GIIAS 2016: Honda CBR250RR – the new 250 cc sports

2016 Honda CBR250RR -1

Here is a first look at the 2016 Honda CBR250RR – launched in Indonesia recently – at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS). Coming in as the long-overdue replacement for Honda’s single-cylinder CBR250R, the CBR250RR brings the fight straight to the sports competition in the quarter-litre class, no holds barred, dirty tricks included.

Styling for the CBR250RR is bang up-to-date, with that sharp, angular fairing, and stacked LED headlights, giving the bike a very sinister look. Strangely enough, with all the new styling cues going on here, it makes us wonder if this is very possibly what the replacement for the CBR1000RR – also long overdue for an update – might look like.

Carrying a parallel-twin 249.7 cc liquid-cooled eight-valve power plant, the CBR250RR ticks all the right boxes for performance on the sports side of things. New for the CBR250RR is ride-by-wire, which in Honda parlance gives the rider “total control”. Fuelling is by Honda’s PGM-FI, and there are three ride modes.

Rowing a six-speed gearbox, final drive for the CBR250RR is by chain. The chassis is a steel truss frame affair, welded together with steel mounting plates for the swing-arm.

A non-adjustale upside-down fork does the suspension duties in front, made by Showa while a five-step pre-load adjustable singe shock absorber does the job out back. Braking is with a dual-piston caliper in front while single-piston caliper grabs a petal disc on the rear wheel, while the CBR250RR comes in both ABS and non-ABS versions.

Running with a wheelbase of 1,389 mm makes the CBR250RR look nimble on paper – and we have no reason to doubt this, Honda’s new quarter-litre sports bike comes with a 790 mm seat height, which makes it suitable for a wide range of riders.

2016 Honda CBR250RR -3

With completely re-designed bodywork, the CBR250RR now comes in a very fetching shade of stealthy matte-black, with very little in the way of graphics save the slashed “RR” in red on the side of the fairings, and a discrete “CBR” on the tail-piece.

The seat is very racing-oriented in style, cut narrow in front to facilitate the rider moving around in the saddle for high-speed corner work. There are cut-outs on either side of the rider’s bum for aerodynamics.

A nice touch is the LED lighting throughout, front and rear. It was a surprise to find the DRL on the Honda CBR250RR doubling as turn indicators, removing the turn signal on a stalk design that is currently prevalent due to Euro-centric design rules for motorcycles.

Pricing for the 2016 Honda CBR250RR has not been officially set as yet, but after a discussion with his superior, a PT Astra Honda spokesperson was allowed to tell us that the official Indonesian price for the CBR250RR is between 63 to 68 million Indonesian rupiah (RM19.5k to 21k) for the non-ABS version, while the ABS model goes for between 69 to 74 million rupiah (between RM21k to RM22k).

There was no word on current availability in the Indonesian market, save that the 2016 Honda CBR250RR is slowly making its way to dealers. So, is this the 250 cc sports bike you want Honda to bring in to Malaysia, to go up against the likes of the Yamaha YZF-R25 (RM20,630), KTM RC250 (RM21,081), and Kawasaki Ninja 250 (approximately Rm22,000)?

Is this the 250 sports bike Malaysia wants, or does it get the 250 it really deserves? Leave a comment with your thoughts and opinions, below.

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Mohan K Ramanujam

Coming with diverse and extensive experience in heavy engineering, Mohan enjoys making anything with wheels go fast, especially motorcycles. His weapon of choice is the Desmoquattro engine, and he has a penchant for anything with a dash of Italian design. Strangely enough, he insists he's a slow rider.

 

Comments

  • CBR250RR on Aug 11, 2016 at 4:44 pm

    Nice! Boon Siew bring this in..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 28 Thumb down 0
    • Nicholas Lim on Nov 25, 2017 at 6:18 pm

      Boon Siew faster take this CBR2520RR come in to malaysia

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • kanazai2001 on Aug 11, 2016 at 5:16 pm

    YES!!! I WANT!!!
    bOOn siEw… pls bring it in… with the similar pricetag!!! <3

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 0
  • This, would make me feel so good in between my legs…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • kumakar on Aug 11, 2016 at 7:00 pm

    Use the money and better buy proton car, even with power window jam, at least you wont be wet when driving in the rain….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 47
  • seancorr (Member) on Aug 12, 2016 at 12:59 am

    Looks very futuristic it will be a star if the price is the same as Indo

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Fadzli Syed on Aug 12, 2016 at 7:01 am

    2016, still overprice…even come to msia, price tag will be around r25, ninja 250r, dont expect get lower
    price…while in some country sell less than myr 10k for 250cc range…

    owned hyosung 250r myr 16k, but yet quality parts like proton…engine was ok…the rest parts get ready to change after 1-2years…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
    • hahahaa….typical korean manufacturing is like dat…most of them use for while, broke? get new one and luckly most cases not fatal injury like honda case, coz their sales low volume in malaysia…lol

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Luingatbelimotortadakkeretaka on Aug 12, 2016 at 7:04 am

    Berapa banyak kereta lagi mahu beli daaa

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • sohai on Aug 12, 2016 at 1:31 pm

    Mohan, please get Paul to approve a budget for you to fly over to Indonesia, stay there for a week, and do us a comprehensive review of this bike.
    I am sure it would help the traffic of this site as well.

    This is the ultimate for all B2 license holder!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • Arewad on Aug 12, 2016 at 3:31 pm

    Bring this beast please…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Francis Lim on Aug 12, 2016 at 4:12 pm

    How about a naked bike, Boon Siew? Riding on a street racer give me a back ache sometimes.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Jonathan Joestar on Oct 07, 2016 at 10:56 pm

    Boon Siew Honda ! Pleaseeeeee <3 <3 <3 I NEED this !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • JP Chin on Oct 12, 2016 at 1:26 pm

    So when is it launch in Malaysia…?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • johan on Oct 16, 2016 at 1:09 am

    tolong percepatkan pengeluaran di malaysia please i want it

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • nor azroy on Nov 30, 2016 at 9:20 am

      kan.. aku pun tak sabar tunggu ni .. coz nk pakai g keje ni . naik kete parak lagi minyk dngn jem :D

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Onepiece on Oct 17, 2016 at 9:57 pm

    If you want cheap bike then take the Naza N5R..only Rm13k..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Eddie Ng on Oct 31, 2016 at 11:12 am

    Boon Siew had damaged its own image by selling Honda bike with cheap quality made in china parts. Guess Honda Japan gonna hit Boon Siew hard this round. So, if Boon Siew is able to bring her in, guess price won’t be attractive to bikers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Yegan on Dec 07, 2016 at 1:57 am

    when this will launch in malaysia?? im waiting for buy this bike. doesn’t matter at what price, i will still buy this beast. Hope to launch fast in Malaysia. i cant wait.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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