1990 CR250R restored

Ove
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4/10/2014 1:30pm
Looking good Maxx!
hollycow
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4/28/2014 9:05am
Nice Job! I have a 1991 cr250r that I am doing a front end swap on. I've got 08 cfr450x forks that I had revalved by Factory Connection. Actually testing them out on my 08 ktm 300xc right now. I was told the CRF clamps would not work because the
steering stops were different on the aluminum frames. How do your steering stops line up? What offset clamps are you using?
I plan on using bottoms from a 1996 cr125r (24mm offset) and a rubber mount crf top clamp. The 08 forks are a good choice because they are 7mm shorter than the previous twin chambers.
hollycow
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4/28/2014 9:45am Edited Date/Time 4/28/2014 9:45am
Nice work, without the extra tab looks like it might jam or miss the stop, at least on a stock clamp....
The bottoms I have are actually 97 don't know if 96 are the same.

The Shop

4/28/2014 12:06pm
I know the centres between fork legs for my '91 are different to the CRF ones, so you can't mix and match.
I swapped in the lot, so I could have the rubber bar mounts.
Ove
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4/28/2014 12:53pm Edited Date/Time 4/28/2014 1:26pm
hollycow wrote:
Nice Job! I have a 1991 cr250r that I am doing a front end swap on. I've got 08 cfr450x forks that I had revalved by...
Nice Job! I have a 1991 cr250r that I am doing a front end swap on. I've got 08 cfr450x forks that I had revalved by Factory Connection. Actually testing them out on my 08 ktm 300xc right now. I was told the CRF clamps would not work because the
steering stops were different on the aluminum frames. How do your steering stops line up? What offset clamps are you using?
I plan on using bottoms from a 1996 cr125r (24mm offset) and a rubber mount crf top clamp. The 08 forks are a good choice because they are 7mm shorter than the previous twin chambers.
Hi Hollycow
My clamps has the 20mm offset. (for '08 CRF450R 22mm offset is stock)
The steering stops dont line up perfectly, but good enough for me. I have crashed a couple of times without that causing any issues. Laughing (Other than me getting beat up...Silly )
You can do the same mod as Goodluckmonkey has done. Pretty clean setup he has pictures of. I will probably do the same mod on my bike.
Do not mix and match triple clamps unless you are 100% sure it will work.
I used a complete front end from a donor bike.
hollycow
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4/28/2014 1:02pm
A 24mm offset top clamp (crf450 02-07) will fit a 97 cr125 lower clamp which is also 24mm offset. The 08 crf450 went to 22mm offset clamps, in 09 they went to 20mm, the X stayed the same for a while. You also have to consider the fork lug offset, the KX twin chamber Showas have a different lug offset then the CRs. The offset on the 91 Honda CR250 is 20mm at the clamps but the lug offset is greater than the twin chambers so the total offset is probably close to that of the 02-07 crfs...
4/28/2014 1:31pm
Good to know about the geometry, I'll keep that in mind when I'm setting my bike up.

I was referring to the width of the yokes though. You mm at want to have a measure up just incase, as I was considering using my '91 lower with the CRF top yoke, but the crf yoke is wider.
Ove
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4/28/2014 1:37pm
hollycow wrote:
A 24mm offset top clamp (crf450 02-07) will fit a 97 cr125 lower clamp which is also 24mm offset. The 08 crf450 went to 22mm offset...
A 24mm offset top clamp (crf450 02-07) will fit a 97 cr125 lower clamp which is also 24mm offset. The 08 crf450 went to 22mm offset clamps, in 09 they went to 20mm, the X stayed the same for a while. You also have to consider the fork lug offset, the KX twin chamber Showas have a different lug offset then the CRs. The offset on the 91 Honda CR250 is 20mm at the clamps but the lug offset is greater than the twin chambers so the total offset is probably close to that of the 02-07 crfs...
I have done my research on this as well. I did not just throw any front end on.
Ove
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4/28/2014 1:49pm Edited Date/Time 4/28/2014 2:01pm
Old bikes looks best at the track Wink

hollycow
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4/28/2014 2:21pm
hollycow wrote:
A 24mm offset top clamp (crf450 02-07) will fit a 97 cr125 lower clamp which is also 24mm offset. The 08 crf450 went to 22mm offset...
A 24mm offset top clamp (crf450 02-07) will fit a 97 cr125 lower clamp which is also 24mm offset. The 08 crf450 went to 22mm offset clamps, in 09 they went to 20mm, the X stayed the same for a while. You also have to consider the fork lug offset, the KX twin chamber Showas have a different lug offset then the CRs. The offset on the 91 Honda CR250 is 20mm at the clamps but the lug offset is greater than the twin chambers so the total offset is probably close to that of the 02-07 crfs...
Ove wrote:
I have done my research on this as well. I did not just throw any front end on.
I wrote that before I saw your response, thanks for the info. I was just sharing what I know for anyone else looking to do a swap. The width did change somewhere between 91 and 97. Its interesting to know the KTM clamps will fit, I have shims for the forks and about four different offset I could try, don't know if i want to go through the trouble of fabing up the stops though...
4/28/2014 2:51pm
Ove wrote:
Old bikes looks best at the track ;) [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2014/04/28/52177/s1200_bilde.jpg[/img]
Old bikes looks best at the track Wink

