Were the 97-99 Honda Cr250's really that bad????????

sandman768
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sandman768 6/16/2019 5:57am
6/16/2019 5:57am
I had brand new one in 97, I rode the sand a lot, it was good in the sand, but definitely not a great handling bike, I remember it seemed to tire me out more also...the engine was a rocket...I blew it up at Southwick one morning, had to replace the cylinder, it was never as fast after that...then the subframe started cracking everywhere...I rode a friends new 98YZ 250 and that was it, I rode Yamahas for the next 10 years...
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H4L
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H4L 6/16/2019 6:01am
6/16/2019 6:01am
omalley wrote:
97-worst bike I’ve ever owned. No contest. Sold that POS after 5 rides, sat out until I got my 98 KX. Worst part was that I...
97-worst bike I’ve ever owned. No contest. Sold that POS after 5 rides, sat out until I got my 98 KX. Worst part was that I traded in my phenomenal 96 CR on it...
Redrcr34 wrote:
Me too, I traded my 96 in for that pos 97
Similar route. Went from a 93 model to a 97 while a good friend made a wiser decision & stayed on his 96. Still regret that decision to this day.

After a few yrs. on it I picked up an 01 & didn't think Honda improved much with the 2nd gen. AF Chassis. Two of the worst bikes owned till this day.
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H4L
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H4L 6/16/2019 6:06am
6/16/2019 6:06am
CPR wrote:
Compared to the 96 CR250, the 97 was the biggest step backwards that Honda had taken in 30 odd years
nascarnate326 wrote:
Bigger step back than 09CRF450R ?

You can make that argument in stock trim. After mods I felt the 09-10 models owned were better over the 05-08 carbed models owned as well.
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bugnboo
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bugnboo 6/16/2019 6:33am
6/16/2019 6:33am
sandman768 wrote:
I had brand new one in 97, I rode the sand a lot, it was good in the sand, but definitely not a great handling bike...
I had brand new one in 97, I rode the sand a lot, it was good in the sand, but definitely not a great handling bike, I remember it seemed to tire me out more also...the engine was a rocket...I blew it up at Southwick one morning, had to replace the cylinder, it was never as fast after that...then the subframe started cracking everywhere...I rode a friends new 98YZ 250 and that was it, I rode Yamahas for the next 10 years...
I bought a new 98 Yz 250,really liked it.
2 yrs later I figured I would buy a new bike,yamahas were sold out,so I bought a 2000 cr 250,that was a step backwards,I felt the aluminum frame was too harsh
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H4L
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H4L 6/16/2019 6:50am
6/16/2019 6:50am Edited Date/Time 6/16/2019 6:56am
bugnboo wrote:
I bought a new 98 Yz 250,really liked it. 2 yrs later I figured I would buy a new bike,yamahas were sold out,so I bought a...
I bought a new 98 Yz 250,really liked it.
2 yrs later I figured I would buy a new bike,yamahas were sold out,so I bought a 2000 cr 250,that was a step backwards,I felt the aluminum frame was too harsh
Fellow racers had 97-01 YZ2's & have to say they were much better bikes in that era.
MC did a good job helping develop that bike from 97 onwards. The engine changed on the YZ around 99 if I recall & was rumored to be a copy of the 92-96 HPP CR2 engine design. Which Zuk later copied the YZ engine.
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AngryBear
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AngryBear 6/16/2019 6:58am
6/16/2019 6:58am Edited Date/Time 6/16/2019 7:01am
i had a '98 CR125 (basically same frame/setup as a '97 CR250, '97 125's were still steel framed)

then i had a '99 CR250, then a '00 CR 250

'98 CR125 - slowest bike i've ever owned. insane vibration but not as bad as the 250's.





'99 CR250 - slight step in right direction compared to the '97/'98.



'00 CR 250, my favorite honda ever, however not perfect though like people today seem to recollect.


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Timo_2824
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Timo_2824 6/16/2019 7:10am
6/16/2019 7:10am
I rode a 98 cr250r, 99 kx250, 1996 cr250r, and my 1998 yz250 back to back. I didn't think it was bad at all, I liked the engine on the 96 cr the best, but I can jump from bike to bike and learn how to ride them pretty easily.
rolandk
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rolandk 6/16/2019 8:32am
6/16/2019 8:32am
That was a time when Honda philosophy (including sport bikes) was ‘frame flex is bad, let the suspension do all the work’, which quickly proved to be false. I had a ‘98 CR250 bought new and gave my wrists nerve damage that took several years to heal.
Lawrence_Hamm 6/16/2019 8:57am
6/16/2019 8:57am
In one word yes. I had ridden Honda's for 14 years before the 97 came out and was so excited for it when it came looking all cool and "factory". Motor was fast but suspension and handling just plain beat the crap out of me. Hated it and was longing for my 96 the whole season. Still hate it to this day.

