[What Bike]: Honda CBR250 R or RE Classic 500 Desert Storm - xBhp.com : The Global Indian Biking Community

sasen · 10-12-2011, 04:11 PM

Friends.. I know that I am trying to choose between Chalk & Cheese but need feedback here and really it’s not about comparison between two bikes.

I have been riding various motorcycles and scooters since the age of 20 and most of them have been low capacity motorcycles. The closest I came to performance by Indian standard was when I owned a Karizma for some two and half years. This was satisfying experience for me as Karizma was virtually unchallenged till P220 came in. After that I had to sell the bike for certain constraints. Currently I am riding a Suzuki GS 150.

Now I am again planning to shift to a bigger bike and although a slew of options available now I could only afford a Honda CBR250. I had almost zeroed in on the bike but then I saw the recently launched RE Classic 500 Desert Storm version on RE website.

Now I never ever had ridden a Bullet in my life. In my mind Bullets were huge slow moving lump of metal which leaks all over and you have to get grease on your hand often to keep the Bike in shape. But then I understand the UCE units are supposed to be better and more forgiving on the rider. I liked the looks of the Desert Storm and I was impressed with the power output which is 27.20 bhp @5250rpm and whopping 41.30Nm of torque @ 4000rpm. This made my chain of thought moving. It’s also fitting my Honda CBR 250’s budget. But here comes the doubts.

I have ridden a Karizma so that I can imagine the performance and handling the CBR 250 will offer even without a test ride. The fat rear tyre, the sporty look, EFI, Disc on both wheels, Full fairing, pose value everything indicates that I should be riding this baby. However I wanted to evaluate and clear few doubts about the RE Classic500 to arrive at a fair decision and ensure I have not made a costly mistake worth 1.6 lacs.

First question is on the infamous issue of the EFI unit. In lot of forums I keep reading issues on this unit and lack of O2 sensor etc. But I never could understand how this impacted the bike or it’s performance? So what exactly is this? Does this mean there is a possibility that I get stranded with the bike due to a EFI malfunction or I experience a loss on performance. Has this been sorted out by RE?

The second question is about the performance. To be precise I would like to know what is the speed range for RE Classic 500 is capable of for sustainable & safe cruising on expressway? Here CBR 250 users can also give me feedback on their machines against the same parameters.

The third is about the maintenance requirements of RE 500. I know this can not be compared with Honda CBR 250 but do I need to be a kind of techno geek and DIY guy to maintain this bike? I am a guy who does not like getting my hands dirty. Thankfully apart form periodic servicing none of my previous bikes gave me any headache.

Other relevant information, I am 42, height 5’.11”, weights 82 Kgs. My biking requirements are mainly weekend rides and occational long trips on highways. This is not going to be used for daily commute.

Probably I would be able to settle my mind once these are answered.

Noor · 10-12-2011, 11:24 PM

Thread approved

the_trooper · 10-13-2011, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasen

Friends.. I know that I am trying to choose between Chalk & Cheese but need feedback here and really it’s not about comparison between two bikes.

I have been riding various motorcycles and scooters since the age of 20 and most of them have been low capacity motorcycles. The closest I came to performance by Indian standard was when I owned a Karizma for some two and half years. This was satisfying experience for me as Karizma was virtually unchallenged till P220 came in. After that I had to sell the bike for certain constraints. Currently I am riding a Suzuki GS 150.

Now I am again planning to shift to a bigger bike and although a slew of options available now I could only afford a Honda CBR250. I had almost zeroed in on the bike but then I saw the recently launched RE Classic 500 Desert Storm version on RE website.

Now I never ever had ridden a Bullet in my life. In my mind Bullets were huge slow moving lump of metal which leaks all over and you have to get grease on your hand often to keep the Bike in shape. But then I understand the UCE units are supposed to be better and more forgiving on the rider. I liked the looks of the Desert Storm and I was impressed with the power output which is 27.20 bhp @5250rpm and whopping 41.30Nm of torque @ 4000rpm. This made my chain of thought moving. It’s also fitting my Honda CBR 250’s budget. But here comes the doubts.

I have ridden a Karizma so that I can imagine the performance and handling the CBR 250 will offer even without a test ride. The fat rear tyre, the sporty look, EFI, Disc on both wheels, Full fairing, pose value everything indicates that I should be riding this baby. However I wanted to evaluate and clear few doubts about the RE Classic500 to arrive at a fair decision and ensure I have not made a costly mistake worth 1.6 lacs.