Definitely for riding, and not just for looking at - unless you have one of each, of course Wink
Ove
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4/28/2014 10:35pm
hollycow wrote:
I wrote that before I saw your response, thanks for the info. I was just sharing what I know for anyone else looking to do a...
I wrote that before I saw your response, thanks for the info. I was just sharing what I know for anyone else looking to do a swap. The width did change somewhere between 91 and 97. Its interesting to know the KTM clamps will fit, I have shims for the forks and about four different offset I could try, don't know if i want to go through the trouble of fabing up the stops though...
I Guess I misread your post. Thanks.
Yeah, it's cool to see that there are in fact a lot of options to get modern suspension for these old bikes.
Thanks for posting your findings and data on the fork swap.
I Guess there are others out there wanting to do this as well.
It has been at least four others on here that has done a similar swap, and they have all been happy with the end result.
Maybe time for a thread covering this topic?
BM255
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4/29/2014 12:51am
Ove wrote:
Old bikes looks best at the track ;) [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2014/04/28/52177/s1200_bilde.jpg[/img]
Old bikes looks best at the track Wink

Ove,
That is a seriously cool build! great idea to build a bike from your past with some modern upgrades but still retain the look and spirit of the original bike.
I raced a 91 CR250 back in the day and it was one of the best bikes I ever had, the motor was so strong. I never liked the white radiator shrouds and graphics on the 91 though, I much preferred the 90 for it's looks. If I decide to do another build I'd like to do a 90 CR250 with upgrades like yours and use it as a race bike for VMX.
Ove
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4/29/2014 2:33am
BM255 wrote:
Ove, That is a seriously cool build! great idea to build a bike from your past with some modern upgrades but still retain the look and...
Ove,
That is a seriously cool build! great idea to build a bike from your past with some modern upgrades but still retain the look and spirit of the original bike.
I raced a 91 CR250 back in the day and it was one of the best bikes I ever had, the motor was so strong. I never liked the white radiator shrouds and graphics on the 91 though, I much preferred the 90 for it's looks. If I decide to do another build I'd like to do a 90 CR250 with upgrades like yours and use it as a race bike for VMX.
Thanks BM255

Yeah the '90-91 CR250's was awesome machines, and this was for me the best HPP engines Honda made..... I loved and still love the look of these old Honda's
I remember going from the '88 CR250 to the '90 CR250.. Wow, I loved the bike from day 1
'88-96 was the Heyday's riding MX for me, and I had so much fun riding back then..., so much I wanted another go at it Laughing
sumdood
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4/29/2014 9:36pm
My wifes 90' CR250. She's been riding this thing for... shit 17 years now. She loves that thing, says she doesn't want a new bike, just wants me to keep this one going. It almost ready for frame up rebuild #... shit I forget, but I can do it in my sleep now Laughing

Ove
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4/29/2014 10:17pm
sumdood wrote:
My wifes 90' CR250. She's been riding this thing for... shit 17 years now. She loves that thing, says she doesn't want a new bike, just...
My wifes 90' CR250. She's been riding this thing for... shit 17 years now. She loves that thing, says she doesn't want a new bike, just wants me to keep this one going. It almost ready for frame up rebuild #... shit I forget, but I can do it in my sleep now Laughing

Cool!
Love to see these old bikes getting used. Woohoo
And your wife is absolutly right! These bikes have enough power, great handling when set up right and still looks killer ! Wink
Thumbs up to you and your wife
Thanks for sharing Sumdood!
sumdood
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4/29/2014 10:37pm
sumdood wrote:
My wifes 90' CR250. She's been riding this thing for... shit 17 years now. She loves that thing, says she doesn't want a new bike, just...
My wifes 90' CR250. She's been riding this thing for... shit 17 years now. She loves that thing, says she doesn't want a new bike, just wants me to keep this one going. It almost ready for frame up rebuild #... shit I forget, but I can do it in my sleep now Laughing

