VFR gets a sistership CBR250R

After a few hundred miles on the CBR, I must say it is a fantastic little machine. I did 200 miles on it the other day, roundtrip from the Maine coast to Whitehorse Gear in NH to get a tailbag. On the ride home, having felt I'd sufficiently broken her in, I was pretty hard on it when I could be, which was quite often. I got over 70mpg!

I bought it for several reasons, the main being anyone can ride it. Confirmed, it's as easy as the first Honda you ever rode. My VFR is a DCT (which I think is cool as s**t), shifting this little jewel gives me my fix of traditional shifting in a very pleasurable fashion. My other bikes are antiques that I don't trust many to ride, and my XR650L is too tall for most riders (I'm 6', and back when I got it I dropped it, or shall I say bailed, twice turning arounds).

I peeled off the CBR stickers and added the Honda badges. The tank decals are under the clearcoat, so there to stay.

I will probably tweak it out over time, but it is fine as is. I would like to go with an Acrapovic slip-on (love my Akro on the VFR!!!) and bazzaz quickshift kit. A little more noise, Akro style, would be nice, and quick shifting sounds like a natural for this swiss watch.

Overall riding impression is fantastic. As I thought, you can wring this little thing right out at every opportunity, having a blast working that lovely mill and gearbox, or, just toot along, either very capably. On the backroads if you are below 5000 rpm you had better downshift. If you think to yourself "maybe I should have already downshifted", your another gear away too - downshift twice! On the highway it's really quite tolerable up into the 70's as long as you don't expect any reserve "punch". It's a flippin' 250 folks! Unlike the VFR, which is at around 135 mph at redline in 4th, this just flirts with the 80's in 5th or 6th unless you have a whole lot of room. It's a hoot, really.

I had trouble finding an ABS model in Red/Silver. My closest Honda dealer, who has lost four or five sales opportunities from my wallet, had two Red/Silver non-ABS models. I asked him if he might be able to locate me one with ABS, he replied "Why?" "I simply asked "Why not?" He replied "Because it's ridiculous!" He never even looked, I'm sure. They have good parts people, but the Sales and Service Departments at TriSports in Topsham Maine are clueless! I bought it in NH with help from the dealer from whom I purchased my VFR, the only one in New England.

It's every bit as nice a 250 as the VFR is as a 1200+. Of course fit and finish is to a different standard, but I must say I love this little bike. Looking forward to see which ends up with more miles in the long-run . . . I will jump on this for short trips I'd never consider the VFR for, like the post office. Low and slow folks . . .

 

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet little 250 I want one I love that little bike. Well done Honda :whoo:

 

Good review, glad you like it! I took my daughter by the dealer the other day to "try one on", both of her feet were only toes on the ground, so gonna have to wait a year or 2 for her to grow some more (12 yr old). She's been riding with me on her Yamaha TTR-110 dirt bike on the county roads but she needs a real street bike. The law doesn't mind here, there's guys riding 4 wheelers out here on the county roads. Don't they make the CBR250 with ABS? That may be a good option for a kid.

 

I am certain Honda has built an awesome 250.
As an owner of a 2010 VFR I am not excited about sharing the look of my bike with other 1000cc + bikes let alone a 250. The VFR is a flagship bike that should stand alone.

 

250R --great w/ the VFR

I can vouch for the 250R. I have a 2011 that has 9,000 miles on it. I use the 250 for daily commuting of around 50 miles. For 1/2 of the miles I am on I-95 and for the other 1/2 I am on city streets. It is unbelievable the practicality and the FUN of the 250. You just have to know that when you are doing 80mph and the tach is at 8,500 RPM that you aren't going to be able to punch it forward to get around a cager. Very impressed w/ the torque from this amazing single cylinder engine. Also, the 250 literally turns just by thinking about turning and the engine temp never gets hot enough to really feel any heat on the legs. My 2010 VFR DCT is my favorite ride of course but I view the 250R as my utility/overall/killer gas mpg vehicle that is able to do a lot and get over 70mpg while doing it! Case in point - I weigh 165 lbs. Just the other day I gave the 13rd old (100lbs) a ride into town. The 250 did fine ...just a little slower ..but no significant handling issues.

 

Dude thats killer! Sounds fun, I want one! lol