Posts
32
Joined
8/21/2022
Location
GB
Edited Date/Time
9/3/2022 6:11am
New to the site and looking for some advice/help along the way to rebuilding my 1994 cr250!
This is actually my first full size mx bike, my best friends father had a '95 cr250 when we was growing up as kids and learning to ride on a '97 xr70 and I have wanted a mid 90s cr ever since!!
With that being said - I'm quite clearly an mx Virgin and have lots to learn about these bikes!
My bike in question came from a guy who had owned it 22 years and has been used it in various guises apparently. Mx, sm, enduro etc and it shows - it had lots of wear and tear as expected for a used 28 year old mx bike!
I stripped it down to bare bones and this is where it currently sits!
I have made a start repairing the frame as the rails were dinged up and it had a few extra 'speed holes'😂 drilled Into it that shouldn't of been there. Sadly the tank mounting bracket Has also broken but I'm waiting on the new brackets what mount to the tank itself before fabricating new mounts on the frame itself.
I'm struggling to identify the forks - I believe that they are actually from a 1995/1996 model and would be excellent if someone could clarify this so I can buy the correct parts to rebuild them.
Someone on a Facebook page also noted the swingarm was '95, however I have tried my hardest on cmnl parts page to identify and does appear to be a '94 to me.
I have also bought a new chain slider which is for models 1990-1994 and this fits perfect.
I know the tank shrouds are '95 and rear number plates are non original however the bike is most certainly a 1994. Sadly the airbox has been drilled to accommodate the 95/96 number plates (bolted all way through 🤦♂️) but I'm hoping I will be able to repair this and revert to the original '94 style plastics.
Will post more photos as I go on but for now it's looking very sorry for itself.
Thanks,
Nick
This is actually my first full size mx bike, my best friends father had a '95 cr250 when we was growing up as kids and learning to ride on a '97 xr70 and I have wanted a mid 90s cr ever since!!
With that being said - I'm quite clearly an mx Virgin and have lots to learn about these bikes!
My bike in question came from a guy who had owned it 22 years and has been used it in various guises apparently. Mx, sm, enduro etc and it shows - it had lots of wear and tear as expected for a used 28 year old mx bike!
I stripped it down to bare bones and this is where it currently sits!
I have made a start repairing the frame as the rails were dinged up and it had a few extra 'speed holes'😂 drilled Into it that shouldn't of been there. Sadly the tank mounting bracket Has also broken but I'm waiting on the new brackets what mount to the tank itself before fabricating new mounts on the frame itself.
I'm struggling to identify the forks - I believe that they are actually from a 1995/1996 model and would be excellent if someone could clarify this so I can buy the correct parts to rebuild them.
Someone on a Facebook page also noted the swingarm was '95, however I have tried my hardest on cmnl parts page to identify and does appear to be a '94 to me.
I have also bought a new chain slider which is for models 1990-1994 and this fits perfect.
I know the tank shrouds are '95 and rear number plates are non original however the bike is most certainly a 1994. Sadly the airbox has been drilled to accommodate the 95/96 number plates (bolted all way through 🤦♂️) but I'm hoping I will be able to repair this and revert to the original '94 style plastics.
Will post more photos as I go on but for now it's looking very sorry for itself.
Thanks,
Nick
I didn’t have the nerve to cut out the dented portions and simply covered and welded in.
The forks appear to be 95. 95-96 appear to be the same. 97 they switched to twin chamber. Many will encourage a switch to the twin chamber. The advance in technology with that system is considerable. Amazing how so much more complex it is.
The issue comes up with the conversion is typically the bottom bracket. The stops for turning the forks has changed. With your obvious skills this may not be too much of hurdle. I know the 96 lower fork bracket works with the early twin chambers. On my 95 I used that and a newer upper with rubber mounted handle bar mounts.
Good luck with your restore. I ended up with 3 1995s. One is done and maybe next year I start another. Right now finish a WR and next turn a 88 500 into a 87.
There is nothing wrong with covering up the dents and welding material in, it's at the bottom of the frame at the end of the day I just had the perfect steel to Repair it with, one rail had been repaired poorly in the past so it would of annoyed me if I had left it😂
I think you are right, they must be 95 fork legs.
