Comments: 1-15, 16-18
Rear tire needed to be replaced when I bought it.
At 40,000 km I replaced the chain and sprockets as they were badly worn.
Around 41,000 km I had to replace two blown fuses.
This Honda CB250N (also called Superdream) is my first real motorcycle. I bought it in March for €700, and it was well worth the money.
It looks and feels like a 400 or 500 rather than a 250. It weighs about 170 kg, which is rather heavy for a 250, but at least the wind doesn't blow you sideways when you're riding in stormy weather.
Despite being 24 years old, the bike has no rust. The front mudguard was an exception to this, but I found another one in excellent condition for 3 bucks.
The Superdream handles well and the brakes are adequate for the size of the bike.
Performance is adequate when above 5500 rpm, and the engine happily revs up to 8000. Top speed is about 135 km/h, but I wouldn't recommend anyone to keep the needle there for more than 60 seconds, as the engine is screaming its guts out with 9000 rpm at this speed (although I've never seen any smoke trails behind me). It will happily cruise at 90 km/h, though.
Fuel consumption is acceptable. Mine does about 270 km with a full tank including reserve.
So far, my Superdream has never let me down, and it's a real joy to ride. If anything does go wrong, you don't need to panic as spare parts are dirt cheap and the motorcycle is very easy to work on.
If you are looking for an inexpensive and reliable bike for town use and for cruising on windy roads, the CB250N is the perfect bargain. Do the basic maintenance jobs like oil changes, chain adjustment etc, and this little classic should keep on running forever!
Hi there.
It's great to hear that CB250N Superdream is still cruising the streets after thirty years of being on the road. I have a question for you, but first a trip down memory lane.
I use to be a motorcycle mechanic back in the early eighties in England, and the Superdream was one of the new 250's to come out at that time, along with Suzuki with its GSX and Yamaha with the RDLC, Kawasaki with its Triple, but for me the Superdream was probably the best looking bike, and we sold heaps of them.
If you wanted speed, then sure Yamaha or Kawasaki was your best bet, but out of the entire four strokes, Honda top the charts, and my personal favorite was the CB250T Dream.
Nearly thirty years since I bought my first bike, I'm buying a CB250T Dream here in Australia of all places, and it's in excellent condition for the year - 1980.
The only thing that’s not original is the rear wheel; for some bizarre reason there’s a spoke wheel fitted.
So my question is, is the Superdream rear wheel the same size as a Dream or CB250T, because spares for the Superdream are far easier to obtain in England than the Dream, plus the fact the Superdream never reach the shores of Australia.
Any guidance will be appreciated.
Kind Regards.
Tiberius.
I am a baby boomer who has always kept my bike licence current and, after many years without a machine have just purchased a Honda CB250N 1980, which is in very nice condition after only 24000 KM.
However I have a query on its performance, and wonder if someone can give me some helpful advice?
The bike performs well going through the gears until it is in top (gear 6). After that it is unable to accelerate to any faster than 80 KM, without dropping back a gear or 2, and keeping the engine over 5500 - 6000 rpm. In top gear it has to be pushed to keep it going at around 100 km, without dropping back a gear and keeping the revs up high.
I suspect that the carby may have been messed with, but don't have enough mechanical knowledge to be sure. Does anyone have a suggestion?
Thanks
I passed my test on a super dream. One of the most easy bikes to both ride and service. Just looking at some of the pictures on the various web sites brings the memories flooding back. I started on a fs1e, went on to a rd250, but the 250n will always stick fondly in my memory.
Regards to the comment about lack of performance. The CB250N should see speeds of about 85 mph. If yours has points ignition, you want to checks these for timing and wear. Check the tappets (four inlet, two exhaust). Check the carburetors for balance and clean if need be. Check the spark plugs (it is surprising how a spark plug may have acquired a wider gap that can seriously reduce performance).
I own two 250N Superdreams; one 1979, and the deluxe model is a 1982. They have never had points; the ignition is electronic via a CDI system.
I also had an FS1E at 16, then progressed onto the CB250N at the age of 17. The bike was everything I had hoped for when I first saw the brochure for it at the Honda dealer.
I ran the engine in with care for about a thousand miles, and then I rode it with great pleasure for many thousands of miles after that.
