Honda CB250RS

The Honda CB250RS is a 250 cc motorcycle designed for road use. It has a four stroke, four valve, air cooled, single cylinder engine, which was built for the earlier XL250S trail bike. The RS is known for its slim build, with a dry weight of only 128 kg, and nimble handling. The engine featured counter rotating banancers which reduced vibration and allowed a lighter frame. Further weight savings were achieved by making the engine as stressed component. Early models were kick-started (with a completely superfluous automatic decompression lever), while later Deluxe models (designated RS-D) came with electric start and different paintwork. The bike has a front disk brake and rear drum brake, and while it had only a single cylinder, it had twin exhausts.

The engine generates modest power and achieves a top speed of around 150 km/h or 90 mph. Early models sported 26 hp, while later models reached 33 hp. The bike was known for being hard-wearing and reliable. It is also very fuel efficient, achieving up to 70 mpg (3.4 L/100km). One known issue with the bike was that at around 50,000 miles an RS will often suddenly stop and this can usually be traced to a faulty ignition coil in the alternator. The CDI also tended to fail on high-mileage bikes.

Overall the CB250RS is a fun, low cost motorcycle, and has a loyal following among students and delivery riders for both its economical and nimble characteristics. The CB250RS was phased out of production in the mid-late 1980s.