Memory Jog--Non-cruiser Japanese Street-only singles 175cc to 250cc?

[ArtCuisin]

Subject line covers it.

I'm trying to remember the offered Japanese, non-cruiser street-only singles
between 175 and 250cc in the seventies, eighties, and nineties.
I only remember the KZ200 and the SRX 250, I think.

Honda had none? They gravitated toward twins for anything above 125cc.
Suzuki only had cruiser models, I think.

(Harley had the Italian two-strokes.)

Does that cover it?

Major bonus points for anyone if I'm forgetting something.

[sfc1k]

Originally Posted by ArtCuisin

Subject line covers it.

I'm trying to remember the offered Japanese, non-cruiser street-only singles
between 175 and 250cc in the seventies, eighties, and nineties.
I only remember the KZ200 and the SRX 250, I think.

Honda had none? They gravitated toward twins for anything above 125cc.

Honda did the CB250RS & then the CBX250RS

I think Kawa did a single cylinder Z250, though I think it was pretty much just a bigger Z200

[Airhead Wrangler]

Gn250

[bk brkr baker]

CB 200 aircooled single carb twin
VTR 250 water cooled V twin sportbike
CB 250Nighthawk

Nuke these , missed the single theme.

[ArtCuisin]

Seems like some of us are a little fuzzy on the concept of "single", but
at least nobody mentioned the various air-cooled and water-cooled
single SCOOTERS made late in that era.

Thank you for your participation.

[sfc1k]

Is the GN250 (& its replacement, the TU250) not really a cruiser? If not, there was an SR250 from Yamaha that was remarkably similar

There's probably some Japanese market only stuff I'm forgetting...

[stainlesscycle]

kawasaki f1 was made till 71 or so i believe. probably the very last of the press frame 1st generation japanese bikes... suzuki made some press frames into 71 or so i think - but they were 50cc (as50)

there are tons of italian and spanish and czech singles street bikes 175/250

i would think the geography of 'merica kinda dictated the low offerings of small single street bikes in the us..

[eepeqez]

I'm in Australia, so these are Australian model names:

Kawasaki sold the Z200 single in the late 1970s.
The Kawasaki Z250 came in three models around late 1970s early 1980s:
Z250A twin with disk brakes
Z250B twin with drum brakes
Z250C single with drum brakes

Kawasaki sold a BR250 single in the late 1980s.

Yamaha had the SR175 and SR250 singles, both were a bit cruiser style.

Honda sold the CR250RS from about 1980 onwards, then the CBX250 with much the same motor but very different styling. The motor was essentially the XL250S motor. The CB250T and N models, also known as Superhawks in some places were twins, as were the CB200 and CB175 of the mid to late 1970s.

Suzuki's GN250 was similar to the Yamaha SR250.

[sfc1k]

As I recall, the CB250RS, as you said, had pretty much the same motor as the XL250 but the CBX had a DOHC version of the engine.

I've never actually seen a CBX250 in the flesh as they weren't a great seller. Did see one advertised cheap earlier this year but circumstances conspired against my buying it. Suspect a DOHC 4 valve honda single could be quite a quick wee thing.

[dpforth]

The RS is the twin cam version.

I have an 87 CBX (only year sold in Canada I believe). It has the RFVC single cam motor. Weighs well under 300lbs. and is surprisingly quick if the road is twisty enough. Looks like this:

[Stubanger]

Yamaha SR185*

[jas67]

Honda absolutely had bikes in this category.

CBR250R, 2011-present

They also had plenty if 175-250cc street-only twins:
1968 CB175 (not in the US)
1969 to 1973 CB175
1974 to 1976 CB200
250 Nighhawk (1987-2008)
CB250 1970's, smaller CC version of both the CB350 and CB360 -- outside the US
1988-1990 VTR250 (I have a 1990)
200?-present VTR250 (not in the US)

One could also argue that the 1968-1973 CL175 and 1974-1976 CL200 were street only, as the "Scramblers" were really just CB175 and CB200 street bikes with a high-mounted scrambler-styled exhaust (and other minor styling differences).

Originally Posted by ArtCuisin

Subject line covers it.

I'm trying to remember the offered Japanese, non-cruiser street-only singles
between 175 and 250cc in the seventies, eighties, and nineties.
I only remember the KZ200 and the SRX 250, I think.

Honda had none? They gravitated toward twins for anything above 125cc.
Suzuki only had cruiser models, I think.

(Harley had the Italian two-strokes.)

Does that cover it?

Major bonus points for anyone if I'm forgetting something.

[jas67]

Originally Posted by sfc1k

Is the GN250 (& its replacement, the TU250) not really a cruiser? If not, there was an SR250 from Yamaha that was remarkably similar

There's probably some Japanese market only stuff I'm forgetting...

Yamaha also made an SRX250.

[stainlesscycle]

Originally Posted by jas67

Honda absolutely had bikes in this category.

CBR250R, 2011-present

They also had plenty if 175-250cc street-only twins:
1968 CB175 (not in the US)
1969 to 1973 CB175
1974 to 1976 CB200
250 Nighhawk (1987-2008)
CB250 1970's, smaller CC version of both the CB350 and CB360 -- outside the US
1988-1990 VTR250 (I have a 1990)
200?-present VTR250 (not in the US)

One could also argue that the 1968-1973 CL175 and 1974-1976 CL200 were street only, as the "Scramblers" were really just CB175 and CB200 street bikes with a high-mounted scrambler-styled exhaust (and other minor styling differences).

those are all twins. there's a bazillion little 4 stroke twins. the small japanese street singles there are much fewer - especially above 100cc

[jas67]

Originally Posted by stainlesscycle

those are all twins. there's a bazillion little 4 stroke twins. the small japanese street singles there are much fewer - especially above 100cc

Yeah, I had edited my post to reflect that, BUT, the 2011-present CBR250R is a single.

Also, Honda did biuld and sell a GB250 (similar to the GB500, but 250cc) but not in the US.