Sep 15, 2012 05:30 PM
101647 Views
I purchased a Honda CBR 250R, just completed a year old, here are a few points I would like to share,
1 - Red colour - have teflon coated. its worth it. Also safe, has high visibility on both city and highway during the day and night, unlike black and gray.
2 - Must have a tank pad...i purchased one from Orion motors near Forum Mall, Koramangala. Rs 1000. It did peel off a bit but I stuck it back with extra glue. No harm there.
3 - Build quality is typical Honda, after a year there are no loose panels or any other funny sounds. I did spot a rust mark but that is fine.
4 - I do not take her out in the rains as the radiator gets completely dirty and is a pain to clean. Do not get it cleaned by your local car wash. They will damage it by just directing the water gun at the radiator which has very delicate fins. Take her to the service center for the wash.
5 - Have taken her on rides to Chennai, Bijapur. Can be tiring because of the posture. You will need to take breaks a bit more than, say, if you were riding a bullet.
6 - Engine is brilliant, a but too raspy but has this jet like whine which rises as you hit higher on the rev band. Its like a small jet fighter.
7 - Very disappointed with the gear box. Very notchy. Which is surprising as I have a Yamaha FZ-S which has better gearbox at much lesser cost. Expected a better build for the price I paid.
8 - Suspension is good for our indian roads but tend to get bouncy at high speeds with uneven roads. Can be unsettling. Not meant for the track unlike the Yamaha R15. Using thicker fork oil in the front will help stiffen. Is the only solution if you want to to reduce the bounce but it also means the shocks are harder. You will feel the road......not good for long distance touring. I have not made any changes.
9 - Mileage is good for a 25bhp single cylinder pocket rocket. I have managed 30kms per liter during my rides. And even though the tank capacity is small, only 10 liters with reserve, the fuel indicator is spot on.
10 - The tyres are great, not a single puncture, touch wood. But I carry a tubeless puncture kit and with a small air pump for my rides.
11 - Do not ride long distances with a bag on your back, will tire you out faster. She has provisions to use bungee cords. The bag stayed stable. Can also accommodate a small tank bag.
12 - Has 3 free services over 1 year. Less service requirements as its liquid cooled. My free services just got over. The last one cost me rs 950.00 including oil change.
13 - I do not have ABS but I feel the normal brakes are good enough. But I have been touring for over 6 years now. So I guess depends on the experience.
14 - Please use proper gear and helmet. I use Cramster riding gear and Sparx full face helmet. I also use ear plugs for high speed rides. It does make a difference.
15 - She is a sports tourer, not really meant for a pillion but not as bad as the Yamaha R15. I am very uncomfortable with a pillion as you cannot fully exploit the merits of the CBR on the road.
16 - Have done a max speed of 146 kmph, She is super stable and smooth. No flat spots due to the fuel injection.
All in all, worth every rupee but not to novices. You need to have good experience and maturity to handle the CBR. Purchased from Haiku Honda, Domlur. I know the mechanics, so I am happy with the service.Plus it does help to know the owner personally. He is a good man.
Happy riding.
