Honda has been running the CBR 250R One Make series since 2012. Now conducted under the banner of Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup, this series is a budding ground for riders as well as motorcycle technicians. The CBR 250R One Make race bike features a slew of mechanical upgrades to make it quicker and more tuneable to suit the rider. Here is what sets it apart from the stock CBR 250R.
Racing exhaust
For starters, the new CBR 250R race vike gets a high-performance exhaust system sourced from Thai performance house, Endurance Racing. Not only it cuts down on weight, but also gives the bike extra grunt.
Dual-map ECU
The 250cc engine is the same, but gets a dual-map ECU. Riders can switch the map on-the-fly through a switch next to the switchgear, depending upon the section of the track has straights or tight corners. Once a bike is allocated to the riders and his technician for the weekend, Honda encourages them to fiddle with the ECU maps to tune it according to the rider. Next to this switch is a pit-lane speed limiter.
Adjustable suspension
While the rear monoshock of even the stock CBR 250R can be adjusted for preload, the race bike gets adjustable front forks too. The preload on the forks and monoshock can be tuned according to the rider’s weight to get the best out of the bike.
Steering damper
Hidden inside the CBR 250R race bike’s fairing is a steering damper. It is a device which cuts down unwanted wobble on the front end, which can escalate into a nasty tank slapper and lead to a crash.
Sportier riding position
The clip-on handlebars have been lowered while the footpegs are rear-set to offer a sporty riding stance. The CNC-machined footpegs are also higher, and have improved the cornering clearance of the bike. They are also adjustable to suit the rider’s stature.
Apart from these mechanical upgrades, the CBR 250R One Make bike gets a race-spec fairing and tail cowl. Although it continues to tip the scales around 165 kilograms, the power output has gone up by around 4bhp. Next round onwards, this bike will ride on racing slicks supplied by MRF.
