Best year :- CR250

1999 - Best part, wife surprised me with it for an early X-mas gift.  

#151 is gorgeous!! 

I want a modern CR that looks just like that! 

460 is Micheal Hicks #.  Ever see him ride an old cr125 or 250 ?  Amazing talent. I broke the shock on my 87 125 in big whoops. Bought a White Power shock that Really helped that bike handle even better. 

I'm shocked this thread went past one post that said 1996. Still my all time favorite motorcycle.

I Love the 95-97 cr125 especially the 95.  And I hate purple but man that bike looks tits. I,d love to find a good 1.

Easily the 1989. Have you seen that video of Carson Brown? Incredible

1987 100%.   First bike with cartridge forks, front disk brake and rear.   The bike was just a larger step better than the rest of the 1987 bikes.  With RJ riding it?  Forget about it.   Btw…..the 86 was pretty good too.

Raced against a lot of them, 78/79/80 cr250- fox shocks/red engine - they were great bikes - I was a yamaha guy though

I own a 86 CR250 and a 87 CR250 and both bikes are great.The 86 is more of a screamer versus the 87 which has nice smooth torque monster motor.

The 87 is the better of the two in my opinion. 

😄

You need a criteria to define best.

1973 had widespread influence on the entire industry. One could argue it marked the demise of all the European bikes.

78 was an indication of major reinvestment.

86 was probably the biggest advantage they ever had over their competition. 87 was pretty much an 86 with a rear disc brake and parallelogram shaped rear number plates.

88 had really poor suspension settings and not nearly enough bottom end. Many people hated it. Why am I bringing it up? Because the lowered radiators, fuel level, and pipe changed everything industry wide.

94 was Jeremy's favorite.

97 may have been horrible, but nearly every manufacturer on the planet jumped on the aluminum frame bandwagon.

05-07 is the best performing one ever made. I know all about the motor complaints, but they aren't justified in my opinion. My 04 was NOT a great bike, that motor sucked and the updated fork valve size in later years was an improvement. 05 forward really responded well to a Keihin carb and the PC pipe to get more over-rev. Add some float to the mid valves and the forks were a lot more plush. Add a bigger front rotor and in my opinion you have a better bike than any 2T made currently.

My favorite bikes of all time for their era are 81 490 Maico, 86 CR250, and 05 CR250.

My '00 was like an Electric Motor...

I had to learn how to ride it that way.

I want to build up a 2007 so bad. 

93 was my favorite after I had the forks worked on….this full TMR 96 would surprise a few who have never ridden a well setup steelie

You can’t compare eras very well. Here is what I would say:

1973: The Icon!

78/79: Red Rockets. Amazing. 
1980: made in America 

1987: one of the best ever

1989: an improved 1987 but not as iconic 

2003: awesome motor 

2007: Final edition.  

What about the last year of the steel frame?

I've raced the 86,89,95 and 96 that with suspension work were great bikes with wonderful engines. Now I'm on a 03 and the chassis and suspension is great but the motor is all in the middle. I started with a 39 but now I'm running a 36pwk because it doesn't like to rev anyway.

What no love for the 1981? Come on man. 

1978 Great bike

1981 Good bike, felt heavy though

1983 Probably my favorite.

2000 Solid bike-Still have

2003 Great handling and decent motor-Still have.

These photos of the 93-96 REALLY hit me in the feelz.  

‘94 made to look like a ‘95 McGrath tribute

My personal favorite was 1988 CR250R, handling was exellent , the motor pulled so strong on the mid-top , really loved that bike , went thru a lot of clutches 

82 was a freakin great bike out of the crate.

That’s actually a CR250 as well. The thread title only says CR250 haha. 

For a long while I rode an 02 and 03, but never could gel with the motor. I just wasn't fast enough to keep it on the pipe everywhere like a 125. Seemed like that's where all the power was made on those machines in stock form, I needed bottom end and there was zero. I quit for a while but got the bug to ride again so I thought I would give a steel framed one a go. I was lucky to find a 96 125 and 250 to rebuild. And the 250 is so much easier to ride for an old vet, love that motor. Its really all I need. Hell the 125 does it for me as well. The only upgrade I really want are newer forks.

👍

I knew that (hence the thumbs-up I gave it) but obviously not what the OP was talking about, thus the meme. 😄

I was actually wondering who would be the first to put up a Husky but thought it would likely be one from the '70s.

Ya I was messing around too. I thought that post and yours were equally hilarious 😂