Story of My CBR250R

Question is how do I start it!? Please bear with me the build-up to the story will be pretty long. I have always planned to write down this experience.

A bit of My motorcycling background.

I learned to drive at 18, wasn’t into motorcycling back then. I used to tell everyone I like driving cars more than motorcycles. Fast forward two years, I started taking our car everywhere and that bothered my dad, He got annoyed and asked me to buy a motorcycle (Given what happened after that he might be regretting it!) so we started hunting for a motorcycle apt for me to start with, more like he only was doing that because I had no idea about motorcycles neither knew how to ride a geared motorcycle. All this was happening in 2011 second half. We were considering at Honda Unicorn as it was the best motorcycle in that segment but there was 6 months waiting for it. So, we somehow narrowed on this motorcycles “Suzuki GS150”.

The motorcycle was sitting in the garage for 6 months, occasionally dad used to take it out. One fine day mother outraged for having the motorcycle and not having the guts to ride it (Just imagine). It triggered the action of my dad teaching me how to ride the motorcycle. I did it for one day and Rest is history. I started taking the bike out locally, wasn’t confident but that freedom was addictive.

Fast forward Two years!

I did a few very short distance rides on my Suzuki GS150 (still have it and it’s my daily driver) Later, I graduated, got a job. It was around the same time YouTube and moto vlogging was buzzing and few guys were doing good in it. That is when I started searching for my new motorcycle. A motorcycle which is exclusive for the weekend rides. Given as a guy just starting in IT, I started looking out for bikes in and around 2 lakhs mark and of course beginner class (250-400CC). But before that, two of my school friends had royal enfields and I used to ride those since I learn to ride a motorcycle. That being the only exposure to motorcycles I was inclined towards the royal enfields but I was sure that I do not want a classic, I zeroed down to Thunderbird and since I was at it, I thought I’ll just get a 500 itself. It was good for what it is bigger tank, good for my height (I’m 5’11” and on a classic, I just look weird for that case Electra was good but I liked thunderbird more). It was comparatively “modern” than other royal enfields which never appealed to me (remember it was 2014-15 when the Himalayan wasn’t in the picture and adventure motorcycle scene in India were not this swollen like it is today)

After a few days, I went to take a test ride of thunderbird with a friend. It was the fault of that test ride vehicle or the brakes were like that only I don’t know, but it was average. Not something I would have loved to own over a longer period. Enfields were out of questions now.

Later I went to KTM showroom, test rode all the motorcycles they had to offer. Back then it was simple DUKE and RC both in 200 & 390 (unlike now when there’s a model with every 50cc displacement difference. So confusing!) Like All teenagers I wanted a faired motorcycles to get a “sports bike” look. The RC was too committed and the Duke was too tiny and no physical difference between 200 and 390 back then except colours. Those options were struck off too. But those were the days when Kawasaki’s under 650CC bikes were sold in KTM’s showrooms and I saw Ninja 300 there, immediately fell in love with it but I knew it was out of budget so it was a distant dream itself. In the that confusing state, I was trying to narrow down the options:

1. Thunderbird (because dad was in favour of it, His words “Buy a real bike”)

2. Duke 390 (wasn’t convinced fully since 200 and 390 looked same except colours)

3. Ninja 300 (Loved it but out of budget plus no ABS for that amount of money)

4. R3 (out of budget plus no ABS for that amount of money)

I took the test ride of only the enfields and KTMs rest were not available around to test ride. Meanwhile, there was a bike from this segment I never considered and the fact that I have rode it the most before buying it, since two of my closest friends had it and I did multiple rides on that bike. Enters CBR250R!

So, one fine day in the middle of this bewilderment to choose the bike, This Bike pops up in the discussion, Why I Didn’t consider CBR at first place? So, the reason was, I felt it was a a bit dated. launched in 2011 in India and never revised after that (New graphics and colour updates are NOT ACTUAL UPDATES) And since as mentioned earlier two of my friends had it so wanted something different as well (I know stupid logic). Also, CBR Is an amazing motorcycle and It does everything well but does nothing quite exceptionally at least in its stock setup but nonetheless, it’s a great all-rounder. I went to take the test ride (which was honestly wasn’t required at all but for just a formality) and the owner happened to be a close associate of one of my friend’s dad so he gave me a good discount. I booked the motorcycle and since it was available, I got the delivery immediately. I bought iconic tri-colour and it was 5,000 INR dearer over standard ones but worth it!

Now the financer of the deal ‘My dad’ from whom I borrowed the money and paid him back in my capacity over the tenure of a year and half as per our agreed terms, said “you must take the ABS model or this deal not happening at all” which made the bike 30,000 INR more dearer but trust me when I look back it was the best decision ever made. ABS saved my life so many times over the tenure of 3 years and close to 30,000kms (Thanks Pops!).

This is the story of My CBR. I did sell the CBR in Nov. 2018 and moved on to a bigger bike but I met so many amazing people because of this bike. In Ideal world Scenario, I would have loved to keep CBR forever but I wouldn’t have done justice to the bike and I do not like city commute on it that much. Also, I have a commuter already so selling CBR was the best I could do for it.

To thank CBR for all the wonderful memories I have put together this video.