250cc Honda Sport Bike for Canada/US

[CZroe]

Originally Posted by ithaca00

Why would Kawi add a "beefier looking" frame/suspension? The current 250 doesn't stress the frame, swingarm or suspension to require more material. If you want the look add a swingarm cover.

The seat on the CBR 250 is not a banana seat although those usually offer more rider comfort.

The handle bars are one of the nice looking features of the new CBR. They are tall enough to provide a comfortable ride and give better leverage for spirited riding while still allowing access to the forks. As they're designed now they look like the design will lend itself nicely to the aftermarket and "clip-ons" or lowered risers.

I've seen sporty-shaped banana seats and while I know that this is two pieces on two levels, there is still no distinction and, thus, it looks less like a "sport" style.

That was the basis of my other complaints. It's just less sporty. Yes, I did order a swingarm cover, but can you tell me why the CBR 250 doesn't need one if it has less HP than the Ninjette? STYLE! Like I said, it IS adequate, but there's no reason why the Ninjette can't have something similar off the line.

As for the bars, those are the same reasoning that go into the Ninjette's bars. Of course they are well reasoned for certain applications, but not as a sport bike. All I'm saying is that there's a reason they'd never put the single-tube style of the 650R or the elevated platform blocks of the Ninjette on a ZX-series bike. Look at the Aprillia RS125. Being small doesn't mean that it can't have a little style.

[Betlog]

I like the sportier look of the Ninja 250R compared to this. Now if only Honda revived the 250RR, then that would be suhweeeeet!

[djspidee]

Right off Honda's website. http://powersports.honda.com/2011/cbr250r.aspx

[Nemesis]

What they need to do is stop teasing us and release the MSRP already! LOL!

[dubojr1]

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showt...ight=HONDA+250

[Nemesis]

I agree...it should be merged. LOL!

[bob706]

The instrument cluster is really nice looking. Not as bad a looking bike on the second look. Looking forward to seeing a price.

[wild-bill]

Originally Posted by bob706

The instrument cluster is really nice looking. Not as bad a looking bike on the second look. Looking forward to seeing a price.

Being that it's a Honda and fuel injected, I'll bet the price will be higher than the Ninjette. And I noticed on the website it's a single cylinder. I don't see how it can equal the power of the Ninja 250.

[Keung]

im liking the fuel injection, but the ninja is more attractive IMO gague cluster is nice tho...

[Alex]

/merged

[bob138]

Originally Posted by greg737

Then you were thinking wrong. Most "Super Sport" 600s use a 38mm diameter throttle body. I know you might be doing the basic math and you're thinking that 600cc divided by 4 equals 150cc per cylinder which sounds close enough to 125cc. Makes you think you could get away with swapping two of those 38mm Super Sport 600 throttle bodies for your two EX-250 carbs, but you can't. It would be an air-flow disaster.

Every one of those Super Sport 600s have an ECU-controlled secondary butterfly system. This is the reason the design engineers can put 38mm throttle bodies on 150cc cylinders. The ECU-controlled secondary throttle bodies guarantee good low engine speed (off-idle) performance so the engineers can use a relatively gigantic (38mm on a 150cc cylinder) throttle body that makes really big horsepower at high RPM.

There is no secondary butterfly control available in MegaSquirt I, MegaSquirt II, Microsquirt, or MegaSquirt III.

Even non-Super Sport bikes are being equipped with ECU-controlled secondary butterflies. Two examples of "Sport" level bikes with secondary butterfly systems are the European EX-250 fuel injected version and the Ninja 650R. These bikes don't really need them but I think that the motorcycle engine design engineers are "spoiled" by having ECU-controlled secondary butterflies as a tool to fine-tune the bike's performance (especially idle and off-idle).

The European EX-250 fuel injected model uses 28mm throttle bodies. I used one of these Euro EX-250 throttle bodies in my 2005 EX-250 FI conversion. I removed the secondary butterfly system and they work great, but that's because they're sized correctly (28mm for a 125cc cylinder).

Maybe a single supersport TB? It looks like the area of a 28mm TB in the throat would be .953 sqIn. So if you made a manifold to connect 1 40mm TB to it it would be able to equally feed the two cylinders with it's 1.945 sqIn of area at the throat.

Would sure be easier to manage 1 single TB, may even get better MPG that way too.

Bob

[ninja3575]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

What they need to do is stop teasing us and release the MSRP already! LOL!

I agree... Than we'll get some idea on how much we've saved or overpayed on our carb'd ninja's... however, if the price point is competitive.. well than a trade up may be in order... FI ninja 250R anyone? I for one think our ninjettes still look damn better...

