Well it’s just a couple of days the CBR 250R has hit the Goan streets and we at Goa On Wheels were able to test ride the new bike.
Let us first start with a brief Introduction
Honda launched the CBR 250R a global model in Thailand in October. The bike will be made in India and Thailand and will be sold around the globe. In India the bike will be manufactured by Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (Pvt.) Ltd., the Indian subsidiary of Honda at its manufacturing plant in Manesar.
Honda is aiming to sell 30,000 units in 2011. R&D for the CBR250R was advanced in both Japan and Thailand starting with the development phase.
The test ride review
Styling /Exteriors:
The CBR 250R gets its styling cues inspired from big brother VFR 1200F. Our first impression was that the bike has a lot of road presence. The head light with a windshield and a full front fairing gives the bike a very muscular look. The full faring also helps in improving the aerodynamics of the bike.
The bike gets a best in class rear view mirrors in terms of design and good visibility with minimal vibrations. The mirror gives a clear view which usually is not the case in many bikes of the same class.
The paint finish is of top quality which can be compared with those found in many cars. The silver coated instrument panel is a very eye catching and gets a LCD displaying the speed and other parameters. The blue display looks really very pleasing to the eyes when switched on.
The headlight is large and with the parking lights on, makes the bike look more aggressive. The tail light design decent and stylish. LED tail lamps would have added more aura. The rear grab handles
The bike gets tubeless 110/70-17 tyre at the front and 140/70-17 unit at the rear. The wide tyres will only help to increase the grip on roads especially on wet tarmac. The five spoke aluminium wheels add more appeal to the bike.
The seat is soft and big which will be a boon while riding on long trips. There is no centre stand offered on the bike which could a small concern at times while parking.
The bike is available in three colour options. Candy Ruby Red, Sword Silver Metallic and Asteriod Black Metallic.
Performance/Handling:
The CBR250R is equipped with a liquid-cooled 250cc 4-stroke 4-valve single-cylinder DOHC engine. Just pull the throttle and the bike revs with a good roar. The engine is matted to a 6 speed gear box. The gear shifts are quick and smooth. Shift pattern is one down and five top.
The engine churns out 25bhp@8500 rpm while delivering a peak torque of 22.9Nm@700 rpm. The bike accelerates smoothly and this could be very good in cases where u need to brake and catch up quickly.
The new offering also gets the PGMF-i technology which improves performance without losing on the mileage. We did not test the bikes fuel efficiency but the figures are close to 25—27 kmpl.
The bike is a superb when it comes to handling especially at straight line. Its also very stable and easy to manoeuvre. The bike has a small turning radius and one easily do the 8 while taking the licence test.
The bike features disc brakes at both the ends and braking is bang on spot. We test rode the standard version and the ABS variant will only feel better.
A slight vibration is felt from the radiator when one turns on the engine.
The bike sports telescopic forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear with pre-load adjustment to suit your ride.
Ergonomics:
The CBR 250R gets a good upright seating posture and a wide handle bar which adds to the comfort. Good placement of foot pegs and decent rear seat.
Those not used to a faired bike may find it a bit difficult to ride especially in traffic.
Why should I buy this bike?
Its a Honda product: Reliable and tested.
Great looks and also gets added safety with the ABS version.
Cheapest in the 250cc class and a value for money product.
Good handling and performance.
Other options:
Kawasaki Ninja 250, Bajaj Pulsar 220F, Hero Honda Karizma ZMR
Pricing:
The Honda CBR250R standard version is priced at Rs. 1.44 lakhs, whereas the Honda CBR250R ABS is priced at Rs. 1.68 lakhs (all prices ex-showroom Goa).
Conclusion:
CBR250R is specifically aimed at new riders, packed with some good high-tech features and offers great performance, all in a lightweight and affordable package.
Special thanks to Daneez Kazi allowing us test the bike and Snehal Naik for the photos
