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New Tornado Arrives Soon: Recall the History of the Honda Tornado 250, the Bike That Gave Yamaha Headaches.
The Honda Tornado 250 is back on the market, now equipped with a 300cc engine and an impressive electronic package. The new XR promises to succeed in various terrains, whether on roads, in cities, or on trails. Honda has surpassed its main competitor, Yamaha, selling ten times more units. Originally launched in 2001, the Tornado 250 was based on the then-new CBX 250 Twister, bringing that technology to an on-off road proposal.
Honda Tornado 250 Delivers 23.3 Hp of Power
At the time of its launch, the model shared shelves with the veteran XR 200, but there was no comparison, as the 250cc was several steps above. The superiority over rival Yamaha began with the engine, as the Honda Tornado 250 was powered by a modern DOHC 249cc, complete with an oil cooler and a 6-speed transmission. It delivered 23.3 hp of power and 2.4 kgfm of torque.
Being tall, slim, durable, and powerful, the Tornado remained on sale in countries like Argentina for many years, besides standing out in cycling performance. It had an aluminum swingarm, 21-inch and 18-inch aluminum rims, a double cradle frame, off-road footpegs, rear suspension with linkage, and nearly 30 cm of ground clearance. It was still possible to adjust the height of the arm.
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In technology, the Honda Tornado 250 featured a disc brake in the front and an LCD panel. With this impressive technical sheet, the model gave no chances to rival Yamaha. It was launched in 2001 and quickly reached the top of category sales, leaving options like the XR 200 behind, and especially Yamaha.
How Many Units of the Honda Tornado 250 Were Sold?
At the time, the competing brand was represented in the niche by the XT 225. However, the model did not have the strength to compete with Honda’s new bike. In 2003, for example, the XR 250 sold 10 times more than rival Yamaha, reaching 18,287 units, compared to 1,776, and this phenomenon was repeated in many other years.
An unprecedented landslide. Thus, the XT 225 needed a whole year to sell what the Tornado registered in a little over a month. This difference prompted Yamaha to react by launching the Lander 250.
The company put effort into the new XTZ 250 Lander, which shared engine and other items with the new Fazer 250. Although it did not surpass the Tornado in sales, the Lander managed to bring Yamaha back into the race. Strengthened by innovations such as electronic fuel injection, the XTZ sold 13,900 units in its first full year in stores, 2007, compared to 25,360 of the XR 250.
Thus, the Honda Tornado 250 remained a leader until its retirement in 2008. At that time, it was discontinued to make way for the XRE 300. Meanwhile, the Lander has remained on the market since its launch in 2006, receiving updates in terms of design, comfort, and technology in 2018.
What Is the New Model of the Honda Tornado Like?
A new Honda bike is arriving in Brazil, as the brand has launched the awaited XR Tornado 300 L, which aims to reinforce its lineup. The model will be sold in a single version and will be available only in one color, which is red.
The warranty is for 3 years, regular maintenance occurs every 6,000 km, some of which include free oil changes. The new model arrives in stores in August and has a suggested price of R$ 27,690. The price is based on the state of São Paulo and does not consider expenses such as freight or insurance.
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