Topic: New Honda 250

[Goofaroo]

This is a pretty cool little bike. Honda has a habit of never sending us the really cool stuff they offer everywhere else but maybe this will be the start of something. It doesn't hold a candle to the NSR250 we were never allowed to purchase but in my opinion it's kind of a step outside of what they normally send us.

http://powersports.honda.com/2011/cbr250r.aspx

[Alan F.]

There is a CBR125 for quite a few years now, last year or the year before it came to Canada but we haven't seen it in the USA yet, I understand it was also fuel injected and put out nearly 20hp.
I wonder what the power numbers will be on this one with double the cc's?

359 pounds, 10.5K redline and a 4 grand pricetag....

Sounds like a fun testride.

[gmonkey]

I'd be more excited if it had more cylinders.  Don't have a solid reason for it but I've been wanting a smaller displacement 4-banger like a 400 or 250.  Guess I just like the smooth revving and buzz-saw sound.  I can definitely see how a thumper would be a whole lot easier to maintain.

[Industrial Rat400f Killer]

I can't wait to pick up a used one strip it down and make a fun street tracker.
Hehe
On a serious note bikes like these will be perfect for city living. My 400 is perfect for getting around town when getting on the hwy/frwy can be avoided. Bigger bikes are just annoying when stuck in traffic.

[74cb750]

ok, not a Real Bad looking bike.
Really could do with a smaller muffler. 

[SteveD CB500F]

We've had CBR250s here for years.

You see quite a few of the 4 cylinder engines put into RC141 replicas. They sound awesome (but nothing like a real RC)

[weekend_junkie]

We've had CBR250s here for years.

You see quite a few of the 4 cylinder engines put into RC141 replicas. They sound awesome (but nothing like a real RC)

Oh how I lust after a CBR250; a thumper is but a tease.  Still, I bet it's a rip to ride.

[Uncle Ernie]

I guess Honda finally got a clue after watching Kawasaki have the market all to itself here in the 'States.  It will be cool to see the comparison a couple of the magazines should write.

I'm not sure why, but I think maybe I wish it had 2 cylinders.  Maybe because I worry about a thumper with a redline that high?  I mean- my Enfield redlines around 5500 (no tach).  After having that thumper for so long, it's kind of hard for me to make that leap of faith.

It sure is sexy-looking though.  I feel like Elmer Fudd sitting on it would kind of besmurch the whole deal, though.  Seems more like I'd be more suited to an SU250X.  Now I'm a little depressed...

[Alan F.]

Wheelbase is just a few mm longer than a 350F or 400F but shorter than a 500/550
4 valves per cylinder...10.7:1 compression.....a 38mm throttle body...liquid cooled....six speed.

Makes me wonder if honda still offers overbore pistons and rings?
Bore And Stroke   76mm x 55mm I wonder what else fits?

The more I read, the more fun it sounds.

[tramp]

not a bad looking bike
i agree that a 2 cylinder would be better
picture shows 2 people on it
a power loss there i'm sure

[Alan F.]

I missed the 2up pic, must be small folks eh?

[kirkn]

Pretty cool bike.

I'll disagree on the single vs. two cylinder deal though.  My son had an '89 Honda NX250, which was kind of a 'kinder, gentler' dual sport.  That bike had what looks to be a predecessor of this bike's motor - single cylinder, 250cc, DOHC, 4-valve, liquid-cooled with counterbalancers.  That NX of his would spin to 9500 all day long and be incredibly smooth the whole time.  Light years ahead of the 'traditional' air cooled 250 of the XL / XR series.  Too bad Honda gave up on that bike after a few years. 

Anyway, I wouldn't mind one at all, but that funky triangle-shaped muffler sure does nothin' for me, though...

[Alan F.]

I wonder how tough it'd be to swap it for a slip-on?

Would it mess with the fuel injection or be a bolt-on?

thoughts?

[gmonkey]

Unless they put an o2 sensor in that muffler or something, the FI is more adaptable so it should be easier swapping mufflers than a carb'ed bike.

[JBMorse]

I think the muffler is integrated with the fuel injection.  I posed the question: "Why the giant, hideous, angular muffler???" on another forum and got the response that you need the bulk to allow for 02 sensors and such.  Well, I think that is false because the cute little Suzuki TU250 is fuel injected and has a normal looking exhaust.
Alan, thanks for relating the dimensions to something we all know!  I think it looks great (besides the exhaust).  In one way I'm sad that Honda hasn't brought that gorgeous VTR250 to the states, but I am excited that they've developed an all new 250 engine, and I'm excited to see the magazine tests of it.  I'll bet it will be very fun ride!
Oh, and Ernie, I know a fast-spinning single may seem out of the ordinary, but remember this is Honda, who built inline 4 bikes that could spin at 7k all day long and outlast all the other bikes doing it.

Here's a cool little video I stumbled upon. You get to hear it in action.

[JBMorse]

More propaganda:

Looks pretty cool!