[prof_stack]

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=42456

Single cylinder, liquid cooled, 360lbs wet, 17-inch wheels.

Built in Thailand and India.

[prof_stack]

Nice video:

http://world.honda.com/CBR250R/video/index.html

[singhg5]

@Prof:

It is an interesting bike - a 'toned down' version of more muscular, speedier and expensive CBR1000.  With all the bells and whistles, CBR250R will be popular in India and other Asian countries.  It will be a good addition to the world wide motorcycle market.  Honda knows how to capture the market - they typically set benchmarks for others to follow.

But it is not a long-stroke thumper in one sense - bore x stroke is 76 x 55 mm, which is the same for CBR1000 engine.  That title of REal Thumper remains with RE - 84 x 90 mm  .  

Honda in India has literally made millions of bikes over the years.  My guess is it will give RE more competition in India.  Look forward to see its price, handling, and engine power / performance.

[Sam Simons]

 Nice bike,typical Honda quality I'll guess....It's far heavier than I expected for the small displacement.....

[cyrusb]

Lots of good details but no price. Would be nice to see a race series based on them.

[RBHoge]

Ah Yes! Another "Sport Bike"
 I suppose that the 'style' of these bikes is supposed to allow better handling. cut wind resistance, yada-ta-yada, not to mention poor visibility.  On the other hand, riding hunched over in such a manner could be a smart economical move, particularly with the higher powered "Sport Bikes." Often times I have observed  that the "Sport Bikes" over power their (often inexperienced) riders. Here we come to the economy advantages of the "Sport Bike's" rider position. In a head-on collision the rider's body can be neatly crammed into the helmet, thus avoiding the cost of a coffin.
On the other hand the idea of a 250cc "Sport Bike" sounds almost sane,  I doubt that one will ever see a 250 weaving through rush hour traffic. at seventy miles per hour.

[GreenMachine]

overseas market will be good...especially euro/pound prices of fuel per litre..wonder if it will have a more upright seating vice the standard sportbike stance...it probably be alot of fun on the back roads.  the gas mileage will be great and i could see the younger crowd keen on getting them... 

[Ice]

 looks and sounds like Honda did their homework for the market segment that bike is aimed toward. It should be fun too.

[prof_stack]

No word yet on MSRP.  If it is less than $5k (US) with ABS it will sell okay.  The Suzuki TU250 is around $4K for 2011, so Honda can go a little higher, with the fancier stuff on the CBR (tach, fairing, counter-balancer, water-cooling (not a plus for me), etc. ).

The seating position doesn't look like rocket racer, but more like a forward lean which actually might be more comfortable than having the rump bear most of the weight.

[blueberry]

I'm not a sport bike/high tech kind of person. Give me that engine in a standard and I would be a happy camper.

[Chasfield]

I had one of these in 1980:

http://www.classicmotorcycles.org.uk/classicbikes/cb_honda_cb250rs.htm

They were very popular here in the UK until learners were restricted to 12 HP  125s

300 pounds and 25 horses made for a sweet little thumper.

I wish they had done a 350 version with the same lightweight cycle parts.

[PhilJ]

The seating position doesn't look like rocket racer, but more like a forward lean which actually might be more comfortable than having the rump bear most of the weight.

Oh yes and much easier on the back than a vertical setting position.

[prof_stack]

Oh yes and much easier on the back than a vertical setting position.

My former Buell XB9S had that type of riding position with a better balance of weight between rump, feet, and hands.  And yes, the lower back prefers it.

But a back-rest for the driver is also a good thing.  My former Electra-Glide had one and it made longer rides very pleasurable.

[boggy]

I'm all for Honda trying to get first time riders, and commuters to think about a smaller engine size by offering up massive styling.  It may not be for your average RE veteran, but it might encourage some Johnny-crotch-rockets out there to think about a more reasonable entry bike.  I'm not sure your average 18 year old new rider is looking to get into classic styling.  We're like, in the future, man.

I'm seeing more and more Ninja 250s these days as commuters.  I'm sure Honda has taken notice as well. 

The Ninja 250's seating position is quite comfortable and not at all like a 600RR or liter-bike.  Just enough weight over the bars relieves the old ass and lower back on those longer rides.