2003 CR250

jd418
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jd418
I bought this bike back in 2011 for $1000. It looked like it went many years with absolutely no maintenance, but it ran. I wish I would have taken some "before" pictures, but it pretty well looked like all of the old trashed craigslist bikes you see here. I was on a college kid budget at the time so I didn't dump a lot of money into it, but I did all of the typical maintenance and replaced bearings, bars, plastics, chain and sprockets, etc... This was version 1


I rode it like this for a while until a ring broke and put a nice gouge in the cylinder. That's what I get for not replacing the top end right away.Anyway, it sat in boxes as a pile of parts up until recently when I bought a fresh 2007 motor off of a fellow vital member. He was offering a good deal and it was what I needed to spark this rebuild. I'll be parting out the '03 motor.

And so it begins...



Talon hubs laced to DID Dirtstars from Dubya, new shock spring, VForce reeds, TM sliders. The motor, carb, electronics, air box/boot all from an '07



Talon sprockets and DID chain. I took a wire wheel to the brake caliper and rebuilt it.


More to come...
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wsc96
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wsc96 4/6/2017 12:00am
4/6/2017 12:00am
Cool. Following Cool
rippinruts 4/6/2017 1:25am
4/6/2017 1:25am
Also following. About to buy a CR125 03 myself. Smile What did you use/do to the frame, engine and swingarm to make them look new? Smile
Bearuno
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Bearuno 4/6/2017 4:24am
4/6/2017 4:24am
If you need the money, well, selling the engine is entirely logical.

But, if you are going to be actually using the bike ( not a Garage Queen or a Plinth Prince) and keeping it for a long time, it might be better to keep the engine for spares. It's just 'clicking' over on the 10 years since cessation of production of the 250 2T, and, Honda probably will start to limit / stop production, or really 'up' the prices on further production of parts.

I've been caught out a few times over the years, where I've divested myself of 'things', only to need them (I keep, and use Bikes, I'm not a seller), and then paying through the nose for bits. A 2502t engine is not big to store, not even when it's disassembled.
gunters96lt1
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Peoria, IL, USA
gunters96lt1 4/6/2017 7:54am
4/6/2017 7:54am
Wow bike looks great!

The Shop

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black-smoker 4/6/2017 9:30am
4/6/2017 9:30am
Sweet build, love the wheels! Will look perfect when finished
jd418
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jd418 4/6/2017 9:47am
4/6/2017 9:47am
rippinruts wrote:
Also following. About to buy a CR125 03 myself. Smile What did you use/do to the frame, engine and swingarm to make them look new? Smile
I used an industrial grade aluminum cleaner and scotch brite pads. The "cleaner" was a two part process, the first strips and the second seals. I did that several years ago before I thought to really research it, so I hope it doesn't lead to problems in the future. Fortunately I didn't have to do that to the swingarm. When I bought the bike, the chain had worn through the slider and the underside of the swingarm, so I replaced it. The replacement was in really good shape and only needed some scotch brite.
jd418
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jd418 4/6/2017 9:50am
4/6/2017 9:50am
Bearuno wrote:
If you need the money, well, selling the engine is entirely logical. But, if you are going to be actually using the bike ( not a...
If you need the money, well, selling the engine is entirely logical.

But, if you are going to be actually using the bike ( not a Garage Queen or a Plinth Prince) and keeping it for a long time, it might be better to keep the engine for spares. It's just 'clicking' over on the 10 years since cessation of production of the 250 2T, and, Honda probably will start to limit / stop production, or really 'up' the prices on further production of parts.

I've been caught out a few times over the years, where I've divested myself of 'things', only to need them (I keep, and use Bikes, I'm not a seller), and then paying through the nose for bits. A 2502t engine is not big to store, not even when it's disassembled.
That's a good point. I'll have to research what parts are compatible. Obviously the cases will bolt up, but I think some things are different internally.
jd418
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jd418 4/6/2017 2:20pm
4/6/2017 2:20pm
Switching to the '07 motor meant new exhaust as well. That was ok, I wanted this system and I don't think they make the Ti-2 for the '03 anyways.


jd418
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jd418 4/6/2017 7:17pm
4/6/2017 7:17pm
New radiators, hoses, and exhaust mounted up.



New rotors and pegs. I got the pegs off of a '15 crf250 for $20 shipped.


wsc96
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wsc96 4/6/2017 7:48pm
4/6/2017 7:48pm
The handlebars look interesting. What are they?
jd418
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jd418 4/6/2017 8:04pm
4/6/2017 8:04pm
They are Easton 1-3/8" bars. I don't think they made them very long.
jd418
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jd418 4/7/2017 5:21pm
4/7/2017 5:21pm
'09 fender and plate


Took the cheap route on the clutch cover, but I like the look


rippinruts 4/8/2017 10:36pm
4/8/2017 10:36pm
Did you just sand down the clutch cover? It looks very good. Smile But why a 09 fender and plate? Is there a difference between 09 and 14-16? Just thought if you but a new style front fender and plate you would get the newest one possible.
jd418
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jd418 4/9/2017 6:24pm
4/9/2017 6:24pm
rippinruts wrote:
Did you just sand down the clutch cover? It looks very good. :) But why a 09 fender and plate? Is there a difference between 09...
Did you just sand down the clutch cover? It looks very good. Smile But why a 09 fender and plate? Is there a difference between 09 and 14-16? Just thought if you but a new style front fender and plate you would get the newest one possible.
It was just personal preference. I like the look of the 09-12 fender more than 13-16 or 17.
I did sand the clutch cover. I just had to take a wire wheel to where the raised lettering says "Magnesium" first.
jd418
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jd418 4/9/2017 6:27pm
4/9/2017 6:27pm


rippinruts 4/10/2017 6:08am
4/10/2017 6:08am
ok, looks good! but does that mean it it wont ever look worn out, like it would if you painted it? if so, you`r a genius.
jd418
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jd418 4/10/2017 3:06pm
4/10/2017 3:06pm
rippinruts wrote:
ok, looks good! but does that mean it it wont ever look worn out, like it would if you painted it? if so, you`r a genius.
It will get marked up from boots, just like an aluminum frame does, but 30 seconds with a scotch brite pad and it looks like new again.
jd418
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jd418 4/12/2017 1:20pm
4/12/2017 1:20pm
Getting close to completion. Waiting on my last order from Motosport, and graphics from Throttle Jockey






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