Posts: 66
Joined: 7/10/2018
Location: Pittsburg, IL USA
Okay so a guy close to me put a 2001 cr250 up for sale and its caught my eye. I have 2 bikes already but love renewing older 2 strokes. The bike is pretty clean and is sound I just dont know much on hondas. Mainly a suzuki guy. But he's asking $1500. No title but he's a old cop and says it was a Honda sponsor bike. Mainly what I'm asking is it worth the $1500? 
Posts: 327
Joined: 7/15/2015
Location: North, MT USA
Posts: 116
Joined: 7/9/2018
Location: Nuevo, CA USA
Posts: 6664
Joined: 12/17/2008
Location: Cairo, GA USA
Posts: 2778
Joined: 3/5/2016
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 1909
Joined: 9/3/2011
Location: Anderson, CA USA
Edited Date/Time:
The day that's a 10000 dollar bike is alot closer than anyone realizes..
when in doubt, pin it out
Posts: 458
Joined: 11/28/2011
Location: Phoenix, AZ USA
Posts: 1911
Joined: 6/3/2018
Location: Bennett, CO USA
Posts: 3656
Joined: 1/17/2013
Location: TN, USA
I like the motor in the 01 compared to my 06. Anytime I see a front brake cable routed outside of the fork guard always raise an eyebrow about maintenance.
There's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear.
Posts: 1599
Joined: 8/2/2006
Location: Forest H Ill, MD USA
The 2000-2001 motors were good, but the overall handling and suspension was a little off. I had one for several years. 1500 if its fresh doesn't seem like a bad price.
Posts: 1804
Joined: 4/21/2016
Location: Placerville, CA USA
I had one, the cylinder reed motor is a monster.
If you are strong enough to hold on to it wide open, no one on ANY bike will holeshot you.
"If you are going through HELL, keep going."-Winston Churchill
"A man needs a little madness or else he never dares cut the rope and be free"-Zorba
Blur the technicolor
Posts: 290
Joined: 9/12/2017
Location: Murrieta, CA USA
Posts: 1909
Joined: 9/3/2011
Location: Anderson, CA USA
Lol the motor goes for 15 by itself online, noone thought seventies elsinores would be collector items either, and according to Google the 01 is the best year. I have one. I prefer my 02. And yes when new bikes pass 15000 a perfect clean early 2000s Honda will have ridiculous values. I'll be hanging on to both of mine in the mean time .....
when in doubt, pin it out
Posts: 8493
Joined: 11/3/2010
Location: AUS
Posts: 1909
Joined: 9/3/2011
Location: Anderson, CA USA
Posts: 731
Joined: 7/16/2011
Location: In Hell, FL USA
Edited Date/Time:
The 2001 CR250 has a great engine. The chassis is a bit stiff, but handled fairly well. The last generation bike has a bit softer, improved frame. The suspensions all need set up anyway. At $1500, I think it's priced right. I had an 98 and a 01. The 98 beat me at the wrists. I also had a 04 CR450, and it's frame feel reminded me of the 01. I have not owned a 02-07, so I can't compare.
Posts: 66
Joined: 7/10/2018
Location: Pittsburg, IL USA
Well I ended up buying it. Guy that had it didn't have a clue on how to work on them but was upfront with me. Rougher than what I had imagined but I can clean it up. Motor and ride wise it's fine. It needs some TLC and some parts but I'll end up going through it and making it clean and right. First pictures are when I got it home. 2nd is after just power washing it and it cleaned up quite well. 
Posts: 66
Joined: 7/10/2018
Location: Pittsburg, IL USA
Cancerman wrote:
The 2001 CR250 has a great engine. The chassis is a bit stiff, but handled fairly well. The last generation bike has a bit softer, improved frame. The suspensions all need set up anyway. At $1500, I think it's priced right. I had an 98 and a 01. The 98 beat me at the wrists. I also had a 04 CR450, and it's frame feel reminded me of the 01. I have not owned a 02-07, so I can't compare.
One thing I've noticed on this as I've not rode a Honda 2 stroke 125+ anyways. It feels extremely balanced. All the weight feels centered down low. I won't have it on the track for a little while but running it through the field and playing on corners at my track it feels just as good if not better than the 2003 rm 250 I just rebuilt and ride.
Posts: 731
Joined: 7/16/2011
Location: In Hell, FL USA
Mocaby_24, the suspension on the 01 Honda is better than the 03 RM250. The Honda is Showa and the RM that year is KYB bumper forks, etc. I had an 03 RM250, great bike, but once you ride an 04-07 RM250 you will never go back to the 03. I found out the hard way. My 03 was fast, PC exhaust, Vforce reeds, 8 oz flywheel, Vertex Ign module. It barked. The 04 suspension just raised it a couple of notches. I felt the CR did not change directions as quick, but the CR stiff frame handled the rough chop better. I had a 04-RM125 at the same time with the Showa set up by Factory Connection, I built the motor myself. It was so much faster than the 01 CR125, and it felt 20 lbs lighter. The Suzuki is nervous, a bit twitchy. It felt like a broom stick with a motor! Set up is more critical, I ran my sag at 103-104. Adjusted the high speed compression to set where the ride height was in motion. After FC did the shock, the clickers were very sensitive. I think unless you are a serious Suzuki guy, you set up the CR250 and it will be very straight forward. That's a good all around bike. I've only test rode a friends 03 CR250, it had no bottom end or snap. Very smooth and electric. All mid range though, I like having snap to blast over and through things, myself. My 03 RM 250 had SNAP! with the PC exhaust. Enjoy your build up!
