Posts
453
Joined
5/29/2017
Location
Justin, TX
US
Edited Date/Time
6/1/2017 11:17am
So I've never posted here......just trolled around through SX and MX season. But I did wanna post a quick write up on my personal cr250 experience, cause I wish I could have heard some more informed opinions before buying when I did. Years ago against every bit of advice I got, I purchased an 03 cr250. Obviously everyone raves about the chassis.....but we all know the endless bashing the case reed motor received. No expense was spared....factory connection suspension, excels with talons....motor wise, pwk airstriker, pro circuit pipe, boyesen rad valve, an fmf turbine core silencer and a 49 tooth on the rear was the set up I settled on.
I went through a handful of different combos including fmf fattys, shorty silencer, v force reeds. But the set up I settled on made the bike an animal. It has enough low to pull it onto the pipe, but the mid to top end is a thing of beauty. I've ran down many 450's with that 03.
Now with that said, I always repped the case reed motors.....however I felt there was a possibility I was just bias because me and that bike have been through hell and back. Well just recently I bit the bullet an also bought a pristine 2001. I do realize people claim the 2000 was the peak for that motor, but as far as I know the carb was the only difference. Maybe some other slight port adjustments. But after spending time on the 01, I must say, the 03 dialed in is a much more fun bike, and a much more capable bike. Not just suspension wise, but motor wise. The 2001 does some things very well.....it pulls off the bottom almost like a juiced up 450.....but when the smokers start screaming, my case/reed 03 will eat its lunch. Ya you gotta ride the 03 a little more like a maniac, on the pipe and screaming......but anyone who bashes on that version of the cr250 has either not ridden a dialed in case/reed CR......*ps junk the stock carb day 1.....or is just poodle and can't ring out a 250
Anyway, a long rant for a first post.....but I've read so much conflicting info regarding these versions of the CR250 that I wanted to chime in after owning both.
I went through a handful of different combos including fmf fattys, shorty silencer, v force reeds. But the set up I settled on made the bike an animal. It has enough low to pull it onto the pipe, but the mid to top end is a thing of beauty. I've ran down many 450's with that 03.
Now with that said, I always repped the case reed motors.....however I felt there was a possibility I was just bias because me and that bike have been through hell and back. Well just recently I bit the bullet an also bought a pristine 2001. I do realize people claim the 2000 was the peak for that motor, but as far as I know the carb was the only difference. Maybe some other slight port adjustments. But after spending time on the 01, I must say, the 03 dialed in is a much more fun bike, and a much more capable bike. Not just suspension wise, but motor wise. The 2001 does some things very well.....it pulls off the bottom almost like a juiced up 450.....but when the smokers start screaming, my case/reed 03 will eat its lunch. Ya you gotta ride the 03 a little more like a maniac, on the pipe and screaming......but anyone who bashes on that version of the cr250 has either not ridden a dialed in case/reed CR......*ps junk the stock carb day 1.....or is just poodle and can't ring out a 250
Anyway, a long rant for a first post.....but I've read so much conflicting info regarding these versions of the CR250 that I wanted to chime in after owning both.
The 98 motor was awesome. But the chassis was too rigid.
The 2000 motor was electric smooth, no real hit. But that chassis was so good. At one point I had the 98 motor in the 2000 chassis and it was the best CR250 that I had.
The 2002-2007 case reed motor is fast if you ride it like a 125. My 07 CR250 has a great chassis and suspension and is really stable, and is super fast, but it takes a lot more effort to keep it were it needs to be when racing 450s. it's a fun bike.
Take my advice if you don't want to ruin your life- don't ride an 06-08 RM250!
Those CRs will be on Craigslist before you can say Holeshot!
The Shop
2002 Cr250. Best bike I've ever owned. In stock form the engine left a little to be desired, but the handling and even stock suspension was amazing.
Cool fact Steve Lamson's Dad did the porting and polishing of the engine and it felt like the power was doubled across the powerband. Miss that bike.
Heres the 03.....this ones goin to the grave with me.
Same here, best bike i have ever owned, vforce 3, a PC pipe and just a bit of porting and polishing the top end.
The only time this -06 is going to leave my hands is if i have a son in the future
00 Built engine vs 06 built engine, the 00 wins. This bike is the best of both..
Pit Row
I didn't ride it but man he hated its guts
And I have spent time on the KTM....and the Husky is very much the same bike. I would venture to guess you or I couldn't ride a 2000 yz125 to its absolute full potential....therefore buying a new bike cause everyone says its better is about as smart as the guy that buys new based on an MX shootout. To each his own, or there wouldn't be 20 different bike choice brands out there. I've had many many good years on my 03 Honda and to this day I still think its one of the best handling chassis's ever built and one of the funnest smoker motors to ride.
Translation: if you're on a tight budget and appreciate smooth power, then case reed is not the answer.
Is that about right?
I was merely pointing out all that I had done to make it a very fast and rowdy bike. But I think you can get to where you wanna be pretty cheap.
As far as riding it aggressive, it loves to scream, but has awesome torque off the bottom. But I've raced plenty of tight endure cross stuff as well. With the mentioned mods and possibly a flywheel weight.....its really an unbeatable bike esp for the price. But again....everyone has their own opinion.
I'm on my second 02-07 CR250. This one is an 03 and with basically all of the bolt-on goodies you're going to want. As others have said, the chassis is amazing - it feels like an extension to my body.
Recently, I've hit a bit of a crossroad with it.. I intended holding on to this bike forever - but the motor is starting to get to me. I'm a big boy at 6'4 230lbs - there are times where I really miss the power of a 450, one blip and the wheels over anything. I don't ever intend on going back to a 450, I've been riding 2-strokes my entire life, but I'm at the point with the CR250 that it either needs to have the motor sent out to Eric Gorr, or the search for a KTM 300 XC-W begins.
I don't really want to give up on it, its really just the motor at this stage that's lacking bottom end.
Maybe it's not every bolt on possible, but I think it's the big ones... Suspension, Vforce 3 Reeds, AirStriker, Stock expansion (which I've read is one of the better expansions to go with - not sure if that's true) with a Procircuit 304 silencer.
I'm in the woods a lot, which is why I moved away from the 450 and back to the lighter - more nimble feeling CR, I don't regret it at all but there are times where I really miss the low end.
I would like to get to the end of the season with the current set up - the motor could use a freshening up (not from lack of performance, but for preventive maintenance purposes). Compression holds steady at 160 so I've held off, if I'm going to freshen it up, it would be during this period I'd send to Eric.
My 250 pulls like a beast, i dont think there is anything wrong with the stock if you can get it set up right
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