What year is my CR250!?

lodgie
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lodgie
Edited Date/Time 12/23/2015 11:04am
Hi,

So i need a little help and there is a similar post on here that i have read also

I just purchased half a CR250 (alloy frame) off a dude for $100 in Australia

Its missing the barrel, sub frame, fuel tank and plastics but thats about it.

Heres the thing.. ITS IMPORTED and from who knows where!?

I rang honda australia and they cant help me/ or either don't want to know about it!

Its apparently between a 1997-1998 from the carbi numbers a honda dealership told me.

Here is the numbers

Frame - ME03 - 1920082

Engine - ME03 - 1920111 (or 1920111 on it own)

Carbi - PJ28LALG

Once I've worked the year out, Is there a massive difference with parts even though its the same year but brought in from another country by someone thats not allocated to Honda Australia?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Lodgie
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MxKing809
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MxKing809 12/16/2015 3:34am
12/16/2015 3:34am Edited Date/Time 12/16/2015 3:41am
Not positive but I'd guess 92.

What is the vin on the steering stem?
KTMShane699
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KTMShane699 12/16/2015 4:41am
12/16/2015 4:41am
MxKing809 wrote:
Not positive but I'd guess 92.

What is the vin on the steering stem?
The aluminum frame didn't come out until 1997.

I'll try to toss the number into the computer at work today and see if it comes back with a year for you.

Shane

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KTMShane699
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KTMShane699 12/16/2015 6:33am
12/16/2015 6:33am
Your frame VIN is not complete. The matrix for the VIN from those years looks like this:

JH2ME030 *VM900001 ~

The matrix for the engine looks like this:

ME03E *5900001 ~

The 59 is a 1997, 60 a 1998 & 61 being a 1999.

Hope that helps and you can get a better look at some numbers.

Shane
DE262
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DE262 12/16/2015 10:41am
12/16/2015 10:41am
single radiator, alum frame would be a 97-99. They handle like a dishwasher on shopping cart wheels...
Lightning78
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Lightning78 12/16/2015 3:02pm
12/16/2015 3:02pm
You can tell if its a 97 separated from the 98-99 because the head of the frame where the steering stem is looks like a machined part whereas the 98-99 bikes used a cast part that looks like it has a little rougher finish.

AND, if its a 97 (first year for the showa TC forks) you'll see that the fork caps on the 97 have a more uniform color and the inner hexagon protrudes outward more. The 98-99 forks have fork caps similar to what was on all honda's with the thin outer hex type ring with a darker anodized color and smaller more recessed inner hex where the compression adjuster resides.

The 99 CR250 DOES NOT have any wires going to it for a power jet carb, it may have a TPS but the Power jet was not on the 99 bikes and the 99 also had a domed piston whereas the 97-98 had flat top pistons.

Looks-wise - IMO for the these forst gen aluminum framed CR250's stock showroom look I think the 98 model was hands down the best looking bike and a mix of the 97 and 99 bike which makes me believe it was the best of the 3. I rode a 99 and hated the low-mid engine, this focus on the 99 was only slightly stronger low-mid than the 97-98 but on top the 97-98 bikes were flat out screaming fast leaving the 99 in the dust.
MxKing809
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MxKing809 12/16/2015 3:18pm
12/16/2015 3:18pm Edited Date/Time 12/16/2015 3:19pm
MxKing809 wrote:
Not positive but I'd guess 92.

What is the vin on the steering stem?
KTMShane699 wrote:
The aluminum frame didn't come out until 1997. I'll try to toss the number into the computer at work today and see if it comes back...
The aluminum frame didn't come out until 1997.

I'll try to toss the number into the computer at work today and see if it comes back with a year for you.

Shane
In my defense he said alloy..... and last time I checked my steel KTM frame was an chrome molly "alloy".... WhistlingTongueLaughing
lodgie
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lodgie 12/17/2015 8:37pm
12/17/2015 8:37pm
Hi Everyone,

Thanks a million for taking the time helping out with this.
As for the year I know the bike is between 1997 and 1999
It's got the single radiator and also the alloy frame, I've just got to narrow it down, the piston is a flat top also.
I've taken pictures of the numbers located on the frame, engine and carbi

Here they are









AHRMA361
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AHRMA361 12/18/2015 7:39am
12/18/2015 7:39am
If this is any help, Here is the data for a 1997 CR250R:


1997 CR250R'97

ENGINE •Engine Type: 2-stroke liquid-cooled reed valve single cylinder with ATAC
•Displacement: 249cc
•Cylinder linings: Nikasil®
•Port: Honda power port (HPP)
•Fuel delivery: 38mm flat-slide carburetor
•Power: 43 hp

DRIVETRAIN •Transmission: 5-speed

CHASSIS / SUSPENSION / BRAKES •Front fork: 46mm Kayaba cartridge front fork
•Rear suspension: Pro-Link
•Front wheel travel: 305mm (12 in.)
•Rear wheel travel: 310mm (12.2 in.)
•Front brakes: Hydraulic operated drilled disc
•Rear brakes: Hydraulic operated disc

DIMENSION •Wheelbase: 1475mm (58.1 in.)
•Dry weight: 95.8 kg (211.1 lb)
•Seat height: 960mm (37.8 in.)