Posts: 3656
Joined: 1/17/2013
Location: TN, USA
Edited Date/Time:
Yes Sir'ee, she cleaned up well and looks great. Good to hear the previous owner was honest about his mechanical abilities, I respect that in anyone. I noticed the TX website offers a plastic conversion for your bike if your interested...but they're a bit pricey and new updated plastics sure as heck don't add any HP, lol. Anyway...nice score.
There's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear.
Posts: 66
Joined: 7/10/2018
Location: Pittsburg, IL USA
Cancerman wrote:
Mocaby_24, the suspension on the 01 Honda is better than the 03 RM250. The Honda is Showa and the RM that year is KYB bumper forks, etc. I had an 03 RM250, great bike, but once you ride an 04-07 RM250 you will never go back to the 03. I found out the hard way. My 03 was fast, PC exhaust, Vforce reeds, 8 oz flywheel, Vertex Ign module. It barked. The 04 suspension just raised it a couple of notches. I felt the CR did not change directions as quick, but the CR stiff frame handled the rough chop better. I had a 04-RM125 at the same time with the Showa set up by Factory Connection, I built the motor myself. It was so much faster than the 01 CR125, and it felt 20 lbs lighter. The Suzuki is nervous, a bit twitchy. It felt like a broom stick with a motor! Set up is more critical, I ran my sag at 103-104. Adjusted the high speed compression to set where the ride height was in motion. After FC did the shock, the clickers were very sensitive. I think unless you are a serious Suzuki guy, you set up the CR250 and it will be very straight forward. That's a good all around bike. I've only test rode a friends 03 CR250, it had no bottom end or snap. Very smooth and electric. All mid range though, I like having snap to blast over and through things, myself. My 03 RM 250 had SNAP! with the PC exhaust. Enjoy your build up!
I'm kinda on the same page. I have a 17 rmz450 and the 03 rm250 with a PC pipe Vforce reeds. I had the stock suspension sprung, revalved and set for A class mx and it's a ton better. Bike likes to get wild on rough stuff but it straightens out. I love the punch on the bottom. I get myself in the position of alot of a double clutch wide open seat bouncing jumps outta corners. That's one 2 stroke I can solidly say if a 450 can clear it out of a corner the rm will over jump it lol. I'll end up having a 05+ rm250 one day. But for now I'm picking them up one at a time.
Posts: 2174
Joined: 3/18/2016
Location: CA, USA
Cancerman wrote:
The 2001 CR250 has a great engine. The chassis is a bit stiff, but handled fairly well. The last generation bike has a bit softer, improved frame. The suspensions all need set up anyway. At $1500, I think it's priced right. I had an 98 and a 01. The 98 beat me at the wrists. I also had a 04 CR450, and it's frame feel reminded me of the 01. I have not owned a 02-07, so I can't compare.
The 97-01 CR2's have similiar frames if you look at the twin spars they are straight in comparison to the 02-07's. The changes between the 97-99 to 00-01 is the 2nd gen AF got slimmer in the spar area. There is a noticeable difference in handling & turning when you compare the 97-01 vs. 02-07 CR's. Have owned a 97, 01 & several 02-07's.
Speak softly and carry a big stick.
Posts: 68
Joined: 8/22/2013
Location: GBR
Just Don't put a HOT-RODS Crank in it! the Cr250 01 i bought had just had an Engine Rebuild so what could Go Wrong? 5 hrs later Landing off a Jump i Got My Answer!!! £1,290 later Rebuilt with Genuine parts was a Very Costly lesson, it Destroyed the cylinder, snapped the Skirt clean off and filled the Engine with Coolent, it was a Very Loud BanG... Thnx Hot Rods for your Great Non Existent After Care!
Posts: 66
Joined: 7/10/2018
Location: Pittsburg, IL USA
kx93rfo wrote:
Just Don't put a HOT-RODS Crank in it! the Cr250 01 i bought had just had an Engine Rebuild so what could Go Wrong? 5 hrs later Landing off a Jump i Got My Answer!!! £1,290 later Rebuilt with Genuine parts was a Very Costly lesson, it Destroyed the cylinder, snapped the Skirt clean off and filled the Engine with Coolent, it was a Very Loud BanG... Thnx Hot Rods for your Great Non Existent After Care!
Yeah from several guys I know and a 450r I rebuilt I know hot rods are a no go.
Love the brake line.
