1989 CR250 budget restoration

Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421
Edited Date/Time 3/11/2018 6:17am


Picked up this clean all original 89 CR250 in December. Was looking for a winter project and always liked the late 80s and early 90s Honda’s. This bike popped up on CL 20 minutes away for just over a grand.

Original owner and the only thing that was changed was a CEET cover and purple bars which I’ll keep. Everything that I’ve seen from taking it apart and inspecting engine and suspension tells me this bike probably only has about 30 hrs on it or less.
|
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 1/20/2018 7:03am
1/20/2018 7:03am
Pretty minimal frame wear, no missing or mismatched hardware and the bearings were still good. Original owner said he’d never put a wrench on anything.




Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 1/20/2018 7:11am
1/20/2018 7:11am
First things I did was replace the rotted right side inner clutch case/water pump housing. Then I painted the frame with some duplicolor primer and PJ1 1988-1989 Honda frame paint. Came out good and seems pretty tough. I wasn’t wanting to pc it because I want to keep the bike as original as possible, while still touching up the raw metal spots. Threw in a new ProX top end and spare starcross 5 front tire that I had laying around. I have new rear tire coming this week. Sticking with the original plastics for now as they aren’t terrible but they are expensive for new ones and I want to keep this project somewhat reasonable $ wise. The tank and shrouds are in awesome shape so, I’ll be getting new graphics from Evo-mx last.



The Shop

See All »
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 1/20/2018 7:13am
1/20/2018 7:13am
This is how the bike sits right now waiting on a new tire and then I can finish up the swingarm with the new DID got chain. I wish I would have went with a silver Renthal sprocket but this red one will have to do for now.



lumpy790
Profile picture for user lumpy790
Posts
9253
Joined
9/18/2007
Location
York, SC US
lumpy790 1/20/2018 9:41am
1/20/2018 9:41am Edited Date/Time 1/20/2018 9:44am
I used to run the Lump Racing Suspension shop in Maryland back then and have a TRICK budget fork set up for you that I did a ton of the 1989 CR’s with 2 changes you can do to make the stock valuing work great. #1 buy a set of progressive fork springs. #2 switch to the heavier Showa fork fluid. I reccomend Golden Spectro 125/150 fork fluid. The best on the market and you will need 2 bottles.

The Progressive springs start out with softer and progress to heavier than the stock springs. The combination of slightly heavier cartridge fluid and springs work amazingly.

This mod works well on both the 1989 crappy 250 & 500 forks.

Oh and we do stock the hoses for the 89 CR250
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 1/20/2018 9:47am
1/20/2018 9:47am
lumpy790 wrote:
I used to run the Lump Racing Suspension shop in Maryland back then and have a TRICK budget fork set up for you that I did...
I used to run the Lump Racing Suspension shop in Maryland back then and have a TRICK budget fork set up for you that I did a ton of the 1989 CR’s with 2 changes you can do to make the stock valuing work great. #1 buy a set of progressive fork springs. #2 switch to the heavier Showa fork fluid. I reccomend Golden Spectro 125/150 fork fluid. The best on the market and you will need 2 bottles.

The Progressive springs start out with softer and progress to heavier than the stock springs. The combination of slightly heavier cartridge fluid and springs work amazingly.

This mod works well on both the 1989 crappy 250 & 500 forks.

Oh and we do stock the hoses for the 89 CR250
Thanks for the tip on the forks. That sounds cheaper than a revalve. I sent the shock out for service and then serviced the forks myself, used the Honda fork oil. Are the progressive springs the brand name like the ones I had in a Harley? And I did buy a carb hose kit from you, fit great.
tuggy450
Profile picture for user tuggy450
Posts
1392
Joined
3/12/2016
Location
Massapequa, NY US
tuggy450 1/21/2018 9:09am
1/21/2018 9:09am
I had one back then also. The forks came from the factory with way too much preload on the fork springs something like 25mm.. The springs were way too soft. Get stiffer fork springs cut down collar for correct spring preload, I think I took off like 15mm, slightly stiffer fork oil like a 7.5 wt , Boom, totally decent IMO .
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 2/3/2018 8:53am
2/3/2018 8:53am
Did a mock up of the plastics last night. Still need to order new seat cover and decals from Evo mx. Have some WC frame guards coming this week and get the exhaust all fitted soon.
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 2/14/2018 5:01pm
2/14/2018 5:01pm
Little update. Got some new side plates, wc frame guards and some shroud decals. Still have some decals coming from evo mx and I found the original seat under that 80s rainbow seat. Was in pretty good shape so I’ll keep it like that for awhile.



