Hornet 250 ?

[Lemonhead]

Wandering around youtube, I stumbled upon the cbf -250/ hornet 250/ twister 250. Anyone know sump'n about this lil' thang ?

[Lemonhead]

Put this in at youtube. rogerCBF 250

[Bigdaa]

I know one of our members from OZ has one and posted pics of the little jewel. It is a sweet little bike.

[plane]

Hi guys,

The CBF250 is an entry level commuter bike with a twin cylinder engine. It's pretty basic and, if I remember correctly, it is produced in Honda's Thailand or Malaysian factory.

The 250 Hornet was a 4 cylinder 250 based on the CBR250RR sports bike. Sort of like how the 919 has the old Fireblade motor in it. Styling of the 250 Hornet is remarkably similar to the 919.

Cheers,
Pete

[Bryce919er]

The 250 led to the 600 which led to the 900.

[Bigdaa]

250 4 cylinder. Oh I'd just love to have one.

[plane]

Originally Posted by Bigdaa

250 4 cylinder. Oh I'd just love to have one.

Kawasaki had one called the "Balius" ZR250. Eighteen thousand RPM redline! I bought one for my wife as her first road bike and I got to use it as a commuter. Loved it!



Cheers,
Pete

[Naked/SS]

4 cylinder 250's and 250 Hornets?? What in hell is wrong with us here in America, the rest of the earth get these cool little jewels and we get another V-twin. WTF?

[hornet919]

that would be a perfect bike for my girl who is only 4'10ish

[LeatherWings]

I think the VTR250 would be cooler to have than an i-4 250...

[LDH]

I've got one of the old school VTR250 from the first year they brought them to the US back in 88

It's lightly modded

[touring919]

Hornet 250
If you can read kanji then here is all you need to know. Definitly not a sporting twin. Should definitly be moved to the naked bike forum.

[touring919]

Don't think is clear enough to actually read. Sorry.

[LDH]

Been doing some updates to my little VTR250

[nd4spdbh]

*pounds fists on desk and pouts like little kid* why dont we get the cool bikes!

[frankly]

Here's a couple of interesting Honda's I saw last year in Hong Kong. The Rothman's bike is a 250. I'm not sure what the other one is - but that's a funky tube frame...

[LeatherWings]

Originally Posted by frankly

Here's a couple of interesting Honda's I saw last year in Hong Kong... I'm not sure what the other one is - but that's a funky tube frame...

That's the modern-day VTR250, which I mentioned in an above post...

Originally Posted by LeatherWings

I think the VTR250 would be cooler to have than an i-4 250...

[frankly]

Originally Posted by LeatherWings

That's the modern-day VTR250, which I mentioned in an above post...

Damn you're right! Good call!

[mpcb04919]

The Rothman's Honda is a NSR 250 which came in 3 flavors: R, SE, SP. The CB 250 came out in Japan in 96'. Looks similar to the 919 and 600.

[mpcb04919]

Originally Posted by Lord Duckhunter

Been doing some updates to my little VTR250

BTW that's a beautiful looking VTR. I saw one in Kumamoto, Japan 7 years ago.

[goingfast]

The twin is a peach, LD. What a sweet motor!

[LDH]

Thanks! Unfortunately I have spent more time modding it than I have riding it... Even today the plan was to ride to work, but when I get up and realize how cool it is in the morning & not wanting to put my not quite dry hair into a helmet I find myself grabbing the keys to the truck instead of the bike.

[BMiller]

That master cylinder looks to be a bit overkill for the drum brakes

Very nice bike though LDH. Tasteful mods.

[LDH]

Originally Posted by BMiller

That master cylinder looks to be a bit overkill for the drum brakes

Very nice bike though LDH. Tasteful mods.

That's not a drum brake... That is a cast iron rotor inside the wheel hub housing

[Bigdaa]

Originally Posted by Lord Duckhunter

That's not a drum brake... That is a cast iron rotor inside the wheel hub housing

Yes, that is a little known fooler. I too was fooled before I became enlightened to the little Vee.

[Farab]

I was determined to get my own bike, as money was a bit tight back then, I bought a crashed 1998 VTR 250. Bought it from a young guy that was new to motorcycling and was trying to keep up with the big boys on a ride. He didn't make a corner, but luckily had a grassy/muddy run off that saved him and the bike to some extent.
Luckily the frame was undamaged. Forks, radiator, headlamp, front indicators, instrument cluster, handle bar and a few other items needed repair/replacement.

This was an excellent little project, as I had to use my wits to get the bike repaired the cheapest by sniffing out good replacement parts such as Buell indicators (dirt cheap, who'd have thought?!) a headlamp casing and lens (I paid less than half the price of a Honda OEM) that had all the DOT markings, etc. as to pass our WOF (warrant of fitness). Mirrors and mirror clamps (Truimph clamps incorporates a threaded hole for the mirrors, as the mirror hole that was part of the OEM master cylinder assy snapped off). The radiator was salvagable and I got it repaired at a radiator place (again at roughly half the cost of a new OEM). As popular as this little bike was/is, you just can't get secondhand spares at the wreckers, so I had to be creative and do a lot of learning and asking around, but got there in the end.

