Honda CBR250RR Special Edition

WE'RE still waiting for Honda to bring a version of the CBR250RR to Europe (and hopeful they will).

Meanwhile, over in Indonesia, it's already been given a makeover as the CBR250RR Special Edition.

The new CBR250RR Special Edition is themed on the Japanese art of Kabuki, apparently. The pop-art style woman’s face daubed on the fairing doesn’t look much like it’s from a 16th-century Japanese play to us, but hey, we’re not art critics. There’s also a map of Indonesia incorporated into some of those white splatters, although you’ll have to look pretty hard to find it.

Forget the marketing waffle and the changes to the bike – a red frame and paintwork that uses the artwork to merge from black at the front to white at the back – look pretty good. Even the mismatched wheels, black at the front and white at the rear, work quite well here.

Only 100 of the Indonesia-only machines will be sold.

According to Indonesia’s Astra Honda Motor [sic]: The Kabuki Special version is reflecting Japanese traditional 'Kabukimono' culture which coming from Sengoku Period (end of 15C ~ end of 16C) and Japanese traditional 'Kabuki' play inherit their culture and expression of 'Kabukimono'. In Sengoku Period there were Samurais who loves the uniqueness, new culture and to be spotlighted. They also were brave and performed their social duties. And CBR250RR, as epoch-making model in Sport motorcycle scene in Indonesia, celebrates its anniversary with homage of Kabukimono which sharing same philosophy of CBR250RR.

So that’s clear, then.

Spec-wise, the bike is stock CBR250RR. That means 38hp at 12,500rpm and a weight of 165kg (168kg with ABS). It’s got a claimed 105mph (170km/h) top speed. In Indonesia, the Special Edition costs the equivalent of £4092.

There’s been a notable lack of noise about the CBR250RR’s future in the rest of the world. Industry murmurs suggest Honda is developing a larger-capacity derivative – up to around 350cc – to offer in Europe as a rival to Yamaha’s 321cc YZF-R3, but there’s little in the way of hard evidence just yet.