Sat on a CBR250R at the bike show

[bluepoof]

Overall, I was decently impressed.

It felt a wee bit taller than my Ninja 250, but not so much as to turn me off from the bike if I were in the market.  

The ergos are a bit more aggressive than the Ninja's, which is interesting -- the Ninja has quite a cult following on the racetrack and it'll be cool to see if the Honda starts infringing on that monopoly.  For street riding, though, I would definitely need bar risers on the CBR250R -- my wrists were at a funny angle when I sat normally.

I still like the styling of the Ninja more than the CBR.  Just personal preference.  But in person, it looks like Kawasaki is deliberately trying to make the 250 look like its bigger cousins, and Honda seems to want the 250 to stand out as its entry level bike.  No problem with that; I just happen to like the styling on the Ninja better.  

One thing I was very impressed with was that a Honda rep was standing by the CBR250R and came over with a clipboard to anyone who seemed to be interested in the bike (by which I mean, anyone who sat on it for more than 5 seconds, or who was having a reasonably intelligent conversation about the bike).   He asked me the clipboard questions, which were the standard age/gender/how long have you been riding/what bikes do you currently have, but they also asked height (not inseam, though) and a few specific questions about the first impressions of the CBR250R.  I liked that -- I think the more input we can give the manufacturers, the better!

No word on price, though.  

Here's me and my equally short friend Kim on the CBR250Rs:

[HipGnosis]

What did they say when you asked about price?

[bluepoof]

What did they say when you asked about price?

Honestly, I forgot to ask the guy with the clipboard.   I was talking to him about inseam and entry level bikes and the Ninja and etc and it only occurred to me after we left that I should have asked him as the booth itself didn't mention price at all.  

[falconati]

supah sexy.  want.

[DosEquis00]

It is a good looking bike  

[Rincewind]

Thanks for the pic and write-up.  Looks like a good bike to me, but the pricing is going to be important for its success.

[veefer800canuck]

supah sexy.  want.

Hey now, she's married and stuff.   No allowed!

Bite your tongue, or the Den Mother will have to roll out of Joisy and throw BB's at your bike!    

[GRN]

What did they say when you asked about price?

They are promising the dealers to meet the market eye to eye, right around/just under $4K for non-ABS.

[motormike]

CBR250R.

2011 MSRPs: $3,999 (Standard Version), $4,499 (ABS Version)



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

[bluepoof]

Was just about to post this.  

Sounds like good competition for the Ninjettes!  

[atadaskew]

Honda....hate....fading......

Dammit.

[ST-DocLizard1]

Looks great, but I'm not ready to give up my 1990 model just yet.

[mike in oregon]

Yay!  I've been bikeless for a few months and it's either this or a '71 Moto Guzzi ambassador in ridable, reliable shape-they cost about the same.  Hmmmm.

[atadaskew]

Yay!  I've been bikeless for a few months and it's either this or a '71 Moto Guzzi ambassador in ridable, reliable shape-they cost about the same.  Hmmmm.

It's going to be about 5 months before the Honda is available..

Get the Guzzi now, it'll be worth the same in 6 months..

[Zerosum]

One thing I was very impressed with was that a Honda rep was standing by the CBR250R and came over with a clipboard to anyone who seemed to be interested in the bike (by which I mean, anyone who sat on it for more than 5 seconds, or who was having a reasonably intelligent conversation about the bike).   He asked me the clipboard questions, which were the standard age/gender/how long have you been riding/what bikes do you currently have, but they also asked height (not inseam, though) and a few specific questions about the first impressions of the CBR250R.  I liked that -- I think the more input we can give the manufacturers, the better!

Wow, you probably found the one person at Honda NA who's actually interested in learning what people actually want.  That clipboard probably represents a significant chunk of their market research budget.  

[bluepoof]

Wow, you probably found the one person at Honda NA who's actually interested in learning what people actually want.  That clipboard probably represents a significant chunk of their market research budget.  

I should have ranted at him more then!

[Giaka]

Man I really didnt want another bike but....................

[Kraz]

Yay!  I've been bikeless for a few months and it's either this or a '71 Moto Guzzi ambassador in ridable, reliable shape-they cost about the same.  Hmmmm.

Had an old Ambo myself... it was a bear to ride.  I liked riding a later model Guzzi more (V11 Sport).  Personally I'd get a used new style Ninja 250 and have money to throw some bags on, but I guess it's all in what you want in a bike, and if you're looking to ride or keep resale, value... how much you're going to ride, what kind of riding, and yaddi yaddi yadda.

[motormike]

Sport Rider magazine just did a comparison of the Honda CBR250R, Hyosung GT250R, Kawasaki Ninja 250R.  This issue was just delived to my house this week.

What was interesting is not only did their guys do a review, but they had three newbies also give their reviews.  The Honda CBR250 seems like it competes very well with the Ninja250R.  I think they bottom line (or what I took from the article) was the Ninja 250 had more engine (I think they were referring to highway speeds) that it could satisfy newbies for longer before they wanted to upgrade.

I like the ABS and styling of the Honda CBR 250 but don't like the looks of the mufler.  Several reviewers didn't like the location of the speedomter as they thought it was too low meaning you had to look down quite a bit to see it.

[veefer800canuck]

For longer distances, the Ninjette should win out due to the fact that it's a twin.

The SR report seems to bear that out.

[Rincewind]

My local dealer has gotten two of the 250's in stock, which means I finally got to sit on one, too.  It felt quite light, and it seemed rather nicely finished.  I like the Ninja 250's, but these Honda's seem a bit more "grown up" in their styling.  I appreciate the little things like integrated pillion grab handles.  They are listed at $4700 OTD with tax, tags, and fees.  I keep recommending this bike to my wife but she is not very interested.

[DosEquis00]

Is that ECS?

[Rincewind]

Is that ECS?

Yes that's right.

BTW - that VFR800 in the background is worth noting - less than 700 miles for reasonable money, with extras. /threadjack

[ConPilot1]

I keep recommending this bike to my wife but she is not very interested.

translation: I want to ride this bike, honey. Buy it, we'll call it your's, but I get to ride it.  

[Rincewind]

translation: I want to ride this bike, honey. Buy it, we'll call it your's, but I get to ride it. 

Pretty much.    But she rides too much that I'd hardly get to ride it.