starchild
Profile picture for user starchild
Posts
340
Joined
3/8/2012
Location
Johnston, RI US
starchild 2/15/2018 9:03am
2/15/2018 9:03am
Looks great! Can’t beat a clean stock looking CR!
avmechanic
Profile picture for user avmechanic
Posts
209
Joined
2/13/2016
Location
Langley BC CA
avmechanic 2/15/2018 11:58am
2/15/2018 11:58am
Looks great. Share you first ride report. Curious to see how you like it.
Greg
TJMX947
Profile picture for user TJMX947
Posts
746
Joined
3/6/2017
Location
Indian Trail, NC US
TJMX947 2/16/2018 7:08am
2/16/2018 7:08am
Beautiful bike. I had a 1989 CR125 when I was 14 (around 1998). Loved riding it but always wanted a newer bike. My dad bought it for $700 from a neighbor who had restored it, would give almost anything to get that thing back now.
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 2/17/2018 3:31am
2/17/2018 3:31am
Thanks for all the comments. First startup didn’t go too well. Started third kick but the idle was pretty high and not coming back down. The kill switch wouldn’t work either. Got her shut down and checked carb again. Airscrew was at 1 1/2 and then adjusted the idle to 2-3 clicks/turns out and it’s still starts up and idles pretty high. Also the carb was dumping fuel out of the seal between the bowl and the body. So I took the carb off and apart and adjusted the floats, cleaned the jets which were all clean and then ordered new gaskets and a kill switch. I think I lost a part of the kill switch when I took it apart. So now we wait for a few days.
tuggy450
Profile picture for user tuggy450
Posts
1392
Joined
3/12/2016
Location
Massapequa, NY US
tuggy450 2/17/2018 3:29pm
2/17/2018 3:29pm Edited Date/Time 2/17/2018 3:29pm
The idle speed should be on the choke knob on that pj , turn choke knob to raise or lower idle. Clockwise should lower the idle.

Pit Row

See All »
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 2/17/2018 4:33pm
2/17/2018 4:33pm
tuggy450 wrote:
The idle speed should be on the choke knob on that pj , turn choke knob to raise or lower idle. Clockwise should lower the idle.
Yea that took me a second to figure out! Never seen that before. Going to get the new o rings in there and tighten everything up again and see how she runs
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 3/1/2018 4:33pm
3/1/2018 4:33pm Edited Date/Time 3/1/2018 4:34pm
Bikes done for now! Just got decals in from Evo-Mx and they are awesome quality and look great. I think I may have messed up and hastily put the fork decals on the wrong sides as the taper of the graphic doesn’t line up well in the back and the bottom edges touch and tops have a gap. Oh well. Carb is rebuilt and leak free and she runs like a champ with a fresh tank of C12. The high idle was due to me taking out all the slack in the throttle cable when I replaced it so that’s on me haha. Can’t wait to ride it soon and hopefully takeout to unadilla
billyslad
Profile picture for user billyslad
Posts
544
Joined
12/31/2014
Location
GB
billyslad 3/2/2018 11:09pm
3/2/2018 11:09pm
Good work pirate I still have a few tings to do on mine
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 3/3/2018 4:09am
3/3/2018 4:09am
billyslad wrote:
Good work pirate I still have a few tings to do on mine
That thing is awesome! Wish I went with black rims but ran out of money, maybe when it needs tires I’ll redo the wheels. Still kind of wish I went with powdercoat on the frame as I think I may have gone too thin on the paint I laid down. We’ll see how it lasts.
billyslad
Profile picture for user billyslad
Posts
544
Joined
12/31/2014
Location
GB
billyslad 3/3/2018 11:29pm
3/3/2018 11:29pm
I went with paint on the frame as it can be refreshed easily
I had to use this set of black wheels as I a am waiting to afford new rims
They are not for me but was all I had
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 3/4/2018 4:03am
3/4/2018 4:03am
billyslad wrote:
I went with paint on the frame as it can be refreshed easily I had to use this set of black wheels as I a am...
I went with paint on the frame as it can be refreshed easily
I had to use this set of black wheels as I a am waiting to afford new rims
They are not for me but was all I had
Wish you were in the us I would buy those wheels from you when you’re done with them!
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 3/10/2018 12:11pm
3/10/2018 12:11pm
This is it for now with the Evo mx shroud graphics she’s done for awhile. Happy with how it came out.



avmechanic
Profile picture for user avmechanic
Posts
209
Joined
2/13/2016
Location
Langley BC CA
avmechanic 3/10/2018 2:53pm
3/10/2018 2:53pm
It looks great but needs number plate backgrounds. Either decal style or White paint like the originals. Let us know how it is in the dirt. Have fun.
Greg

BenG
Profile picture for user BenG
Posts
229
Joined
12/20/2017
Location
Denton, TX US
BenG 3/10/2018 4:28pm
3/10/2018 4:28pm
Wow she cleaned up nicely. Great job.
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 3/10/2018 4:36pm
3/10/2018 4:36pm
avmechanic wrote:
It looks great but needs number plate backgrounds. Either decal style or White paint like the originals. Let us know how it is in the dirt...
It looks great but needs number plate backgrounds. Either decal style or White paint like the originals. Let us know how it is in the dirt. Have fun.
Greg

I’m with you on the white backgrounds. I can’t decide whether to go just plain or with a number. I wish I could buy stock side plates but they are nla
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1818
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 3/10/2018 8:47pm
3/10/2018 8:47pm
BenG wrote:
Wow she cleaned up nicely. Great job.
Thanks been a good time, hard not to buy more! Haha

Post a reply to: 1989 CR250 budget restoration