[isodope]

Originally Posted by speedfreak7116

Please update 0-60 and 0-100 timings once you guys are done with running them in. We need to compare this to the Ninja and see what Honda has given us for half the price.

The Ninja's faster, but you'll chew the clutch up trying to outrun a CBR250. In the real world the CBR will always be faster. On a track it's the other way around.

Originally Posted by Tommie

I finally got the test drive today for close to 400 meters. I have decided to cancel my booking and got the booking amount right away.

Top Reason for Cancellation: Bike did not meet my expectations. In other terms, the DNA of the bike did not match with me.

Here is some feedback from my short ride with the pillion from the showroom:
- I felt its just age of grown up from a CBZ or Karizma in terms of performance and not a radical new generation micro-super bike. The steam would show up only in real racing track.
- Driving position too low for my size.
- Too much of vibrations for 450+ km done bike. I felt better driving a Machismo 500 or an RD 350 in terms of vibrations and smoothness.
- Its was no where close to an RD350 adrenaline rush on this. Felt more like driving on a Karizma in terms of this short commute.
- Found it difficult to take a full U-Turn
- The rear view mirrors bolts were already rusted
- Brakes felt awesome, stops right there. A real quick stopper that I have experienced on these class of bike (150CC+) bikes.

The vibes must be an issue with the test bike - do ride another example and see. You're right about it being a grown-up Karizma, but Honda's worldwide focus for the 250 is the beginner, so it won't have an adrenaline rush - for that, look at the opponent in the green corner. Rusty bolts are apparently a common problem with the CBR.

Originally Posted by deehunk

Team,
I have booked CBR (non ABS) on 27th June and my booking number is 129, Not sure but he said it would take up to 4 months ? But he said we can book in multiple showrooms, but that said i have a question... Will that matter if i again book in a showroom if they took booking up to 60 and am 61, Is there a possibility i get the bike in second showroom early ?

I did a test drive, Just got amazed with the power delivery of CBR, very smooth gear shits. I feel digital speedo is just not that great as Analog coz i have Karizma R and thats just great when compared a pulsar/dazzler digital speedo. Looking at numbers for speed is not that cool as looking at Analog

How do i find the actual difference with and without ABS on CBR, coz we never get change to drive a non ABS for test drive. Any feedback on the difference is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Mohan

PS: never interact/book your vehicle with Sphire honda (JP Nagar, Bangalore), the most arrogant people i have seen.I had very bad experience for CBR testdrive.

The only non-ABS one I've ridden had terrible brakes - I hope to be proved wrong, may just get to ride another example soon. They're made by Bybre in India, while the ABS ones are made by Nissin in Japan. Go for the latter, they're far better.


Didn't get the "premium customer" feeling from the dealer so far. Am disappointed with the experience.

[Tommie]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

Mate do compare apples to apples, RD in its hey day would outrun a Kwacker 750 triple, Reason : its a 2 stroker more engineered for on track performance compared to CBR which is good mixture of all genres combined.

I am comparing on the Performance Vs experience. Both the bikes have a 0-100 kmph around 7 secs and both can go to 160 kmph. So what about the experience. Both are apples but one Fuji Apple and the other Washington Apple. Which one would you like is the question here.

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by Tommie

I am comparing on the Performance Vs experience. Both the bikes have a 0-100 kmph around 7 secs and both can go to 160 kmph. So what about the experience. Both are apples but one Fuji Apple and the other Washington Apple. Which one would you like is the question here.

RD350 Any day for me mate, if you are looking for experience
Been owning one from 99 and wow she still amazes me with her abilities. The blue smoke with the ring-ding-ring just adds up to it. A bike with a lot of character a sad pity she was launched when the Indian Market was not ready.

[Tommie]

Originally Posted by isodope

The vibes must be an issue with the test bike - do ride another example and see. You're right about it being a grown-up Karizma, but Honda's worldwide focus for the 250 is the beginner, so it won't have an adrenaline rush - for that, look at the opponent in the green corner. Rusty bolts are apparently a common problem with the CBR.

Didn't get the "premium customer" feeling from the dealer so far. Am disappointed with the experience.

You said it right on all the areas.

The bike felt like it has been gone through some serious engine work.

On the rusting part, i doubt whether the honda quality factors are there for it. In one of my other threads, I had put up on the life of a honda active where the fork was completed rusted.http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motorb...da-activa.html

The test drive accompany was doing me a favor by giving a test drive. Poor customer centric focus even as a sales agency. I even wrote to Honda customer care, but no reply from them too.

I hope the Honda Cars sales experience(poor sales of City, Civic, Jazz) currently Honda is going through would give them an early learning to treat customers better.

[rk_sans]

I have posted my small ownership review. Here is thread link
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motorb...w-cbr250r.html

[PatienceWins]

I checked the bike today. There are a few scratches on the front right fairing and the silver panel above seat. They can replace the silver panel. But, the scratches on the fairing can only be repaired. I have told them to repair the scratches and show me. If I am satisfied, I would take it. What do you guys suggest?

The quality of welds do not seem to be good, but that is the case with every bike I have seen.

I could not do a proper PDI as the battery was not connected.

[mantrig]

Originally Posted by PatienceWins

I checked the bike today. There are a few scratches on the front right fairing and the silver panel above seat. They can replace the silver panel. But, the scratches on the fairing can only be repaired. I have told them to repair the scratches and show me. If I am satisfied, I would take it. What do you guys suggest?

