I had this same model VTR 250 back in 1996. It was powerful and smooth. I remember having to disassemble the carburetor every year and a half to properly clean the jets to keep the engine running at top efficiency. Plus, putting a velocity stack at the mouth of the air intake really helped to increase the horsepower and torque through the RPM range.
the problem with the carburetors really sucks! i should try the velocity stack :) perhaps you could give me some advice or information about where to buy this velocity stack, please?
I bought one an 1989 with only 5960 miles on it last August. It was not running as the battery was dead. The guy put a SS front brake line, new tires, sprokets and chain. I bot a matt blatt battery and had the carbs cleaned and new jets put in it. Put new floats in it off ebay as one was cracked $12 each brand new and new rubber mounts on the carbs. He had a problem with the rectifier and put a polaris in it. I fired it up after draining and flushing out the radiator and over flow container and 15 volts coming of the stator to the battery.so all is perfect. Bike runs cold barely 1/4 on the temp which makes me really happy. Took it out the the hwy and had it up just over 90mph at about 11500 on the tach and it had more to go but I ran out of hwy. This bike handles like my old 1965 ducati 200cc but much faster and unbelievable on the curves. He gave me a complete new clutch and I have no more adjustment on my cables but the clutch does not slip. Starts up without the choke. I was lucky I found a rare brand new center stand and can start it up put it in 1st gear and get the oil warmed up. Tank is mint no rust. I put 200 miles on it and plan to take it out today 5/17/17. Paid $800 for an almost new vtr250.
I got one brand new when I was 16. The black interceptor model. 1988. I put 47,000 miles on this bike ran sleet or snow. Well not much snow in Louisiana. But that year it did. Lol. Sold it to a friend and he rode it for another year. I was a good learners bike. I will to a 1987 Hurricane 600 next.
I truly wished You had zoomed in on that front-brake on this bike! I saw a few pics of a "used" 89' Honda VTR 250 online,but it did NOT at all,have a good pic of the front-brake on it! From that viewpoint (similar to the one in this video when ya show the front wheel),it LOOKS as if,the bike just has a HUGE Drum-brake on it! Lol. And I thought it WAS a drum-brake till You explained about it in this video,that it's an "enclosed" single-disc brake system! Wish you had focused in on that ,when ya parked it back in the garage (or before the ride)! Oh well,nice video!
I got mine new 89 (my first vehicle) and put 17k on it before selling it. Great bike. So light and nimble and fast off the line. I managed 110mph (as measured by a CBR that was with me). Used to beat GSXRs/CBRs/Ninjas off the line.. for a block or so.. before I got smoked. Good times.
My bike! Have had an 89 just like this since 2008 (2022 atm). It was exactly the same in every way; paint, the strange front brake- everything. I did modify it shortly after getting it- it's Orange, has custom blinkers and the mud flap and license mount/light has been custom molded (I wish I'd left most of it original now though- 14 years ago I was a different person, though it still looks nice!). I still ride it in 2022. I doubt I'll ever sell it, for soooo many reasons. Thanks for the video! Top indicated speed for me = 117-120 (hard to tell exactly since it wasn't my speedometer)- I had a car next to me to make sure.
Its surely a fun bike! I own one too ( exactly the same one). I am from Germany, it was simply luck to get one! Easy handling, low seat, lightweight, enough power, good acceleration ( == ca. 270 PS 4 cyl. 16V car , test with a friend of mine), low thirst, low tax and insurance fee! I love it! :) i am king of the country roads! :) this is true except for Porsche 911 or Audi RS 4/6 :( Surely i am definitely NOT king of the Autobahn because of limited high speed approx. 100 miles/h. But heh, it has only 250 ccm!
I would say that this is a great beginner's bike! I started on a 1979 Honda cx500c (thats a 500cc engine) and this bike is every bit as fast as that if not faster. Its easy to handle, really light, and definitely reliable (as a honda bike should be). I have a lot of fun on it, and even though I could handle a lot more power at this point, I wont be trading it anytime soon!
Literally bought my xtr 250 yesterday for 100$ and it runs perfect. Found your video to get a little knowledge of it. Provided some good info man, thank you. Hope you still have yours.
Honda should have at least kept the Interceptor name and design scheme going through its sports range, like Kawasaki did with the ninja. That was cool af. I know Honda likes to be boring and soulless, but Kawi probably sold millions of 250 & 500s just by slapping the ninja label on them.
That was my first road bike when I got my first "real job" out of high school. I miss it. Cheap transportation in a bulletproof platform. Comfortable, quick enough, I don't understand why Honda pulled the plug on that model.
I had a mint condition one, it was my first street bike. Too bad yours doesn't have the stock color scheme. Some manly man must have ripped the pink off.
