Honda 250cc "sports" Bike

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

this sounds kinda cool. 250cc fuel injected single piston. looks like they are doing this in response to the ninja 250



i wonder what the price will be like

[Paulcet]

I was just about to post this subject....  Looks interesting, but I don't think it will be successful unless the price comes in UNDER the Ninja 250.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/625/8275/Motorcycle-Article/2011-Honda-CBR250R-First-Look.aspx

[tt_four]

I think it looks really cool. I'm glad some manufactures are putting out some cool looking smaller bikes. Is that going to be available in the US?

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

That's cool and all...but I just don't understand. Why not more updates on the 500's. Like FI and USD forks. They spend all this time and money on the 250's but leave the 500's out off it.

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@tt_four yes i just saw that one the honda america site. i was on it yesterday and that page just came up today.

the lack of sub 500 sport bikes in the US is def a prob. even the ninja 250 is still using carbs...bahhh.

[tt_four]

That's cool and all...but I just don't understand. Why not more updates on the 500's. Like FI and USD forks. They spend all this time and money on the 250's but leave the 500's out off it.

Honda doesn't have a 500. I don't even think kawasaki is making their ex500 anymore, are they? I think the ex250 sells extremely well without any real updates to it, and Honda just wanted in on it. People who are getting their first bike to learn on don't care about FI and forks, they're just happy to be on a bike, let alone one that actually looks good like the ex and cbr250s. I Put 14k miles on the old style ex250 and that thing was ugly as sin.

Eventually they'll all have FI. I don't know why all bikes doesn't have USD forks by now. They look SO much better and would definitely help cheaper bikes sell a little better since USD is pretty much the line of when something is a serious bike or just something they threw together and cut corners. I mean really, how much more expensive is it to make USD forks? You just make the holes in the triples bigger and flip the things upside down!

[Firstoni]

Kawasaki still makes the ex500, I almost bought a new one instead of a GS500... decided I liked the GS more

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they still sell the ninja 500?...i'm gonna guess you're not in the U.S.?   internet go around vorld

[CliffHanger]

Did anyone else notice the CBR250 is going to have a larger rear tire than the GS?
It would be interesting to see the head-to-head results with the Kawasaki 250 though

[Firstoni]

they still sell the ninja 500?...i'm gonna guess you're not in the U.S.?   internet go around vorld

Actually I am in the US,  texas to be exact =P Much like the GS it was not a 2010/2011 model but was still a brand new 500 straight from a dealer,

http://www.kawasaki.com//Products/product-specifications.aspx?id=315

4,199.00 + tax title etc

[CliffHanger]

Also FYI
Kawasaki is releasing a 400cc Ninja in Canada. It's a sleeved Ninja 650 so a Parallel Twin design.

http://www.kawasaki.ca/model/ninja-400r:1256

Alot more coin though... 7500CDN.

[tt_four]

How big is the back tire on the cbr? The ex250 has been the only small bike for so long now, that I'm sure a magazine or 2 will take the chance to compare the 2 now that Honda is finally giving it a shot.

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so they're just selling the leftover 09 models at the dealer?  sounds like a phase out.

sleeved down 650 engine is a shame. might ass well just get the 650. why would you buy a crippled 650?

it would be really cool if honda made a cbr400 or 500. i like the gs500 but an equivalent honda would be very tempting.

[madjak30]

That's cool and all...but I just don't understand. Why not more updates on the 500's. Like FI and USD forks. They spend all this time and money on the 250's but leave the 500's out off it.

It was an emmissions thing that ended the 500cc engine...they couldn't clean it up enough to make it work for 2010...

Also FYI
Kawasaki is releasing a 400cc Ninja in Canada. It's a sleeved Ninja 650 so a Parallel Twin design.

http://www.kawasaki.ca/model/ninja-400r:1256

Alot more coin though... 7500CDN.

It is more money, but look at the asking price for a GS500F...$7199 CDN...and you get fuel injection and a more modern chassis...

Canada is getting a lot of smaller bikes lately that the States didn't get...

Honda

CBR125R...



CBF600SA...



Kawasaki Ninja 400R...



Sometimes it is good to be Canadian...

Later.

[CliffHanger]

Yeah, I think Canada is like a test market for the Motorcycle companies.
Many models intro to Canada before moving state-side (or not).

The CBR250 rear wheel is 140/70 according to the link provided.

Finally, I agree with "just get the Ninja 650R!" sentiment.  The 650 is another $1200 (That's 8700CDN) and the new models look really good.

http://www.kawasaki.ca/model/ninja-650r:1254

[fontanarider]

That cbr250 looks nice

[tt_four]

I can never understand what the deal is with those mini windscreens on the cb125s. They'd be ok looking bikes if it wasn't for those. It reminds me of Hot Wheel's idea of what a custom sportbike should look like.

[madjak30]

They're also a really small bike...my 12yo daughter can almost flat foot the thing, and she isn't very tall for her age...

Later.

[noworries]

Manufacturing base for the CBR250 will be Thailand and India. Side-on, that exhaust box dosen't grab me on looks.

[tt_four]

No sportbike exhausts really do anything for me. There's no point in making them look good, you should just hide them. My favorite exhausts are the ones tucked in the tail on cbr600rrs, or tucked under the motor like on the Buells. The only bikes I've seen with exhausts that I didn't really mind was the 03-04 636r, because it wasn't big, and it was polished, so it actually looked simple and clean, and then the one on the 04 zx10 because they put a good angle on it. Otherwise I just would rather a simple straight exhaust. I know manufactures are trying, but seriously, don't try to attract attention to a stock exhaust. It's never going to look good.