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VetMX.com 6/16/2019 9:10am
6/16/2019 9:10am
Texas Built wrote:
I bought a 97 brand new when they hit the showroom. It was a fucking rocket. But vibrated and turned as sharp as one too. I...
I bought a 97 brand new when they hit the showroom. It was a fucking rocket. But vibrated and turned as sharp as one too. I liked mine.



Get in a drag race with someone on a straight, and you just twist the throttle.....

https://youtu.be/zoLx0AyZe-o?start=27
If you recall all of HHR had their knees rebuilt/ femurs snapped on that bike. Mark Manness was faster than me until he got his 1997, I would smoke him on my 92 CR250.
zippytech
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zippytech 6/16/2019 11:40am
6/16/2019 11:40am
I had a 95 cr that pulled like a tractor, later I got a new 98. I think it's the slowest bike I have ever owned, but for some reason i get hole shots on it.

I never noticed any vibrations from mine, turns good and suspension was great. I though the suspension was better than my pro circuit tunes stuff that was on my 95. I put stiffer springs as I got fatter and other than that after 1000 + hours and several rebuilds I still have it and love it.


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FLmxer
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FLmxer 6/16/2019 11:45am
6/16/2019 11:45am
Apparently I rode Pepsi Air Dania a lot back then. Pictures of old paper printed pictures in a photo album that was sitting here. Good times.






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JohnnyD13
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JohnnyD13 6/16/2019 12:28pm
6/16/2019 12:28pm
I had a 97 and a 99. I loved both. I wasn’t fast enough to know the difference anyway and I was young. They looked so awesome. Only good memories but like I said. I was 18. I’m 37 now and can only ride a super soft bike. 19 kx450 anyone?
Bineano
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Bineano 6/16/2019 1:30pm
6/16/2019 1:30pm
I had a 98 CR250. Loved it, and was surprised to read years later about how hated it was.
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Lightning78
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Lightning78 6/16/2019 2:20pm
6/16/2019 2:20pm
I had a 97 i bought literally new from some guy up in Chico Ca and it had FC suspension, pc pipe, and linkage made by devol that was adjustable by turning some cutout but i never messed with it. Personally, other than thinking Honda had used a 2x4 for seat foam i actually liked the bike coming off a 93 CR250 that had stock suspension that was terrible i could ride the 97 so much harder and faster. Vibration sucked but pro taper bars helped the engine was phenominal!
For those saying it was great in true hardpack youre probably right as my favorite place to ride from 00-02 was lake elsinore at the time when i had just moved to socal.
Never rode a 98 but heard they were similar to my 97 i did ride a 99 and thought the engine was god awful Honda ruined the powerband. It was all low to mid and fell flat on its face up top compared to the previous bikes.
Overall i didnt mind my 97 that much it was incredibly fast and handled decent and i ended up trading it fora brand new 2002 CR250 the only bike ive ever bought brand new. I worked at the dealership and the sales guys still screwed me! Lol No bike to this day has ever fit me like a glove other than that 2002 but i missed the power my 97 had for sure.
Lightning78
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Lightning78 6/16/2019 2:22pm
6/16/2019 2:22pm
FLmxer wrote:
Apparently I rode Pepsi Air Dania a lot back then. Pictures of old paper printed pictures in a photo album that was sitting here. Good times...
Apparently I rode Pepsi Air Dania a lot back then. Pictures of old paper printed pictures in a photo album that was sitting here. Good times.






Wow ...you really like to send it. All the pics youve posted have always had massive air....that was one good thing about these bikes is if you were gonna have a hard impact landing a jump, the frame could soak a lotnof it up and keep going straight without swapping like other brands.
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trace704
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trace704 6/16/2019 2:28pm
6/16/2019 2:28pm
I rode one at 290 mx back in the day. I truly thought that bike was trying to kill me. it was extremely fast though.

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zippytech
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zippytech 6/16/2019 3:00pm
6/16/2019 3:00pm
Some times mine would get the front wheel all wacked,, I found that you just needed to give it more gas and gas thru it..

