The latest edition of Classic Steel by yours truly is up on the 2001 Honda CR250R

tblazier
Profile picture for user tblazier
Posts
8780
Joined
7/20/2011
Location
Leesburg, VA US
tblazier
Edited Date/Time 4/26/2016 11:12am
GP's Classic Steel #114 - 2001 Honda CR250R

|
BB67
Profile picture for user BB67
Posts
721
Joined
12/29/2014
Location
W/central, FL US
BB67 4/22/2016 1:55pm
4/22/2016 1:55pm
best looking bike ever.......
gsxr6
Profile picture for user gsxr6
Posts
1956
Joined
9/3/2011
Location
Anderson, CA US
gsxr6 4/22/2016 2:19pm
4/22/2016 2:19pm
Love every one of these, read them all multiple times.
ThegodSmith
Profile picture for user ThegodSmith
Posts
69
Joined
2/22/2010
Location
Al-ew-min-ee-um, WA US
ThegodSmith 4/22/2016 2:24pm
4/22/2016 2:24pm
I had an '00 as well as this '01. The '01 was a completely different motor from the more linear power delivery of the '00. The '01 was much softer on the bottom but had the most amazing top end of any bike I've ever ridden. It would rev and rev and rev some more. My buddy on a '00 would click into 4th gear and I could just stay in 2nd.

Also these bikes with the new frame were a huge step up from the 1st gen frames which vibrated like an unbalanced washing machine and turned like a three-legged elephant.

Cool to see the stock graphics, it's been a while!
jonesaustin
Profile picture for user jonesaustin
Posts
2498
Joined
7/6/2009
Location
Austin, TX US
jonesaustin 4/22/2016 2:50pm
4/22/2016 2:50pm
My 2000 was excellent. I loved it, but never rode the 2001. Interesting to hear the difference.

The Shop

See All »
Ted722
Profile picture for user Ted722
Posts
4486
Joined
9/21/2011
Location
Sacramento, CA US
Ted722 4/22/2016 3:19pm
4/22/2016 3:19pm
jonesaustin wrote:
My 2000 was excellent. I loved it, but never rode the 2001. Interesting to hear the difference.
What did you end up going to after your 2000?
Titan1
Profile picture for user Titan1
Posts
8618
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT US
Titan1 4/22/2016 3:27pm
4/22/2016 3:27pm
The 2001 CR250 was my first brand new bike (I still remember that feeling driving home with that thing in the back of the truck). I really liked it. I wish I still had it (but I say that about every bike I've ever sold).

I'm in the minority here, but I liked the 2002 better...the 2001 was great! But I liked the 2002 better.
Big Lenny
Profile picture for user Big Lenny
Posts
14387
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Compton, CA US
Big Lenny 4/22/2016 3:47pm
4/22/2016 3:47pm
Titan1 wrote:
The 2001 CR250 was my first brand new bike (I still remember that feeling driving home with that thing in the back of the truck). I...
The 2001 CR250 was my first brand new bike (I still remember that feeling driving home with that thing in the back of the truck). I really liked it. I wish I still had it (but I say that about every bike I've ever sold).

I'm in the minority here, but I liked the 2002 better...the 2001 was great! But I liked the 2002 better.
I had one of those bad boys too...but like you I liked my '02 better...
Titan1
Profile picture for user Titan1
Posts
8618
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT US
Titan1 4/22/2016 4:07pm
4/22/2016 4:07pm
Titan1 wrote:
The 2001 CR250 was my first brand new bike (I still remember that feeling driving home with that thing in the back of the truck). I...
The 2001 CR250 was my first brand new bike (I still remember that feeling driving home with that thing in the back of the truck). I really liked it. I wish I still had it (but I say that about every bike I've ever sold).

