Review of Honda CBR 250 (1986)
Hello, fellow forum users! I have long wanted to write about my first Honda.
Choosing my first Japanese motorcycle was not painful for me. Firstly, I decided that it would be a Honda, many friends said that Honda is better than other Japanese in terms of quality and reliability, and after Izh-Planet this was important to me. Secondly, the engine is at least 250 cc, since 125 and 150 cc are not high-speed vehicles at all, and look like mopeds. Well, the last selection criterion is the price of up to 70 thousand rubles. I was looking for suitable options all over Russia, since I was unemployed at that time and could easily leave my hometown for a long time. The motorcycle was purchased in January 2011 in the Lipetsk region for 57 thousand rubles. When I came to look at it, the seller could not start the Motz! It was about minus 5 degrees outside, the starter turned, but the engine would not start, so I had to pick it up without starting it. To transport it to Perm, it had to be partially disassembled, after which it fit inside a VAZ 99 model. The three of us took it apart and loaded it, and it was a lot of trouble. The three of us also unloaded it, and until the end of April the bike stood disassembled in the garage. As soon as the warm spring days began, I began to come to the garage and assemble my Honda, at the same time preparing the Planet for the season.
In two weeks the bike was assembled and in early May it was possible to start it. The battery turned out to be dead, the starter clicked but did not turn. There was no one to light a cigarette from, so I decided to push start it. I didn’t know how the gearbox works on a Japanese bike, so I started it in 6th gear! On the second try it started, I waited, warmed up the engine and... stalled when I tried to start. I started it again from the pushrod, started with difficulty and went for testing, later I realized that I had started and was driving at 6 speed J)) For several days I drove out onto empty roads, practiced driving and returned to the garage. It was very unusual after the planet: landing tilted forward, stress on the arms, as a result of which they got tired. A narrow steering wheel, a thin gearshift stalk that needs to be clicked with the front of the leg, and not with the heel as I’m used to, so I couldn’t drive for a long time, my left leg began to ache and it was painful to shift into high gear. In addition, the sound of the engine after the Planet was specific and loud for me; after riding, my head began to ring. Upon arrival at the garage, I felt unwell and went to rest to recover. Gradually all parts of the body adapted to the new motorcycle and stopped hurting.
On May 8, I went to the city opening of the season, and then in the traffic I appreciated the capabilities of the motorcycle: when you start turning the engine and fly far ahead of everyone - it’s cool, my happiness knew no bounds! I didn’t turn it all the way, up to ten thousand revolutions out of 19 possible, but the dynamics were not weak, when I was driving, I said to myself: Wow, he’s going to... happen! What will happen if you turn it up to 15 thousand? But I didn’t turn it up to 15, I was scared, what if something happened! At the opening of the season, I looked at other motorcycles; I didn’t dare ride in a convoy around the city, since I had little experience and the battery was dead, and it wouldn’t start from the starter. He watched the column go and went home.
Later I bought a new battery, changed the oil and filter, and rode the Honda around the area, and went to work on the Planet. A lot of people said to me like, “Why do you drive Izha when you have a foreign car?” There are many reasons! This includes fuel consumption, 5 liters of A-80 per 100 km, and direct landing, and music installed on the Planet, since I don’t like to drive in silence, and the presence of a feedback alarm system, so as not to worry and not run around checking every 10 minutes, everything Is the motorcycle okay? I bought a Honda to learn how to drive a foreign car, and not for everyday driving.
Overall, the motorcycle is excellent: it weighs 140 kg, handles and brakes excellently, and the dynamics are also excellent (after the Planet). I almost never turned it to the red zone; half the tachometer was enough for my eyes! The maximum I drove on it was 160, usually about 100. The consumption was disappointing, it burned 7-8 liters of 95 gasoline per 100, there was almost no benefit compared to the car in terms of consumption. Although they write on the Internet that the consumption of such a bike should be 3-4 liters. This may be due to city driving, a lot of acceleration and braking, or maybe a worn-out engine is to blame. When I drove a Honda to work, I stopped at the gas station every other day and filled up the Planet half as often. And the Planet’s gas tank is larger, 18 liters versus 14 on the Honda. Once I drove 200 km out of town, traveling in a convoy at a speed of 100-120 km/h. It’s not so stressful, but the tachometer showed 10-12 thousand revolutions, I would like it to be less. In my opinion, the gear ratios in the box are not the best; they are inconvenient for the track. The suspension is good, moderately stiff. Fork stiffness is adjustable. The brakes are excellent, the front one was always enough, I used the rear one very rarely, just to be sure.
In general, the reliability is excellent, it has never stood up or broken! Only the speedometer cable did not work; it broke on the first day of driving. So I drove all summer just according to the tachometer, I don’t know how many kilometers I drove, I think about 3 thousand. I asked the speed of friends who were riding nearby on their motorcycles, they said that 160 was going! At the end of the summer I changed the speedometer cable, in fact, maybe 160, the bike didn’t want to accelerate anymore. Sometimes this also happened: when I pressed the starter button, it clicked, but did not turn. A friend disassembled and cleaned the starter, everything became normal. This is apparently already age-old, 25 years old equipment, but he keeps racing!
