1986 CR 250 RC project/rep/build up.. IT'S FINISHED!!!

philG
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11086
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5/12/2012
Location
GB
9/5/2016 1:13am
Great to see this bike in the flesh, and meet StevieD too,

Sadly we didn't get to see it run in anger , as DeHoop tried to use it as a rope winder in qualifying, but as with all builds like this ,the fact that it doesn't look special, till you really look , it what makes it a quality build.

Its quite understated , but every single part is perfect, it doesn't lure you in with trick pipes and graphics , but then fail to deliver.

billyslad
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544
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12/31/2014
Location
GB
9/5/2016 10:13pm
It's a shame about the rope however they are designed and built to be used
Fantastic that you appreciate that Stevie
9/6/2016 12:53am Edited Date/Time 9/6/2016 4:06am
At the end of the day its a race bike. If it wasn't going to be used I may as well have a photo of it on the wall. I'll fix it and I'll ride it.

Laps ridden, 1.25

Length of rope wrapped around the rear wheel. Approx, 70 meters.

Parts trashed.

Rear sprocket,
Brake hose,
Lower disc guard,
Brake pad retainer plate,
Front case saver,
Gear lever,
Gear change shaft,
Lower chain guide.
The LH radiator is bent.
Dinged frame (from the gear lever)
Lower chain guide mount is bent on the swing arm
Rear brake pedal mount is bent
The rear hub doesn't look to good either..

Watching Todd on it, just for that one lap... priceless!!

philG
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11086
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Location
GB
9/6/2016 3:11am
If you need a pilot , I am available , and reasonable too.

Will PM you about the footrest springs

The Shop

9/11/2016 4:21am
It's impressive, this engine looks like a factory Japan motor!! I have some questions about the crankshaft, is this a Wiseco '02-'04 crankshaft? the crank pin...
It's impressive, this engine looks like a factory Japan motor!! I have some questions about the crankshaft, is this a Wiseco '02-'04 crankshaft? the crank pin is 25mm or 24mm? did you cut the webs to fit in the '86 crankcases? Because I can't found a solid crankshaft for my '01 CR250R motor.
WODirtCycles,

It not a Wiseco crank, if I remember correctly it's a Prox item. I think it's a '92-'01 crank and the webs are skimmed down a little to fit inside the '86 cases. We can get you a new '01 crank if you need one, drop us an email.

Stevie
a22
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London, GB
Fantasy
9/11/2016 4:49am Edited Date/Time 9/11/2016 4:50am
Incredible thread and build- sort of amazed how clever people can create/ make parts like this, its pretty fascinating to behold, not knowing very much about machining and stuff.

It may have got a beat up with the rope incident but it must be in perfect hands for any repairs.
Love it! Sort of a shame its finished, as was so good seeing all the stuff being made etc.

Just wondering, not sure if has been said- is the weight saving alot, what with all the Ti?
Bet she absolutely rips also!
9/11/2016 5:50am Edited Date/Time 9/11/2016 5:55am
a22 wrote:
Incredible thread and build- sort of amazed how clever people can create/ make parts like this, its pretty fascinating to behold, not knowing very much about...
Incredible thread and build- sort of amazed how clever people can create/ make parts like this, its pretty fascinating to behold, not knowing very much about machining and stuff.

It may have got a beat up with the rope incident but it must be in perfect hands for any repairs.
Love it! Sort of a shame its finished, as was so good seeing all the stuff being made etc.

Just wondering, not sure if has been said- is the weight saving alot, what with all the Ti?
Bet she absolutely rips also!
Thank you a22! Now it's all finished I've got to decide what the next project is. There's another twinshock CR480 build coming. I also want to do a CR500. I cant decide on an '84 or an '89!

The weight saving... with a full tank of fuel and all fluids, ready to ride it's at 102kg. Honda list the '86 at 97kg dry. How acurate they were is debatable, manufacturers are always "generous' with there figures for weight and HP out put!!
I can make it lighter as I used 7075 for the triple clamps and the knuckle part of the linkage. I now make these components of out 6082 which is significantly lighter, our links are still 7075 though.
Stevie
9/11/2016 5:58am
Andrew from click 466 photography got this awesome shot. You can see the rope tangled round the brake pedal and rear wheel. Todd went anothe 150ft before it brought him off.


a22
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Fantasy
9/11/2016 6:55am Edited Date/Time 9/11/2016 6:58am
For sure it is a thing of beauty and the work and skill that has went into is something else.
If only I had 13K spare ....!!Grinning

Stevie, just wondering, when did you start to learn how to use engineering machines/ lathes and suchlike etc?
What's your earliest memory of starting to use the workshop etc, were you just a kid even? I guess your Dad taught you alot but did you also study it at University or anything?

P.s : If I could have my time again - would love to learn how to do stuff like this and expect alot of younger people also that may read these threads maybe interested in taking up such a career and learning skills like you have.
9/11/2016 9:47am
a22 wrote:
For sure it is a thing of beauty and the work and skill that has went into is something else. If only I had 13K spare...
For sure it is a thing of beauty and the work and skill that has went into is something else.
If only I had 13K spare ....!!Grinning

Stevie, just wondering, when did you start to learn how to use engineering machines/ lathes and suchlike etc?
What's your earliest memory of starting to use the workshop etc, were you just a kid even? I guess your Dad taught you alot but did you also study it at University or anything?

