Is the Honda Rebel 500 a good starter bike?

Is the Honda Rebel 500 a good starter bike? - 1

Is the Honda Rebel 500 a good starter bike?

If you are attracted to its standard / cruiser styling and ergonomics, yes, the Rebel 500 parallel-twin is a great starter bike, as is its single-cylinder little brother, the Rebel 300.

Both models were revised for 2017; here is a glowing review I just read, from Cycle World magazine:

2017 Honda Rebel 300 and 500 Review

If the sportier, full-body-work style is more to your liking, consider the single-cylinder Honda CB300, or one of its competitors in that size range from other makers. Here's a comparison review, also from Cycle World:

Four Sub-400cc Entry-Level Sportbikes - COMPARISON TEST

Yes.