2013 India-spec Honda CBR250R gets new paint jobs

With the launch of the Duke 390, Bajaj Auto-KTM might have just set the proverbial cat amongst pigeons, and the competition already seems to be responding. The Honda CBR250R is a motorcycle that is in the cross hairs of the KTM Duke 390, especially in terms of pricing. In what seems like a move to keep the buzz around the CBR250R alive, the Japanese two wheeler giant has announced new paint jobs for the 2013 edition of the CBR250R. 

Curiously, while these colours were introduced internationally by the end of last year, the Duke 390's arrival seems to have spurred Honda India to launch the new shades for the India-spec CBR250R. The Honda CBR250R features four paint schemes for the 2013 model year versions: Red, Black, Pearl Sunbeam White, and the Repsol Edition. Of these, Honda India will build and sell a limited number of Repsol Edition CBR250R motorcycles in order to maintain a semblance of exclusivity.

Also, the Honda CBR250R with the Repsol Edition paint job will be a few thousand rupees pricier. A common thread runs across the 2013 edition of the Honda CBR250R, in that the silver panels on the tail section and side fairing get replaced by body coloured panels. This reduces the garishness of the motorcycle's previous paint job by a great extent. The exhaust heat shield and alloy wheels come with an all-black powder coated finish, replacing the Matt-silver finish of the previous year's models. On the Repsol edition, the alloy wheels get an orange paint job. 

The 2013 Honda CBR250R, with the Repsol Paint job will be offered only on the ABS equipped version of the motorcycles, and is priced at 1,97,699 rupees, ex-showroom Pune. While bookings for the CBR250R's Repsol Edition are open across Honda dealerships, the Repsol Edition of the motorcycle will be available a month later. An interesting aspect about the ABS equipped Honda CBR250R Repsol Edition's price (on road price well over 2 lakhs in most cities) is that the motorcycle is priced higher than KTM Duke 390 (on road price under 2 lakhs in most cities). 

At that price level, the CBR250R's major advantages include a reasonably comfortable pillion seat, higher tank capacity and better wind protection. However, on the performance front, the 250cc motor of the CBR (outputting 25 Bhp-22.9 Nm) falls quite short of the KTM Duke 390's 373cc motor (43 Bhp-35 Nm). With KTM projecting the Duke 390 as a tourer, what with its taller sixth gear and accessories such as touring bags and a fly screen, the Honda CBR250R could find the going rough in the coming months. 

2013 Honda CBR250R prices in detail: