1996 cr 250 new era mcgrath tribute… finally done!!!

mitchlovin
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mitchlovin
Edited Date/Time 8/21/2021 10:55pm
Bought this bike in sad condition on 4/1. Typical kid type repairs with wrong bolts, cross threaded. Silicone to hold said bolts in place. To top this , had no compression.


After a quick pressure wash to remove the dirt from the 1st ride this roach ever took. She went on the lift



Sorry no pics of the motor but i found the upper ring snapped and creating a nice deep gouge in the cylinder wall. Shipped cylinder off to eric gorr for welding and replating. Bad news is due to lockdown everybody is building things so turn around is 3-4 weeks.
Frame is off to powdercoater while i scrub the reusable parts/pieces and search for parts.
1 week later i bought a 94 cr 250 because .... why not
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sandman768
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sandman768 4/17/2020 3:34pm
4/17/2020 3:34pm
Nice! That will keep you busy for a while!
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Action69
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Action69 4/18/2020 7:18am
4/18/2020 7:18am
My 94 looks similar ,I’ve broken mine down amassed a bunch of parts but need to finish a couple of other builds before I start it.I have some spare parts ,if you need anything I may have it..enjoy your build.I almost bought a second as you did but I put the brakes on.lol.
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mitchlovin
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mitchlovin 4/18/2020 7:36am
4/18/2020 7:36am
Action69 wrote:
My 94 looks similar ,I’ve broken mine down amassed a bunch of parts but need to finish a couple of other builds before I start it.I...
My 94 looks similar ,I’ve broken mine down amassed a bunch of parts but need to finish a couple of other builds before I start it.I have some spare parts ,if you need anything I may have it..enjoy your build.I almost bought a second as you did but I put the brakes on.lol.
I was going to make the 94 rideable while restoing the 96 BUT it needs too much to make it right. Both steering stops are snapped on the lower triple, possibly thinking newer 450 fork swap?It has sat for 5 years, i did tinker a bit and get it running. Rebuilt the front caliper that was frozen. If i can get it to start and stop i can atleast take it for a spin!
Action69
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Action69 4/18/2020 8:58am
4/18/2020 8:58am
I picked mine up for a $1000 so my expectations weren’t too high ,same as yours miss matched hardware ,incorrect wheel,snapped bolts.I got one ride out of it before I threw the chain but luckily no damage to cases.The wheels were so wobbly,spokes were loose it was a total turd.I tore mine down and I’m salvaging the frame and the motor.I have a complete 2006 cr250r front end going in rg3 clamps.should be fun when I get to it I’m going for the 96 McGrath look too.I was going to stay period correct and do it in 94 style but I like the look of the 96 a lot more..
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mitchlovin
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mitchlovin 4/18/2020 10:12am
4/18/2020 10:12am
Action69 wrote:
I picked mine up for a $1000 so my expectations weren’t too high ,same as yours miss matched hardware ,incorrect wheel,snapped bolts.I got one ride out...
I picked mine up for a $1000 so my expectations weren’t too high ,same as yours miss matched hardware ,incorrect wheel,snapped bolts.I got one ride out of it before I threw the chain but luckily no damage to cases.The wheels were so wobbly,spokes were loose it was a total turd.I tore mine down and I’m salvaging the frame and the motor.I have a complete 2006 cr250r front end going in rg3 clamps.should be fun when I get to it I’m going for the 96 McGrath look too.I was going to stay period correct and do it in 94 style but I like the look of the 96 a lot more..
Ive done some research on the fork swap. pressing the stem out of the 94 and into the donor front end is my plan. A little worried about steering stops but thats a different build lol. Trying to order double of the parts that will work on both bikes. Small things anyway, caliper rebuilds, m/c rebuilds, nuts and bolts that didnt come in the bolt hardware kit
javjacob
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javjacob 4/18/2020 10:48am
4/18/2020 10:48am
Love seeing people restore the 92-96 CR250's.
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Action69
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Action69 4/18/2020 12:16pm
4/18/2020 12:16pm
I have a set of 96 cr250r triples I would sell,I may need the stem to press in my rg3 clamps.i bought the 96 triples and then found a good deal on the rg3 clamps..The rg3 don’t have a steering Stem in them.
mitchlovin
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mitchlovin 4/18/2020 12:47pm
4/18/2020 12:47pm
Action69 wrote:
I have a set of 96 cr250r triples I would sell,I may need the stem to press in my rg3 clamps.i bought the 96 triples and...
I have a set of 96 cr250r triples I would sell,I may need the stem to press in my rg3 clamps.i bought the 96 triples and then found a good deal on the rg3 clamps..The rg3 don’t have a steering Stem in them.
Ill keep that in mind, trying to focus attention/ funds on the 96. BUT i just found a semi complete front fork/ triples off an 05 cr250.... i have a front wheel off the 96 that i wont be using. Damn this is addicting
BToz
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BToz 4/19/2020 5:47pm
4/19/2020 5:47pm
A lot of work ahead! So glad people are still rebuilding the classics! Just got done watching 93-95 supercross on YouTube props for keeping that alive!
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mitchlovin
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mitchlovin 4/20/2020 3:05pm
4/20/2020 3:05pm Edited Date/Time 4/20/2020 3:08pm
Made a little progress over the weekend, picked up frame from powdercoat, got some parts scrubbed and made an order for the engine parts. Wont have everything needed for rebuild for atleast 3 weeks so ill have some time to clean and prep parts..... pics to follow
mitchlovin
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mitchlovin 4/23/2020 9:40am
4/23/2020 9:40am Edited Date/Time 4/23/2020 9:41am
While the engine is out i took some time to focus on the other parts. New swing arm & linkage bearings, radiators back from icw and rebuilt the rear master cylinder. Parts are trickling in slowly so as they come in i do what i can




