If it's priced right (like a Ninja 250), it might make a great entry-level track days bike, one a new guy to the track could thrash the hell out of without getting in too far over his head. I'm not digging the VFR1200 style fairings, though.
WOW....THANKS Keith...always loved my last Ninja 250, so did Mitzie with Hers.......Hmmm, a HONDA in that size...Yep, just really might be what the Doctor ordered..... :fing02:.....would really be Great if Honda used Their Chinese Assembly Factories like They did on the Elite 110 Scooters...really made em' "Price Competitive" with all the other Brands... :fing02:
DIMENSIONS
Weight: 359 lbs (Curb weight, not dry weight)
Wheelbase: 53.9 in. ENGINE
Engine: 1-cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Displacement: 249.4 cc
Bore x Stroke: 76 x 55 mm
Compression Ratio: 10.7:1
Carburetion: PGM-FI, 38 mm throttle body
Fuel Capacity 3.4 gal.
Ignition: Computer-controlled digital transistorized with electronic advance
Cooling: Liquid DRIVETRAIN
Transmission: 6-speed BRAKES/WHEELS/TIRES
Brakes: Front: Single 296 mm disc
Rear: Single 220 mm disc
Tires: Front: 110/70-17 radial
Rear: 140/70-17 radial OPERATIONAL
Suspension: Front: 37 mm fork
Rear: Pro-Link single shock with 5-position spring preload adjustability
Rake: 25°
Trail: 3.74 in. (95 mm) OTHER
Colors Metallic Black, Two-tone Red / Silver
I can do without all the marketing verbiage that stresses how this is a "great first bike" and a "real confidence-builder," though. Why can't a good-looking 250 just be a light, efficient bike for everybody?
Honda will probably price it to the moon and it will get killed. :huh:
Finally, a competitor to the Ninja 250! IMO we need more bikes like this to help dispel the notion that a 600cc sportbike is a good 'beginner bike'. I love seeing new/newer riders on 250s.
I like this bike's styling OK, but it looks like a VFR1200 Junior to me. :laugh:
Seriously tho, I'm surprised Honda didn't make it look more like the CBR600 or 1k, like Kaw. made their 250 look like the bigger Ninjas.
My girlfriend was just telling me she wanted a street bike.
(she wants it green with white tank stripes and dragonflies on it)
I would just be happy it is a Honda, I never was a big fan of the Ninja's.
I really like it. However, it seems a bit heavy, even if it is lighter than a ninja 250. It seems that a bike like that should weigh in closer to 300#.
[image: View Post]YoshiHNS, on 27 October 2010 - 11:03 AM, said:
I saw the weight and thought that was a bit hefty. But it's actually lighter than the ninja 250. About time.
Also checked it against other 250 engines, and looks to be fresh from the factory. :cheerleader:
I thought it was porky at 357 at first blush as well but checked the 250 Ninja and then jsut furrowed my eyebrows at what could possibly push a 250cc single entry level street bike above 320 lbs or so....says it is wet weight and anyone who has ridden a fat arse VFR knows that Honda is good at hiding the heft...
I just updated the weight, remember, Honda only advertises ready-to-ride curb weight, not dry weight like many of the other manufactures, I wouldn't be surprised if it is close to 300 lbs dry.
MSRP is not know today, is what my Honda rep said, hopefully soon
[image: View Post]cornercarver, on 27 October 2010 - 12:17 PM, said:
[image: View Post]YoshiHNS, on 27 October 2010 - 11:03 AM, said:
I saw the weight and thought that was a bit hefty. But it's actually lighter than the ninja 250. About time.
Also checked it against other 250 engines, and looks to be fresh from the factory. :cheerleader:
I thought it was porky at 357 at first blush as well but checked the 250 Ninja and then jsut furrowed my eyebrows at what could possibly push a 250cc single entry level street bike above 320 lbs or so....says it is wet weight and anyone who has ridden a fat arse VFR knows that Honda is good at hiding the heft...
If I had to bet...like the Ninja 250, a lot of the weight comes from a steel tubing frame, pretty much all steel bracketry, etc. .....best, cost efficient way to keep the price down on the 250s.....no big sales in that CC Market unless the Price is low. The little 250 Ninjas do a Great job in tight twisties of "Flickin' Their Weight".....on the rev-limiter and buzzin'....."Been There"..... :fing02:
[image: View Post]Knife, on 27 October 2010 - 10:57 AM, said:
If it's priced right (like a Ninja 250), it might make a great entry-level track days bike, one a new guy to the track could thrash the hell out of without getting in too far over his head. I'm not digging the VFR1200 style fairings, though.
They were like that on the cbr1000 before they ever made the 1200
[image: View Post]VFRSuperfreak, on 27 October 2010 - 12:26 PM, said:
It'll be loved tho, it's a Honda.
:offtopic: !Claro que si! That Fit is my wife's daily driver, and I think I like it more than cars I have owned at twice the price. Probably kinda like the little CBR250, as long as you understand your limitations drag-racing in a straight line, you can have a ton of fun. :happy:
thumper sucks. but the rest of it looks like there's promise.. Hmmm.... wonder if there's enough room to stuff a CRF450 lump in there.. :laughing6-hehe:
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 27 October 2010 - 12:37 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Knife, on 27 October 2010 - 10:57 AM, said:
If it's priced right (like a Ninja 250), it might make a great entry-level track days bike, one a new guy to the track could thrash the hell out of without getting in too far over his head. I'm not digging the VFR1200 style fairings, though.
