1987 Honda CBR250R

Summary:

Fantastic, just make sure the last guy changed the oil!

Faults:

Bought the motorbike with low oil. Topped up before leaving to drive it home (1700kms). I changed the oil and it went another 400kms before it was running really badly - blown main and con rod bearings.

Got a replacement 2nd hand engine, which worked for 1000kms before holing piston #1!

Noisy cam gears - impossible to fix (tried using 3 different sets!), so I built up a new engine.

Goes through 428 (heavy duty) chains like nothing I've ever seen before! (probably should find out if I can get 520 chain for it)

General Comments:

Wing mirrors actually work.

Handling is excellent.

The high red line and power band make it very fun to ride. Nothing else on the road sounds like it.

Brakes very well (mine has dual front discs)

Bike is big for a 250. Looks normal sized in height compared to other bigger bikes. I am nearly 2m tall and yes it isn't perfect but it's not bad.

Seat is hard. I have traveled long distance (up to 1600kms in 1 day) and you do get saddle sore onset after 4+ hours, but it never gets really bad.

Once I discovered the way to align the rear wheel properly that didn't involve the markings on the swing arm, fuel economy jumped from 180-200kms max (200-220 inc reserve) to a whopping 220kms + reserve of more than 20km. Fuel economy is consistently around 16-18km/L, riding fast or not.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th December, 2008

30th Jun 2012, 06:37

Hi, I'm looking to buy a CBR250RR soon, and the only thing I'm worried about is that I'm too tall for it. I'm 193cm tall. Would I be too tall for the bike?