Topic: How many of you have seen a CB 250??

[754]

That looks just like a 350 twin??

Only think I only saw one or maybe two.. in my life..

 srta rare I think like a Kawi Z2....

[troppo]

my first bike was a cb250 twin, cant remember the model but think it was a mid 70`s with a flap type door on the tank and comstar wheels

[toycollector10]

This is my first Honda, a 1973 CB250.

I used to thrash it mercilessly and you couldn't kill it with an axe.

Top picture is my younger brother and lower is "pretty boy" himself.

[754]

Yup that is the one.. the gold one.. But is that a 73, I thoght disc brake front was out by then??

[Sam Green Racing]

754, in the UK, the CB250 came out in 68, it changed to disc front brake in 71. It was the same for the CB350.

Sam.

[heffay]

what a dashing young collector.   

[toycollector10]

what a dashing young collector.   

Note the beer belly just starting to say, "I'm comming...Won't be long"

What year was that? I left the RNZAF in 1972 and started work in Wellington in 1973. I bought the bike then, in 1973. Maybe it was a NOS  CB250 because it definitely had a drum on the front.

[Superbiker_uk]

What are your thoughts on this CB250K4
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CLASSIC-1972-HONDA-CB250-k4-GOLD-ORIGINAL-CONDITION_W0QQitemZ300210617968QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300210617968
It is only about 10 miles away from me and looks quite good for the money being asked. It looks alot like toycollector10's bike in his picture. Any comments it? Not sure I like the big holes drilled in the casings though.

[Raul CB750K1]

What are your thoughts on this CB250K4
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CLASSIC-1972-HONDA-CB250-k4-GOLD-ORIGINAL-CONDITION_W0QQitemZ300210617968QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300210617968
It is only about 10 miles away from me and looks quite good for the money being asked. It looks alot like toycollector10's bike in his picture. Any comments it? Not sure I like the big holes drilled in the casings though.

CB250 were pretty common in Europe, specially Britain and Germany, and I guess it was because of learner laws. I have bought many parts from those countries out of CB250's to fit them into my CB350. Even the crankshaft and gearing was the same; only the piston diameter and final ratio changed, the jetting, well you get the drift.

[bryanj]

Very common in UK, NEVER I repeat NEVER thrash one from cold as you will shatter all the piston rings, Engine has to come out to do anything and has a centrifugal oil filter that needs the clutch cover off to clean.
Never had disc brake in UK--That was "New" on the CB250 G5 which was a totaly different motor that siezed cams.
Difficult parts can be a problem but good old DS has a lot, front brakes can be difficult to set up and dont know about new shoes now.
Serviced/rebuilt too many to think about, most common colour gold followed by brown, marron and ocasionaly black

[lordmoonpie]

Tons of them in the UK - so many that places like DK filled 6 skips with them when moving premises. You used to be able to buy them for peanuts and same goes for the trusty G5, which seems only useful now for canibbalising spares and the front brake for racing 250/350s....you can still get loads of them at autojumbles etc.

[tbpmusic]

They (the CB250) weren't huge sellers in the US - by this time (early-mid 70's), the US market was for bigger machines, and particularly the SOHC Fours. Even the venerable 450 and 350 had started to fade from the picture by then.

Honda made several attempts to maintain the smaller bike impetus, but to no avail.
The 175's were always good sellers for them, and they tried a disastrous replacement with the CB200, which never took off in the US; they're unusual (but not rare) over here.
Americans traditionally always thought BIGGER, though that is changing now as fuel prices skyrocket out of control.
And that was the situation with the CB250 - why get that when I can have a 350 or 450 for not much more money.

bill

[lordmoonpie]

What are your learner laws like in the US? At one point we were restricted to 250cc in the Uk so that might have had a positive bearing on sales of the 250...we're down to 125 now.

[Raul CB750K1]

What are your learner laws like in the US? At one point we were restricted to 250cc in the Uk so that might have had a positive bearing on sales of the 250...we're down to 125 now.

I got my driving licence in 2002...... on a Harley V-Rod (true). I guess the learner laws specify that once you have your licence, you can ride anything on two wheels.

[rugger81]

What are your learner laws like in the US? At one point we were restricted to 250cc in the Uk so that might have had a positive bearing on sales of the 250...we're down to 125 now.

The learner laws depend on the state, but here in ohio they are very lax.  To get a learners permit you just need to pay $20 and pass a written test.  Once you pass the written test, you can ride anything on two wheels with a few restrictions.  You have to wear a helmet, no riding after 9pm(or some time like that), no highway riding, and no passengers.  After a certain period of time, like 6 months or so, you have to either have passed the state riding test, or you have to take the written test again.  I know people who've ridding for years on nothing but their learners permit with no troubles. 

After you pass the riding test, the only restriction you have is you have to wear a helmet for a year.  I actually kind of wish the learners laws were a bit more strict, but I guess they work well enough

[bill440cars]

754, in the UK, the CB250 came out in 68, it changed to disc front brake in 71. It was the same for the CB350.

Sam.

           I was still stationed in Japan in 68', when the 350 came out and I thought I remembered there being a 250 that looked like the 350. I never actually saw one, just a brochure. Of course I couldn't read it though. That's all I know on the subject.

                                Take care, Bill

[lordmoonpie]

Wow those learner laws are really relaxed. It'd be very very interesting to see what the accident statistics are like for US newly qualified riders compared to the UK. Our government keeps restricting and restricting on the basis that inexperienced riders cause most accidents. Not sure that's backed up with a decent proper assessment so it'd be interesting to see if you're any better off in the US without the restrictions.

We have to ride a 125 to pass the first part of the test restricted to 12 bhp, and then can opt to ride up to a 33bhp 500cc bike for the test which if you pass allows you to ride anything. The tricky bit is that if you want to do this, on a learner licence you can only ride a 500 in the company of a proper instructor. If you ride alone you're restricted to 125cc.

If you choose to take the full test on a 125cc you're limited to 33bhp for two years or until you're 21 I believe whichever is later? So we have a market in restrictor kits so that 18 year olds can buy a CBR600RR and restrict it to 33 bhp!

Helmets - we have no choice. Unless you're a turban wearing Sikh, you have to wear a helmet by law.