At the end of the summer I decided to improve the Honda a little: I made a backlight, a signaling system, and connected an emergency warning button (it wasn’t there from the factory). I also changed the spark plugs to NGKCR9E, I immediately noticed the difference: up to 10 thousand revolutions the bike drove as before, after 10 thousand it began to accelerate twice as fast! I was surprised, only then did I discover the potential of the motor. Conclusion: place the right candles. Here’s another advantage of having a Japanese bike: while riding it in the summer, I met many interesting people who also ride foreign motorcycles. We rode together until the end of the summer, went to nature, helped each other. And in winter we also communicate, go for walks and help each other out. Motik helped me make new good friends. I think for that reason alone it was worth buying.
The bike was sold at the end of summer to a good friend for 57 thousand, who also decided to switch to a foreign car from the Izh-Yunker motorcycle. I sold it without an alarm system, they didn’t even re-register the documents. I still own that Honda. I didn’t register it, I didn’t even take out insurance, since all these documents are for the second motor vehicle - Planet. I saved a bit on the Honda)) The inspectors didn’t even try to stop me to check, they simply didn’t notice, although I often drove without a helmet. I feel uncomfortable and hot in it, but I drive carefully, so I’m not afraid for my head. In the end, what do I want to say? After the Urals, Izh or Java, Honda is the motorcycle you need. The main thing is not to run into a dead one, carefully look at the condition of the main components. Plus the condition of the tires, pads, chain and sprockets, everything costs a lot of money. Or take with you to the inspection an understanding person who knows about foreign motorcycles.
Thank you all for your attention. Wait for new reviews)))
Review of the Honda VFR 1200 F motorcycle
The 2013 motorcycle season opened with the VFR 1200 on automatic. After the Honda CBR 600 and Yamaha R1, the heaviness of the motorcycle is felt, but only when landing. An extraordinary feeling from the fact that the motorcycle is no worse than those listed above, it turns into a turn and comes out of it very easily. Overtaking is a slight movement of the steering wheel and already in oncoming traffic, changing lanes is surprisingly easy. It feels like he's in the light weight category. “DRIVE” mode for a quiet ride, if of course you can ride this motorcycle that way. It flies low - that's about him. At a speed of 60 km/h in normal mode, it keeps 6th gear engaged, and picks up quite well when accelerating. With a sharp start from 150 km/h it drops to fifth. It looks like a regular car automatic machine. Sport mode lengthens the gears and allows you to build up high revs until the next shift. Interesting button). The brain simply does not understand how passing cars can disappear so quickly in the rearview mirror. But, gentlemen, be careful and do not break the Rules. No drive is worth life and health. There is something futuristic about the appearance. He certainly attracts attention. Overall, I'm very pleased with the purchase. It's nice to have such a miracle of technology in your collection. Easy turns and safe drive for all fans! Yes, maximum marks for a number of positions were not given only because there is no limit to perfection.
In the summer of 2014 I bought a Honda VFR 1200F . The motorcycle was 2010 with a mileage of 18,000 km. According to the passport, it is 25 kg heavier than the BMW, but on the move it is an order of magnitude lighter. In general, during the first ride on it, it seemed to me that I was driving an incredibly powerful VFR800. I want to say right away that the acceleration on the wheel is not even close to the BMW( the German is of course faster), and the engine is surprisingly noisy. The gears are switched on quite noisily and with a jerk, and when driving in first and second gears you can hear the work of the cardan. Some will say that you just got a bad motor, but my friend has the same new one from the showroom and everything is the same. I was also unpleasantly surprised by the fuel consumption exceeding 10 liters and the absence of engine temperature in degrees on the panel. That is it is there, but it is shown by a scale and not by numbers, and when the fan turns on, it is not clear how many degrees and how long to wait until it turns off to turn off the engine. Despite all this, I want to say that I am satisfied with the motor, because in my opinion it runs much better than the BMW . When turning, it simply asks to be tilted and when driving on the same track, every time you want to take the turn faster than the last time. The fork works just fine. It swallows all the potholes as if they simply weren’t there. I was even taken aback when I got into an unpleasant one for the first time a pothole and simply not feeling anything. I simply don’t understand why BMW reinvented the wheel. The brakes are also no problem. And of course, the appearance is just pride. In conclusion, I want to say that I can’t decide which one is better, because Despite the fact that they are kind of classmates, in fact they are as different as heaven and earth. At the same time, both are fucking cool and each individually has their own shortcomings and advantages. Please do not judge harshly, super professionals who here often like to insult people. I’m just an amateur with my opinion. I will be very glad to anyone who helped with the choice. Good luck to everyone.
I drove a VFR with an automatic yesterday. But I might not have skated.
