Comments on: 2011 Honda CBR250R: MD Ride Review (Bike Reports) (News)

By: WestonJ

WestonJ — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 01:42:20 +0000

I could NOT be more excited about this bike & I’ve been riding for over a decade. I would constantly upgrade to a “better” bike but always come back to the old Ninja EX250. Why? I just couldn’t stand dropping all the money on tires, fuel, etc. when all that supersport gave me was an ego boost. I wanted fun!

I think FUN is the key for the new CBR25oR. The fuel efficiency, simplicity, Fuel injection, low end torque and excellent maintenance intervals make this an ideal bike for those who want to ride FUN not just fast.

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By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:45:34 +0000

I am a beginner rider and am considering the 250 for my first bike. Any lady riders out there who can tell me what they think about it?

By: Chris #2

Chris #2 — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:28:46 +0000

Does this bike have a radiator fan? Doesn’t say on Honda’s website.

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By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 05:38:26 +0000

Nice review. I really wanted to know if it would be good enough for use on the freeways since i’m from So Cal also.

By: cbr250.org

cbr250.org — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:06:17 +0000

Great write up! and exactly in sync with what our cbr250r members are saying.
Visit http://www.cbr250.org for cbr250r forums,discussions,videos,pictures and ride reports posted by our members.

–Admin
http://www.cbr250.org

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By: CBR250R

CBR250R — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:20:20 +0000

Hi MikeD,

Actually, I didn’t mean that to sound like I was venting. I was hoping that readers might pick up on my point along with some not-so-thinly-veiled sarcastic humour. I have nothing against large bikes. I’m a fan of all motorcycles big and small. I love the fact that we not only have choices when purchasing well-made large displacement bikes but more choices when purchasing well-made low displacement ones too. I was just trying to provide another perspective and draw reader’s attention to certain stereotypes/myths about smalls bikes (or at least claims that are backed up with no apparent evidence) that seem to take on a life of their own and live on into perpetuity in online forums.

Mike

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By: Mark P.

Mark P. — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:11:02 +0000

Funny that everybody says this. In Japan, 400cc standards are very popular, with Honda’s CB400 SuperFour being largely unchanged for well over a decade.

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By: MikeD

MikeD — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:41:47 +0000

WoW….someone was really in the mood for some venting…having said that…ur right.
Nothing wrong with braking to get out of OR prevent “trouble”. Yes, lighter is way easier to steer and stop and what not.
I supose people are just used to the stereotype that the small bikes, at least on the USA have the shittiest of components (frame, brakes, powerplants, u mention it)…can u still blame us ?
Lets use the CBR250R here (steel spagetti tube frame, single disc up front, single cam, spagetti suspenders that look like made in a backyard in Hialeah, overweight bloated bodywork, ok…i think i ran out of “details”)…that’s just my un-educated judging…wich means BLAH to anyone here but the one trying to sell it cause im positive i ain’t the only one judging in such a way.
Use ONE hand to count the “decently equipped” models and u’ll end with an excess of fingers…(the only decent one that comes to mind is the 2012? Aprilia RSV4 125)…and that’s not even a 250.

U can’t go wrong with what u like…ligther SIZED & POWERED Bikes ?…sure, is all cool…even if u run circles around me cause ur ligther,smaller, more nimble and stop faster…but i won’t mind…cause that’s not what rocks my boat…i rather like the feel of being thrusted like a Crazy Mule kicked me on my lower back…(^_^ )

P.S: Im not trying to pick an argument here, just sharing another view on the same subject…plus the fact that i ride an SV1000 sure makes me bias towards the big cc end of the spectrum.

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By: CBR250R

CBR250R — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:44:10 +0000

“You want to have some motor left to get out of the way of that bonehead changing lanes into you.”

“The little 250 had enough motor to be both fun and practical, and more importantly not dangerous on our crowded, often congested freeways.”

Why do I keep reading comments from riders who claim that a bike must invariably accelerate hard to get out of trouble? This is repeated like some kind of mantra. Don’t riders use their brakes anymore? I’m feeling left out here! When did this change happen and why was I not informed?! Am I to conclude that one of the safest bikes on the road today should be a 1000cc sportbike with no brakes at all? Why carry the extra weight around if they aren’t needed? All that is required is to adopt the following heuristic “When a potentially dangerous situation arises – accelerate like Hell!!” Maybe they should be teaching that in the local MSF courses. Very simple message. Very clear. Easy to understand and digest. Highly applicable to all potentially dangerous riding situations too.

Actually, braking is a really effective way of slowing down and avoiding a potentially dangerous situation. At least that is a pet theory of mine (I haven’t actually seen any recent online gold-standard evidence to verify this, so for the moment this is purely speculation). Braking can quickly open up space in front of you for inattentively blind cagers to occupy. If the situation unfolding before you truly becomes dangerous, perhaps slowing down is a good idea anyway. But what about the cager that is riding your a$$ behind you? If you brake quickly, you might end up riding his hood ornament like a guest sampling a sybian on Howard Stern’s show you say? Well – riding a bike can be like playing a game of chess. You need to pay attention, plan your moves carefully and thoughtfully, and utilize your frontal cortex to your best ability to help you plan well ahead. Strategize. If you find yourself in such a compromised situation, you have probably already made several riding mistakes to get there. A friend recently told me that he was cut off 3 times during his short ride into work. I looked at him with a concerned expression and then asked him “What were you doing wrong?”.

Might a well handling light-weight CBR250R (with ABS no less)actually be safer on a crowded highway compared to many other bikes? A more lithe, and compact bike would make you a smaller target, as you occupy less space on the road. A light-weight, well-handling bike should also enable you to more easily swerve or brake to avoid a catastophe. A light-weight, good handling bike might also be more capable of executing an avoidance maneuver on a gravel shoulder or some other unconventional surface if the need arises.

Strange, I never see comments that discuss how fat, monstrous, and overweight high displacement cruisers might be dangerous on a highway because of the amount of space they occupy on the road, their overwhelming heft, and their compromised handling that can become a liability when having to invoke evasive maneuvers in a sea of cagers. I wonder why? Maybe big bikes are less dangerous and people simply don’t get into trouble or crash them. Wow big bike insurance must be cheap.

Mike

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By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:47:57 +0000

I ride an ’82 CM450c & it gets about 55-60 mpg. It weighs just under 400 lbs & I do love it. I have a CBR250r w/ ABS on order & will hopefully have before riding season passes here in western PA. I suspect my 450 might gather dust but I’ll keep it around as my “big bore”. I just know this little thumper is going to steal my heart, and I have been riding for 45 years. I plan to use it to commute to work here in the Pittsburgh area, a 35 mile, one hour commute. I found a nice way around the outskirts of town on twisty, hilly roads I must pass the slugs usually on doulble yellow short straights. I pull it off safely with the acceleration of my paralel twin; I just know this light, torquey, 250 at 40-50 mph will be right in its powerband. I can’t wait to get it.