Although I sometimes pushed the engine hard, it sounded and felt like new when I sold it 3 years later. I still regret selling the bike even now. The bike is a Modern Classic.
I am presently restoring my second Superdream. My first was an early 79 model and could be forced up to 75mph with a tail wind.
The current one is not running yet, but I suspect it will be a bit quicker.
I find they are straightforward to work on and handle very nicely. They are also totally reliable.
Not terribly economical though - 50mpg on average.
I have just bought a W reg 250n Delux, only just running, been stood for 7 years.
I can't get it to rev much above 3000 revs; I've cleaned to carbs (which were full of muck), and I've put an in line filter. I've also changed the oil and petrol. Awaiting an air filter.
There do not seem to be any points etc... and the plugs seem fine.. Any idea of the plug gap... and what else I can try?
Alan..
5 AUG 08
I have acquired a CB250n in need of a lot of restoration. I am an old biker from the past myself and want to restore some fond memories. I have a lot to do with the frame before I work with the engine and coils etc. Can anyone advise me where to pick up an engine reconditioned, or part worn, and some parts thank you.
Just go onto ebay and search for Honda Superdream and you will find thousands of parts for it really cheap new and secondhand... all the parts you will ever need...
My name's Tom. I have a 250N with a kick start. The Dream that came out in 78 with a rounder style has the same wheels as the Super Dream and are interchangeable. The Super Dream N and the Dream are virtually the same bike, but the tank and side panels differ. Hope this helps, Tom.
I bought a new black CB250N way back in 1980 from Kens Motorcycles in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and loved it to pieces. I have such fond memories of it that I recently decided to purchase another one. I opted for the CB250NA which is the same as my original one, and I'm in the process of refurbishing it. Although it's currently blue, I am having it repainted black.
I would LOVE to hear from other SuperDream owners, and invite you to watch the progress of the refurbishment on my blog which is http://cb250n.blogspot.com
Regards, Tom.
I bought myself my first real bike a few months ago having just passed my test. And yep it's a 79 Superdream.
Near mint condition, 12000 miles for 550 quid (including delivery).
She's completely stock except for a 2-1 motad exhaust, which to be honest, I would have put on myself anyway.
She had a bit of a rattle, and the owner said it had lived in his shed for many years.
The rattle turned out to me a loose exhaust tappet, fixed it in minutes and now she runs like a dream (forgive me) and manages 80 odd mph (without a hill or tailwind!)
All in all I love it like mad, and have of course, named it/her.
It's a wonderful machine and does the job (of getting me home from uni to see my family regularly).
Plus it absolutely smokes the plastic fantastic 2-stroke riders from the college next door.
Now I come to the almost part of "almost mint";
the tank has one ding in it along the top right hand corner (a wound caused by a falling paint can in the previous owner's shed)
Anyone know where I can pick up a decent spare or how I can get the bugger out (it's halfway along the tank along the ridge where the top meets the side, so the suction things for car panels don't work)
Tried ebay, but they are all ragged heaps.
Kinda long comment, but I really do love this bike and recommend it to anyone.
I too have a 1981 CBR250N SUPER DREAM in the Blue. I saw it 4 years ago in a farmers barn, here in Darlington. Then was, back at the farm a month ago, I told the owner what a Super Dream nut I was. He agreed to sell it to me, it is original, all but the 2 into 1, the only damage is a dent in the tank. The bike is on an X plate.
She was a non runner, the fault was the starter solenoid (£36) and the tank is away at the moment being repaired and resprayed.
The Blue paint was hard to track down with it being Candy, you could buy it in spray cans, but not anymore, anyway I believe if you want your Bike right, get the corret, base/colour/lacquer.
I am now in the process of striping her down, to see what's what and to get cleaning. Hope to have her on the road, next summer, the last Tax disc ran out in May 1999. I have had all sorts of motorbikes in the past, but there is something about the HONDA 250N, and I agree with the lad earlier, it feels like a 400 or 500.
Referring to Alan's comment asking for help in sorting out his Superdream:
It might be useful to replace the coil, leads and plug caps. I had a similar problem with my bike and I managed to sort it out by replacing the above parts. It will only cost about £30 for the parts.
Aaron