But all my bikes have done that to me.
zippytech
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zippytech 6/16/2019 3:06pm
6/16/2019 3:06pm Edited Date/Time 6/16/2019 3:10pm
I have to say they are tough, I have landed mine hard more the once. I replaced my swing arm bolt cause it was bent...
GODZILLA
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GODZILLA 6/16/2019 4:14pm
6/16/2019 4:14pm
Had a '98 set up for the woods with a 500 engine, also raced a bit of MX and beach races with it, wasn't the best handling bike ever, needed a good suspension guy, but still had a lot of fun with it and wasn't half as horrible as what I've so often read... Was far from stock, though.


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PTECH
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PTECH 6/16/2019 4:26pm
6/16/2019 4:26pm
I had a 97 250 for that I used for desert riding for years. It definitely vibrated and it was definitely stiff but I knew nothing about bike setup back then or even anything as basic a checking sag so I cant judge it too harshly. As others have mentioned the engine was a serious rocket. I bought it in 2006 I always wondered if the previous owner had done some hop ups but I'll never know... I would put it up against my 05 and 07 yz250s with confidence the cr would win a drag race. A buddy of mine bought a 98 after I got mine and I definitely felt the 98 was noticeably softer everywhere. For a while those bikes were easily found on craigslist for $1000
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VetMX.com 6/16/2019 4:39pm
6/16/2019 4:39pm
trace704 wrote:
I rode one at 290 mx back in the day. I truly thought that bike was trying to kill me. it was extremely fast though.



Thanks for bringing back the memory of 290 MX. Won this on my 1992 CR250.
trace704
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trace704 6/16/2019 4:51pm
6/16/2019 4:51pm
damn, nice! everybody loves a big trophy. what class?
moto543
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moto543 6/16/2019 6:04pm
6/16/2019 6:04pm
lappedrider wrote:
My 99 was my least favorite bike of all that I have owned.
Jrewing wrote:
My 99 is one of my favourite.
Mine too! Handled great, fast and the ergos were amazing! I sold my POS 96 CR250 and bought a 99. One of the best moto decisions I ever made.
burn1986
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burn1986 6/16/2019 6:07pm
6/16/2019 6:07pm Edited Date/Time 6/16/2019 6:09pm
lappedrider wrote:
My 99 was my least favorite bike of all that I have owned.
Jrewing wrote:
My 99 is one of my favourite.
moto543 wrote:
Mine too! Handled great, fast and the ergos were amazing! I sold my POS 96 CR250 and bought a 99. One of the best moto decisions...
Mine too! Handled great, fast and the ergos were amazing! I sold my POS 96 CR250 and bought a 99. One of the best moto decisions I ever made.
I also had a 99 CR250, was good all around bike. Never had a 97, but a friend of mine did and he rode the dog out of that bike. I gave the 99 to my nephew and he raced it several times. He loved it and didn't know any different
OldHalfway
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OldHalfway 6/16/2019 6:16pm
6/16/2019 6:16pm
Rode a friend's old one a couple of times a few years back. Thought the motor was awesome, it did vibrate a whole hell of a lot tho. It wasn't a very good bike but I do think it's reputation proceeds it a bit too much.
GODZILLA
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GODZILLA 6/17/2019 6:15am
6/17/2019 6:15am
GODZILLA wrote:
Had a '98 set up for the woods with a 500 engine, also raced a bit of MX and beach races with it, wasn't the best...
Had a '98 set up for the woods with a 500 engine, also raced a bit of MX and beach races with it, wasn't the best handling bike ever, needed a good suspension guy, but still had a lot of fun with it and wasn't half as horrible as what I've so often read... Was far from stock, though.


I fell in love with the looks of the '00 when it came out but didn't feel like building a new 500 AF all over again, so I just went for a little tweaking...
Don't think you'll ever see another quite like this one.
Laughing

As you can guess, the noise limit in french off road races is pretty low.
Wink





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MOTO732
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MOTO732 6/17/2019 6:20am
6/17/2019 6:20am
I had a new 97. The thing was sick looking for the time and sick handling. I weighed maybe 150. The bike rode me as much as I rode it. The frame was so friggin stiff I had to soften the front and rear to the point of being useless. It would turn great...if you gave it about 5 minutes. Motor I had had zero issues with once I re-jetted it. When I got my 2000 CR125 it was like a god send. That was without doubt one of the best bikes I ever rode.
davistld01
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davistld01 6/17/2019 7:18am
6/17/2019 7:18am
"Were the 97-99 Honda Cr250's really that bad????????"

Didn't Jeremy McGrath basically quit Honda because he hated the unforgiving aluminum frame on the '97, and Honda wouldn't let him ride a modded '93 framed bike like he'd been winning on?
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