Honda CBR250R

The CBR250R is a baby superbike and does a very good job of pretending to be like its bigger brothers. It is a departure from the even older VFR inspired styling and looks more like the CBR1000RR. The body is fully covered in the fairing that is characteristically Honda. The only opening into the innards is the large gash provided for cooling and the small gap under from where the titanium colored crankcase can be seen. Speaking of colors, there are three choices on offer – Black, Millennium Red, and Lemon Ice Yellow.  Graphics make a good effort of making the bike a little more aggressive. But the dual keen headlight, high windscreen, high set handlebars and tall tank almost make it look benign. The tail section seems unchanged from the VFR era styling. Even the turn signals are mounted on chubby looking stalks. No LEDs to be found either. The bike is 2035 mm long, 720 mm wide and 1120 mm tall. The wheelbase is compact at 1380 mm. The diamond frame is kept above the ground on 17” wheels wearing chunky 110/70 - 17M/C 54S tires in the front and 140/70 - 17M/C 66S tires in the rear. The instrumentation still looks fresh with a large analog tachometer smack dab in the middle of the rider’s vision. Below this is a thin digital screen that displays all the other information like speed, fuel, coolant temperature and odometer. Overall not a bad effort. Even the pillion seat is also the longest and most usable of all the quarter-litre sports bikes. The fit and finish of the bike are also what you would expect from a Honda product. But it is old and looks old and there is no getting away from it.

There are conventional telescopic forks in the front and a pro-link suspension in the rear. The bike is not too heavy at 161 kg and allows for confident handling. The suspension along with the frame do a decent job of providing a smooth and dynamic ride. It is lighter than the Ninja and the YZF-R25 and it shows when you try to lean hard. The seat is comfortable and the raised position of the handlebars make it very suited for everyday use. It is probably the best quarter-litre commuter if you want to use it as such. The easy riding position allows it to be a very good bike for beginners too.

The engine is an area where Hondas normally shine. The Honda uses a 249.6 cc, fuel injected and liquid-cooled DOHC single-cylinder power plant that is coupled to a 6-speed transmission. Churning out 27 hp at 8500 rpm and 23.1 Nm of torque at 7500 rpm however, it falls short of the power output of the Yamaha YZF-R25 and the Ninja 250R. But it gets to the peak of its power and torque earlier than both. This makes the power more usable on the Honda, which shows up on city roads. This makes the bike a very good commuter. Beginners will also find it easy to reach the top of the power band. Another area where its beginner and commuter friendly nature comes out is the fuel efficiency. This new Honda engine is more compact and lightweight than before. It also uses low friction piston rings and iridium spark plugs. These improvements not only reduce maintenance costs but also increase mileage. That mileage is apparently a very commendable (claimed) figure of 50 kmpl. The wider and longer exhaust also generates a very good noise across the rev range. Being a Honda, it is also nearly bulletproof and also free of vibrations and harshness. The fuel tank is also practical with a capacity of 13-litre.

The Honda CBR250R uses a dual disc brake setup for maximum braking performance. There is, however, no ABS on offer here. While somewhat jarring for a bike in this price range, this option is not available on any of its competitors either.

What does this represent then? It goes to show that the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers are not very enthusiastic about their Malaysian customers. In fact, the same story is repeated in nearly all South East Asian markets. With the different emission norms prevalent in different markets, Honda does not want the expense of developing a bike specifically tailored for each market. If this expense was to be borne by the customer, then it will make their prices very unappealing. Sales of bigger bikes are already not very encouraging in the country. While this may paint a very dismal picture, the Honda CBR250R is undoubtedly a very good beginner and commuter bike. At its price point, it puts up a very brave front against the competition. You just have to ignore the existence of the Honda CBR250RR.