Honda CBR 150R vs Honda CBR 250R

Honda CBR 150R vs Honda CBR 250R

When Honda launched its CBR 250R in India, it instantly became a hit with the touring community. I've had loads of my friends upgrade from their Karizmas and P220s to the CBR 250 and never look back. Most 250 owners are still waiting for a worthy upgrade to come along. So when Honda later launched the CBR 150 which looked more or less the same as its elder brother, they already had the bar set pretty high. With an open mind I test rode the 150. Loved it, bought it. Now three years and 40k kms later when I search for my worthy upgrade, I wonder if the CBR 250R could be it. I took my friend’s 250 on a two day long test ride to find out.
Let me highlight the physical differences first. It would take a really skilled eye to tell them apart at first glance if they both had the same paintjobs. Thankfully, they don't. The 250 is also heavier and it doesn't hide its weight. Put both the bikes side by side and the 250 looks visibly bulkier. It has different tyres, exhaust, pilot lamps and instrument cluster back light. Apart from these minor differences, the two motorcycles look very similar but looks is where the similarities end. They are poles apart in terms of behaviour and temperament.
The first thing you notice on the 250 is its bulk. The bike feels sluggish and heavy to flick around in traffic. You need some serious steering inputs and body weight transfers to lean it into a corner but once leaned in, it feels rock steady. The 150 on the other hand is light, agile and overall a happier motorcycle when it sees corners. It also comes with harder sprung rear suspensions making it all the more composed in corners. Surprisingly though, it manages bumps and potholes much better than the 250 despite being the harder sprung motorcycle. If there’s one aspect of the CBR 150 which I keep looking for in other motorcycles is this near perfect balance between ride quality and handling. No other motorcycle I’ve ridden comes even close.
The next big difference between the siblings is the engine. Not just in terms of capacity but also the way they generate power is very different. The 250 has a moderate low range, a meaty mid range and a sluggish high range. The 150 on the other hand, has good power available in the low and high ranges. Honda forgot to add a mid range to this one. What that translates to on the road is, the 250 is happiest being between the 90 - 120 kph zone and that’s why it hits the sweet spot with tourers. The 150 can run that pace on the highway but with a lot more working up and down the gearbox. Talking about the gearbox, the transmission on the 150 is clunky to say the least. Honda have paid much more attention to the 250 in this area. When it comes to braking, the 150 provides enough bite and progression but no ABS. Not even as an option. The 250’s brakes lack the initial bite but provide progression and an optional ABS.

So, the verdict. The 150 is light, peppy and fun in the corners but seriously lacks mid range torque and ABS. The 250 is heavy, sluggish and boring but can sit at highway speeds all day long, without really having to downshift. Comparing these two is like comparing Pamela Anderson and Keira Knightley. If you like one of them, you will quite obviously not like the other. Me, I’m a Keira Knightley guy, I’ll stick with my CBR 150 for now…;-)

Popular posts from this blog

Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350: The Sussegado!

Susegad in Konkani refers to a relaxed, content and fulfilled way of life. It means not taking life too seriously and living in the moment. It means everything that a big city therapist would prescribe you to do when you're burning out and edging on the D word. It's often mistaken as a lazy way of life. It is instead, a mindful way of life.  Why am I talking about being Susegad in a motorcycle review you ask? It is because of the newly launched Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350. A motorcycle that pays homage to the hippy culture that once flourished in extreme North Goa. If you've been to that part of Goa prior to 2020, I'm sure you would've come across chopped up REs with funky colour schemes, being ridden by topless male or bikini clad female expats with wind in their hair and stuff in their pockets. It is this rave culture that RE has decided to pay homage to. Don't believe me? Check out the names of the colours on offer: Shack Black, Trip Teal, Purple Haze and ...
Read more

Suzuki Jimny 5 door: Ownership review

Image
It's one thing to have a girlfriend, another to make her your wife. When I bought my Jimny in August this year, I had had two test drives of around 5 kms each. Now with over 3500 kms on the clock, I know a lot more about her than before. So here it is. Ownership review of my Jimny Alpha MT, in a question - answer format, completely unbiased (I'll try): 1. Is it overpriced? Ans- Let's tackle the elephant in the room first. Price is what you pay, value is what you get. For the capability and the versatility that this car delivers, there's a lot more value attached to the Jimny than the price it commands. With year end discounts currently available, the deal gets even sweeter. It is the cheapest 5 door, 4*4 car available in India by a big, big margin. Can't beat the value proposition.  2. Is it underpowered?  Ans- Fully stock, yes. With a just basic mod like a throttle controller, it's a day and night difference. Possibly to meet the ever increasing emi...
Read more

Triumph Scrambler 400X: The Only Motorcycle You'll Ever Need!

Image
The Oxford dictionary defines the word "Scramber" as a person who walks over steep, mountainous terrain as a pastime. Back in the early 1900s some British motorcyclists decided to do just that, but on two wheels. For that purpose, they took normal motorcycles and fitted them with bigger suspensions and voila! A whole new genre of motorcycles were born and they were called: the Scramblers! As time went by, motorcycles became increasingly specialised and iterations of the OG Scrambler like the ADVs or the dirt bikes were developed to do what the Scramblers once did. Not too long ago, the legendary British motorcycle brand Triumph launched the Scrambler 1200, resurrecting the iconic design and do it all capabilities of a Scrambler and it became an instant hit amongst adventure seekers and everyday riders alike. Going by the success of the larger Scramblers and the growing demand for affordable, adventure ready motorcycles globally, Triumph dropped another bombshell o...
Read more