1987 Honda CR250
Here is an amazing race replica 1987 Honda CR250, one of the most exciting showcase bikes we’ve received to date; and all we know is it’s from a guy that calls himself “Skidplate” from Oceanside, CA. Well, Skidplate, you have one cool Honda!
It came to me as an $80 junker, but I’ve dreamed of one since I was 16, so I saw through the destroyed mess.
Everything was shot, the frame was re-welded and powder coated, the water pump was toast so I retro-fitted an ’89 sidecase, new clutch, stator and cdi. The crank was still tight and the cylinder just needed a crosshatch. My friend had it ported so gnarly that I ended up at a 190 main, then the cylinder was bead blasted, and the radiators were striped to the aluminum. The carb was replaced with a PWK Airstriker and the airbox was totally re-done.
The swingarm was polished and I rebuilt the rear shock. I spent hours at RK Excel figuring out the wheels and wound up having to use Yamaha front spokes. For the front-end I used an 89 CR250 bottom clamp and ’92 CR500 forks and top clamp. The dampener is GP Motorsports from ’88 or ’89 before they became GPR in 1990. OEM front and rear fenders and the rest was cleaned and polished. Ceet racing built me a custom gripper seat and I used a Pro Circuit pipe and stock silencer.
Anyone who has built an ’87 knows how hard parts are to come by because it was a one year bike, I have ridden it a total of about an hour to do the jetting, and then Ricky Johnson signed the bike and Motorcycle USA and JT racing did a photo shoot with the bike, so right now it is a garage trophy…. enjoy!
10 Comments
I have a 1987 cr 250 with no top end with it. My question is what yrs top ends will work and run good.
I have an ’89 CR250, love the bike. It is fully restored, but I was wondering if an ’87 CR250 front forks and clamps fit the ’89 frame?
Also, I was wondering is there a reason you used an ’89 lower? Will the lower from the 92 500 fork work? Also what year 500 forks are the newest that will work, thanks again for the hand.
I am building an 87 myself and was wondering what it the newest inverted fork that I can put on this bike? I know you used an 89/92 lower/upper clamp combo and 92 CR500 forks, who did the valving to match your bike? Also, will mid-90’s CR250 forks fit? What year do you run into wheel fitment issues? Thanks for the hand!
If you have an 85-86 with shoes, change the swing arm off of an 87-89, it works perfectly.
Hey Guys!
My buddy just found this a couple weeks and informed me my ’87 was on vintagemx. Sorry it took me so long, but I was in a frenzy getting 4 bikes ready for the Elsinore GP. It went well, I got 16th out of 105 riders and rode half the race with a flat front tire on my 1993 CR250. I then came in 35th out of 68 in the Mushman 100 miler, not bad for this old Honda dog.
Gabriel, though the linkage is the same part number, the rod arm is a different length and width at the frame. The shock is totally different. If you have skills at fabrication, I’d say go for it, otherwise leave it. The ’85 was Honda’s first works inspired body work with the works replica hpp system to follow in 87. You can put inverted forks on an ’82 to ’88 CR250, just use an ’89 250 or 500 bottom clamp and 94-94 CR500 forks, top clamp and wheel. The ’85 wheel should bolt up but get the wheel with the forks in case you need to swap spacers. Good luck!
Dan, to clean most of the stuff I use gasoline. I have tried every degreaser there is and gas works the best. I also use a wire wheel and a dremel. I try to reuse all the parts I can unless they are totally thrashed. Being an ’87 its a one year bike, so a lot was discontinued. For the wheels I spent a few hours at excel wheels and they had a database of the length and angle of spokes, and the Yamahas were the closest. The only thing I can say about building bikes like this, is to build a bike you’re passionate about. Never let anyone tell you it’s not possible cuz only you can see the finished result in your head, and there is always a way to make something cleaner and better. This is about taking something that others would throw in the trash and making it a piece of art, (BELIEVE IN YOURSELF).
Wow that is a work of art I just picked up a (RUNNING) 1985 cr250r for 60 dollars and a trade of an old frame I had laying around. She’s a little rough around the edges but I hope to make mine as nice as yours, which brings me to my first question. Does any one know if you can change the rear swing arm so that I can put a disk brake and caliper on the rear as the one I have now has shoe/drum brakes, and where can I get some decent wide pegs? I don’t mind have to grind or cut or drill things so long as they look nice in the end. Thank you much!
Fantastic job on the bike, she looks mint.
When you are cleaning up an old bike like that, what do you use? Our 80 was in worse shape than yours, but I used mineral spirits and carb cleaner. Do you get ALL new parts, or do you reuse some stuff. My shock doesn’t look any where near as nice as yours. Is yours just cleaned? The rims…I have an 81 IT that I need new hoops for, how did you find out that Yamaha spokes fit your wheels? Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. I want to get better at fixing up bikes. The 80 I did on this site is my first attempt.
I love any HONDA from 87. You did such a good job, I find myself clicking on your pictures and looking at them over and over. WOW!!!! I hope to get that good one day at building bikes, really, really nice.