New Honda CBR250R!

[dentheman]

A thumper in sportbike clothing. http://powersports.honda.com/2011/cbr250r.aspx

[Water Warrior 2]

Hopefully it can produce similar power to a Ninja 250. Gotta feeling it won't be a cheap bike though.

[dentheman]

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

Hopefully it can produce similar power to a Ninja 250. Gotta feeling it won't be a cheap bike though.

My way of thinking is it was introduced to compete directly with the Ninja, so the pricing will have to be comparable with the Ninja. We will just have to wait and see.

[Water Warrior 2]

Now we should start looking for ride reports.

[dhgeyer]

It looks like a pretty attractive package. I hope this signals a general trend of North Americans thinking in terms of smaller bikes. I'd be very surprised if it produces the power or speed of the Ninja, though. The Ninja is a twin with dual carbs and a very high redline. We'll see. The real question is, is it fast enough to be highway capable?

[dentheman]

Originally Posted by dhgeyer

It looks like a pretty attractive package. I hope this signals a general trend of North Americans thinking in terms of smaller bikes. I'd be very surprised if it produces the power or speed of the Ninja, though. The Ninja is a twin with dual carbs and a very high redline. We'll see. The real question is, is it fast enough to be highway capable?

Highway capable, fuel injected, tubeless tires, low/easy maintenance and reasonable price; if Honda can tie all those together in one package they will have a winner, IMO. I do like what I see so far. I also like the Ninja, but after reading through the valve adjustment procedure I have taken a step back from that bike. I think this does show the manufacturers are turning toward more smaller bikes, but I think a few 350/400cc cruiser and street bikes would capture a bigger market.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by dentheman

but I think a few 350/400cc cruiser and street bikes would capture a bigger market.

Once again and forever the "marketing" people are deaf, dumb and blind.

Instead of actually thinking or, God forbid, asking riders what they want......they are apparently trying to "capture" part of the market where the Ninja has been so successful.

Without even looking, I can come up with 4 bikes in the 125-250 class, where there is also stiff competition from small scooters.

With the recent demise of the Vulcan 500 and Shadow 600, the only true mid-range standard or cruiser I can come up with is the ER6N (and it looks funny). I think there is a HUGE untapped market there that ALL the manufacturers seem to be overlooking......in the US at least.

I think it's totally stupid.

[dentheman]

So I am not alone in thinking the ER6N looks funny. It's as if they had a piece of plastic left over so they stuck it above the headlight, among other things.

[alantf]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

I think there is a HUGE untapped market there that ALL the manufacturers seem to be overlooking......in the US at least.

And not only in the U.S. Last week I was killing some time, waiting for someone, so I called into one of the major bike shops for a look around. The smallest he could offer me was 1300cc. I don't think I'm the only one who would like something slightly bigger than the geezer, to keep up with autopista speeds, yet convenient enough to be used for most of the time on 30mph roads.

[mole2]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

Once again and forever the "marketing" people are deaf, dumb and blind.

Instead of actually thinking or, God forbid, asking riders what they want......they are apparently trying to "capture" part of the market where the Ninja has been so successful.

Without even looking, I can come up with 4 bikes in the 125-250 class, where there is also stiff competition from small scooters.

With the recent demise of the Vulcan 500 and Shadow 600, the only true mid-range standard or cruiser I can come up with is the ER6N (and it looks funny). I think there is a HUGE untapped market there that ALL the manufacturers seem to be overlooking......in the US at least.

I think it's totally stupid.

Well Yamaha still has the V-Star 650 Custom though they cut the V-Star 650 Cruiser and the V-Star 650 Silverado in the US - probably an EPA thing. I agree with you, someone should cater to that portion of the populaton. I don't know what they're thinking either. I want some good gas mileage (I get 51 mpg), decent power and lower insurance costs. When you go over 1000 cc it's like insuring a car - at least here.