Honda’s trick new CBR250R - shame it's only 27bhp

Lightweights never get much attention in the bike press … but Honda’s new CBR250R incorporates a few tech tricks that deserve wider publicity.  Twenty-seven tricks actually – the number of patents Honda registered for this bike.

The engine spec. makes it look like a four-stroke enduro – fuel-injected, water-cooling, twin cams, four narrow angle valves, over-square bore and stroke (76mm x 55mm, same as the CBR1000RR), 10.7 compression ratio.  But the tragic thing is that Honda only claims 27bhp for this sporty looking machine, clearly aiming it at the UK’s ‘Category A’ licence-holder - see table below.  Actually that allows a max of 30bhp, so I’m not clear why Honda opted for less.  I'd like it with 33bhp please!

Honda claim that the bike’s ‘ultra compact’ forked roller rocker valve actuation is a first, but that’s what the KTM 250 enduro motor uses.  The KTM is a good comparison as it shares all the engine specs. above.  The KTM also produces waaay more than 27bhp!

(For comparison, the single overhead cam Honda CRF250R motocrosser produces about 37bhp.  It’s a single cam motor tho’).

I was impressed at how compact the CBR’s bottom end is.  Look at how tight the gear-driven primary balancer is - its counterweight whirls between the two crank weights.

Excellent images from Honda, below.  Check out more detail on Honda's website here.










The UK's mad motorcycle licence categories
Category      Description                                                                 Minimum age
P                   Mopeds with an engine size of up to 50 cc
and  a maximum speed of up to 50 km/h                     16
A1                 Light motorcycles with an engine size of
up  to 125 cc and a power output of up to
 11 kW (14.6 bhp)                                                        17
A                   Medium-sized motorcycles up to 25 kW
(33 bhp) and a power to weight ratio
 of up to 0.16 kW/kg                                                    17
A                   Motorcycles with a sidecar and a power to
weight ratio of up to 0.16 kW/kg                                 17
A                   Any size motorcycle, with or without a
sidecar  if you have completed the large
motorcycle  Direct Access Scheme                                21*

*You can ride a large motorcycle at any age two years after passing a test on a medium-sized motorcycle.




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