Glad someone else caught that. Late 80s graphic design was undoubtedly the best graphic design. I always say "if it doesn't have some Hot Pink, let it sink." Restoring the crazy pink jag, stripe or whatever that shape is called is the 1st thing I'd do on this bike.
If you want a potentially more accurate top speed reading, get a GPS speedometer app for your smartphone. I used one called "digihud" for the dash that didnt light up in my old car. Also I might get one of these as a first bike considering im a whopping 5'6" and 125lbs.. Do you think this would be too small/light for me to safely ride on the highway? thanks
I'm 16 and just bought a Honda VTR 250 Interceptor as well, just though maybe you would know where the reserve dial would be set for "ON" would it be up? Or down?
I wish there was a head to head with an 89' ninja 250. Not a lot of info on the interceptor, but it seems this was considered a good bike, no real problems but priced too high. It's a Honda so it's probably more reliable than a 250 ninja from the same year. It's also a 90 v twin so you'd expect a smoother ride with more even torque delivery than the parallel twin ninja. Fwiw I think this is cooler than a 250 ninja or the single cyclinder 250 Honda is making now.
Yeah the Ninja was considered more reliable overall but they felt so much heavier and lacking in pickup. Top end was better and they just all around worked but the VTR was just flat put fun and off the line pulled away every time until about 50 mph. In my limited experience at least, it was my first bike back 20 yrs ago.!
who care what color they are >? this is not a review. .. it might be an overview.. GPS is the way to get accurate speedo ..get a garmin .. on the flats they are dead accurate.
I owned an 89 VTR250 back in 1992. Ride it from San Diego to North East Ohio and would love to have one again.
I had this same model VTR 250 back in 1996. It was powerful and smooth. I remember having to disassemble the carburetor every year and a half to properly clean the jets to keep the engine running at top efficiency. Plus, putting a velocity stack at the mouth of the air intake really helped to increase the horsepower and torque through the RPM range.
the problem with the carburetors really sucks! i should try the velocity stack :) perhaps you could give me some advice or information about where to buy this velocity stack, please?
I bought one an 1989 with only 5960 miles on it last August. It was not running as the battery was dead. The guy put a SS front brake line, new tires, sprokets and chain. I bot a matt blatt battery and had the carbs cleaned and new jets put in it. Put new floats in it off ebay as one was cracked $12 each brand new and new rubber mounts on the carbs. He had a problem with the rectifier and put a polaris in it. I fired it up after draining and flushing out the radiator and over flow container and 15 volts coming of the stator to the battery.so all is perfect. Bike runs cold barely 1/4 on the temp which makes me really happy. Took it out the the hwy and had it up just over 90mph at about 11500 on the tach and it had more to go but I ran out of hwy. This bike handles like my old 1965 ducati 200cc but much faster and unbelievable on the curves. He gave me a complete new clutch and I have no more adjustment on my cables but the clutch does not slip. Starts up without the choke. I was lucky I found a rare brand new center stand and can start it up put it in 1st gear and get the oil warmed up. Tank is mint no rust. I put 200 miles on it and plan to take it out today 5/17/17. Paid $800 for an almost new vtr250.
What a deal. I'm looking at getting one for my first bike. Gonna put a big bore kit on it to make it 305CC. You still have yours
I got one brand new when I was 16. The black interceptor model. 1988. I put 47,000 miles on this bike ran sleet or snow. Well not much snow in Louisiana. But that year it did. Lol. Sold it to a friend and he rode it for another year. I was a good learners bike. I will to a 1987 Hurricane 600 next.
I truly wished You had zoomed in on that front-brake on this bike! I saw a few pics of a "used" 89' Honda VTR 250 online,but it did NOT at all,have a good pic of the front-brake on it! From that viewpoint (similar to the one in this video when ya show the front wheel),it LOOKS as if,the bike just has a HUGE Drum-brake on it! Lol. And I thought it WAS a drum-brake till You explained about it in this video,that it's an "enclosed" single-disc brake system! Wish you had focused in on that ,when ya parked it back in the garage (or before the ride)! Oh well,nice video!
I got mine new 89 (my first vehicle) and put 17k on it before selling it. Great bike. So light and nimble and fast off the line. I managed 110mph (as measured by a CBR that was with me). Used to beat GSXRs/CBRs/Ninjas off the line.. for a block or so.. before I got smoked. Good times.
got my 1990 up to 105 and I am 250lbs
My bike! Have had an 89 just like this since 2008 (2022 atm). It was exactly the same in every way; paint, the strange front brake- everything. I did modify it shortly after getting it- it's Orange, has custom blinkers and the mud flap and license mount/light has been custom molded (I wish I'd left most of it original now though- 14 years ago I was a different person, though it still looks nice!). I still ride it in 2022. I doubt I'll ever sell it, for soooo many reasons. Thanks for the video!
Top indicated speed for me = 117-120 (hard to tell exactly since it wasn't my speedometer)- I had a car next to me to make sure.
