Quick Ride
QUICK RIDE
ROUNDUP
HONDA VTR250 Not for beginners only
LET'S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT right from the start. Honda's VTR25O is not a beginner's bike. It's a full-sized, technologically sophisticated motorcycle designed to be unintimidating and easy to ride. And though those characteristics will help novices and beginners appreciate the machine, experienced riders will find the VTR a blast to ride. too.
A large part of the VTR's appeal stems from its 250cc. V-Twin engine. This liquid-cooled powerplant puts out a reasonable amount of power, enough that a full-sized adult will have little problem staying ahead of traffic. Of course, at low rpm, the small-displacement engine does lack grunt, but once the revs climb above 4000 rpm, there is power available, with even more waiting above 8000 rpm.
As much as the amount, it’s the kind of power, and the sound of the engine, that makes the VTR so much fun. The lumpity-lump feel that the V-Twin produces makes the engine seem larger than it is, and while the motor throbs in its lower registers. its power pulses are, for the most part. smooth, with little vibration to tingle the rider. Also, the exhaust note, while quiet. is of a pleasant tone, sounding vaguely like the V-Four Superbikes Honda campaigned several years ago.
When we last rode the VTR, (Cycle World, August, 1988) we loved its chassis and suspension. Those parts on the 1990 edition of the bike are the same as before, with easy steering, and a plush ride. Even at a walking pace, the bike requires only a light touch on the bars to make steering corrections or to initiate a turn.
Up front, the air-adjustable fork isolates the rider from most of the road bumps and irregularities. It is damped and sprung a bit on the soft side, but it rarely bottoms, instead providing a controlled, posh ride. The fork is matched quite nicely by the single shock mounted at the rear. The only shock adjustment is the spring preload, and once set up for the rider’s weight, the shock offers a ride as plush as the front.
It is around town that the VTR shines brightest, with its usable powerband, easy maneuverability and cushy suspension making the bike nearly effortless to control. Its light clutch pull and slick-shifting six-speed transmission further enhance the machine’s unintimidating demeanor.
One significant change has been the addition of a conventional front disc brake in the place of the unusual, inboard disc seen on last year’s bike. The new unit works better, giving more feedback to the rider as well as more stopping power.
Overall, the VRT250 is a wonderful motorcycle, yet hasn’t been a runaway sales sucess, and as a result, Honda will not be selling the VTR asa 1991 model. But the good news is that there are leftover 1990 versions on showroom floors across the country, with salesmen ready to listen to offers under the bike’s suggested list price of $3398.
—Camron E. Bussard
