The Honda CBR250R was Honda's first step in India towards entering the big bike scene in India. The bike came out as a surprise and took the market by storm. The bike appeared as an viable option to those, who wanted a powerful yet comfortable bike, which apart from frisking through traffic, also service as a superb comfortable touring motorcycle without being pain on the back. It started altogether an all new segment of 250cc, as its nearest competitor, the Kawasaki Ninja 250R was (and still is!) priced much higher than it.
The Ninja CBR250R fulfills its big bike appeal very much aesthetically, but instead of the bigger CBRs, the 250R borrows styling cues from the VFR series, which looks smart and bulbous. The bike has a VFR styled headlamp fitted on a full-fairing and includes twin pilot lamps on both upper ends. A transparent front visor above the headlamp and clear lens indicators finish off the front look. The side has a prominent fuel tank, which allows to make the rider feel that he is 'in' the bike. The rear and side body panels have simple lines flowing through them, which look neat and doesn't fowl with the overall design. The rear tail lamp, unlike modern LED units, is just a red bulb, which is a bit disappointing, but it looks good on its part. The alloy wheels and engine are now finished in matte black treatment and looks synchronous with the bike. The instrument console is a combination of analog tachometer and a small and long digital screen which shows speedometer, odometer, trip meter, fuel gauge and engine temperature gauge. The build quality is not that accomplished as other Honda products, but is decent and feels solidly built.
The engine of Honda CBR250R is a 4-stroke, single-cylinder, air cooled, 249cc engine which makes out 26.4 PS of power and 22.9 Nm of torque. The engine, though a single-cylinder, feels powerful as the majority of the available torque is in the lower rev range. The engine is mated to a fabulous six-speed gearbox which makes the use of the available power even more delightful, with evenly matched ratios. The engine feels smooth and refined all the way to the redline.
The CBR250R, rather than being an out an out sportsbike, is a bit soft and compiled up as a sports tourer. The bike feels comfortable for the rider, without being losing on the agility of a 250cc motorcycle. The bike has clip-on handlebars and rear set foot pegs, which tunes up the seating posture in a sporty manner. On the other hand, the split seats have ample room and cushioning to keep the rider away from tiredness. The suspension setup is a combination of front telescopic forks and rear monoshock which is a perfect balance between aggressive handling and pliant ride quality. The brakes are also excellent, with discs at both ends, and the option of ABS makes the deal even more fruitful.
The Honda CBR250R can be easily billed as a quarter liter motorcycle, which can be easily put to everyday usage, as well as for sport-filled rides on weekends. It's a pure value for money product owing to its great usability and versatility. And with the option of an ABS variant, it's one of the safest entry level motorcycles available in India today.
