2015 Hero HX250R Preview
EBR turns its attention to the entry-level market
On display among the high-dollar, high-performance bikes in the Erik Buell Racing booth at the AIMExpo was this 250cc bike from Hero, the HX250R. Hero Motorcorp is a minority stakeholder in EBR, and the HX boasts design and development work from Erik Buell’s engineering group. The HX is built for the global market, and we expect it will eventually be imported to America after production commences in India.
Hero MotoCorp Trademarks HX250R with USPTO
What we know for certain isn’t much except for these few specifications. The fuel-injected engine is a liquid-cooled, four-valve, four-stroke Single displacing 249cc. The HX’s powerplant has a highly oversquare bore/stroke ratio that mimics a MotoGP bike’s engine. It uses an 81.0mm bore (MotoGP’s maximum) and 48.5mm stroke, contrasting greatly from Honda’s CBR single-cylinder motors: 76mm x 55mm for the CBR250R and 76mm x 63mm (286cc) for Honda’s CBR300R. Although some other entry-level sportbike engines are going up in size to 300cc or larger, the HX will remain at 249cc.
Discuss this at our Kawasaki Ninja 300 Forum.
The HX has a claimed wet weight of 306 pounds, undercutting the CBR300R’s 357 wet pounds, and the Ninja 300’s 379 wet pounds, by 48 and 73 pounds, respectively. While we’re skeptical Hero’s weight claims will fully translate to a true, ready-to-ride state, the HX does feel remarkably light, according to Editor-in-Chief, Kevin Duke, who straddled the bike at AIME. If the claimed weight turns out to be true, it should result in an agile machine with a relatively stout power-to-weight figure.
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Something the HX has we’ve yet to see on motorcycles of similar displacement is a choice of two ride modes; Power (stop laughing) and Economy. Another technology worth mentioning is the HX’s use of linked brakes (300mm single disc up front and a 200mm single disc at the rear), and optional ABS. Tire sizes are 110/80-17 front and 140/70-17 rear.
Reports from India say the HX is expected to retail somewhere in the price range of ₹150,000 to ₹200, 000 ($2,450 – $3,270 US), which seems in line with the CBR250R’s price of ₹165,200 ($2,699 US). The CBR300R, which isn’t currently available in India, is expected to retail in the ₹195,000 to ₹240,000 ($3,190 – $3,925 US) range as a 2015 model.
Discuss this at our Honda CBR300 Forum.
With the 1190SX, at $17k as the lowest priced model in the EBR lineup, an entry-level sportbike priced below $5k would certainly expand the amount of available customers to EBR.
A former Motorcycle.com staffer who has gone on to greener pastures, Tom Roderick still can't get the motorcycle bug out of his system. And honestly, we still miss having him around. Tom is now a regular freelance writer and tester for Motorcycle.com when his schedule allows, and his experience, riding ability, writing talent, and quick wit are still a joy to have – even if we don't get to experience it as much as we used to.
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I love that EBR is trying to break in to the smaller, more affordable bike market and introducing a bike that another company has made is a smart way to do it without taking on the development cost.
I don't think this bike will do well in the US though.
There are two amazing 300cc bikes already out there (CBR300 and Ninja 300), and two great 300+cc bikes (the R3 and the RC390) coming to America. The beginner bike market in the US has changed and introducing a 250 into it doesn't seem to make much sense, no matter how good it looks on paper. The only way I see this working is if it's priced well below the competition.
Hero got to be huge by doing what they do quite well. I imagine they will undercut the Honda and Kawasaki 300 level bikes on pricing. At this end of the market price matters a lot, and their Buell tie up is smart as well. Bring it on, the sooner the better. In competition the consumers usually vote with their pocketbooks to pick the winner.