They were like that on the cbr1000 before they ever made the 1200
Yep, Honda has started usin' what They refer to as "Layered Body Work" on Their Sport Bikes........ :fing02:
I like the bike, but would not expect much from this bike for the track without some suspension mods (fork springs and oil - rear shock with at least 4.7in travel), and brake mods (SS lines and racing pads). I would also want a damper, different grips and levers, windscreen and tires for the track. Also will probably need to modify the airbox, change the can and get a PCIII - BMC air filter and stainless steel oil filter. Not a bad idea but some work will be needed for me since I am so picky. That is why I would still find a used 600cc for the track and spend the cash to do mods on that. I am not diging the plastics either.
cornercarver, on 30 October 2010 - 10:07 AM, said:
roman, on 29 October 2010 - 04:28 PM, said:
^ Honda VTR250. Only sold in Asia-pacific, Australia, and Europe. :angry:
Wow, I would like to have one of these...
My first bike was the predecessor to this one - the VT250 Spada. It was one of the first bikes to have a twin-spar aluminium frame and was released in 1989! However it was extremely expensive for its day ($6,000 in 1991 dollars) so when they replaced it with the VTR250 that has the Ducati Monster look, they went to a steel trellis frame and replaced all the steel water hoses with rubber hoses. Other than that it was the same engine right up until when they added fuel injection a couple of years back. The Spada also had a 6-speed gearbox whereas the VTR250 was a 5-speed, again up until a few years ago when they went back to 6-speed.
[image: View Post]kaldek, on 30 October 2010 - 05:35 PM, said:
My first bike was the predecessor to this one - the VT250 Spada. It was one of the first bikes to have a twin-spar aluminium frame and was released in 1989! However it was extremely expensive for its day ($6,000 in 1991 dollars) so when they replaced it with the VTR250 that has the Ducati Monster look, they went to a steel trellis frame and replaced all the steel water hoses with rubber hoses. Other than that it was the same engine right up until when they added fuel injection a couple of years back. The Spada also had a 6-speed gearbox whereas the VTR250 was a 5-speed, again up until a few years ago when they went back to 6-speed.
^ the 1988 Honda VTR 250, aka 'Baby Interceptor'. 6 speed, half fairings, 28hp and around 330lbs. A blast to ride, although those inboard front disc brakes were pretty crappy... (they're better then drums, but just barely).
^ the 1988 Honda VTR 250, aka 'Baby Interceptor'. 6 speed, half fairings, 28hp and around 330lbs. A blast to ride, although those inboard front disc brakes were pretty crappy... (they're better then drums, but just barely).
I seem to recall in Australia those weren't called a VTR 250 but like "VT250F". The Aussie VTR250 was released in the late 90s and was the spitting image of a baby Ducati Monster. They still make them and they still sell quite well - not bad for what is essentially a 25 year old motor with fuel injection bolted on!!
I should clarify that all heed bikes use the same basic motor, but your VTR / our VT250F were nicknamed "hand grenades" because the motors used to blow up regularly!
The wife wants a bike in the spring, my sister-in-law has a CBR125 and its fine when she wants to ride with the girls from work but with a top speed of 95km/h from 12HP, I've riden with her and my brother once and its a killer to watch, your always waiting, so its not a bike I want to try and let my wife follow me around on.
I've been looking at the Ninja 250 for her as it could keep up under normal riding with the VFR, but would love the idea of a second Honda in the garage and having a bike with ABS for the wife. Once would guess that if the 125 is 12HP the 250 should be around 24HP, which would be with in line of the Ninja 250 @ 27HP. I'm sure it will come to Canada as we got the 125 which was the number one selling Honda last 3 years in a row. And depending on what you read its been a close fight for number one over all between the Ninja 250 and the CBR125.
I like how they're carrying over the layered fairings. They took a little getting used to, but it's nice to see consistent styling throughout the range.
A friend of mine is talking his wife into getting her license, and has been looking at the baby Ninja. I showed him this and he likes it a lot, especially seeing as he rides a CBR600RR.
Honda Canada just updated their site for 2011 :fing02:
The CBR250 is listed :cheerleader: but no price yet, most likely have to wait until the Toronto bike show next month for a price. :mellow:
Canada gets black or red/silver, and both ABS and non-ABS versions, which is funny, they give us both options, with the 6th gen they brought the ABS version only from 07 on. Since its such a limited market you think they would only bring just the ABS version with this model as well. Oh well they must have there reasons.
rangerscott69, on 28 October 2010 - 09:22 AM, said:
timmythecop, on 28 October 2010 - 03:34 AM, said:
Thank god for mute.
A lot of bikes never or are never going to make it to america. Just not enough riders.
It's currently on the honda america website. A few bikes down from the CB1000R. I think we are gonna get this one. My wife already wants one. Wooohooooooo!
I would really like one too. Having had a few thumpers, there is something intriguing about the simplicity of it and the fact that you could actually rebuild the top end in an afternoon if you needed to. Sure it's only good for 20-some horse, but that's not the point.
What I do hope is that it performs as well as the ninja 250, but I don't think it will. A parallel twin is going to develop higher revs and eventually more power. Ninja 250s are frequently criticized for having to spool up the rpms to get going off the line, and I'd bet the CBR250 might have the upper hand until 2nd or 3rd gear. Then the twin pulls ahead.
I would buy it because it is a Honda and I find small thumpers interesting (but no replacement for the fun of our beloved V4). We will need to see what the market says, though...
timmythecop, on 16 November 2010 - 03:22 AM, said:
sorry for the Thai pop music backround.
WOW! :ohmy:
Was that David Lee Roth??????? :laughing6-hehe:
They should really soften the springs on the trailer haulin' that one guy around the track tho'...... :tour: :goofy:
Greg :fing02:
timmythecop, on 16 November 2010 - 03:22 AM, said:
sorry for the Thai pop music backround.
Sounds Japanese to me. When looking at the bike, the only thing I don't like is the forks. They just look cheap.
End of thread · 47 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 19 Nov 2010