First question is on the infamous issue of the EFI unit. In lot of forums I keep reading issues on this unit and lack of O2 sensor etc. But I never could understand how this impacted the bike or it’s performance? So what exactly is this? Does this mean there is a possibility that I get stranded with the bike due to a EFI malfunction or I experience a loss on performance. Has this been sorted out by RE?

The second question is about the performance. To be precise I would like to know what is the speed range for RE Classic 500 is capable of for sustainable & safe cruising on expressway? Here CBR 250 users can also give me feedback on their machines against the same parameters.

The third is about the maintenance requirements of RE 500. I know this can not be compared with Honda CBR 250 but do I need to be a kind of techno geek and DIY guy to maintain this bike? I am a guy who does not like getting my hands dirty. Thankfully apart form periodic servicing none of my previous bikes gave me any headache.

Other relevant information, I am 42, height 5’.11”, weights 82 Kgs. My biking requirements are mainly weekend rides and occational long trips on highways. This is not going to be used for daily commute.

Probably I would be able to settle my mind once these are answered.

I ride a Classic 500. I have seen that earlier Classic owners living in colder climates had issues with having to clean our their plugs frequently, but that issue is a thing of the past. My bike has never had any misfiring issues.

I enjoy the torque and power delivery of a larger engine compared to having power coming in at higher rpms (eg.R15). The bike is capable of doing 110kmph comfortably all day. I wish it had a better top end ability, but I have always felt the bike to be peppy under overtaking.
It is most enjoyable in the hills, with plenty of torque on hand, I dont have to wait too much for the revs to build. Give it some stick and the bike pulls ahead.
The comfort of the seating position of the Classic gets all kinds of feedback (good and bad), but the advantage is the choice of customizing it for spot on comfort for touring with seat and handlebar options.

I cannot comment on the maintenance of the CBR250 as I dont own one. The Classic runs well, but I do keep an eye on chain slack and loose fastners. I clean my bike myself at least once a week and get the battery checked once in two months. Immediately attending to small problems helps me go longer with out any major maintenance.

Satyamzma · 10-13-2011, 04:58 PM

For sports biking get a CBR........for a lifestyle product go for Bullet....Both are great Bikes...CBR is much faster then even Bullet 500

sasen · 10-13-2011, 07:26 PM

@the trooper thanks for the valuable information on the C500. I believe I can live with whatever periodic maintanance you have mentioned. The important part will be the riding comfort. This bike will not be used too frequently but when used I plan to spend a lot of time on the saddle so this better be good. I have sat on the spring loaded seat of the bike (that's all the showroom guys allowed me) while the bike was on main stand. Seemed okay but 2-3 minutes sitting on a stationery bike is no way to judge. Since you have used the bikefor some time I wanted to understand if the saddle spings hold well or sag with time? I also plan to use (If I finalize this) the short upswept silencer which will cost me additional Rs.2850/-.

Also how is the braking performance? Since the chassis design is still old, with huge weight and no disc on rear I need to know this. 110 kmph cruising speed sounds good for me but need to know what happens under panic braking situation.

Also RE dealer told me that the rear seat will come free of cost (Thank God). I tend to believe this will be comfortable for the pllion as I am encouraging my wife to ride pillion with me for some of the trips. Do let me know your feedback on pillion comfort.

@satyamzma : You are right, even with lesser power and torque the CBR will outrun the bullet... But I am still trying to decide between outright performance & majestic cruising, Style & Lifestyle

. Had I been younger now by 10 years I would have probably made a swift decision and go for the CBR. Age is making me think twice.

.

I am also waiting for feedback from some CBR250 owners on the cruising ability.

the_trooper · 10-14-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasen

@the trooper thanks for the valuable information on the C500. I believe I can live with whatever periodic maintanance you have mentioned. The important part will be the riding comfort. This bike will not be used too frequently but when used I plan to spend a lot of time on the saddle so this better be good. I have sat on the spring loaded seat of the bike (that's all the showroom guys allowed me) while the bike was on main stand. Seemed okay but 2-3 minutes sitting on a stationery bike is no way to judge. Since you have used the bikefor some time I wanted to understand if the saddle spings hold well or sag with time? I also plan to use (If I finalize this) the short upswept silencer which will cost me additional Rs.2850/-.

