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Honda VT 250L Spada

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.