Do not adjust your computer screen, this not a revised version of the VFR1200F, nor is it the V4 adventure bike we expect Honda to debut next week, it’s not even the bastard love child from a CBR and a Cylon, it is in fact the brand new 2011 Honda CBR250R. A 250cc motorcycle for the rest of us, Honda hopes to snag new riders by offering a more practical street bike in the Japanese, European, Australian, and yes, even American markets later this spring.
Raising the bar a bit, the CBR250R comes with optional C-ABS brakes, which will like be mandatory in the European Union, if the EU Commission has anything to say about it. With performance figures coming in at 26hp and 17 lbs•ft of torque, the fuel-injected Honda CBR250R isn’t going to blow anyone out of the water, but that’s sort the point behind the quarter-liter bike, which should be more than capable of scooting around a young rider on city streets and back-road routes.
Other spec’s include a 3.4 gallon fuel tank and a curb weight of 359lbs (368lbs with ABS). The 1.4 gallons fuel deficiet likely helps the CBR come in 15lbs lighter than the Kawasaki Ninja 250R (the bike to beat in entry-level market segment), but with the fuel-injection it’s hard to say which bike has the range advantage. Braking comes from the Honda engineered combined anti-lock braking system, which stops a single 296mm disc up-front and 220mm disc in back. Suspension comes in the form of two right-side up 37mm front forks, with a Pro-Link shock in the rear, which has five adjustable pre-load settings.
Wheel’s will come in at 17″, with the rear tire being a 140/70-17, 10mm wider than the Ninja 250R’s. With Honda hoping to take the 250R head-on, it will be interesting to see how it prices the CBR250R against the Ninja’s $4,000 price tag. In a market segment dominated by second-hand motorcycles, Honda will have to price itself aggressively if it wants to compete for the wallets of young and new riders, which may be hard to do with things like anti-lock brakes coming on the feature-set.
2011 Honda CBR250R / CBR250R ABS Technical Specifications:
Engine:
Engine Type: 249.4cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke
Bore and Stroke: 76mm x 55mm
Compression ratio: 10.7:1
Valve Train: DOHC; four valves per cylinder
Induction: PGM-FI, 38mm throttle body
Ignition: Computer-controlled digital transistorized with electronic advance
Transmission: Six-speed
Suspension:
Front: 37mm fork
Rear: Pro-Link single shock with five positions of spring preload adjustability
Brakes:
Front: Single 296mm disc
Rear: Single 220mm disc
Optional ABS
Tires:
Front: 110/70-17 radial
Rear: 140/70-17 radial
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 53.9 inches
Rake (Caster Angle): 25.0°
Trail: 95mm (3.74 inches)
Seat Height: 30.9 inches
Fuel Capacity: 3.4 gallons
Colors: Metallic Black, Red/Silver
Curb Weight*: 359 pounds / 368 pounds (ABS)
*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride.
Source: Honda America
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