I'm in the minority here, but I liked the 2002 better...the 2001 was great! But I liked the 2002 better.
Big Lenny wrote:
I had one of those bad boys too...but like you I liked my '02 better...
I think that's the first time anyone has agreed with me on that. LOL Great minds Leonard, great minds! Smile
NorcalVet
Profile picture for user NorcalVet
Posts
633
Joined
9/6/2007
Location
Nor-cal, CA US
NorcalVet 4/22/2016 4:09pm
4/22/2016 4:09pm
I had a '01 as my first bike coming back after a 20+ Years hiatus

- I was browsing around on eBay in 2004 and it popped up for a killer price about an hr away
Sent an email and picked it up the next am

- great shape, fmf pipe, V-2 reeds and revalved also

Had a blast on that bike. It was set up sweet .... I added Woody graphics, red anodized excells and a black rear fender to be different Smile

Sold it to the neighbors kid for 3500 (bought it for 2500)
- used it to pay off the brand new 05 RMZ 450 I had on order



tblazier
Profile picture for user tblazier
Posts
8780
Joined
7/20/2011
Location
Leesburg, VA US
tblazier 4/22/2016 4:23pm
4/22/2016 4:23pm
gsxr6 wrote:
Love every one of these, read them all multiple times.
Thanks for checking it out .
Gukamonster
Profile picture for user Gukamonster
Posts
526
Joined
3/23/2011
Location
Gigantic CK
Gukamonster 4/22/2016 4:34pm
4/22/2016 4:34pm Edited Date/Time 4/22/2016 4:36pm
Factory version 2001:




I had / still have a 2003 which worked good for a lot of years. Each CR250 was different slightly every year from '99 to 2005.
Tokyo_Tiddler 4/22/2016 5:26pm
4/22/2016 5:26pm
I still have mine and looks like it was just taken out of a crate. Best 2 stoke I have ever ridden even compared to the new YZ250s. It handled and turned great. Rear suspension was good, but had the worst mid stroke harness of anything I have slung a leg over. Showa works forks took care of that and made the bike legendary in my mind.

It was pretty easy to add back more bottom end with pipe and bigger volume exahust valve cover.

Every time I take this bike to the track, a number people ask me if I want to sell it.

mike
kiwifan
Profile picture for user kiwifan
Posts
9485
Joined
10/31/2009
Location
CA US
kiwifan 4/22/2016 6:27pm
4/22/2016 6:27pm
I thought the 2003 motor was stronger than the 2001? or was it that the 2003 motor had more potential?
Matt Fisher
Profile picture for user Matt Fisher
Posts
3948
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Visalia, CA US
Fantasy
1117th
Matt Fisher 4/22/2016 6:59pm
4/22/2016 6:59pm
kiwifan wrote:
I thought the 2003 motor was stronger than the 2001? or was it that the 2003 motor had more potential?
On a dyno the 02+ case reed motors made more power and their power potential was greater too. Seat of the pants though they didn't feel as powerful. The 2000 carb was much better than the one used in 2001 - 2007.
kiwifan
Profile picture for user kiwifan
Posts
9485
Joined
10/31/2009
Location
CA US
kiwifan 4/22/2016 7:25pm
4/22/2016 7:25pm
kiwifan wrote:
I thought the 2003 motor was stronger than the 2001? or was it that the 2003 motor had more potential?
Matt Fisher wrote:
On a dyno the 02+ case reed motors made more power and their power potential was greater too. Seat of the pants though they didn't feel...
On a dyno the 02+ case reed motors made more power and their power potential was greater too. Seat of the pants though they didn't feel as powerful. The 2000 carb was much better than the one used in 2001 - 2007.
thanks Smile
Big Lenny
Profile picture for user Big Lenny
Posts
14387
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Compton, CA US
Big Lenny 4/22/2016 9:53pm
4/22/2016 9:53pm
kiwifan wrote:
I thought the 2003 motor was stronger than the 2001? or was it that the 2003 motor had more potential?
Matt Fisher wrote:
On a dyno the 02+ case reed motors made more power and their power potential was greater too. Seat of the pants though they didn't feel...
On a dyno the 02+ case reed motors made more power and their power potential was greater too. Seat of the pants though they didn't feel as powerful. The 2000 carb was much better than the one used in 2001 - 2007.
kiwifan wrote:
thanks Smile
The only 250 that made more power that year was the KTM250...
avidchimp
Profile picture for user avidchimp
Posts
4551
Joined
7/9/2008
Location
Thousand Oaks, CA US
Fantasy
1182nd
avidchimp 4/22/2016 10:14pm
4/22/2016 10:14pm
I was always a fan of the stock pipe/Pro Circuit Shorty silencer combo on my 2000. I miss that bike something terrible..
kiwifan
Profile picture for user kiwifan
Posts
9485
Joined
10/31/2009
Location
CA US
kiwifan 4/22/2016 10:16pm
4/22/2016 10:16pm
Gee with all these threads about CR250's it is tempting to do one yourself eh? hmmmm

