Posts
25
Joined
8/28/2019
Location
Methuen, MA
US
Edited Date/Time
10/13/2020 4:29pm
***Update: COMPLETED PICS AND VID LOCATED ON PAGE 2 (posted 10/8/2020)***
New member here... have a pretty cool back story on my '05 CR250. Never really thought this would happen but here it goes! Bear with me for the lengthy post...
Back in 2005, my dad helped me buy a brand spankin’ new CR250 (I was only 13 at the time and working for him as a landscaper).
Just to give a sense of how much I cared for this bike... before even riding the bike in 2005, I disassembled the forks and rear suspension to properly grease all the factory bearings. I built, raced and meticulously maintained that bike until late 2011, when I decided to trade it for a street bike.
I knew it was a mistake almost instantly and tried to keep tabs on the bike as it changed hands a few times.
Fast forward to about a month or so ago, a good friend from my riding days recognized the bike on Facebook marketplace. Definitely rough compared to when I owned it, but had all of the same modifications and I knew I had to chase it down. I believe there were three owners between 2011 and 2019, the last of which had the bike for 5-6 years.
Brought it home and am extremely excited bring it back to perfection. I highly doubt I will ever be selling this bike again.
First pic is me sitting on the bike after a fresh build back in ~2008. Next is the day I traded it back in 2011, and the final pics are from today (somehow my front number plate remained with the bike all of these years).
~2008
Late-2011
July 2019
I have started the tear-down process, finding more bad news than good! The original budget I set out with on this build is growing, but nonetheless I am extremely excited.
Some of the issues I have found:
- Cracked rear wheel
- Cylinder/top end definitely had some piston slap, and the nikasil plating is in rough shape
- OEM crank from 2005 has more play than I would like
- Left side radiator was smooshed
- Overall looks like some shoddy work was done on the bike over the years. Missing bolts here and there, etc.
I am starting to gather parts for the bike, including a new OEM Cylinder, new OEM crank, Wiseco top end, all new OEM gaskets, etc. The goal is to have a totally fresh bike when I am done... still figuring out a color scheme and whatnot.
This will be my first hands-on bottom end rebuild, so I will be out of my comfort zone and learning as I go.
Progress pics will be added periodically, stay tuned!
New member here... have a pretty cool back story on my '05 CR250. Never really thought this would happen but here it goes! Bear with me for the lengthy post...
Back in 2005, my dad helped me buy a brand spankin’ new CR250 (I was only 13 at the time and working for him as a landscaper).
Just to give a sense of how much I cared for this bike... before even riding the bike in 2005, I disassembled the forks and rear suspension to properly grease all the factory bearings. I built, raced and meticulously maintained that bike until late 2011, when I decided to trade it for a street bike.
I knew it was a mistake almost instantly and tried to keep tabs on the bike as it changed hands a few times.
Fast forward to about a month or so ago, a good friend from my riding days recognized the bike on Facebook marketplace. Definitely rough compared to when I owned it, but had all of the same modifications and I knew I had to chase it down. I believe there were three owners between 2011 and 2019, the last of which had the bike for 5-6 years.
Brought it home and am extremely excited bring it back to perfection. I highly doubt I will ever be selling this bike again.
First pic is me sitting on the bike after a fresh build back in ~2008. Next is the day I traded it back in 2011, and the final pics are from today (somehow my front number plate remained with the bike all of these years).
~2008
Late-2011
July 2019
I have started the tear-down process, finding more bad news than good! The original budget I set out with on this build is growing, but nonetheless I am extremely excited.
Some of the issues I have found:
- Cracked rear wheel
- Cylinder/top end definitely had some piston slap, and the nikasil plating is in rough shape
- OEM crank from 2005 has more play than I would like
- Left side radiator was smooshed
- Overall looks like some shoddy work was done on the bike over the years. Missing bolts here and there, etc.
I am starting to gather parts for the bike, including a new OEM Cylinder, new OEM crank, Wiseco top end, all new OEM gaskets, etc. The goal is to have a totally fresh bike when I am done... still figuring out a color scheme and whatnot.
This will be my first hands-on bottom end rebuild, so I will be out of my comfort zone and learning as I go.
Progress pics will be added periodically, stay tuned!
The workstation:
The crack I found in my back rim... These are OEM wheels that I had anodized back in the day.
Haven't been able to find Blue rims aftermarket for the hondas... so may have to change it up.
Before and after of my pro-circuit pipe cleaning. Still has some dents in it, so I may try the old freezer trick to get those smoothed out. Overall happy with the finish though:
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
Here is a 2006 I am finishing up
All NOS Honda plastic, NOS seat
NOS Dunlop’s
Was a nice bike to begin with.
Yours will look great. Yours has sentimental meaning to you, means a lot ..
You can see a bit of damage in my factory cylinder. I am basically in part gathering mode and will begin tearing down the engine in a few weeks. Cleaning up parts and assessing damage as I go.
Pretty decent before/after shot of the pro circuit silencer I purchased ~10 years ago.
I have to say, it is so refreshing to work on this thing after being a car-guy for so long (also far cheaper!)
p.s. riding a 250 2 stroke at 13? Bad ass bro!
Heck, I even ended up getting some stitches in my wrist thanks to those nice sharp case edges!! My brother got me a Phathead for Christmas, custom etched with our last name in it “Hatem Built”. I have also been gathering some footage with plans to make a few videos documenting the build. The first intro video is linked here, not the most exciting since the bike was already apart but appreciate any views. More to come
https://youtu.be/gSZSKF8Ijy8
Pit Row
Keep up with the updates as you go! PS I haven’t ridden mine yet, might ride like crap, who knows.
Your bike is coming out great man. That's funny you are literally right next door! I honestly have been out of the game for eight years, I used to ride the methuen/dracut sand pits and powerlines growing up but they are mostly developed right now. There are some spots in New hampshire that I will be checking out (Plaistow/Kingston area) along with the local tracks you mentioned. Once I dust off the cobwebs, maybe we can meet up at a practice day for some laps.
I am going back and forth on whether or not to order up a Lectron carb... so many mixed reviews out there.
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