250 Superdream

[Mr Helicop]

I am restoring a 1981 CB 250 superdream. It has an aftermarket two into one exhaust system. I think that all models had two into two, can anyone confirm this?

[Bryanj]

Every one i built out of the crate did

[Orcade-Ian]

I bought a new 250 NA like yours in Sept '80 and it definitely had twin pipes and long silencers - can't remember now if there was a balance box underneath in the middle but the new CX500 I replaced it with in Jan '81 definitely did.  You will be looking at good secondhand (rare) or NOS (even rarer) for replacements.

Ian

Front mudguard is also aftermarket - original didn't have flat sides but I think that's all that is available now.

[Mr Helicop]

Thanks for the info guys. Downpipes, collector box and silencers are all available but the covers to hide the collector box are not, that would add about £350 to restoration cost, the existing two into one is in good condition so something to think about.

[Athame57]

Yes, the CB250N Super Scream had two silencers, it was a twin. The CB250RS was a single with two silencers! My first bike was the CB250N Super Dream 'De Lux' meaning it had flash wheels and no kickstart. I bought it from new to launch my career as a dispatch rider and within little more than a year it was falling to bits, so good luck with yours. I did recently pull up next to a couple riding a pristine one though near the Tower Bridge in London, I was astonished, it must have been lurking in a crate for decades!

[andy120t]

I like the styling. I had a CB900 with the Euro styling, but the thing was so big and heavy that I didn't enjoy pushing it around and riding it. I rode it a handful of times in 4 years then sold it on...although I did make a few pounds on it. I've been tempted by a Superdream because they look the same, but I think the lack of power might be a limiter.

In - I read the earlier post to say it had two pipes / two silencers and the brochure piccy  bears that out.

[Bryanj]

The Wet Dream needed carfull servicing and frequent oil changes but if done would last reasonably, typical of the time was cam chain adjusters and the balance chain adjustment, if the servicing mechanic had not done the Honda course, or listened to somebody who had, things could quickly go wrong.

[K2-K6]

I like the styling. I had a CB900 with the Euro styling, but the thing was so big and heavy that I didn't enjoy pushing it around and riding it. I rode it a handful of times in 4 years then sold it on...although I did make a few pounds on it. I've been tempted by a Superdream because they look the same, but I think the lack of power might be a limiter.

In - I read the earlier post to say it had two pipes / two silencers and the brochure piccy  bears that out.

I too like the styling and had a 900. Always thought that the 900 was a very fast bike against what was around when it came out. I was racing motocross at time of ownership (I'd come from road riding to moto-x and learned alot about getting a bike to do what you wanted it to via that) and you really had to be brutal with the 900, pulling on the bars and loading the footpegs to make it cooperate with your chosen direction. None of the supposed "widowmaker" described bikes would touch that 900 in regards to head-for-the-hills top end torque as it went flat to the red line in any gear really.

The 250 is a little weak on torque but very smooth though. The 400 super dream a friend had was quite competitive with it's contemporary opposition and with substantially more grunt than the 250 pulling the same mass about. Very tidy design I've always felt.

[Rozabikes Tim]

Never had the 250 SD but raced the 400 and CB900

 900 (actually shorter stroke  750 with 900 sleeves then bored out -  887cc + cams etc) As K2 says needed man handing - plus brakes shite. Absolutely loved that thing. I got a buzz out of making it do things it didn't want to.

Also had a 400 Superdream which I unusually raced too. Moriwaki  Big bore kit to 436cc + cam. That was on par (Ish)  with a proddy race powervalve 350. Handled well enough. Although the 250 had single disc front brake the 400 had twin disc brake set up similar to the 900 (but not the same) but much less weight to stop. So Ok!

I rode the 400 in standard trim on the road alot too. A very good bike in my mind but somewhat charactless. Performance wise better than the 400/4 it replaced but the multi is the bike I remembered and therefore have now.

The 250 was always seen as underpowered but still an extremely popular learners bike. Think what appealed was the big bike look we referred to earlier.

[Athame57]

but I think the lack of power might be a limiter.

Did you know there was a near identical CB400N Super Dream? Twin discs a giveaway. It produced 109mph so unlike its 250 stable mate it was a bit of a flyer for its time!

[Johnny4428]

Absolutely loved the design of the 250 and 400 back in the day I think Honda got it spot on appearance wise in my opinion. Drooled over a black one in the local showroom here I think around the 800 - 900 mark for the 250 in the late 70’s. But struggling to even run my old car at the time it was out of my league.

[Bryanj]

400 had its problems as well, would hole a piston for no reason and only cure was a new generator, Bout £300 in the late 70's

[Johnny4428]

Bloody hell Bryan! Third of cost of new bike! 😳😳

[Lobo]

I’m gonna have to bite Bryan… how did changing the alternator cure the piston holing??
The 250 / 400 SuperDreams were indeed beautiful looking likes; and would not look out of place if they hit the market now… almost 50 years later.

[Bryanj]

The ignition was cdi box fired by charge and pulse coils in and round the generator permag rotor but honda did not sell the stator seperately and, according to them, the resistances varied with temp and revs when failing altering the timing and making superlow compression pistons.
Later on they said machining had got better and gave us a part number for just the stator but when you ordered it(about £160 from memory) a complete stator rotor assembly turned up.
Only seemed to be 400 and usually lh pot