Pit Row

See All »
avidchimp
Profile picture for user avidchimp
Posts
4551
Joined
7/9/2008
Location
Thousand Oaks, CA US
Fantasy
1182nd
avidchimp 4/22/2016 10:25pm
4/22/2016 10:25pm
kiwifan wrote:
Gee with all these threads about CR250's it is tempting to do one yourself eh? hmmmm
I have been looking for sure, but I think it's time to actually find one.
Jono
Profile picture for user Jono
Posts
538
Joined
9/17/2011
Location
AU
Jono 4/22/2016 11:11pm
4/22/2016 11:11pm
avidchimp wrote:
I was always a fan of the stock pipe/Pro Circuit Shorty silencer combo on my 2000. I miss that bike something terrible..
I had a similar set up on my 2001 CR125, stock pipe with a bills shorty silencer.
Tokyo_Tiddler 4/22/2016 11:13pm
4/22/2016 11:13pm Edited Date/Time 4/22/2016 11:15pm
Re the comments above, maybe the 2002 made more peak horsepower on a dyno, I don’t know, but no way in heck was it more powerful overall than a 2001 motor. The 2002 motor was hitless, almost electric and kind of like a 125cc on steroids. The case reed motor had no where the torque band of the 2001 piston port engine and no where the bottom end.

I understand that a few engine tuners like Eric Gorr learned how to get power out of the 2002+ engines with a lot of work, but put that same work into a 2001 engine and it would be apples to apples. The stock 2001 engine needed little to tune to your liking. Very versatile engine. The Mikuni carb was finicky until you found the magic jetting, then it was amazing. I was struggling with the jetting initially, but got jetting specs from the Honda team in Japan and it has been perfect ever since, racing the same bike on both sides of the planet at close to sea level elevation.
Big Lenny
Profile picture for user Big Lenny
Posts
14387
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Compton, CA US
Big Lenny 4/22/2016 11:21pm
4/22/2016 11:21pm
avidchimp wrote:
I was always a fan of the stock pipe/Pro Circuit Shorty silencer combo on my 2000. I miss that bike something terrible..
Me too, although I had a PC on it..it's hard to beat the stock pipe I took all the paint off and it was badass, and I ran it with a 304 silencer...
Big Lenny
Profile picture for user Big Lenny
Posts
14387
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Compton, CA US
Big Lenny 4/22/2016 11:29pm
4/22/2016 11:29pm
Tokyo_Tiddler wrote:
Re the comments above, maybe the 2002 made more peak horsepower on a dyno, I don’t know, but no way in heck was it more powerful...
Re the comments above, maybe the 2002 made more peak horsepower on a dyno, I don’t know, but no way in heck was it more powerful overall than a 2001 motor. The 2002 motor was hitless, almost electric and kind of like a 125cc on steroids. The case reed motor had no where the torque band of the 2001 piston port engine and no where the bottom end.

I understand that a few engine tuners like Eric Gorr learned how to get power out of the 2002+ engines with a lot of work, but put that same work into a 2001 engine and it would be apples to apples. The stock 2001 engine needed little to tune to your liking. Very versatile engine. The Mikuni carb was finicky until you found the magic jetting, then it was amazing. I was struggling with the jetting initially, but got jetting specs from the Honda team in Japan and it has been perfect ever since, racing the same bike on both sides of the planet at close to sea level elevation.
The case reed motor is deceptive if anything, Chad Watts was getting 60hp out of RC's '02..once you shift to 3rd you're outta there...
kiwifan
Profile picture for user kiwifan
Posts
9485
Joined
10/31/2009
Location
CA US
kiwifan 4/22/2016 11:40pm
4/22/2016 11:40pm
Tokyo_Tiddler wrote:
Re the comments above, maybe the 2002 made more peak horsepower on a dyno, I don’t know, but no way in heck was it more powerful...
Re the comments above, maybe the 2002 made more peak horsepower on a dyno, I don’t know, but no way in heck was it more powerful overall than a 2001 motor. The 2002 motor was hitless, almost electric and kind of like a 125cc on steroids. The case reed motor had no where the torque band of the 2001 piston port engine and no where the bottom end.