[Shadow Man]

I really like this bike. Electronic instrument cluster, FI, and optional ABS. IMO Honda has a winner in this bike. My 2005 ninja needs a stable mate and this bike fits the bill. My starting bid $4,699.00.

[ryu hayabusa]

talked to my local dealer at pro caliber here in bend. he says it'll 100$ under msrp of the ninja. he says this info comes from honda.

[sombo]

Originally Posted by ryu hayabusa

talked to my local dealer at pro caliber here in bend. he says it'll 100$ under msrp of the ninja. he says this info comes from honda.

That means they really are trying to compete with the ninjette. That bike, if properly advertised, will draw in riders I'm sure.

[headshrink]

Originally Posted by ryu hayabusa

talked to my local dealer at pro caliber here in bend. he says it'll 100$ under msrp of the ninja. he says this info comes from honda.

If that is true (hard to believe), there will have to be a Ninjette refresh coming sooner than in another 20 years. The Ninjette is a great bike, but a little competition will keep it that way.

[JeffM]

If Honda can crack the Ninja 250 market in the U.S. I wonder if Yamaha will jump in with their own 250 to grab a bit of the market?

[red]

From the Dallas Motorcycle Show... ABS on the CBR250R too. And FI FI FI. It would be interesting to learn if the CBR is geared silly low like the Ninette, from what I can glean from the specs it is even lower geared than the ninja??.

[DaBlue1]

Originally Posted by red

From the Dallas Motorcycle Show...

Nice pics. Any stats or hint of market prices from the show?

[red]

Originally Posted by DaBlue1

Nice pics. Any stats or hint of market prices from the show?

I thought I had a pic of the info poster, but I don't and can't remember if the msrp was on it, I don't think it was.

[Boom King]

Interesting to note part of the weight difference between the Honda and Kawasaki is due to the fact that the Honda has a 13L tank vs. the 18L in the Ninja. Assuming that the listed specs are for wet weight, the Ninja weighs 170 kg and the 250 Honda 161 kg for non-ABS. I believe a litre of gasoline weighs between 0.71 - 0.77 kg depending on ambient temperature. Honda's entry should be welcome competition for the 250 cc market in North America. My hope would be that it if Honda is successful, it will encourage Suzuki and Yamaha to develop 250 sport bike models of their own and make the 250 class competitive like the 600 and litre class.

[FrugalNinja250]

Originally Posted by red

I thought I had a pic of the info poster, but I don't and can't remember if the msrp was on it, I don't think it was.

It wasn't it said TBD.

[dubojr1]

Anyone know when they'll be on the showroom floors? First bike show close to me is in March...

[devmasa]

I am digging the Orange and black color scheme on this one :

Video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR7iz9Ea8fA

[TygaUSA.com]

Originally Posted by devmasa

I am digging the Orange and black color scheme on this one :

Video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR7iz9Ea8fA

I got the new brochure for the 150R, looks identical to the 250 just less CC, really cool colors for the Asia market ones.

It looks like Honda is going to offer quite a few accessories for this bike going off the catalog for the 150!

[Anteraan]

First off, it's pretty ugly. That VFR-like, pieced-together looking front end, the gawdawful muffler (how big of one do you need for a 250cc single? I don't need a chromed-out, ZX-6 style monstrosity on my bike.), and the likely vibration/roughness at highway speeds - they conspire to make me say, "no thank you".

The real value in this bike for me is that it raises the bar for Kawi by providing competition, along with features currently absent from entry-level bikes. If Yamaha and/or Suzuki follow suit, it will be good times for sure.

[Nemesis]

IDK...I guess I'm the only one digging it. Can't wait to come up with a race paint scheme.

Here are some more CBR250R pics I found online. If you looks closely, some of the parts on the CBR250R look exactly the same on our bikes. Interesting...
























Also found this:

Honda is all set to launch the new CBR250 by April 2011 with a price tag of Rs. 1.5 lakh. The model will be powered by newly developed liquid-cooled 250cc 4-stroke DOHC engine delivering 2.3kgm of Torque.

Official technical specifications of the model are yet not available from the company and the company is quit tight-lipped about its power which is expected to be around 25hp. Honda CBR250R uses programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI), 249.4cc Single powers with a 76mm bore and 55mm stroke. A six-speed gear box will divvy out the power, with a final chain drive.

The design and aesthetics of the bike is said to be inspired by the Honda VFR 1200F but the CBR 250 R looks a bit bigger motorcycle. Disc brakes coupled with thick tyres give that truly sports bike look to the machine. Honda CBR 250 R will ride on Continental tyres in India.

