1993 CR250 build

[dogger315]

Finally got the frame and sub-frame for the 1993 CR250 I am building.
It came in a big box a few days ago. Interestingly, the frame has no
serial or model number on the steering tube (just like a works bike).

I already have a lot of parts to bolt on to this frame but won't be doing
anything until I mount the suspension and wheels so I have a roller.

Just like a vintage bike, many of the parts for this '93 are NLA and this
build is becoming more and more of a challenge.

The used parts I have found, have been full spectrum in condition. Some
are pristine while others are crap, requiring every skill I can muster to
restore.

Just like the engine build series I posted a while back, I will do the same
with the rest of the bike, breaking it down into sub-systems.

For now, here are a few pictures of the frame.

dogger


This is what a brand new 1993 CR250 frame looks like


Nothing on the steering tube


Found an old set of Pro circuit Ti footpegs laying around the shop that fit.

[808hondacrguy]

Love those bikes !!! Keep pics of progress coming.

[crguy]

should be a nice rig if you can find all of the parts that you need

[dogger315]

should be a nice rig if you can find all of the parts that you need

The news gets worse everyday.
Here is a list of the NLA parts so far:
1. coil
2. forks
3. top triple clamp
4. seat
5. shock
6. linkage

I just placed an order for the fuel tank, radiators, steering stem and airbox
because the Honda parts computer showed only one or two of each left.

I can get all the parts for the forks and shock and build them, just can't get
them assembled. I picked up a coil, rear brake system and linkage on Ebay,
good restorable parts. All the OE plastic (except fenders) is NLA but UFO
still makes it and I just found the shroud and swingarm decals at a European
dealer.

My Honda parts guy summed it up. Honda makes as many parts as they think
customers will need over the life of the bike. Once those parts are gone, that's it.

I had hoped to build this bike from 95-100% new parts. Now I hope I can
build it from 70-75% new. The good news is the cost is going down. The
bad news is the work load is going way up.

dogger

[mrcribbs]

Dammit Dogger! Everytime you do one of these builds I want to tear my '96 completely apart and do a complete restoration!

[dogger315]

Everytime you do one of these builds I want to tear my '96 completely apart and do a complete restoration!

Give in to the urge, it's good for the soul.

dogger

[devrep]

nice paint job. I have a pretty nice 95 CR250 fork and shock and clamp I will trade if you have anything interesting. They both need seals

---------- Post added at 04:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:44 PM ----------

just realized its a new frame, not a paint job. Man if you use all NOS stuff this will cost you a fortune.

[json]

I just placed an order for the fuel tank, radiators, steering stem and airbox
because the Honda parts computer showed only one or two of each left.

Darn it dogger, stop buying up all those NOS parts from Honda, some of that stuff might fit my '96!


Your engine turned out great, can't wait to see this thing come together.

[dogger315]

I have a pretty nice 95 CR250 fork and shock and clamp

Thanks for the offer but the '95 uses Kayaba suspension and I am trying
to keep this build authentic '93, which means Showa

Man if you use all NOS stuff this will cost you a fortune.

You got that right. Luckily, I have quite a few spares left over from the day
but even then, it's going to cost at least 3X what the bike went for in '93.
I guess it boils down to how bad you want it and how many marbles you've
lost.

Darn it dogger, stop buying up all those NOS parts from Honda, some of that stuff might fit my '96!

You're in luck json, the '96 was quite evolutionary from the '93. Almost
nothing is directly interchangeable. I am going to buy a '96 seat though
(only one still available) and recover it with a '93 seat cover.

Been gone all week doing some job related training. When I got in last night,
there were a bunch of boxes with "HONDA" stamped on them waiting in the
garage. Unfortunately, I will be gone all next week finishing the training, so
Christmas in October will have to wait.

I'll post some progress pictures as soon as I can.

dogger

[Ekholm]

Man dogger, that is awsome. I had a new '93 CR250 back in the day, what a great bike. If I remember correctly, didn't McGrath use the '93 frame even on his '96 race bike? Something about that geometry he liked I guess. Keep those pics coming brother!!!

[bikepilot]

He used a frame with '93 geometry, I'm not sure what year the actual frame was - it looked heavily gusseted/modified when I saw it in the pits. It probably was a modified '93 frame, but it could have been a newer frame cut to '93 specs as with the welding around the steering head I couldn't quite make out what had been changed and what hadn't (I used to work at a national track and saw his bike in various states of assembly though the '90s).

[dogger315]

Something about that geometry he liked

You're absolutely right. McGrath supposedly liked the '93
geometry so much that he used that frame throughout his
250 stint at Honda. When Honda came out with the aluminum
frame in '97, the frame was so bad (stiff, wide, bad geometry,
etc), that he couldn't get comfortable with the bike. Remember
there were and are limits to what the factory can do to the
frame geometry and material under the AMA production rule.

Many believe that in addition to other constraints being placed
on him (outside sponsors and endorsements), the bike was the
last straw and he jumped to Suzuki.

I raced the '97-'99 CRs and they were jackhammers compared to
previous and subsequent models - probably some of the worst
CRs ever. If you ever wanted to build the ultimate "goon" CR.
install an '02-'07 engine in a '97-'99 frame and you'd be there.

it looked heavily gusseted/modified

Good eye. The frames were heavily gusseted around the steering
tubes, motor mounts and suspension pick up points to increase
reliability. Even then, a fast national calibre rider would wear out
a number of frames each season. The factories replaced the frames
after so many motos to head off potential problems, an expense
most privateers couldn't afford. Most factory riders get a frame up
rebuild (replacing any part that is worn) after each race - essentially
pulling up to the line on a new bike each week.

dogger