Honda CB250RS

[yambabe]

Anyone know anything about them? I'm after a cheap (>33bhp also) commuter/hack at the moment, and have been offered one of these for very reasonable money.

My other half, who is usually a mine of information on bikes of all types, has just said it's pretty quick for a 250 and dispatchers used to use them quite a bit but otherwise he doesn't know a lot about them.

As a commuter, I need something lightweight, nippy, skinny (for filtering) but that warms up quickly as I only do about 2-3 miles each way. My EL has barely got the choke off when I arrive at work, and also is a bit lardy for filtering through narrow lanes of town-centre traffic on. I've been thinking maybe a 4-stroke 125, but this CB seems to be in good nick for its age.

All opinions welcome!
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[bish777]

CB250RS is a nippy piece of kit yes!

Bu it, just make sure to keep on top of oil changes as that era honda singles like to devour cams if oilchanges are neglected. By all means use cheapo oil but keep it fresh.
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GSXR1100J

[Kickstart]

Hi

They were meant to be a lovely bike to ride. Think the XL500 engine will fit with not much effort .

Problems are the way they will kill the head / cams without regular oil changes (<1000 miles) and that they eat chains (expect well under 10000 miles from a chain, even with a Scott Oiler).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[TheShaggyDA]

I loved mine, and would happily have another. Very nimble and flickable, good brakes, always started no problem (automatic decompressor worked a treat). Easy to filter with, easy to work on, comfortable, parts were cheap. Wish they still made them.

https://goldwing.bikepics.net/honda-cb250rs-81-bikepics-202566.jpg
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[bish777]

Apparently the XBR500 motor will fit also
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GSXR1100J

[wilberforce]

I've had two.

Great fun in the lanes.

Bought a second hand 250 super? dream instead of spending nine more quid and getting a new one back in 1980. Big mistake as I have since found out.

If you can find a decent one buy it and cherish it, but DON"T FORGET TO CHECK THE OIL. I speak from experience.
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One of the "Boys from the Wall"

[Robby]

I had one.

Good bike, but mine gave up on me and never worked again. Never worked out why, rebuilding the engine didn't help.

Wouldn't say they warm up that fast though.

[Will87]

Mine is a royal pain, it died on me two to three times due to alternator meaning i had to push it 2 miles home.

And the most annoying part, it'll go to 60 easy enough, 70 providing you don't go up any gradient or against the wind. Plus the power in the lower gears isn't great.

Sorry all, you may like them but they just annoy me now, as does this whole restriction 4 months in.

[yambabe]

[Will87]

Well i have had two engines and two exhausts, 60 with decent ish acceleration. 70 if there is nothing like a hill or a breeze.

It handles nice enough but there is just no power.

[Robby]

Mine hit 90 once I think, normally I think it would top around 80 and hold it, but the speedo needle was just waving between 70 and 90 by then so I took a guess.

They are geared low, I wanted to upgear mine but didn't bother. I think cruising at 65 in top was about 7000-7500 rpm.

Went on holiday to france and back 2 up with luggage on it, so plently of low down power and midrange. 60mpg.

[Will87]

I did 80 indicated once on the fooked engine. We have a spare engine and bottom end lying about, i am just not fond of the thing i think the power is a joke but i think anything on this 33bhp restriction is a joke.

[wilberforce]

Limiting factors in top speed = how fat am I! ! or is this uphill or downhill
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One of the "Boys from the Wall"

[MUGIDUDE]

Appreciate this is an ancient thread, but still happy to contribute

The CB250RS was never "fast" by anyone's estimation, the reasonably low weight and the fact it's a single "pot" with minimal weight made it fairly "quick" especially in low gear.

Handling was/is pretty good, improved by slightly thicker fork oil, reasonably new rubber and given that it was produced 35+ years ago, replacement back-shocks are almost essential ...

On that note, if you're ordering new ones, don't go for the first/ cheapest ones you find, I did this and ended up with ones which were supposedly fit for purpose, but also good for the CX500 (draw your own conclusions!)

I would verify what previous posters have said; oil needs to be changed regularly, and that's more important than the actual grade.

