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Honda VT 250L Spada 

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Model

Honda VT 250L Spada

Year

1988-89

Engine

Four stroke, V-Twin, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder

Capacity

249 cc / 15.2 cu-in
Bore x Stroke 60 x 44.1 mm
Cooling System Liquid cooledZ
Compression Ratio 11.0:1

Induction

2x 32mm Keihin VD10F carburetors

Ignition 

Transistorized 
Starting Electric

Max Power

40 hp / 29.8 kW @ 12000 rpm

Max Torque

25.4 Nm / 18.8 lbf·ft @ 9000 rpm

Transmission 

6 Speed 
Final Drive Chain
Gear Ratio 1st gear 2.733  / 2nd gear 2.000 / 3rd gear 1.590 / 4th gear 1.333 / 5 speed 1.153
6 speed 1.035

Front Suspension

37 mm Telescopic forks
Front Travel 120 mm / 4.7 in

Rear Suspension

Monoshock with 7-step preload adjustment

Front Brakes

Single disc 2 piston caliper

Rear Brakes

Drum

Front Tyre

100/80-17

Rear Tyre

140/70 -17
Dimensions Length  2010 mm /  79 in

Width     715 mm / 28.1 in

Height  1,020 mm  / 40 in

Wheel Base 1380 mm / 54 in
Seat Height 740 mm /  29.1 in
Ground Clearance 150 mm /  5.9 in
Dry Weight 149 kg / 328 lb

Fuel Capacity

11 Litres

Honda's VT250 Spada lightweight motorcycle features a diecast aluminum box-section frame, which the manufacturer claims to be the world's first application of such design and construction. The company's own Italian subsidiary has been producing a smaller model, the NSR125, which also has a cast aluminum frame, however, it has open-sectioned members.

Among the merits of this frame design that Honda cites are lighter weight, by three kg, and improved lateral and torsional stiffnesses, by 22 and 25% respectively, as compared with the predecessor model which had a welded steel frame. The "CASTEC" (Honda CASTing frame TEChnology) allows more freedom in design and styling by varying section sizes, thicknesses, and shapes of the main frame members. The CASTEC frame also improves productivity as it entails less welding length (now two meters in total as compared with the previous design's three meters).

The frame consists of two hollow, box-section side members which are gravity diecast, with four attachments. Diecast members are welded together at the front seams via a GDC (gravity diecast) rear cross-brace. A mid-section GDC seat-support is bolted onto the side members, and contributes to the frame's rigidity. Every stress-carrying GDC frame component is presently X-ray checked for possible casting flaws; however, Honda believes that spot checks should suffice as quality data are accumulated. The frame surfaces are shot-peened. The frame is then heat-treated and finally coated.

New CASTEC cast aluminum frame adopted in the updated VT250 motorcycle.