Also how is the braking performance? Since the chassis design is still old, with huge weight and no disc on rear I need to know this. 110 kmph cruising speed sounds good for me but need to know what happens under panic braking situation.

Also RE dealer told me that the rear seat will come free of cost (Thank God). I tend to believe this will be comfortable for the pllion as I am encouraging my wife to ride pillion with me for some of the trips. Do let me know your feedback on pillion comfort.

@satyamzma : You are right, even with lesser power and torque the CBR will outrun the bullet... But I am still trying to decide between outright performance & majestic cruising, Style & Lifestyle

. Had I been younger now by 10 years I would have probably made a swift decision and go for the CBR. Age is making me think twice.

.

I am also waiting for feedback from some CBR250 owners on the cruising ability.

Like is said earlier, seating position and comfort are not the same for everyone. I have done lots of kilometers on the stock setup, but I have had no discomfort due to the spring

Is the dealer not giving you a test ride? there is an option on REs website too.

KOAN · 10-14-2011, 02:26 PM

CBR is an excellent product from HONDA !!!! BULLET 500 is very good !!! both the bikes can make there presence felt ...

.. nothing is hassle free .... ride both of them at least once before investing your money in them

HarishK · 10-14-2011, 02:51 PM

40NM Torque is like a Hammer. Just close your eyes and go for RE. CBR is good too, But you are sure to get noticed every where with that Bluish green RE.

jd666 · 10-14-2011, 03:11 PM

Im not too convinced with the quality issues on either bike, but for the money ( which is nearly the same for both bikes ), i would go for a CBR. Its a comfortable sports commuter which does touring and city riding both with ease. The niggles on the RE will just keep coming up one after the other and will not make for a comfortable ownership experience.

My vote for the CBR.

rx100.7050 · 10-14-2011, 03:19 PM

I rode the CBR for 5 kms on the highway and I am very much convinced about it's ability. It has awesome pulling power & the bike does 90 so comfortably. It's RVMs are AWESOME if I compare my 220's. Regarding it's toughness, read my & titanic4u 's recent trip where we travelled 30-40 kms on non existing roads in dead night through jungles crossing river & none of the bike showed any fatigue. The lights are pretty amazing at night.

10-12-2011, 04:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
sasen Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 35	Honda CBR250 R or RE Classic 500 Desert Storm Friends.. I know that I am trying to choose between Chalk & Cheese but need feedback here and really it’s not about comparison between two bikes. I have been riding various motorcycles and scooters since the age of 20 and most of them have been low capacity motorcycles. The closest I came to performance by Indian standard was when I owned a Karizma for some two and half years. This was satisfying experience for me as Karizma was virtually unchallenged till P220 came in. After that I had to sell the bike for certain constraints. Currently I am riding a Suzuki GS 150. Now I am again planning to shift to a bigger bike and although a slew of options available now I could only afford a Honda CBR250. I had almost zeroed in on the bike but then I saw the recently launched RE Classic 500 Desert Storm version on RE website. Now I never ever had ridden a Bullet in my life. In my mind Bullets were huge slow moving lump of metal which leaks all over and you have to get grease on your hand often to keep the Bike in shape. But then I understand the UCE units are supposed to be better and more forgiving on the rider. I liked the looks of the Desert Storm and I was impressed with the power output which is 27.20 bhp @5250rpm and whopping 41.30Nm of torque @ 4000rpm. This made my chain of thought moving. It’s also fitting my Honda CBR 250’s budget. But here comes the doubts. I have ridden a Karizma so that I can imagine the performance and handling the CBR 250 will offer even without a test ride. The fat rear tyre, the sporty look, EFI, Disc on both wheels, Full fairing, pose value everything indicates that I should be riding this baby. However I wanted to evaluate and clear few doubts about the RE Classic500 to arrive at a fair decision and ensure I have not made a costly mistake worth 1.6 lacs. First question is on the infamous issue of the EFI unit. In lot of forums I keep reading issues on this unit and lack of O2 sensor etc. But I never could understand how this impacted the bike or it’s performance? So what exactly is this? Does this mean there is a possibility that I get stranded with the bike due to a EFI malfunction or I experience a loss on performance. Has this been sorted out by RE? The second question is about the performance. To be precise I would like to know what is the speed range for RE Classic 500 is capable of for sustainable & safe cruising on expressway? Here CBR 250 users can also give me feedback on their machines against the same parameters. The third is about the maintenance requirements of RE 500. I know this can not be compared with Honda CBR 250 but do I need to be a kind of techno geek and DIY guy to maintain this bike? I am a guy who does not like getting my hands dirty. Thankfully apart form periodic servicing none of my previous bikes gave me any headache. Other relevant information, I am 42, height 5’.11”, weights 82 Kgs. My biking requirements are mainly weekend rides and occational long trips on highways. This is not going to be used for daily commute. Probably I would be able to settle my mind once these are answered.