When I was finished, felt a sense of accomplishment along with knowing my bike mechanically. I put 15 000km's on that little bike doing some long day trips, it never missed a beat. It was an excellent 1st bike.

[LeatherWings]

Originally Posted by Farab

I was determined to get my own bike, as money was a bit tight back then, I bought a crashed 1998 VTR 250.

somebody, i.e. Honda, needs to step up and bring some real competition for the Ninja 250 by importing the VTR250!!!

i would LOVE to put around town on one of these!

[LeatherWings]

^ oops, i didn't know the img you attached was soo big

here are some more pics, just cuz i think the VTR250 is so cool

[LDH]

almost ironically the 1988 model I have is better handling & has more horsepower than the current versions they offer in Australia, go figure...

[AllanB]

Lots of the 250 Hornets in New Zealand - also 250 cc 4's from Suzuki (Bandit) Yamaha. Pocket rockets! All are fine looking bikes. I prefer the Hornet as it has 'big' bike size tyres.

[Bigdaa]

Originally Posted by AllanB

Lots of the 250 Hornets in New Zealand - also 250 cc 4's from Suzuki (Bandit) Yamaha. Pocket rockets! All are fine looking bikes. I prefer the Hornet as it has 'big' bike size tyres.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh heaven!

[Farab]

Originally Posted by AllanB

Lots of the 250 Hornets in New Zealand - also 250 cc 4's from Suzuki (Bandit) Yamaha. Pocket rockets! All are fine looking bikes. I prefer the Hornet as it has 'big' bike size tyres.

Yes, a big fat 180 rear tyre, looks bloody good! If you are not a motorcyclist or familiar with them, they look deceptively like a much bigger bike, such as the 600 Hornet (599). They are fun little screamers, I had one as a loaner from my local dealer, they rev like hell.

Originally Posted by LeatherWings

somebody, i.e. Honda, needs to step up and bring some real competition for the Ninja 250 by importing the VTR250!!!

i would LOVE to put around town on one of these!

They are also known as the Mini Monster around these parts, due to the Ducati type trellis frame. I regret selling mine, they are excellent for commuting around the city and suburbs. On competion for the Ninja's, I don't personally think so. They have just re-released the VTR after adding fuel injection on it, a slightly different rear cowl and new colours. Yes, you've guessed it, on list price at NZ$ 9500, its NZ$1000 more expensive than the little Ninja. 9/10 if I see a new 250, its a Ninja, as all newbies and learners aspire to want a Ninja ZX10R (very clever and successfull marketing by Kawasaki, I reckon).


http://www.honda-motorcycles.co.nz/b...elID=366&type=

http://www.kawasaki.co.nz/kawasaki_c...250JAF&do=list

[LeatherWings]

Originally Posted by Farab

On competion for the Ninja's, I don't personally think so. They have just re-released the VTR after adding fuel injection on it, a slightly different rear cowl and new colours. Yes, you've guessed it, on list price at NZ$ 9500, its NZ$1000 more expensive than the little Ninja. 9/10 if I see a new 250, its a Ninja, as all newbies and learners aspire to want a Ninja ZX10R (very clever and successfull marketing by Kawasaki, I reckon).

yeah, i realize it still wouldn't be much competition for the Ninja here in the States. Everyone wants a fully-faired sportbike, and Kawasaki certainly did themselves, and everyone else, an ENORMOUS favor by updating the 250R with significantly improved, modern aesthetics, while keeping a modest price point.

but one can dream, right... ?

[Bigdaa]

That little twin is gorgeous! And I agree, the little Kwak Ninja is just beautiful to boot. These bikes bring back the kids in us. Boy racers (and girl racers) are in all or most all of us.

[07919Dave]

When it comes down to that VTR250 I feel like I am about to become a little kid throwing a conniption fit screaming "I WANT, I WANT, I WANT, I WANT!" Maybe if I send a picture to Honda showing them how my face is turning blue from me holding my breath, they will send one over. Oh I guess I will have to add this into my nightly dreams of CB1000Rs

[Bigdaa]

Yup and yup. It's good this thread gets a bump as far as I'm concerned. When I scrolled up to see that little v twin I got that light little flutter in my heart. Course it could be a mini vapor lock.

[Lemonhead]

YouTube - My Honda CBF 250

Fresher video. So, Honda. What's the plan? cbrs goldwings and vtx are gonna be it, huh?

[LeatherWings]

Originally Posted by Lemonhead

So, Honda. What's the plan? cbrs goldwings and vtx are gonna be it, huh?

pretty much.





tho i really can't blame them for doing so in times like this - keeping their line-up to the tried-and-true formula for the US market. for the vast majority of ppl in America, motos are purely for recreation. when you don't have money, the 1st thing you cut back on is recreation...

[Bigdaa]

Here is a spec blurb on the 250 Hornet I ran across.


Honda CB250 Hornet


Once again, that VTR250 is sweet, LDH. Just s w e e t!

[Lemonhead]

I'd think a good looking 250 would be highly marketable in this economy. But I'm not a number cruncher so....