The quality of welds do not seem to be good, but that is the case with every bike I have seen.

I could not do a proper PDI as the battery was not connected.

Weld joints are something that is a finishing problem with all CBRs. As far as the scratches on front fairing go, please check if they are close to invisible and also check for any uneven joints on the fairing along with the white clips that keep the fairing together. They have been found missing on many bikes.

Do not forget the fins on the radiator, I have quite a few of mine damaged/bent and I can't do much about them as I missed spotting them before taking the delivery in sheer excitement.

Please do not accept a bike with scratches or damaged paint, tell them you cannot accept the bike and you need to get what you have paid for.

Also, do not close on the vehicle unless an entire PDI is done with all electricals working. I don't see a reason, why they could not have the battery connected when it's just a 5 min job to open the seat and have it connected. I think, there is something else to it. Please probe into it and ensure you are not being handed a lemon which was denied by someone else or the battery replaced on some other machine due to a faulty one.

[rk_sans]

Originally Posted by mantrig

As far as the scratches on front fairing go, please check if they are close to invisible and also check for any uneven joints on the fairing along with the white clips that keep the fairing together. They have been found missing on many bikes.

Mantri,
Can you post a pic of these clips/Uneven joints you are talking about. Just to ensure that i did not oversee it in my bike.

[Furebo]

Hey I visit the dealer to check out the bike. Apparently they say that the TD is available only for booked customers.

The bike was a beaten up example with loads of scratches and dents.

But what caught my eye was this:



(A rusted chain!)

Originally Posted by isodope

Rusty bolts are apparently a common problem with the CBR.

Is this a serious problem with the Cbr? The Unicorn standing there had no such problem.

[isodope]

Originally Posted by Furebo

Hey I visit the dealer to check out the bike. Apparently they say that the TD is available only for booked customers.

The bike was a beaten up example with loads of scratches and dents.

But what caught my eye was this:

Attachment 569623

(A rusted chain!)



Is this a serious problem with the Cbr? The Unicorn standing there had no such problem.

An open chain will rust in our conditions if not maintained - there's a Ninja 250 where I live that is a month and a half old, and its chain is worse than what you've shown in the pic. Open chains need to be lubed every 200km.

The rusty bolts aren't a problem as such, but 1. it's a premium bike that costs twice as much as a Dazzler - whose bolts don't rust. 2. In the event that you have to open something a year on, rusted screw and bolt heads can be a nightmare, especially if they're around rubber/plastic parts, because even the option of cutting them off with a gas cutter means a melted bush or fairing. Which will then need to be replaced.

You do the math.

[Furebo]

Originally Posted by isodope

You do the math.

Man this comment made my day!

What you said is so true, The CBR is an amazing product but it has it shortcomings too. Well im doing the math lets see where I get to.

[Furebo]

Hey I don't know if this was asked earlier, But I had this question in my mind since a long time:

Does removing the ABS fuse make the bike function like a NON-ABS one?

[naveenroy]

Went ahead and booked the bike in Red/White. Can wait though the guy said I should get it in 3 months or so.

[Furebo]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Went ahead and booked the bike in Red/White. Can wait though the guy said I should get it in 3 months or so.

Hey does white exist? There are only three red, silver and black right?

[IronWolf]

Originally Posted by PatienceWins

They promised to give delivery in 20-25 days if I opt for Black. I have opted for black.

Patience Wins - Wait for the color you really want.

Originally Posted by mantrig

Came across the manual while browsing the net (source:- cbr250.org). Should be helpful for people who have not received their manuals but have their bikes delivered.

P.S.:- This is for the Malaysian model, however should not be much different from what we have here.

This bike is a internationally launched bike and from my understanding there are no differences in the specs.

Originally Posted by rk_sans

Got my bike yesterday. Will soon start the ownership review. Munched some 100 kms till now. As i graduated from a very old generation bike to this new generation bike, will take sometime to get adjusted to the gears, etc.

Congrats on getting the bike.

From a RE to a Honda CBR? you are a rarity in these parts.

Originally Posted by isodope

The Ninja's faster, but you'll chew the clutch up trying to outrun a CBR250. In the real world the CBR will always be faster. On a track it's the other way around.

....
Didn't get the "premium customer" feeling from the dealer so far. Am disappointed with the experience.

Can you expand more on your first few statements?

Also why would they treat you differently when the demand is more than supply. Try going to them when its the other way around.

Most RE showrooms I have seen have 1 Sales rep around most of the time. Whats the waiting time for those lovely handmade bikes?

RE Sales policy - Take it or leave it policy

Originally Posted by PatienceWins

I have told them to repair the scratches and show me. If I am satisfied, I would take it. What do you guys suggest?

The quality of welds do not seem to be good, but that is the case with every bike I have seen.

I could not do a proper PDI as the battery was not connected.

Patience Wins - dont take the bike. Why compromise on such a big buy? Its not like a fridge where you know that one side is going to be against the corner wall.

Why paint and mess the factory paint job?

Patience Wins so wait for your bike. You will know it when you see it. Dont give even a slightest chance to regret later.

Originally Posted by Furebo

Hey does white exist? There are only three red, silver and black right?

Nope - he means Red + Silver. All bikes are with the combo of silver.

I personally liked the Red+Blue one. But unfortunately thats not available in India