Make sure the camchain, primary and external chains are tensioned correctly.

these are distinctly "old school" machines with minimal electrical wizzardly, spares are becoming harder to find, but many XL250 components are compatible.

They *can* be a little temperamental, but give your carburettor a service and run it regularly.

Something I frequently joke about is that you may *feel* you're doing about 90 down the highway, (noise, wind, handling etc) you look down, and it's doing 45!

So it isn't going to win any "land speed records" but if you fall off, you have a considerably better chance of surviving the spill, as does the bike

Relatively easy to maintain, there's precious little to go wrong, and it's really basic technology - just keep the fluids fresh.

Something I've noticed, with some dismay, is that nowadays it's often used as a "donor" for conversion to a "cafe racer" - there was little wrong with it in the first place, why would anyone want to saw it up to make a third-rate custom job?

In spite of their (few) shortcomings - or because of them - they're one of the most fun bikes I've ridden in around 40 years. I've owned many much larger and prestigious bikes (including several BMW Boxers) this still holds a special place in my heart, it effortlessly does commuting, touring and mild "green laneing"

I run mine "stock" with the only non-standard add-on being a "bum bag" to keep a security chain in, and an old handlebar mounted Ducati SS centre section fairing.

New, they were about £850GBP - at one time you could buy roadworthy hacks for £350GBP within the past 20 years, now a decent one will be around £1200GBP

[MarJay]

Jeez, start a new thread!

https://img.haikudeck.com/mi/2d74cb1184ac66f5551bf56f1815b99c.jpeg
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Howling Terror]

[Motorcyclesan...]

This might be an old thread but these are old Bikes.
My CB250rsa is almost 40years old, its still in regular use with only 106000 registered miles on the clock and starts, runs as good as almost new, bit rough looking though.
I have herd of others doing similar mileage, but haven't seen any Dreams doing similar. Proves all those tales of the CB250rsa not lasting more than 25000 miles wrong.
I look forward to seeing more information about this under rated Motorcycle. .

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I still kind of want one tbh
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Nobby the Bastard]

Most of them shat their heads as the cams run in a plain bearing.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[stevo as b4]

It's either?

1, OP joins Forum today, and then does a random search related to the Honda CB250RS, finds thread and can't help sperging out his
thoughts/opinions/excitement/passion/perversion on his possible favourite bike or one he's interested in, enthusiast about or just owns.

2, The same as above but OP does a Google search first and then finds thread, before feeling compelled to join BCF to punch away on his keyboard with his CB250RS knowledge or enthusiasm because he just can't sit on his hands and ignore it.

You see similar things with American people, in that whatever they own then want to have it vindicated, appreciated, or be told its the best bike in the world to help their brain feel all happy and better, or simply because they just want to let the world know all about them or sometimes their bikes.

[Maxymax]

Hi,
I used to have this bike and found it to be one of the comfiest bikes I rode, only thing was apart from a couple of trips home from Uni (about 200 miles) - I never really tested it for 'touring' ..

My question is this - would this bike be enjoyable for example, to tour the Scottish '500' circuit?

(Am returning to biking after a 10 year break and so don't want to start again on a bigger more unwieldy bike).

Any views appreciated

[Freddyfruitba...]

[MarJay]

[doggone]

I had one from about 1983 to 1985 and did go to Scotland with it.
No real problems but the chain on mine seemed to wear out exceptionally fast so became a chore doing higher miles.
Like earlier posts say it's not 'fast' but you can maintain safe speed on motorway and nip past slower stuff on A roads because it's light and agile with good acceleration at lower speeds.

[Robby]

I still have one.

It's my go-to bike for short trips and city riding because it's light. Not comfortable for distance work. Highly unlikely to be reliable for distance work now, it's a 40 year old bike and even after a lot of restoration, it still has a lot of 40 year old electrics.

I would certainly go for something bigger and heavier for any sort of distance. 250 will get blown around in strong winds, it's very light.

Also, they are starting to increase in price and most of them have rotten frames between the footpegs. It's repairable, but it's not a quick fix.