Zx-25r. Wow!

[Megadan]

This bike has been confirmed, and I can't wait for it.

https://www.motorcycle.com/mini-feat...uiNIH9MXOVHFzc

This is how small displacement should be done. 249cc inline 4, with what I can only guess is going to have a 16-18,000 rpm redline and making around 40-50hp (45 being an early stated number). I remember back when small 4 pots weren't that unusual, and they always sounded so epic, even if they weren't really going that fast.

It has some pretty impressive hardware too, a radial mount monoblock caliper on its front brake. Big piston separate function inverted forks.

Maybe it is just my nostalgia for the 90's, but I would love to see Honda answer back with a new CBR250RR I-4 with its 20,000 rpm redline capability.

[OneLeggedRider]

That's incredible, hard to believe they can get that many horses out of a little 250. But more cylinders usually does equal more power, no matter the displacement. My little CB400 was a blast to ride and with a 4 into 1 header sounded like it could slay dragons lol.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by OneLeggedRider

That's incredible, hard to believe they can get that many horses out of a little 250. But more cylinders usually does equal more power, no matter the displacement. My little CB400 was a blast to ride and with a 4 into 1 header sounded like it could slay dragons lol.

More appropriately, more cylinders for the same displacement means lower piston acceleration and speeds which means more RPM. RPM is the replacement for displacement. The trade off is torque, especially down low. Most of the old school 250 4 bangers didn't come into their power until 10-12,000rpm. Anything below that is just in the way lol. You then make up for the lack of torque and extra RPM by running shorter gear ratios.

If you think about it, each cylinder only displaces 62.25cc. That worked over CBR250RR 4cyl is probably putting out more than stock power as well. The original motor from 90-91 made 45hp at 14,500rpm and 17.3ft-lb at 11,500rpm. The redline was 18,000 if I remember correctly. With a massive stroke of 33.8mm, which in American terms is 1.33 inches.

Remember, this is back in the late 80's and early 90's with carburetors. Imagine what they could do now with modern engineering and fuel injection.

They were not the best road bikes, but were an absolute blast on a track. I would ride one on the street just to listen to that noise all day lol.

[OneLeggedRider]

Oh I know, unlike Ford and Harley, Honda and the other big 3 like to go "oversquare" (bigger bore than stroke) which allows for higher piston speed/rpm.

[JerryHawk250]

Gotta love that sound.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Gotta love that sound.

Like having your own miniature formula 1 car on 2 wheels

[JerryHawk250]

Only bike I found sounds better is the Honda CBX 1000. I had the pleasure of driving one a few times.

[Megadan]

Yeah, the straight six sounds great, but I wouldn't find it as fun to ride.

[OneLeggedRider]

I've spent alot of time aboard a CBX, it wasn't a canyon carver but light to light that thing would put a grin on your face, besides the awesome sound.

[roundhouse]

I bet the HP figures will be around 55ish. The bike might weigh 340-360?

I watched a few vids on youtube and this was one of them. I love small displacement high revving engines. It takes more work to make them go fast as you cannot rely on torque to pull you out of a corner but that is why they are cool. This will be a serious racing machine and not a starter bike like the parallel twin 300s. I think they make about 40-45 hp now. My old 90s ninja 250 was 26 hp.

Anyway. cool bike. might we see a Z 25-R naked bike?

I have a good friend who is a salesman at the local kawi dealer. I love taking a day off during the week and test riding a couple bikes. Maybe i will get to ride one of these?

Jerry, CBX is a dream bike of mine. they are so expensive even for a beater. Maybe someday i will find one.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by OneLeggedRider

I've spent alot of time aboard a CBX, it wasn't a canyon carver but light to light that thing would put a grin on your face, besides the awesome sound.

I know I had a had time wiping the smile off my face. lol

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by roundhouse

I bet the HP figures will be around 55ish. The bike might weigh 340-360?

I watched a few vids on youtube and this was one of them. I love small displacement high revving engines. It takes more work to make them go fast as you cannot rely on torque to pull you out of a corner but that is why they are cool. This will be a serious racing machine and not a starter bike like the parallel twin 300s. I think they make about 40-45 hp now. My old 90s ninja 250 was 26 hp.

Anyway. cool bike. might we see a Z 25-R naked bike?

I have a good friend who is a salesman at the local kawi dealer. I love taking a day off during the week and test riding a couple bikes. Maybe i will get to ride one of these?

Jerry, CBX is a dream bike of mine. they are so expensive even for a beater. Maybe someday i will find one.

I agree, I would like to see the Z 25-R in a naked version. I'm not a big crotch rocket fan. Though I wouldn't mind taking it for a ride.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by roundhouse

I bet the HP figures will be around 55ish. The bike might weigh 340-360?

I watched a few vids on youtube and this was one of them. I love small displacement high revving engines. It takes more work to make them go fast as you cannot rely on torque to pull you out of a corner but that is why they are cool. This will be a serious racing machine and not a starter bike like the parallel twin 300s. I think they make about 40-45 hp now. My old 90s ninja 250 was 26 hp.

Anyway. cool bike. might we see a Z 25-R naked bike?

I have a good friend who is a salesman at the local kawi dealer. I love taking a day off during the week and test riding a couple bikes. Maybe i will get to ride one of these?

Jerry, CBX is a dream bike of mine. they are so expensive even for a beater. Maybe someday i will find one.

As far as what I have been able to find, 50hp is right about where it will end up, so possibly 55. Weight would likely be between 320 and 350. The chances of us even getting this bike in the U.S. are pretty small unfortunately. We didn't even get many of the old 4cyl 250s back in the 90's. Most likely because they feel Americans are not willing to drop $8000+ on a 250cc bike, even if it does make 500cc horsepower.

I would consider this the perfect starter track bike, but definitely not a starter road bike. This is the perfect kind of machine to really learn technique on due to its high RPM nature and total lack of torque.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

I agree, I would like to see the Z 25-R in a naked version. I'm not a big crotch rocket fan. Though I wouldn't mind taking it for a ride.

I think the chances of a naked version would be pretty low. The z400 would make the same horsepower and is already $5000 brand new. The 25R would have better hardware and the same power, thus likely being more expensive for less engine lol. I know some guys would pay the premium, like you or I, but we would be the exception.

Honda does make a small high revving 4cyl naked bike already. It is one I have been heavily considered trading my VFR for, which is the new CB650R. A naked 650cc I4 sport bike with a 12,800rpm redline. The engine is essentially a stroked previous gen CBR600RR engine with a reworked cam profile and fueling to make more useable lower and midrange power. It is still a peaky supersport motor at heart, but it does pull much stronger than a typical 600 supersport in the lower revs and still puts out close to 100hp at the crank and has the best suspension and brakes in the 650 class of bikes by a wide margin. The price tag reflects that a little bit, but I view it as getting what you pay for. It's not the same kind of bike as an FZ07 with its low end torque to have low speed hooligan fun on. It's a high revving 4 with linear power for going places quickly.

[wheelbender6]

350 h2.jpgJust like the good ol' days.