The triples are still '94. I actually bought a replacement lower triple (steering stem) as one of the steering stop lugs was broken off the original which came on the bike - so I'm kind of inclined to keep these forks now as they cost me £150 shipped to the uk😑
In hindsight I would of probably opted for a modern front end conversion or forks off another late 90s bike but this is something I can potentially do in the future.
As I said I am totally new to mx, although i have ridden and raced pitbikes from way back in 04-06 when they were popular, so I won't be finding the limit of this Cr any time soon!
I do however want it to be right and set up properly, the forks and shock are well overdue a rebuild so will need doing before I take it out.
I managed to source an original 1994 cr250 manual on ebay here in the UK which has arrived and has all the useful info I i need.
I made a start vapour blasting some parts and noticed that the carb had been jb welded - uncovering this. Seems very strange that the carb has worn through like this, has anyone else experienced wear like this before? There is nothing to rub or chafe here so I'm kind of perplexed as to how it has occurred.
The bike ran fine before I stripped it down with no air leaks, so I will re JB Weld the carb for now but will keep my eye out for a good condition replacement.
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Your fab work looks real good, but you might have needed to put an inner sleeve at either end of the bottom rails to maintain strength, quite a high stress area. You could also consider making and welding in a skid plate.
The bike did actually come with some kind of DIY aluminium skid plate, which in all fairness is a half decent job. This just clamps up to the rails though so won't offer any structural rigidity.
I'm tied between the idea of leaving it as bone stock as possible or modifying bits as I go on. I've already gone a bit too far than I wanted r.e buying genuine parts 🤦♂️ picked up some n.o.s rad shrouds and already regretting that, if it gets dropped will be a massive waste of money 🤣
Typically these are the last things I want to deal with due to time involvement.
Care to share your approach to the tank?
Mine is razor blade as much as I can. I try to avoid wet sanding beyond what is necessary.
For shine it is a dry cotton buffing wheel.
I just have never had much success trying to wet sand heavily.
Edit… Never mind. You wet sanded.
Was going to fab up the tank brackets however not being 100% sure where the tank wants to sit I'm waiting on the new rads to turn up so I can properly bolt the shrouds and everything down. Would of loved the GMX rads but at £450 would of sent me well and truly into over budget mode! Hopefully the Chinese gpi rads will be up to the job for now!
Few little bits turned up this weekend but waiting on linkage and swingarm bearings which I will do this week.
There is 2x non original tapped holes in the swinger where previous owner has fitted what I assume is a 95' chain slider. Will plug those up then vapour blast at work.
The forks and shock are being sent off to service this week, it is something I would like to of tackled myself but with no previous experience and the fact I want them setting up for my weight, best leave it to the pro's! Also have plenty more to be getting on with 😂.
Bit the bullet and ordered a new reproduction airbox from Australia, as my '94 box has been drilled to accommodate '95 side plates, so hoping the quality and fitment is good. I'm on a slippery slope to spending far too much on this.
I hadn't planned on stripping the engine but I think it makes sense to go through the full thing.
My plan is to get the chassis built, ready and 100% done before I even lay a spanner on the motor.
Did have another quick mock up with the 94' shrouds and new fork/disc guards as I'm impatient but can't wait to have it done its gonna look stunning 😎
Pit Row
99.9% mine are '95 forks. I ordered a disc guard to fit a '94 and didn't fit, instead ordered for '95 and bolted straight on, after looking at the drawings I'm almost certain the tabs/threads for the fork guards on the '95 forks are the same as mine. I've just sent the forks + shock off to be rebuilt/re valved so will give me a definitive answer 😂
There are some nos '94 fork protectors on UK ebay!
I've also been told there is a company in Australia 🇦🇺 reproducing the rad louvres to suit 1994 models? I've bought a reproduction 1994 airbox from Aus but I did ask but it's not the same company.
I actually made a start trying to bring mine back to life today. Look better but new ones would be nice!
I've sent the forks and shock off to a guy called Ross who runs moto-pro suspension down near Cardiff - so will see what he says. Tried to do a bit of research with regard who to send them off too and he's done a fair bit of evo / super evo stuff so should be in good hands.
I still need loads of little bits and bob, anything period correct I'm interested in!
The bike had a piston/rings just before I bought it but wossner forged piston and a new crank for peace of mind ?
I am aware of the ones being manufactured now for the 250.
Big relief it's most certainly a '94 swing arm
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