P.s : If I could have my time again - would love to learn how to do stuff like this and expect alot of younger people also that may read these threads maybe interested in taking up such a career and learning skills like you have.
a22,
My Dad (Phil) was a Honda UK engineer and he was an Mx'er! He had a Cheney BSA. (Why he didnt have a Rocket I dont know!!) He was the first guy in europe to ride an ME360. For as long as I can remember there was a lathe or 2 in the garage and an MX bike on the bench and we worked on the bikes together. I was doing my own engine rebuilds and race prep when I was 10. Along with helping him with restorations and his project bikes. Welding, turning parts, basic fabricating, building bikes with pops. I couldn't ask for a better childhood and a better teacher. I used to pull sickies from school so I could go to work with him. Basically, driving all over rhe country visiting Honda dealers to sort out problems there machanics couldn't and dealing with warranty stuff, difficult customers and all that.
College, I went to be a guitar maker. Thats what I'm qualified in. Pops had started the company while I was away and I came home to join him. We bought a couple of CNC machines and I taughy myself a bit and off we went! We had a guy work for us full time (he still does a lot of part time work with us) he's a proper, time served tool maker. I've yet to find anything he can't make. He's taught me a lot!! I'm still learning and hope to continue to do so for a very long time!

Stevie
a22
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Fantasy
9/11/2016 10:51am Edited Date/Time 9/11/2016 10:56am
How cool is that Stevie- rebuilding engines just aged 10! Figured you would give a good answer and story to the question, thats why I asked it!

My Dad too was a BSA nut- not crossers but Goldstar roadracers, he had about 5 of them and some others. He kept the best one in my bedroom for about 12 years, not sure why he put it in my bedroom rather than his! Guess he liked it too much to keep it in the garage.
I couldn't rebuild them for sure aged 10(or now evenWhistling ) but about the best thing I could do aged 10 was to be able start them - TDC/ decompression lever and all that- those things could bust your leg in half if they kicked back or so the stories go, along with them catching alight sometimes and spitting large flames out of the belmouths when you started them! Woohoo
Those Eric Cheney frames/ bikes/ stories were something else- Those were the days and good memories.
a22
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Fantasy
9/11/2016 2:00pm Edited Date/Time 9/11/2016 2:01pm
Bet your good Pops also has more than a few stories(or a few hundred) about his times!

Excellent- can't wait for your next rebuild thread/ project.
mushymoto
Posts
24
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9/23/2016
Location
Innsbruck, AT
9/23/2016 1:00am
Hey man,love your work done with this! Did you ever get that larger front disc fitted?
Am mid way through an 86 rebuild also and was thinking of fitting the same disc..

Cheers
vmx3
Posts
281
Joined
10/31/2012
Location
Indianapolis, IN, USA
9/23/2016 5:31am
StevieD113 wrote:
At the end of the day its a race bike. If it wasn't going to be used I may as well have a photo of it...
At the end of the day its a race bike. If it wasn't going to be used I may as well have a photo of it on the wall. I'll fix it and I'll ride it.

Laps ridden, 1.25

Length of rope wrapped around the rear wheel. Approx, 70 meters.

Parts trashed.

Rear sprocket,
Brake hose,
Lower disc guard,
Brake pad retainer plate,
Front case saver,
Gear lever,
Gear change shaft,
Lower chain guide.
The LH radiator is bent.
Dinged frame (from the gear lever)
Lower chain guide mount is bent on the swing arm
Rear brake pedal mount is bent
The rear hub doesn't look to good either..

Watching Todd on it, just for that one lap... priceless!!

That's a bummer, I saw Todd caught up in the ropes at the bottom of the hill for the whole of practice it seemed like. It was the wildest thing I came up the hill and as I was going across the plateau on top before the downhill the posts started popping up out of the ground, I thought what the hell is that all about and then it clicked as I started to make the turn "oh crap someone is down on the hill" and sure enough there he was. Thank fully he was ok but every lap after that he was still there with the marshals trying to get the rope out.
9/24/2016 11:45am
vmx3, yup it was the whole of practise! Todd, didn't get a lap time. Apparently Werner Dewitt got clobbered by a post as it popped out! He was so pissed!
9/24/2016 11:49am
mushymoto wrote:
Hey man,love your work done with this! Did you ever get that larger front disc fitted? Am mid way through an 86 rebuild also and was...
Hey man,love your work done with this! Did you ever get that larger front disc fitted?
Am mid way through an 86 rebuild also and was thinking of fitting the same disc..

Cheers
Mushymoto, I still have the disc, i just didnt get round to sorting the bracket for it. I think i'm going to do a 500 next so it will be used on that! I might get a couple made up and fit them to both!

Stevie
vmx3
Posts
281
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10/31/2012
Location
Indianapolis, IN, USA
9/26/2016 8:02am
StevieD113 wrote:
vmx3, yup it was the whole of practise! Todd, didn't get a lap time. Apparently Werner Dewitt got clobbered by a post as it popped out...
vmx3, yup it was the whole of practise! Todd, didn't get a lap time. Apparently Werner Dewitt got clobbered by a post as it popped out! He was so pissed!
That's wild that one hit Werner but they were popping up in the air pretty good so I could see how it would happen.
Tokyo_Tiddler
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2151
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Location
Somewhere in, NJ, USA
7/27/2018 7:45pm
I just bumped into this thread.. what I beautiful build.. it is the "anal" Smile detail that makes it works bike level. Great job Stevie.. where do you find the time to do all this stuff and still make parts for us?
7/31/2018 12:36pm
I just bumped into this thread.. what I beautiful build.. it is the "anal" :) detail that makes it works bike level. Great job Stevie.. where...
I just bumped into this thread.. what I beautiful build.. it is the "anal" Smile detail that makes it works bike level. Great job Stevie.. where do you find the time to do all this stuff and still make parts for us?
Thanks Michael! Pops thinks I've got a problem, he says I'm "obsessive"... ? I just like things to be right!

Honestly, finding time for my own stuff and even to ride is quite difficult!! This build took me 3 years and I've been out on it 4 times this year. It's been 2 years since I got to ride my Rocket!

Stevie

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