Posts
200
Joined
6/26/2008
Location
FR
Edited Date/Time
8/3/2022 5:08am
Hello guys,
After selling my 450 SXF early january, I found a 2001 CR 250 just a couple hour away from home.
I pulled the trigger and bought it for a fairly good price. Seller was a 17 yo teenage who used to ride it mainly in fields and woods, he told me he ate sh**t pretty bad considering the power and brutality of the bike compared to his 125 YZ he had before. So he decided to sell it to buy a newer 125 YZ.
Such bikes are very difficult to find in running shape nowadays in France. Either they have been restored and they cost a lot OR they have been mangled and are parted on French Craiglist.
Here are a couple of picture of the bike now :
Basically, the bike is trashed... below is the list of problems :
Low compression
Pipe is crushed and cracked
Shock and forks are leaking
Spokes and nipples are seized
Handlebar is twisted
Chinese made Wish grips and levers
Brakes are running fluid free
Chain kit is worn out
Cheap chinese footpegs
Cosmetics are scratched but I do not really care about esthetics at this point
I started riding in 2000 with my brother and best friend, we were big fans of American Honda bikes. The goal is to make a soft replica bike of this era (graphics, overall look).
I will ride and race occasionnaly this bike, so I do not want to make it a museum piece.
After selling my 450 SXF early january, I found a 2001 CR 250 just a couple hour away from home.
I pulled the trigger and bought it for a fairly good price. Seller was a 17 yo teenage who used to ride it mainly in fields and woods, he told me he ate sh**t pretty bad considering the power and brutality of the bike compared to his 125 YZ he had before. So he decided to sell it to buy a newer 125 YZ.
Such bikes are very difficult to find in running shape nowadays in France. Either they have been restored and they cost a lot OR they have been mangled and are parted on French Craiglist.
Here are a couple of picture of the bike now :
Basically, the bike is trashed... below is the list of problems :
Low compression
Pipe is crushed and cracked
Shock and forks are leaking
Spokes and nipples are seized
Handlebar is twisted
Chinese made Wish grips and levers
Brakes are running fluid free
Chain kit is worn out
Cheap chinese footpegs
Cosmetics are scratched but I do not really care about esthetics at this point
I started riding in 2000 with my brother and best friend, we were big fans of American Honda bikes. The goal is to make a soft replica bike of this era (graphics, overall look).
I will ride and race occasionnaly this bike, so I do not want to make it a museum piece.
However, I started to check some points on the CR. It has a PC silencer and I noticed this cool item while removing the clutch
The basket is brand new, no wear mark or any scratch. Pretty happy so far...
I removed the seat to check the air box/boot inside and was not thrilled about that
Piston seems toasted as well, no comments on exhaust valve cleanliness as well...
I will disassemble engine and replace piston, rod, motor and gear bearings and probably go for a new cylinder Nikasil.
Good luck on the build.
The Shop
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
I checked adjuster bolts and surprisingly they are not seized... but the nut heads are little bit damaged/rounded.
I have a pair of 2003 CRF footpegs, they do not fit on the 250 CR 2001 bracket (different shape).
Is it possible to install modern 450/250 CRF brackets to have new footpegs on the 2001 CR ?
Thank you guys.
I also like to road bike, mountain bike, and drink Pastise.
Thanks for the kind advises.
Thanks to my local dealer, I manage to out my hands on these bad boys !
I will fill with mig welder the footpegs brackets and redrill them in order to avoid any play when I reinstall the new pegs.
I dissasembled the whole bike yesterday evening, excluding fork internals and shock.
It really turned into a shit show when I noticed this kind of maintenance.
As anticipated, nikasil, piston, rod are trashed...
Piston was starting to crack. It is way out of specs, nikasil coating is missing near exhaust port due to wear and low maintenance.
Right now, the bike is like that.
I will not take any risk and replace below items :
- nikasil
- piston
- rod
- crankshaft bearings
- ALL GEARBOX bearings and gaskets
Basically have the same hobbies... Except for the Pastis... Try Pontarlier Anis next time ! 😉
If you are replacing the wheels I’m partial to black
I removed the rust of footpegs brackets, 10 minutes in a 30 % chlorohydric acid and they came out great. I will try nickel plating on them later, I'll post pictures of the process once ready.
Before:
After :
While searching informations on my bike on others forums, I read about a power valve spacer cover :
https://mxbonz.com/power-valve-cover-honda-cr250r-cr250-cr-250-1992-200…
Do any of you ever have experience with this product ? I understand it increase volume into power exhaust chamber and creates more bottom end.
Have you ever tried ?
It was full of clay and old filter oil.
I had to drill thé rivets in order to access small area...
I can't understand how you can let a bike in such shape
Pit Row
A little scrubed with a green sponge a little.
Very happy with the result
while cleaning / servicing my brakes yesterday, I found out that front caliper brake pin thread is trashed.
The previous owner screwed the thread located in the red circle below :
He basically put the brake pad pin back, and glued the black cap in order to maintain the whole.
It seems the thread is not standard, do you think I can drill and put an helicoil there and machine a special brake pin ?
I am already way above my budget for the rebuild, just for the mandatory stuff, I do not want to spend hundreds of dollars in a new caliper... but I do not want to save budget on safety.
Before
After
I also cleaned the head with ultra sonic cleaner and polished it slightly. It was just dirty. No marks of detonation or hits from old blow up.
Actually, your project was one of the reasons I decided to go for a 2000/2001 CR.
In France, my buddies and I were big fans of Fred Bolley riding and winning 2 GP titles with this bike in 99 and 2000. We were 13/14 years old and fan of this bike.
Of course, I won't go for the full HRC setup. I am just trying to find a kevlar HRC silencer but since I have no connection with former teams or riders it is impossible to source through traditionnal retail channel or second hand.
As for the caliper, I bought a used oem 2000 250 CR for 60$ shipping included. You are totally right, I am above 1'500€ in expenses to rebuild this bike. It would be stupid from me to try saving 60 bucks on safety parts.
Thanks for your advises you all !
,
After numerous evenings/nights of hard work, m'y bike is ready to ride ! I am very happy with the results !
I had many bikes since I started motocross, from almost all brands and I must say that Honda quality and durability is second to none. The bike wash trashed when I got it and from what I discovered during dissembly, I assume it had been through everything : mud, water, sand, road and mainly zero maintenance.
Surprisingly, the bike was still in good shape, no broken threads, no cracks etc.
Here is the list of replaced /repaired parts :
- Cylinder replated
- Vertex Piston kit
- NGK spark plug
- ProX rod kit
- NTN crank bearings
- All gear box NTN bearings
- Full motor gaskets replaced
- Motorex 10w40 gearbox oil
- Carbon reeds
- DEP pipe
- PC silencer packing
- Bolts, silent blocs, etc
- Fork complete rebuild (bushings, rings, seals, oil)
- Shock complete rebuild (piston, seals, oil)
- Powdercoated shock spring
- Linkage, shock, swingarm bearings
- Front caliper replaced (I found a used one from exact same bike/year in Ohio for 60 bucks shipped to France
- Brake and clutch levers
- Clutch and brake levers rubber covers
- Motorex brake fluid
- Front and rear brake pads
- Renthal CR style 22mm bar
- Vintage Renthal blue pad
- OEM replica seat cover
- Boltz body fastener kit
- Translucent UFO fork guards
- Chain
- Front and rear sprocket
Let's be honest, I absolutely destroyed my budget target
I finally received my HRC style translucent front plate. I had to make a little adaptor in order to make it fit correctly.
And today, postman dropped my graphics. I am very happy of it, I will install it tonight and post picture tomorrow.
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