There are many good reasons for buying a motorcycle. The most obvious one is the thrill of riding a machine that’s totally in your control, that you operate with virtually every part of the body. The open-air feeling you get on a motorbike is completely different from sitting in a car with the windows down—hell, even in a convertible. And let’s not forget about fuel economy.

Fairly quick, fuel-efficient, good-looking and priced to move, you can use it on a daily basis and ride it to its limit without really getting bored.

If you’ve had a motorcycle license sitting in your wallet for years, but never really took the plunge and bought one, we’re on the same page. I’ve always loved two-wheel machines, and since I ain’t getting any younger, I can’t resist no longer.

Knowing damn well I’ve got virtually no experience on a bike, a crotch rocket is out of the question; actually, even when I got my license at 20 years old, it was out of the question anyhow.

The opportunity to ride Honda’s new CBR250R was impossible to pass up. I wanted a bike that’s not too heavy and too intimidating, and this sporty little machine is a good fit.

One cylinder on duty
The CBR250R is equipped with a 249-cc, liquid-cooled single cylinder that features two camshafts, a 4-valve head, a counterbalance shaft and fuel injection. Output is rated at 25 hp at 8,500 rpm and 17 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm.

Is one piston enough? Definitely. The 250R accelerates as fiercely as your average new compact car, so you won’t be holding up traffic. And at the same time, it doesn’t have an explosive rush of power that could get you into trouble. In 6th gear at 100 km/h, the little engine is spinning at around 5,500 rpm, and you still have a lot of juice left, as the redline is set at 10,500 rpm.

Okay, it doesn’t sound like a CBR600, which may seem disappointing. Even its Kawasaki Ninja 250R rival has two cylinders (and a bit more power), but overall, I’m impressed with the smoothness and muscle of Honda’s 250.

The CBR250R is equipped with a 249-cc.