2011 Honda CBR 250R

2011 Honda CBR 250R

The 2011 CBR250R is Honda’s response to this demand. Twin-cylinder engines are commonplace in the 250 class but the CBR250R is designed around an all-new 249.4cm3 single-cylinder engine with liquid cooling, an efficient 4-valve DOHC cylinder head and PGM-FI fuel injection. This single-cylinder configuration makes for a lighter, more compact and more fuel-efficient powerplant that also boasts a supremely usable torque curve.

The rest of the CBR250R package is similarly balanced, combining satisfying performance with the kind of refinement and easygoing usability that make a difference on every ride. The result is extraordinary – a truly versatile 250cc sportsbike with unrivalled fuel economy.

Main features

- Powerful liquid-cooled 249.4cm3 single-cylinder engine with dual overhead camshafts and four valves for strong torque and outstanding acceleration.
- Advanced PGM-FI fuel injection for superb throttle response and impressive fuel economy.
- Diamond twin-spar steel frame with 37mm telescopic forks and Pro-Link Monoshock rear suspension for outstanding handling and ride quality.
- Stylish full fairing.
- C-ABS version with Honda’s Combined Antilock Braking System for secure braking in all conditions.
- Multi-function digital instruments including speedometer, tachometer, engine temperature display, multi-segment fuel gauge and odometer/trip meter.

Ergonomic Design:-

Instinctive riding position

The CBR250R’s riding position is fundamental to its versatility, ensuring comfort and control regardless of the task at hand. It is designed around a low seat height of just 784mm, which puts riders of any stature at ease immediately since even shorter riders can easily put a supporting foot on the ground when stopping. The result is increased rider confidence and a bike that is in its element carving through traffic jams and other busy urban environments.

The position of the handlebars and footpegs works with the seat to create a sporty riding position that offers outstanding control and a feeling of being at one with the bike. At the same time rider movement is not restricted in any way. Indeed, so balanced is the riding position that even long days on the road are a joy, relaxing the body and leaving the mind free to concentrate on riding.

Outstanding manoeuvrability

Lightweight at just 162kg (166kg for the C-ABS version), the new bike’s manoeuvrability is further enhanced by its perfect chassis balance. In fact, what little weight there is seems to disappear once the bike is on the move.

The CBR250R’s sophisticated ergonomics are underlined by its multi-function digital instruments, which display all the information the rider needs at a glance. The result is less time looking at the display and more attention on the road. Speed, engine revs, engine temperature, fuel level, time and an odometer/trip meter are all clearly displayed.

With the power to carry two people effortlessly, the CBR250R is a very capable pillion machine. Grab rails on the tail unit are specially designed to take gloved hands, giving passengers a secure point of contact. Beneath the pillion seat a storage area makes the CBR250R a hugely practical bike, with space for the owner’s manual and toolkit that come with the bike as well as an optional U-lock, raincoat or emergency kit.

Engine

The heart of the new CBR250R is an all-new liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine. Employing a 4-valve cylinder head with dual overhead camshafts, the new engine was developed with an unwavering focus on efficiency and usable torque.

By reducing internal friction to a minimum, the CBR250R engine boasts both gutsy performance and extraordinary fuel economy. And while the peak power figure of 19.42kW at 8500rpm is impressive, it is the relentless torque the engine develops from very low revs that defines the riding performance. Indeed the outstanding peak torque output of 22.9Nm combined with the bike’s low weight delivers class-leading acceleration, both from a standstill and in-gear. This translates into effortless traffic-beating performance and huge rider satisfaction, in town and beyond.

Single-cylinder configuration

Where many of its rivals use multi-cylinder engines, the CBR250R’s single-cylinder powerplant offers many benefits. Because the number of moving parts is kept to an absolute minimum, the engine is more fuel efficient, saving the owner money at the petrol pumps. This mechanical simplicity also reduces servicing costs – another essential element in creating a hassle-free ownership experience. A single-cylinder engine is also more compact, helping create a bike that is at once lighter and more manageable than the multi-cylinder competition. Finally, because the engine is physically small, it has been positioned perfectly within the chassis for an ideal front/rear weight distribution which gives the bike superb handling.
PGM-FI

Like all the machines in the CBR family, the CBR250R employs Honda’s advanced PGM-FI fuel injection system for smooth, responsive power delivery and superb fuel economy. The Electronic Control Unit works in conjunction with the bike’s electronic ignition to deliver the perfect amount of fuel to the cylinder at all times. The result is an engine that really does have it all; a broad spread of power delivered with the immediacy only a fuel injection system can deliver. To ease maintenance the CBR250R uses an external fuel filter for the PGM-FI system, further reducing maintenance costs.

Six-speed transmission

As befits a machine with performance and versatility, the CBR250R uses a six-speed transmission to make light work of riding at any speed. The six ratios work with the bike’s power delivery to optimise acceleration and deliver both refinement and economy when cruising.

Chassis

The engine is mounted in a steel diamond twin-spar frame. This frame configuration is lightweight, contributing to the bike’s low kerb weight. It is also immensely strong, providing a rigid platform on which to mount the front and rear suspension systems. This rigidity is key to stability and swift handling, and on the new CBR250R the frame’s rigidity balance has been carefully optimised for sporty dynamics and superb stability at speed. The rider and passenger seats are supported on a strong secondary frame capable of carrying a substantial load.

Suspension

Suspension behaviour was crucial to meeting the CBR250R’s brief: to provide levels of sophistication and refinement not normally found on such a competitively priced machine. The bike features a hydraulically damped 37mm fork at the front and Honda’s Pro-Link Monoshock rear suspension configuration. This uses a linkage to help the Monoshock damper control the swingarm movement generated as the rear wheel moves up and down over bumps. The result is a superb ride quality combined with the poise and feedback that supports sports riding on challenging roads.

High performance wheels, tyres and brakes

The CBR250R uses big-bike wheel and tyre sizes for enhanced levels of grip and serious presence on the road. The cast wheels mount a 110/70-MC17 front tyre and a 140/70-MC17 rear tyre – purposeful rubber for a serious motorcycle. Braking is taken care of by a large-diameter 296mm disc and a powerful dual-piston caliper at the front. At the rear a smaller 220mm disc and single-piston caliper further boost the bike’s stopping capability while also offering the controlled rear-wheel braking required to perform low-speed riding manoeuvres.

Combined ABS

The new CBR250R is also available in a Combined ABS version. Honda’s advanced Combined Antilock Braking System links the front brake control to the rear brake and prevents tyre slip when braking, ensuring safe and powerful deceleration in all situations. The system’s ECU uses sensors to monitor the speeds of the front and rear wheels. If these sensors detect that one wheel is beginning to rotate more slowly than the other, suggesting the first hint of tyre slip, the Combined Antilock Braking System modulates the braking effort to ensure full grip is retained. Thus it maximises braking ability while retaining complete control of the bike.