Ove wrote:
Cool! Love to see these old bikes getting used. :woohoo: And your wife is absolutly right! These bikes have enough power, great handling when set up...
Cool!
Love to see these old bikes getting used. Woohoo
And your wife is absolutly right! These bikes have enough power, great handling when set up right and still looks killer ! Wink
Thumbs up to you and your wife
Thanks for sharing Sumdood!
Thanks. Those motors rip (imo) She's ridden all our friends newer bikes, 2 strokes, 4 strokes, new ones, old ones, but she has yet to ride one she likes better. That bike tractors through technical stuff, hauls ass on top end, carries more fuel than the exxon valdez, has a seat you can actually sit on, plus it's been lowered 2". I think she's comfortable with it be cause she's spent so much time on it she knows exactly what it's gonna do. Plus it has a green sticker. It's all good by me, parts are still available, cheap to buy and the thing is reliable as the sun. Cool
Ove
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4/30/2014 12:23am
sumdood wrote:
Thanks. Those motors rip (imo) She's ridden all our friends newer bikes, 2 strokes, 4 strokes, new ones, old ones, but she has yet to ride...
Thanks. Those motors rip (imo) She's ridden all our friends newer bikes, 2 strokes, 4 strokes, new ones, old ones, but she has yet to ride one she likes better. That bike tractors through technical stuff, hauls ass on top end, carries more fuel than the exxon valdez, has a seat you can actually sit on, plus it's been lowered 2". I think she's comfortable with it be cause she's spent so much time on it she knows exactly what it's gonna do. Plus it has a green sticker. It's all good by me, parts are still available, cheap to buy and the thing is reliable as the sun. Cool
Exactly!
Cheap, tons of fun, reliable..Can't ask for more Cheerful
Ove
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5/13/2014 11:07am Edited Date/Time 5/13/2014 11:59pm
Have no idea of how to delete a post...Or add photos when you want to edit a post...
Ove
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5/14/2014 12:04am
Not sure if anyone is interested but here it goes:
I took my old frame from my racebike (that was stolen in 1991 and recovered last year) and made that into my ride bike.
Sweet feeling to fire her up again after all those years Smile

Please disregard all the mess in the background... Blink

Photos from clean frame to rebuilt:











5/14/2014 12:32am
Nice to see the build pics.
Probably my favourite bike on here - love the gold rims too.
Ove
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5/14/2014 1:06am
Nice to see the build pics.
Probably my favourite bike on here - love the gold rims too.
Thanks Goodluckmonkey.
The bike is a work in progress, so maybe it gets boring for People with me posting pictures that look alomst the same...
But this time the bike got a new frame, and a frame that means a lot to me. As someone wrote here in another post: It's like getting some of my youth back...
The shed is usually not that messy, but with almost three bikes in pieces and a limitid space...it gets crowded..

Some details:




On a side note:
The Peak/Pro Circuit replica has moved out of the shed and into the boys room on the garage loft... Cool

5/14/2014 1:16am
Such a cool room ornament for your kid.

Totally get the point in changing the frame. Now it's truly your bike again.

My 125 has been kept from my youth, and as a result means more to me than some of my other bikes.

In the same way, I'd imagine you have more of a connection with your old 250 than the Peak bike. It has more memories attached to it, and continues to collect them too as it's used.
Ove
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5/14/2014 1:27am
Such a cool room ornament for your kid. Totally get the point in changing the frame. Now it's truly your bike again. My 125 has been...
Such a cool room ornament for your kid.

Totally get the point in changing the frame. Now it's truly your bike again.

My 125 has been kept from my youth, and as a result means more to me than some of my other bikes.

In the same way, I'd imagine you have more of a connection with your old 250 than the Peak bike. It has more memories attached to it, and continues to collect them too as it's used.
Yeah, you are absolutly right.
This is now truly my bike again. I was wondering what to do with this bike after I got it back.... I think this was the best solution for it. As you said: Now it keeps on collecting and making memories for me.

Here it is back in the day:





5/14/2014 2:11am
Will you be racing CEMAR in Aalborg Denmark may 24?
Ove
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5/14/2014 3:31am Edited Date/Time 5/14/2014 3:35am
Will you be racing CEMAR in Aalborg Denmark may 24?
No, I have tried to understand the rules for the EVO bikes, and I'm not sure if this is allowed to race in that class.
This can maybe be raced in the Super EVO class... but with the fork I have on it.. I'm not sure
Do you have any good links to the info on the CEMAR races ?
Ove
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5/14/2014 3:56am Edited Date/Time 5/14/2014 3:58am
http://classicmx.se/evocup/2014/2014%20EVO%20CUP%20Regulations%2014_02.pdf Basically all parts should be from 1990, aftermarket parts that were available to the public in 1990 is ok to use. Sorry to say but...
http://classicmx.se/evocup/2014/2014%20EVO%20CUP%20Regulations%2014_02…

Basically all parts should be from 1990, aftermarket parts that were available to the public in 1990 is ok to use.

Sorry to say but the forks you are using are not allowed in CEMAR :-(

Regards Marco
Thanks for the link Marco!

It was as I thought. Huh

Oh well, I'll probably just race a few local races in the Old Boys class Smile

Are you going there to race?
5/14/2014 4:00am
Would've thought it'd be super-evo eligible though? Twin chamber forks appeared on the '97.

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