Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

I am a proud owner of the duke200. The 200 and 390 have nothing much different in the riding posture. So by judging duke 200 you can go long tours without much pain in the back. The upright riding position is also aggressive in its own streetfighter standards. The riding position is also confidence inducing. The suspension set up is quiet stiff, so you will feel every slight irregularities in the road. But this will give you nice flickability and you can take the bike for some weekend cornering rides. The pillion comfort is bad. But then again it can be tolerated considering all the other factors it gives. Coming to 390, it will be the next big thing in indian biking. I am suggesting you to go for the 390 duke

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

Thank you all for such warm response!!

My current thoughts:

D390: if it goes beyond 2lac. Chapter closes. :sly:

D200: a wild girl....wants you to be wild too....I mean, its like if she tells you "c'mon man, is it all you got.... push it further, set me free!". A hardcore streetfighter... designed to give you feedback of the road and turns.... that explains the firmness of the suspension and seat. Streetfighter with a pillion? Seriously? I mean you can, but you shouldn't, that explains the small rear seat. Not made to be a tourer.... but in India, the case is different...we believe in "everything goes everywhere"...

CBR250R: A perfect mix of all good things. Like a supermodel
Sporty, not so much that you feel like a tool on long rides. A good posture for a tall person.
Ass friendly
Pillion can smile.
Just the right power:weight
Higher top speed.
Beats Duke 200 in drag race.
Combined Anti-lock Braking System (way ahead of upcoming Duke 390 ABS)
5years warranty for additional rs.1200.
Nice high speed stability.
Happy in the corners.
Tourer.

I believe, right now my money is on CBR250R C-ABS.
Anyhow, I will wait for a month as decided earlier. Maybe something comes up out of nowhere and makes me drool...

I really appreciate all of you for taking time and replying to me. :thumbup:

Also, if anyone knows about the new colours of CBR250R?? Are they coming to India or not???

Thank you!!

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

Dude being a former cbr owner having ridden 27000 kms in 1.5 years and being a part of mumbai's cbr 250r group of over 30 members....I still advise you not buying it. The abs is good. But c-abs will take a lot of getting used to. The abs brake pads are 3000 rs a pair and wear v fast. The engine starts having problems v fast... chain sprocket and other spares are v expensive and front end is too soft. Honda's major service centers don't even have a decent inventory of spares readily available. Owning this bike made me become a known face at an otherwise unknown service center... it would be a repetition of your thunderbird ownership experience which is not something you'd want. I strongly advise you to put your money on either duke that suits your needs and budget.... Happy riding!

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

[QUOTE=mohitahuja;941411. Owning this bike made me become a known face at an otherwise unknown service center... it would be a repetition of your thunderbird ownership experience which is not something you'd want. I strongly advise you to put your money on either duke that suits your needs and budget.... Happy riding!

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2[/QUOTE]

The first batch of CBRs were the notorious lot which made the bike pretty infamous. I guess the story is different now, with Honda having ironed out many, if not all the issues. 3 months and 4k kms later, I am yet to find something which i can call a "serious" issue with the bike. :touchwood:
.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

Bro ppl from the 2nd batch in my group had engine issues like rocker arm seizure, blown gaskets repeatedly and stuff after 20k kms. Spares are much much more expensive than ktm and ktm quality is much better. The owner/VP of a major Honda service center is a good friend which is why I have no complaints about service or stuff being done under warranty. Most of my friends say otherwise.

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Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

i second mohit's views.
parts are expensive & most of the time, unavailable.
the mechanics / technicians @ service centers are nincompoops.
its a pain in the neck, in the long run, to own one.

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

To each, his own. I certainly didnt find a nincompoop technician at the service center where I get my bike serviced frequently, neither did I face any issue regarding availability of spares. Some advantages of doing a market research on the ASCs before buying, instead of jumping at the nearest showroom without a thought.

p.s. I finalized on the CBR after spending 6 months of research and reading 750+ pages in the ownership threads.

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

that is the right way of doing it.... i.e. selecting a bike.

and regarding service centers, spares and level of expertise of technicians, baring R15 these bikes have recently landed in india, i mean bikes with liquid cooled engine, ECU with 100's of sensors all over. though training is provided to service center technicians, it will take a few years before these technicians becomes fully confident and expert in troubleshooting every problem. also it requires that technicians should have some basic understanding of electricals & electronics to actually be an expert on these bikes. so it will take some time .... still every city has atleast one or two very good honda CBR service centers, as far as i know, and i am not a cbr owner.

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

Duke is more better handler and corner machine than CBR.
And in Drag Race Duke will shoot like a rocket. To beat Duke you need to decide how long distance drag race would be.

Most imp, No CBR owner buys it for corner or race or drag.

BTW where will you use top speed of CBR in Himachal ?

And CBR 250 is not at a cornering machine. If you need decent cornering than go with CBR 150.
CBR 250 is for touring fun with daily ride capable.

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

I guess you haven't checked this video out yet, somen!



Perfectly said. I would rather cruise leisurely at 100 instead of chasing those who scream past at 9000RPM! Leisure is the word for CBR.

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other


I would have posted that video..... I have another such video. ..
Also, I want a tourer.
And I am not interested in racing everytime, but if a bike beats anither in drag, its probably more powerful.
No hard feelings for Duke. It's a nice machine. Probably the best for the guys looking for a Streetfighter....
But CBR250R is more powerful, more comfortable and safer (C-ABS).... with nice touring capabilities and pillion friendly...

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

Among these bikes, I prefer CBR250R, Duke200, R15 and ZMR for speed and Duke 200, CBR250R, ZMR and R15 for pickup in the same order, provided the riding position of all these bikes is comfortable and servicing and spare parts is easily available.

With 1 hp for each 5.44 kgs kerb weight, Duke200 is still an underestimated bike. Though the complete details are not available, the 150 kgs (139 kgs dry) Duke 390 with 44 bhp at 9500 rpm and 35 Nm torque at 7250 rpm will be a real ‘rocket’.

How much essential or how much helpful is ABS or C-ABS is yet to be discussed. Anyway, this facility increases the stopping distance of the bike and does not prevent skidding on loose surface road; I think.

This may perhaps be incorrect.

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

About the benefit of ABS:-


C-ABS is definitely better than a normal ABS...

CBR250R C-ABS appeals me now......

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

yes buddy, you are incorrect, C-ABS or ABS does not increase the stopping distance, but in panic and emergency braking situations- if your brakes are going to lock, then only ABS will interfere to prevent locking and by doing so, it reduces braking distance, because locked up wheels do not reduce braking distance, most effective way of braking is to apply as much braking force as is possible without loosing traction i.e. without locking up wheels.

now regarding loose surface road, i guess you mean to say that if there is sand or loose gravel on road, yes in that condition if you brake, neither CBS now without ABS will help, both are equally unhelpful.

so it is good to have ABS, as it will help you in 80-90% of times.

Re: Not happy with ThunderBird, Please Suggest: CBR250R or KTM Duke 390 or other

Don't know I am not convinced with this video. I have seen Duke leading in initial few meters. Later CBR overtaking it.

Anyways, So what TS thinks ? Which bike and when ??