OTHER •Color: Nuclear Red
•The frame was now an aluminum twin spar
•It also had a large volume single radiator
•The drive chain and sprocket were on the left side
•The silencer was aluminum
•The serial number began JKH2ME030*VM900001

mb
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mb 12/18/2015 10:46am
12/18/2015 10:46am
Let's go with '98
lodgie
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lodgie 12/18/2015 1:45pm
12/18/2015 1:45pm Edited Date/Time 12/18/2015 4:59pm
KTMShane699 wrote:
Your frame VIN is not complete. The matrix for the VIN from those years looks like this: JH2ME030 *VM900001 ~ The matrix for the engine looks...
Your frame VIN is not complete. The matrix for the VIN from those years looks like this:

JH2ME030 *VM900001 ~

The matrix for the engine looks like this:

ME03E *5900001 ~

The 59 is a 1997, 60 a 1998 & 61 being a 1999.

Hope that helps and you can get a better look at some numbers.

Shane
Hi Shane

thanks for helping out mate.

I posted the pics of the numbers located on the engine, frame and carbi yesterday
if that helps with anything. If not is there any other options?

Cheers

Lodgie
lodgie
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lodgie 12/18/2015 1:51pm
12/18/2015 1:51pm
Lightning78 wrote:
You can tell if its a 97 separated from the 98-99 because the head of the frame where the steering stem is looks like a machined...
You can tell if its a 97 separated from the 98-99 because the head of the frame where the steering stem is looks like a machined part whereas the 98-99 bikes used a cast part that looks like it has a little rougher finish.

AND, if its a 97 (first year for the showa TC forks) you'll see that the fork caps on the 97 have a more uniform color and the inner hexagon protrudes outward more. The 98-99 forks have fork caps similar to what was on all honda's with the thin outer hex type ring with a darker anodized color and smaller more recessed inner hex where the compression adjuster resides.

The 99 CR250 DOES NOT have any wires going to it for a power jet carb, it may have a TPS but the Power jet was not on the 99 bikes and the 99 also had a domed piston whereas the 97-98 had flat top pistons.

Looks-wise - IMO for the these forst gen aluminum framed CR250's stock showroom look I think the 98 model was hands down the best looking bike and a mix of the 97 and 99 bike which makes me believe it was the best of the 3. I rode a 99 and hated the low-mid engine, this focus on the 99 was only slightly stronger low-mid than the 97-98 but on top the 97-98 bikes were flat out screaming fast leaving the 99 in the dust.
Thanks Lightning,

I'll take a picture of the forks and see what we can make out of them,

Its has a flat top piston so we can now knock out the 99

Whats your thoughts on the head of the steering frame with the pictures provided?

Thanks again for your help,

Lodgie
lodgie
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lodgie 12/18/2015 5:05pm
12/18/2015 5:05pm
mxtech1 wrote:
The 10th digit in the complete frame serial number always represents the year code.

This will also help:
http://www.oem-cycle.com/HONDACR250BIKEID.shtml
Thanks Mate,

That's for sure a useful page, I'm still just missing numbers/letters, I've posted a few pics to show what Im dealing with.

Cheers

Lodgie
jason486
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jason486 12/18/2015 6:24pm
12/18/2015 6:24pm
mxtech1 wrote:
The 10th digit in the complete frame serial number always represents the year code.

This will also help:
http://www.oem-cycle.com/HONDACR250BIKEID.shtml
lodgie wrote:
Thanks Mate,

That's for sure a useful page, I'm still just missing numbers/letters, I've posted a few pics to show what Im dealing with.

Cheers

Lodgie
Not sure if your looking for parts or not but I might be parting out a 1999 cr250
PTECH
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PTECH 12/19/2015 9:32am
12/19/2015 9:32am Edited Date/Time 12/19/2015 9:38am
As already mentioned one possible way to tell the difference from a 97 to a 98 is from the fork caps. Though I remember the differences differently. I thought the 97 came with showa open chamber forks with a 17-19mm nut on the top of the cap where as the 98s came with showa twin chamber forks that use the big recessed nut to remove.

I had a 97 and a 98 cr250, didn't buy either of them new but they had different forks when i acquired them.
lodgie
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lodgie 12/19/2015 6:32pm
12/19/2015 6:32pm



Here is the forks,

Thoughts?

Pit Row

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PTECH
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PTECH 12/20/2015 8:02pm
12/20/2015 8:02pm
lodgie wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/12/19/115921/s1200_image.jpg[/img] Here is the forks, Thoughts?



Here is the forks,

Thoughts?
Those are the twin chamber forks, same as what came on my 98. But like I said, I didn't buy the bike new from the dealer so it is possible someone had already swapped the forks out on the 97 I had.
FGR01
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FGR01 12/23/2015 11:04am
12/23/2015 11:04am Edited Date/Time 12/23/2015 11:06am
I think we're looking at a 98 here.

The PJ carb narrows it down to 97-98. 1999 had a PWK.

The fork caps are 98, not 97. 1997 had one huge 32mm nut without the outer brown 8-sided ring.



Also, all that VIN info from above did not add up because this is not a US-spec bike. The 17-digit VIN standard and all that it entails is a United States thing mandated for all vehicles sold in the US. I have had quite a few Japan domestic market dirt bikes (have 2 or 3 right now) and the VIN's are a different pattern than the US bikes.

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