The reason for the competitive pricing is the fact that the super bike will be manufactured in India with certain components being imported from Thailand.
Submitted by Payal Pathak on November 20, 2010

I believe Rs. 1.8 lakh is somewhere in the high $2K to very low $3K USD ballpark figure. I'm not 100% certain. The figure may be their base model (not including ABS brakes and what not).

[devmasa]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

IDK...I guess I'm the only one digging it. Can't wait to come up with a race paint scheme.

I bet you are not the only one


According to today's exchange rate 1.8 lakh Indian rupees is equal to US $3,960

Either way the cbr250r priced at 1.8 lakh rupees (on road price) in India still costs almost half of the ninja 250 in India which is priced at 3.1 lakh rupees.

I believe honda has a winner with the cbr250r for the South-East Asian market

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by devmasa

I bet you are not the only one


According to today's exchange rate 1.8 lakh Indian rupees is equal to US $3,960

Either way the cbr250r priced at 1.8 lakh rupees (on road price) in India still costs almost half of the ninja 250 in India which is priced at 3.1 lakh rupees.

I believe honda has a winner with the cbr250r for the South-East Asian market

Thanks man. The article doesn't say whether the price is for the ABS version or not. If it is then it's a win-win. Then again, the prices may be drastically different for US customers. We'll have to wait and see.

I forget but when does Honda release prices for new models? Wasn't it February of every year for new models?

BTW, how did you come to that figure?

[devmasa]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Thanks man. The article doesn't say whether the price is for the ABS version or not. If it is then it's a win-win. Then again, the prices may be drastically different for US customers. We'll have to wait and see.

That price tag is without the ABS

Originally Posted by Nemesis

I forget but when does Honda release prices for new models? Wasn't it February of every year for new models?

Honda was supposed to announce the price for cbr250r on Nov. 12...

Originally Posted by Nemesis

BTW, how did you come to that figure?

google currency converter :
http://www.google.com/finance/conver...rom=INR&to=USD


Realistically speaking I think Honda will price this motorcycle around $4.5- 5K for the US market

[patw]

Pricing mystery solved:

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/20...at-3999-10999/

Sounds like it's real competition to the Ninja 250. You pay the same price for a bit more tech, a little less power.

[Nemesis]

Is that the going price for the Ninja's nowadays? I thought it was higher like $4300-$4500.

I KNEW Honda was going to price this competitively.

[dubojr1]

Originally Posted by patw

Pricing mystery solved:

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/20...at-3999-10999/

Sounds like it's real competition to the Ninja 250. You pay the same price for a bit more tech, a little less power.

It's actually on the Honda site now too. First couple of lines below the pics.

http://powersports.honda.com/2011/cbr250r.aspx

[Nemesis]

Now to save $4K in two/three months.

Hmm...may have to cut back on Xmas gifts. LOL!

[TygaUSA.com]

I knew it was gonna be right around $4000...gonna sell for about $3300 in Thailand.

[headshrink]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Now to save $4K in two/three months.

Hmm...may have to cut back on Xmas gifts. LOL!

Do it!

We went to a $5 limit last year.

[sombo]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Is that the going price for the Ninja's nowadays? I thought it was higher like $4300-$4500.

I KNEW Honda was going to price this competitively.

$3999 - $4299 for the ninjette from the Kawasaki site.

$3999 - $4499 for the CBR250 w/o and w/ ABS from the Honda site.

It's just the OTD prices that you have to watch for and those vary from dealership to dealership. I remember some dealers trying to charge nearly $7000 or so for a new ninjette, talk about highway robbery. I would expect some dealers to try and price gouge with the CBR250 as well.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Much more competitive pricing than i imagined.

[Boom King]

Canadian prices have been released for the Honda CBR250R:

$4,499 no ABS
$4,999 ABS

Very competitive when you compare the MSRP for the 2011 Ninja 250r here in Canada is listed at $4,999. Even though dealerships may price gouge, the one thing to keep in mind that it is a Honda and with a larger network of dealerships, you can get different quotes and negotiate them against each other.

Edit: Found this video of a review from an Indian TV show where they got to test ride the Honda at the track in Thailand. Generally positive and the tester really liked the low and mid-range pull of the single cylinder engine. He did mention however, that the Ninja feels more connected and sharp through the corners than the Honda although the Honda should be more than adequate for normal street use.

Link to original page on YouTube.

[backinthesaddleagain]

New engine will be easier to adjust valve shims:
The choice of a shim design for valve tappet adjustment reduced the rocker arm weight, while internal engine friction was further reduced by setting the valve spring load to a low level. For ease of maintenance and reduced operating costs, the CBR250R valve shims can be replaced for valve adjustment maintenance without removing the camshafts.

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/...-engine-design