Honda CB250RS. I have always had a kind of soft spot for quarter-liter bikes. Yamaha RD250LC example was a great little bee. Honda CB250N was bit boring, but still a two-fifty. Honda CB250RS is in my opinion the best 250cc four-stroke bike ever made. It looks marvellous, and is extremely light for it's size. It weighs a kilo less, than Honda CB125T. Basically it feels like 125cc four-stroke with 26hp, and almost 500cc level of torque.

Using Wiseco high-comp piston you can upgrade it easily to 28hp or so. It handles like 125cc bike. Torque is very good for it's size, there's not much difference to Honda FT500, not even on top speed. Fuel consuption is way less than on FT500. Engine bottom-end is the same than on FT500, so it's basically 500cc engine with 250cc bore. Conrod, crank bearings, etc are the same than on 500cc engine. The stroke is only shorter. Which all means you can pretty safely fit it with high-comp piston, it won't get overstressed.

It really likes 100% alkylate gas, which is available on pump around here. What amazes me is how rev-happy it is, thumpers are usually not like that. On city riding you have to keep your eye on rev counter that you don't go on the red zone. It's a screaming little thumper, which is part of it's appeal. Engine has a very over-square, short-stroke bore, that's why it loves revs. Despite it's low power it does not feel as boring and dull like some other 250cc four-strokes. Engine behavior is bit uncivilized and agricultural, which is good. It feels more like old british single to ride, it's not too smooth for it's own good.

There's no electronic bells or whistles on it, it's just old-fashioned honest motor. Even the ignition advance is provided by the centrifugal mechanical unit with springs like on the distributor of old cars. Which is bit funny. It has CDI ignition, but still uses mechanical advance unit so the CDI box does not basically work that much. A coil provides the spark, and mechanical unit the timing.

It has enough power that a grown-up man can tour with it without feeling like he's riding a moped, like on them 125cc bikes he would. Vibration levels are very low, lower than on CBR1000F example. Balancers do their job very well. Mechanical sounds are non-existent when it has warmed up. it purrs like a kitten. Fuel consumption is 4-5 liters per 100km, depending on throttle. If you stay on speed limit speeds it burns around four litres. Fuel tank is tad too small for cruising comfort and front suspension is too soft as a standard. You can beef it up with short extra tubes under the caps.