April 5, 2012

2012 Honda CBR 250R, Review, Test Drive and Specifications

Honda CBR250R
Honda CBR250R

Right from the day Honda has launched CBR 250R it has become a serious player in the entry-level sports motorcycle or sports tourer category. I would rather say that it has created a sport tourer category in the 250cc segment around the world. It’s the most versatile 250cc motorcycle till date by any company. It has the power, the speed, the styling, handling, the comfort, fuel economy, durability and above all a very good resale value. Pegged against the Kawasaki Ninja 250R (which is my favorite any day no matter what) has carved a niche in the market and has set the standards high for the upcoming 250cc motorcycles.

Honda CBR250R
Honda CBR250R

Ninja being known for its true sports DNA and race course performance is the dominant playing in the market and sports a twin cylinder engine and is much more powerful than the Honda CBR250R, but it does lack so many other aspects that make a product a hot selling one. The biggest chink in the Ninja’s armor is its price that is almost double than the Honda.  When it comes to single cylinder motorcycles I think Honda CBR 250R is the best in the market and even the KTM duke lacks the refinement and ride quality that Honda CBR 250R possess.Though the 2012 Honda CBR 250R doesn’t come with any technological upgrades but that doesn’t matter as it already have one of the best single cylinder engine in 250cc segment.

Honda CBR250R Console Panel
Honda CBR250R Console Panel
The only change that the 2012 Honda CBR250R has is the introduction of a new White/Pearl Blue/Red color scheme while rest of the features remains same. The CBR 250R comes with a super efficient 249cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder, four-valve DOHC cylinder head power plant that generates a decent 25 bhp of peak power at 8500 rpm and a whooping 22.9Nm of peak torque at 7000 rpm. It comes equipped with PGM-FI fuel injection and engine counter-balancer which ensures top end performance and efficiency. The motorcycle holds great aerodynamics and its sporty full cowling gives it great looks and make it Honda VFR 1200 look alike. The instrument panel has a futuristic look with its beautiful silver coated panel and beautiful blue LCD back light display which is another feature that is missing in the Ninja.

Honda CBR250R
Honda CBR250R

Black color coated stainless steel muffler is a striking feature in the motorcycle and add to the overall looks of the bike. The 5 spook aluminum cast wheels with 110/70 17 front and 140/70 17 rear wheel inspire confidence while riding on high speeds. The ABS in the top end model comes handy while riding in difficult conditions by preventing wheel locking during sudden braking. Engine performance is smooth and free from all type of vibrations. Even if you open full throttle the motorcycles stays calms and you hardly feel any vibes from the engine.
Honda CBR250R
Honda CBR250R

The best part that makes any motorcycle a delight to ride is its comfortable riding position and this is one thing that appeals a lot to me. The riding position of Honda CBR 250R is very comfortable and as I was riding this motorcycle right after getting down from the KTM, I can say that KTM Duke 200 has to pull up socks as its riding position as compared to the Honda is not up to the mark. The other feature that makes the ride comfortable is Honda’s Truss Structure and Diamond Frame which is rugged yet flexible.

2012 Honda CBR250R (ABS) Specs:

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
* Ignition: Digital ECU Based
* Transmission: Six-speed

Suspension
* Front: Telescopic fork
* Rear: Pro-Link

Brakes
* Front: Single 296mm disc
* Rear: Single 220mm disc
* Optional ABS

Tires
* Front: 110/70-17 radial
* Rear: 140/70-17 radial

Dimensions:
* Wheelbase: 1367mm
* Length: 2032mm
* Height: 1127mm
* Width: 720mm
* Ground Clearance: 145mm

Fuel:
* Fuel Capacity: 13 Litres

* Fuel Economy: Around 30-35 (depending on the riding conditions)

2012 Honda CBR250R New Color Options:
* White/Pearl Blue/Red


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Copyright © Vikas Singh

1 comment:

Phil said...

I'm 57 years old and have ridden both on and off road, but it's been several years. I needed a commuter bike due to a 26 mile one way commute. The 2012 CBR250R was my choice. Great little bike...but one question. It hits 70 mph at about 7000rpm's and though there's more, this rpm range seems to be a comfort zone for it. Has anyone tried dropping 2 teeth on rear sprocket. It feels like it'd do ok, but thought I'd ask before making the change....Thanks