I can't tell you for sure what model year it was, but it doesn't really matter a ton, as that first gen basically stayed the same for a very long time.
I learned a lot that weekend, as I'm sure you'll recall if you also took the Basic RiderCourse at any point in time. Since my state allowed us to take the motorcycle license test at the end of the weekend with the MSF instructors, I passed that milestone on the Rebel 250, too. Happily, I passed the very first time, and was extremely thrilled to take my certificate to my local DMV location and have my driver's license updated with my shiny new M endorsement.
Truly a proud moment for any rider, right? And the Rebel 250 I rode in my MSF course was absolutely a part of that. As, unfortunately, were the bruises the strange little metal box that jutted out to either side just under the saddle left on my thighs. I was glad to be able to ride that bike; don't get me wrong. But if you're a rider who doesn't have super skinny legs, and/or you have very short legs, it's next to impossible to spend hours and hours on one of those without it literally leaving a mark on you in a way you might not necessarily love.
Fast-forward several years, and Honda gave its Rebels a much-needed refresh, which it's been refining ever since. Now, how you feel about styling and design preferences will forever be a subjective thing, so your feelings on the modern Rebels and how they look may vary. But after riding one all around the streets of Los Angeles, I'm here to tell you that it's definitely a lot more comfortable to spend hours on than the first-gen one.
The redesign is no longer news, though, although even since the first major revamp for the 2017 model year, Honda has made additional refinements to the next-gen Rebel 300. In 2020, it received a host of upgrades: better suspension, assist/slipper clutch, modern-looking LCD display, LED lighting, and a more comfortable saddle. This package stayed largely undisturbed through the 2025 model year, and then Honda did what everyone probably saw coming for 2026, and it added the E-Clutch.
The E-Clutch Is Not An Automatic
Although Honda's been rolling out the E-Clutch on a few models in the US market so far, this was my first hands-on experience with it. When Honda first announced that it would be coming to the Rebel 300, as one of the many folks who learned on a small displacement Rebel back in the day, I thought it made absolute sense. And now, having ridden it for myself, that idea has only been reinforced by reality.
Now, since learning to ride, I've ridden plenty of other motorcycles, as well as twist-and-go scooters, and even a few Can-Am three-wheelers, which offer yet another variation on gear shifting as you ride. I've ridden motorcycles with cable-actuated clutches, as well as hydraulic ones. For years (and thousands of miles), I commuted on a twist-and-go Suzuki Burgman 400, which I still keep around because it's incredibly useful and good at carrying things that may not necessarily fit even a mega top box.
I wanted to make all that crystal clear, so you'll understand what I mean when I say that the Honda E-Clutch is absolutely not an automatic. It's something else entirely.
When you ride the Rebel 300 with E-Clutch (or any other Honda with E-Clutch, really), you still have to shift either up or down with your foot. That part doesn't change. The only thing that does is whether you choose to use the clutch lever or not.
That's not to say that it doesn't take some getting used to; it does, especially if you're used to using a regular old clutch lever. In fact, you don't even have to use the clutch lever when you're coming to a complete stop, unless you want to. That's probably the part that took the longest to get my head and my hands around, if I'm being honest.
While you're riding and shifting without using the clutch lever, you'll notice a little light on the dash that tells you the e-clutch is engaged, and that it's allowing you seamless shifting capabilities. But if you choose to pull the clutch lever in, that light will go out.
And if you pull the clutch lever in as you downshift into first while rolling to a stop, you WILL need to either shift it into Neutral before letting go of the clutch lever, or else start rolling forward again. Otherwise, you will stall it, just like you would do on a bike with no e-clutch. Why? Because you pulled the clutch lever in, thus engaging manual mode. However, if you roll forward and let the clutch lever out, it will automatically return to using the e-clutch as a matter of course.
Other Key Things To Know
When asked about what happens if the E-Clutch unit on the engine fails or is damaged, Honda reps told us that you'll still be able to use it like a normal clutch. That's definitely a smart move on Honda's part, because while the E-Clutch is a nice option to have (especially once you get used to it), there's always the fear of fancy new tech being just one more thing that can go wrong. At least if something does go wrong here, the bike will still be usable as a normal motorcycle, and that's a really important thing.
If you're using the E-Clutch and you downshift into first to come to a stop, you will still be able to roll forward with no resistance. However, when you switch the ignition off, it will revert to a normal state of first gear, meaning you'll have the resistance you want when you're parking on a hill. It's definitely a good thing to know for the purposes of parking, as well as if you're riding in a very hilly area and you want to start using the clutch friction zone to manually keep yourself from rolling backward or forward at a stop sign or traffic light.
What's The Riding Experience Like?
The 2026 Honda Rebel 300 E-Clutch, as I said, takes a little getting used to if you've never ridden with an E-Clutch before. But the engine sounds pretty good, and the handling is quite nice, particularly for the urban riding scenarios we experienced in LA. Whether we were ripping up the twisties on Mulholland or eagerly lane splitting down the freeway while the cars around us were barely moving, these are the scenarios where the Rebel 300 absolutely excels.
The display does give you indication if you should really be in a lower or higher gear than you are, but the E-Clutch makes it eminently easy to shift up and down to your heart's (or bike's) content. Sure, a little 298cc bike isn't going to set any land speed records, but it's plenty to move most people around a city. It's also super easy to park, and it's even easy to walk backward if you've pulled into a space and you need to back it out in an extremely congested area (like, say, the Griffith Observatory). The combination of practicality, capability, and cool come together nicely here, all in a bite-sized package.
Honda touts a few different benefits with regard to the E-Clutch: convenience, freeing up your brain to do other things (like take in the sights around you and pay more attention to the road), and of course decreased left-hand fatigue in urban riding situations like the ones we were engaging in. And they're not wrong to do so, because the E-Clutch can indeed do all of those things.
Whether you're a rider who's just getting the hang of getting out and finding out what motorcycling is all about, or you're getting back into the sport after some time away, or maybe you're just looking for a little runabout that's perfect for congested city riding, it's hard to find fault with the Rebel 300 E-Clutch.
Especially since Honda isn't asking for any additional money for the E-Clutch. The 2026 MSRP is just US $5,395, and it comes in your choice of black or gray (sorry, fellow bright color lovers). For city folks looking for an accessible, friendly little cruiser experience, you may want to give this one a go.
Gallery: 2026 Honda Rebel 300 E-Clutch First Ride Review
