This nameplate first appeared in 1987 as part of Honda’s high-revving 250cc CBR family in Japan, when the earlier CBR250 FOUR evolved into the CBR250R. That first CBR250R belonged to Honda’s celebrated small-displacement supersport era and remained in the lineup until it was superseded by the CBR250RR in 1990.
Honda later revived the same nameplate for a completely different motorcycle in 2011. The modern CBR250R was conceived as a global entry-level sport model, with development aimed at riders in a wide range of markets. Unlike the earlier Japanese inline-four machine, this version was a full-fairing single-cylinder road sport model built for affordability, everyday usability, and broad international appeal. Honda launched it first for export from Thailand and then introduced it in Japan in 2011, with sales also reaching North America, Europe, Australia, and other Asian markets.
The second production period continued through a mid-cycle styling update in 2014, and Honda’s history materials identify 2017 as the year of the final single-cylinder CBR250R road sports model before the 250cc CBR line moved on to the CBR250RR. Because the CBR250R nameplate was used in two separate eras with a long production gap in between, it should be treated as a multi-period model rather than a single continuous run.