Its surely a fun bike! I own one too ( exactly the same one). I am from Germany, it was simply luck to get one! Easy handling, low seat, lightweight, enough power, good acceleration ( == ca. 270 PS 4 cyl. 16V car , test with a friend of mine), low thirst, low tax and insurance fee! I love it! :) i am king of the country roads! :) this is true except for Porsche 911 or Audi RS 4/6 :( Surely i am definitely NOT king of the Autobahn because of limited high speed approx. 100 miles/h. But heh, it has only 250 ccm!
Agreed
I would say that this is a great beginner's bike! I started on a 1979 Honda cx500c (thats a 500cc engine) and this bike is every bit as fast as that if not faster. Its easy to handle, really light, and definitely reliable (as a honda bike should be). I have a lot of fun on it, and even though I could handle a lot more power at this point, I wont be trading it anytime soon!
Literally bought my xtr 250 yesterday for 100$ and it runs perfect. Found your video to get a little knowledge of it. Provided some good info man, thank you. Hope you still have yours.
1990 models also got a 17 inch front tire, allowing access to radials!
The disc breaks were external as well in the front.
Honda should have at least kept the Interceptor name and design scheme going through its sports range, like Kawasaki did with the ninja. That was cool af. I know Honda likes to be boring and soulless, but Kawi probably sold millions of 250 & 500s just by slapping the ninja label on them.
Nice review and glad to hear that at 28K the motor holds up with those high revs. Looking of one now.
Agreed
I’m about to start driving mine.
That was my first road bike when I got my first "real job" out of high school. I miss it.
Cheap transportation in a bulletproof platform. Comfortable, quick enough, I don't understand why Honda pulled the plug on that model.
Nice
They went to the 500 cc Interceptor.
Not really, if I remember right the 500s were out back in 84?
I'm pretty good with Hondas. Everything I own is is a Honda. My pressure washer, my lawnmower, my car.. I can list off my bikes if you want?.
What part of Florida? Is this the one on Craigslist btw?
I had a mint condition one, it was my first street bike. Too bad yours doesn't have the stock color scheme. Some manly man must have ripped the pink off.
Glad someone else caught that. Late 80s graphic design was undoubtedly the best graphic design. I always say "if it doesn't have some Hot Pink, let it sink." Restoring the crazy pink jag, stripe or whatever that shape is called is the 1st thing I'd do on this bike.
I'm a new rider, is a Cruiser or standard Motorcycle safer than a street sports bike?
Depends on the drivers around you and your tendency to try to speed or to just chill ride.
nice informative review. best i've seen. thanks
You shot an entire video from the left hand side of the bike?
All of the '89s had a pink sticker on the rear. Someone peeled it off, unfortunately.
My uncle just bought a 89 for 60$ it needs lots of work lol it’s gonna be fun looking for parts #notethesarcasm
If you want a potentially more accurate top speed reading, get a GPS speedometer app for your smartphone. I used one called "digihud" for the dash that didnt light up in my old car. Also I might get one of these as a first bike considering im a whopping 5'6" and 125lbs.. Do you think this would be too small/light for me to safely ride on the highway? thanks
Ultravox5600 well, im 6'1", 150lbs. And i never had a problem on the highway with this bike.
nice video...i have the same year bike..lots of fun to ride..you seem to know your shit too mate. cheers
Agreed
I'm 16 and just bought a Honda VTR 250 Interceptor as well, just though maybe you would know where the reserve dial would be set for "ON" would it be up? Or down?
Good choice
Down for on lateral for off.
Cool stuff!
Nice video man i love the bike i wish i had one
Agreed
Good stuff!
we have the 1988-'90 vtr250 in europe as well...
but they are not named 'interceptor'
Cool
+Dan Arseneault it is down, but you surely know it now
Funny thing is the ninja 250 is probably a lot more reliable than this particular model of Honda.
I wish there was a head to head with an 89' ninja 250. Not a lot of info on the interceptor, but it seems this was considered a good bike, no real problems but priced too high. It's a Honda so it's probably more reliable than a 250 ninja from the same year. It's also a 90 v twin so you'd expect a smoother ride with more even torque delivery than the parallel twin ninja. Fwiw I think this is cooler than a 250 ninja or the single cyclinder 250 Honda is making now.
Yeah the Ninja was considered more reliable overall but they felt so much heavier and lacking in pickup. Top end was better and they just all around worked but the VTR was just flat put fun and off the line pulled away every time until about 50 mph. In my limited experience at least, it was my first bike back 20 yrs ago.!
who care what color they are >? this is not a review. .. it might be an overview.. GPS is the way to get accurate speedo ..get a garmin .. on the flats they are dead accurate.
I have one for sale in Holland
Still for sale? I'm willing to pay in tulips.