Bristol Classic 250

For a classic neo-retro roadster, the Bristol Classic 250 looks decent and has all the elements at the right places to make it look like a simple, no-nonsense motorcycle meant for sedate riding and visual appeal.

Like all the neo-retro motorcycles, the Bristol Classic 250 also has a simple-looking rounded halogen headlamp, which is present inside a blacked-out housing. This headlamp is flanked by amber-coloured turn indicators present inside chromed-out housings. Except for this simple-looking front fascia, there is nothing much to talk about the visual look of the Bristol Classic 250 from the front. The motorcycle has a conventional rounded headlamp with supporting rods at the extreme front and lower tips.

The side profile of the Bristol Classic 250 also looks way too conventional, with the motorcycle having a simple clutter-free design for the round-themed fuel tank and trapezoidal side body panels. The side body cowls are encased between the rear lower members of the steel tubular frame. While the engine is finished in a theme of black, the spoked wheels of the motorcycle get a conventional silver finish for them. There is a long single-sided exhaust pipe, which rises upwards in an upswept manner.

Like a true neo-retro roadster, the Bristol Classic 250 doesn’t get any rear side body panels, while the motorcycle has a flat and long single-piece seat. On the rear tip of the rear fender, the Bristol Classic 250 has a rounded tail lamp mounted. The chrome-finished amber turn indicators are placed below the mounts for the single chrome grab rail.

The simplicity of the Bristol Classic 250 can be seen in its instrument console too. A round-pod all-analogue instrument console with a speedometer and an LCD panel for odometer, trip meter and fuel gauge present in it, is placed above the headlamp. While this unit goes well with the design of the motorcycle, it is not informative enough. The high-set handlebar comes with silver-finished bar ends, with the motorcycle getting rounded rearview mirrors.

Overall, the Bristol Classic 250 looks like a proper neo-retro motorcycle, but the design is too plain and lacks any individuality which sets it apart from the other neo-retro motorcycles in the same space.

The Bristol Classic 250 has one of the simplest mechanical constructions for a 250cc motorcycle. Designed around a tubular steel frame, the Bristol Classic 250 has hydraulic telescopic forks at the front and dual-sided gas-charged hydraulic coil springs. The motorcycle rides on 110/70-17 tyre at the front and 130/70-17 tyre at the rear, which are one of the widest tyres for a 250cc neo-retro motorcycle. For braking, the Bristol Classic 250 has single discs at both front and rear.

The Bristol Classic 250 gets a single-cylinder, air-cooled, 249cc engine, which is one of the simplest engines in the quarter-litre category. The engine is coupled to a 5-speed gearbox and produces 17 bhp of maximum power and 18 Nm of maximum torque. While the engine does its job of making the Bristol Classic 250 feel decently powerful for low city speeds, the engine falls short on power as the RPMs rise. The top speed of the motorcycle is capped at 125 kmph.

To keep the costs in check, the Bristol Classic 250 has no proper safety feature in its overall package. It doesn’t even get the ABS, which is one of the most sought-after safety features in modern times.

If you want a bare-basic motorcycle with decent looks, decent performance and is easy to ride, the Bristol Classic 250 does a fine job. It is not a special motorcycle or brings anything new or revolutionary in the 250cc neo-retro motorcycle category.