Honda CB250R

Neo Café Racer. This is what Honda has decided to call the new design language of their CB range. And it isn’t hard to see why. From every angle, the CB250R looks like a café racer made for the modern age. The round headlight and the indicators mounted on top of it uses LEDs. The boxy dial on top of it houses an LCD screen with a digital display. The muscular haunches of the tank make their presence known even from the front view. But only when we move to the side profile are we exposed to the rugged and futuristic beauty of this bike. From the shape of the tank to the minimalist tail section with recessed grab handles - the bike captures the essence of café racer very well. The stance of the bike - with a length of 2012 mm, width 802 mm, height 1052 mm, wheelbase of 1352 mm, ground clearance of 151 mm and 17-inch Y spoke alloy wheels with 110 / 70 front and 150 / 60 rear tires - ticks all the right boxes. Even added conveniences like the radiator shroud and the engine cowl look just right. The beefy exhaust, blacked out engine components, and the exposed framework give it some added muscle.

The body panels carry a sculpted and layered yet minimalist look that goes very well with the overall design. This is complemented by the bike’s color schemes and a general lack of decorative embellishments. Some might argue that the CB150 Exmotion does a better job, but the CB250R is undeniably an attractive bike. The only complaint would be the overly extended rear mudguard that also carries the LED indicators. Also, that instrument panel displays a lot of information (including a gear indicator) and feels a bit cramped.

The 41 mm upside-down front forks and a Showa pro link monoshock at the rear make for a decent setup. The ride is set on the softer settings and works very well in absorbing road imperfections. For riding around town this setup will not pose any problems. The bike is very stable at higher speeds. The seating position is upright and relaxed with well-placed foot pegs and slightly raised handlebars. The only gripe is the slightly raised seat height of 799 mm. Some shorter riders are surely going to be left disappointed.

Producing 28 PS at 9000 rpm and 23.3 Nm of torque at 8000 rpm, is a liquid cooled and fuel injected DOHC single-cylinder engine. While it is a bit low on power than the equivalent KTM Duke, the power delivery is refined and controllable. The six-speed transmission is equally smooth. As an urban naked it has learner friendly dynamics. Weighing just 145 kg, it is nimble and zippy. This is no streetfighter but more akin to an urban cruiser. And this much power is decent for its intended purpose. The fuel tank has a capacity of 10-litre that should last for a good while without a fill-up.

Braking gets great setup with a 296 mm floating disc with a radially mounted Nissin 4 piston caliper and a 220 mm disc ina the rear with a single piscalliperiper. The CB250R also comes with a 2 channel ABS as standard. The brakes themselves are not the best but sufficient for normal use.

The Honda CB250R then is the best combination of modern features with retro design that anyone could ask for. Its asking price and learner friendly nature makes it very attractive to beginner riders. So, what if it isn’t going to tear up the roads? It simply doesn’t need to.