The attractively faired CBR250R looks a full-size bike. This sporty quarter-liter motorcycle resembles Honda’s VFR1200F, also sporting a mass-centralized stance. The front fairing extends down to shroud its engine bay, and a curved visor provides ample high speed wind protection, wrapping around a sporty cockpit.
Neat attention to detail is apparent in the attractive steering head region, and you get clip-ons mounted above the triple clamp. We liked the 250R’s blue backlit LCD instruments with silver trim and a compact, easily deciphered layout. An analog tachometer dominates this bay, while you also see a bold digital speedometer, in addition to odometer, trip-counter, clock, fuel and temperature readouts. Switches include all you require, while there are smart buffed-alloy levers and nice feeling palm grips, although we missed the functionality of an adjustable clutch lever.
Curb weight, claimed to be 368 lbs. with ABS and 359 lbs. without, should likewise be comparable to the Ninja 250R's measured 377 lbs. You read that correctly: Honda's Combined ABS is optional, a first on a bike this small. A simple tubular frame forms a solid foundation, tied to a box-section steel swingarm by Honda's Pro-Link rising-rate suspension linkage. The 37mm fork is non-adjustable, though the single shock offers five preload settings. The sporty bodywork borrows liberally from Honda's full-sized CBRs, as well as the flagship VFR1200F.
Honda hasn't announced an MSRP yet, but expect it to be close if not equal to the Kawasaki's $3999 price tag. Manufacturing in Honda's Thailand facility will reduce production costs. Such favorable specifications suggest that the CBR250R has all the makings of a sales success. The smaller CBR125 is consistently one of the best-selling bikes of any displacement in Europe-in fact, it's the best selling bike in the UK-and Kawasaki's Ninja 250 was one of the very few bikes that continued to post decent sales in America through the recent economic downturn. Here's hoping this new entrant blows the quarter-liter sportbike class wide-open in America, and we'll have the option to buy a Suzuki GSX-R250 and Yamaha YZF-R2.5 next.