I understand that a few engine tuners like Eric Gorr learned how to get power out of the 2002+ engines with a lot of work, but put that same work into a 2001 engine and it would be apples to apples. The stock 2001 engine needed little to tune to your liking. Very versatile engine. The Mikuni carb was finicky until you found the magic jetting, then it was amazing. I was struggling with the jetting initially, but got jetting specs from the Honda team in Japan and it has been perfect ever since, racing the same bike on both sides of the planet at close to sea level elevation.
thanks....BD's build thread helps too....might have to make a call to Varner :-) might be bye bye CR500 hello CR250...nah I love my steel frame 500...cant bear to let it go
Motocross83 4/23/2016 1:13am
4/23/2016 1:13am Edited Date/Time 4/23/2016 1:14am
I wanted the 01 (this was when I could afford to buy bikes brand new) but the Honda dealer I used to go to had literally just sold the last of his, they we're like gold dust from then on. So I went with the soon to be released 02. Great handling bike, great ergonomics but I agree with the above comments in that it felt slow for the average rider. Wouldn't turn my nose up at an 01 now as people seem to love them and Iv'e always been curious as to how they perform in comparison.

Great read, thanks.
jonesaustin
Profile picture for user jonesaustin
Posts
2498
Joined
7/6/2009
Location
Austin, TX US
jonesaustin 4/23/2016 5:50am
4/23/2016 5:50am
jonesaustin wrote:
My 2000 was excellent. I loved it, but never rode the 2001. Interesting to hear the difference.
Ted722 wrote:
What did you end up going to after your 2000?
the hospital
H4L
Profile picture for user H4L
Posts
2499
Joined
3/18/2016
Location
CA US
H4L 4/23/2016 8:07am
4/23/2016 8:07am
Tokyo_Tiddler wrote:
Re the comments above, maybe the 2002 made more peak horsepower on a dyno, I don’t know, but no way in heck was it more powerful...
Re the comments above, maybe the 2002 made more peak horsepower on a dyno, I don’t know, but no way in heck was it more powerful overall than a 2001 motor. The 2002 motor was hitless, almost electric and kind of like a 125cc on steroids. The case reed motor had no where the torque band of the 2001 piston port engine and no where the bottom end.

I understand that a few engine tuners like Eric Gorr learned how to get power out of the 2002+ engines with a lot of work, but put that same work into a 2001 engine and it would be apples to apples. The stock 2001 engine needed little to tune to your liking. Very versatile engine. The Mikuni carb was finicky until you found the magic jetting, then it was amazing. I was struggling with the jetting initially, but got jetting specs from the Honda team in Japan and it has been perfect ever since, racing the same bike on both sides of the planet at close to sea level elevation.
Big Lenny wrote:
The case reed motor is deceptive if anything, Chad Watts was getting 60hp out of RC's '02..once you shift to 3rd you're outta there...
Yup. The case reed motor is deceptive & has plenty of potential. PC also has very good porting specs.
Owned an 01 I bought new in the spring of that yr. & had some engine mods done. Apples to apples comparison to a current 03 model CR250r owned with PC mods the 01 motor falls short in the power dept. across the rpm range even in the lowend range. A friend also owned an 01 with engine mods & the 03 motor would pull his by a few bike lengths on the straights to the next turn.
The 3rd gen 02-07 chassis is also much improved over the 00-01 2nd gen AF chassis. The 2nd.gen AF chassis was improved over the 1st 97-99 AF (owned a 97), but not as noticeable as going from a 2nd AF to a 3rd AF chassis.

jmc2
Profile picture for user jmc2
Posts
1318
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Gilbert, AZ US
Fantasy
1679th
jmc2 4/23/2016 8:12am
4/23/2016 8:12am
avidchimp wrote:
I was always a fan of the stock pipe/Pro Circuit Shorty silencer combo on my 2000. I miss that bike something terrible..
That's what I have on mine now. Can't see myself getting rid of mine anytime soon, great bike.
Eejit360
Profile picture for user Eejit360
Posts
101
Joined
11/3/2013
Location
Antrim GB
Eejit360 4/23/2016 9:01am
4/23/2016 9:01am
I always liked the 2nd Gen Alu framed CR250. Great engine and great looks.

Here's my 2000 model. Low hour, mainly original bike and still plenty competitive against modern bikes.

Post a reply to: The latest edition of Classic Steel by yours truly is up on the 2001 Honda CR250R