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BToz
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BToz 4/23/2020 11:11am
4/23/2020 11:11am
Nice! What kind of dog do you have?
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mitchlovin
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mitchlovin 4/23/2020 11:30am
4/23/2020 11:30am
BToz wrote:
Nice! What kind of dog do you have?
She is a lab mix . Her name is renthal
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bonseff
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bonseff 4/23/2020 12:34pm
4/23/2020 12:34pm
Your tank is gonna be fun chore, godspeed on your build!
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BToz
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BToz 4/23/2020 8:31pm
4/23/2020 8:31pm
mitchlovin wrote:
She is a lab mix . Her name is renthal
Looks like my old dog (stance and color). I didn’t even know what kind of dog he was but man he was a good dog. Lol dig the name.
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mitchlovin
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mitchlovin 4/27/2020 8:41am
4/27/2020 8:41am
Cerakoted some engine parts. Should have brake calipers rebuilt this week. Once crank comes in i can start engine assembly.

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Premix4Life
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Premix4Life 4/27/2020 9:26am
4/27/2020 9:26am
BToz wrote:
Nice! What kind of dog do you have?
mitchlovin wrote:
She is a lab mix . Her name is renthal
That is great; Awesome dog name!
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Premix4Life
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Premix4Life 4/27/2020 9:27am
4/27/2020 9:27am
mitchlovin wrote:
Cerakoted some engine parts. Should have brake calipers rebuilt this week. Once crank comes in i can start engine assembly. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/04/27/423677/s1200_14CB2CDE_F9F5_45C2_95EE_B58DCBD74AB6.jpg[/img]
Cerakoted some engine parts. Should have brake calipers rebuilt this week. Once crank comes in i can start engine assembly.

Bitch'n color. Mind if I ask the specifics / mix ratio?
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mitchlovin
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mitchlovin 4/27/2020 10:42am
4/27/2020 10:42am
mitchlovin wrote:
Cerakoted some engine parts. Should have brake calipers rebuilt this week. Once crank comes in i can start engine assembly. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/04/27/423677/s1200_14CB2CDE_F9F5_45C2_95EE_B58DCBD74AB6.jpg[/img]
Cerakoted some engine parts. Should have brake calipers rebuilt this week. Once crank comes in i can start engine assembly.

Premix4Life wrote:
Bitch'n color. Mind if I ask the specifics / mix ratio?
I know its called burnt bronze, unsure of ratio. I sent it all to p2 coatings in west suffield CT. Great guy he is 10 min past southwick mx338
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mitchlovin
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mitchlovin 4/27/2020 6:21pm
4/27/2020 6:21pm
Rear caliper cerakoted burnt bronze and rebuilt with new pads


BToz
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BToz 4/29/2020 8:11pm
4/29/2020 8:11pm
Nice work man!
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TooOld4WFO
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TooOld4WFO 4/29/2020 10:08pm
4/29/2020 10:08pm
Mitch when I switched over to newer front ends I modified the lower tree stops. I did not want to modify the frame but that would have been easier. I kind of totally guessed on how much to remove. My 95 modified ones do not allow my fork tubes to hit anything important. Currently the modded ones on my 92 are not contacting my radiators.
I used my Dremel and a aluminum cutting bit.
Here is the Dremel bit I used to cut the aluminum- Press Me



Outside that are you following any particular image of McGraths bike or just taking creative license?

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mitchlovin
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mitchlovin 4/30/2020 3:42am
4/30/2020 3:42am
TooOld4WFO wrote:
Mitch when I switched over to newer front ends I modified the lower tree stops. I did not want to modify the frame but that would...
Mitch when I switched over to newer front ends I modified the lower tree stops. I did not want to modify the frame but that would have been easier. I kind of totally guessed on how much to remove. My 95 modified ones do not allow my fork tubes to hit anything important. Currently the modded ones on my 92 are not contacting my radiators.
I used my Dremel and a aluminum cutting bit.
Here is the Dremel bit I used to cut the aluminum- Press Me



Outside that are you following any particular image of McGraths bike or just taking creative license?

Thanks for the advice! I want to do a newer front end on my 94 cr project , thats the next mess im fixing! As far as the 96, i WAS going to go with a replica but i see a few out there that are so detailed and precise i feel i couldnt do it justice. Im going to use that as a baseline. Im adding my own little things to make it mine, the cerakoted shock body, calipers, motor parts, etc. im also thinking of doing black rims. More of a newer modern twist. Im kinda seeing things that grab my attention and trying to picture them on this bike. I do feel its mandatory to run mcgraths graphics on a 96 tho! Any thoughts or opinions are welcome and appreciated!
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TooOld4WFO
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TooOld4WFO 4/30/2020 11:16am
4/30/2020 11:16am
I have been grabbing images of steel framed CRs that I felt had certain elements to a unique look. I have a few of these bikes so I was doing this if I wanted to change up a look. I have quite a few let me know if you want me to post them here in your thread. Unfortunately I can not give original posters/owners credit. They were all found in public forums.
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mitchlovin
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mitchlovin 4/30/2020 11:40am
4/30/2020 11:40am
TooOld4WFO wrote:
I have been grabbing images of steel framed CRs that I felt had certain elements to a unique look. I have a few of these bikes...
I have been grabbing images of steel framed CRs that I felt had certain elements to a unique look. I have a few of these bikes so I was doing this if I wanted to change up a look. I have quite a few let me know if you want me to post them here in your thread. Unfortunately I can not give original posters/owners credit. They were all found in public forums.
Any and all opinions are welcomed. Same here certain images catch my eye or color schemes

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