I Drove 900km to Rescue a Motorcycle from an Ex— Here’s What Happened (and What I Learned About the Rebel 500)

Sometimes, a motorcycle adventure starts with a road trip… and a breakup.

In today’s video, I drove 900 kilometers to a woman’s Honda Rebel 500 that had been sitting at her ex’s place for months. It wasn’t just a long haul across South Western Ontario, it was a glimpse into how motorcycles, relationships, and life all intertwine.

Along the way I got to speak to both sides of this love story and hear their perspectives, reached out to a few of my own ex-girlfriends to ask them what they thought about me, and, yes, finally got to review the Rebel 500 in real-world conditions.

Why Was Her Motorcycle at Her Ex’s?

Good question. Like most things involving exes, the answer is…. “It’s complicated.”

The woman, let’s call her Lina, had moved for work and left her bike behind at her ex’s house for the winter. The two had stayed on good terms, but months had gone by and she still hadn’t had the time to go back for it.

That’s where I come in.

Expiration Dating, and the Idea That Sparked It All

When I met Lina’s ex-boyfriend, we’ll call him Eric, Eric explained that the two of them had started dating, knowing that the relationship may be cut short due to her pending move for work. Lina had a child from a previous relationship, and the move would let her be closer to her kid.

I call that expiration dating. It turns out, Lina and Eric called it that too. They knew the clock was ticking. They knew it would be over sooner or later. They decided to make the most the could of it anyway.

I really liked the way both Lina and Eric seemed to really wish the best for each other despite the break up. It made me think of an ex that I had been very close with since we were kids in junior high school together. We eventually started living together and dating in our early 20s.

In the end, it wasn’t meant to be for us either, but I think we both still hold each other in high regards and are both happy to see other happy.

A Tinder Review System? (It’s Funnier Than It Sounds)

And that got me wondering… how many exes would have nice things to say about each other? What if Tinder profiles came with reviews from your exes, like LinkedIn profiles have in the “Recommendations” section? How would that go?

I decided to call up four women I used to date to ask them to leave me a review… Let’s just say, I won’t write out their responses, but you can hear them for yourself in the video.

What Did I Think of the Honda Rebel 500?

Here are some quick thoughts:

👍 What I Liked:

• Fuel-injected engine with decent low-end torque
• ABS brakes and Liquid Cooling – a welcome step up from the old Rebel 250
• A beginner friendly cruiser with modern updates
• Highway-capable, despite being beginner-friendly

👎 What Could Be Better:

• The tank’s a bit too skinny and a wider tank would help riders control the motorcycle with their kneeds more
• The Exhaust isn’t winning any beauty pageants
• Still could use a bit more power, especially for overtaking on the highway

Almost twenty years ago, my first motorcycle was a 1985 Honda Rebel CMX250. The Rebel 250 ran virtually unchanged for thirty years until it was discontinued in 2016. The new Rebel 300 and Rebel 500 beat the old Rebel in every single possible way and I’m glad new riders today have much better options that what we had when I started riding.

All things considered, the Honda Rebel 500 is a rock-solid pick.

So, Would You Leave Your Bike at Your Ex’s?

If you listened to my phone calls with my exes, you’ve probably already guessed that for me, it depends largely on which ex we’re talking about.

In the case of Lina and Eric, everything worked out well. Eric took care of Lisa’s motorcycle, was friendly, respectful, and even helped make loading the Rebel 500 easy. But not every story ends this way—and not every bike gets rescued in one piece.

So here’s a question for you:
Would you leave your motorcycle at your ex’s place?
And if your ex could leave a review on your dating profile, what would it say?

Drop your answers in the comments section below please. I’m really curious about this one.

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Final Thoughts

This trip was about more than just picking up a motorcycle. It was about stories, lovers, and the strange, silly things we tangle ourselves up in. It was also a reminder that motorcycles aren’t just about speed, or chrome, or getting from A-to-B, they’re about connection. To people. To places. To memories. The memories we shared, and the ones we’re still to make.

Thanks for coming along for the ride.

Ride safe, but have fun!

Adrian