10-12-2011, 11:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Noor Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Posts: 2,336	Thread approved __________________ Happiness is finding you have another Gear left.... Join xBhp On

10-13-2011, 04:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Satyamzma Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,828	For sports biking get a CBR........for a lifestyle product go for Bullet....Both are great Bikes...CBR is much faster then even Bullet 500 __________________ Don't Honk Unnecessarily

10-13-2011, 07:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
sasen Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 35	@the trooper thanks for the valuable information on the C500. I believe I can live with whatever periodic maintanance you have mentioned. The important part will be the riding comfort. This bike will not be used too frequently but when used I plan to spend a lot of time on the saddle so this better be good. I have sat on the spring loaded seat of the bike (that's all the showroom guys allowed me) while the bike was on main stand. Seemed okay but 2-3 minutes sitting on a stationery bike is no way to judge. Since you have used the bikefor some time I wanted to understand if the saddle spings hold well or sag with time? I also plan to use (If I finalize this) the short upswept silencer which will cost me additional Rs.2850/-. Also how is the braking performance? Since the chassis design is still old, with huge weight and no disc on rear I need to know this. 110 kmph cruising speed sounds good for me but need to know what happens under panic braking situation. Also RE dealer told me that the rear seat will come free of cost (Thank God). I tend to believe this will be comfortable for the pllion as I am encouraging my wife to ride pillion with me for some of the trips. Do let me know your feedback on pillion comfort. @satyamzma : You are right, even with lesser power and torque the CBR will outrun the bullet... But I am still trying to decide between outright performance & majestic cruising, Style & Lifestyle . Had I been younger now by 10 years I would have probably made a swift decision and go for the CBR. Age is making me think twice.. I am also waiting for feedback from some CBR250 owners on the cruising ability.

10-14-2011, 02:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
HarishK Professional Whistler Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Chennai Posts: 371	40NM Torque is like a Hammer. Just close your eyes and go for RE. CBR is good too, But you are sure to get noticed every where with that Bluish green RE. __________________ https://www.facebook.com/harishtheboss Last edited by HarishK; 10-14-2011 at 02:59 PM.

10-14-2011, 02:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
KOAN Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 13	CBR is an excellent product from HONDA !!!! BULLET 500 is very good !!! both the bikes can make there presence felt ... .. nothing is hassle free .... ride both of them at least once before investing your money in them

10-14-2011, 03:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
jd666 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Gurgaon/Faridabad Posts: 3,390	Im not too convinced with the quality issues on either bike, but for the money ( which is nearly the same for both bikes ), i would go for a CBR. Its a comfortable sports commuter which does touring and city riding both with ease. The niggles on the RE will just keep coming up one after the other and will not make for a comfortable ownership experience. My vote for the CBR. __________________ My offerings to the gods of speed - - KTM Duke 200 - Yamaha RXZ 5 speed

10-14-2011, 03:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
rx100.7050 Old Dawg Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,869	I rode the CBR for 5 kms on the highway and I am very much convinced about it's ability. It has awesome pulling power & the bike does 90 so comfortably. It's RVMs are AWESOME if I compare my 220's. Regarding it's toughness, read my & titanic4u 's recent trip where we travelled 30-40 kms on non existing roads in dead night through jungles crossing river & none of the bike showed any fatigue. The lights are pretty amazing at night. __________________ *"HASTA LA VICTORIA, SIEMPRE !" - Che* BIKEf.a.n.a.t.i.c Short Honeymoon trip with my beloved two http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/18983-spicy-sour-sweet-short-honeymoon-trip.html In Pursuit of Swarghat http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/20306-pursuit-swarghat.html#post716409 Anniversary trip http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/2...sary-trip.html

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