Honda 03’ CR 250r

I opened my big mouth to a friend of mine Chappy Fiene about doing a project bike on his 03’ cr250 two stroke. Chappy didn’t think twice and before I knew he brought over his hammered 250 with cylinder he ported and aftermarket carb he jetted. Chappy was very proud of his bike so proud in fact this bike was in his wedding. His wife and him rode out of the reception. Chappy had Pro Circuit pipe, Showa kit forks that were valved for supercross and random titanium pieces that were from a bicycle. The bottom line is I bit off more than I could chew with this build. 

We started the build off by tearing the bike down to the frame and dropping it off at Temecula Powder Coating so we could get the frame and swing arm anodized. One key component that we used was Nexus Blasting to clean all of aluminum pieces that were dirty and scratched up such as the ignition cover, clutch cover, the triple clamps, and the calipers to get the bike looking good again without spending thousands of dollars on new parts.  We were on a budget and the bike was running so we contacted Jay Clark to order a Wrench Rabbit kit to rebuild the motor to make sure the motor was fresh like the chassis and it wasn’t just a bling machine. We used a Vertex piston, cometic gaskets and Para Pros did the engine work. Para pros also took the khan carb off and re-worked the stock mikuni carb. 

When it came to the suspension and chassis it was shiny, but it was supercross suspension for a 450 and it worked terrible on the bike. We had JBI go through the Pro Circuit showa A-kit suspension with an all new setting using the Pro Circuit clamps to hold everything in place. Dubya USA re-worked the stock wheels with a trick cerakote on the hubs and Excel hoops and all new spokes and nipples. We wrapped those wheels in the latest Maxxis St tires front and rear. 

When it came to key component’s we used Pro Taper bars, sprocket, and chain, ASV inventions for the levers, ODI grips, Works Connection brake clevis and Drain filler plug, and to finish it off Bolt motorcycle hardware provided the all new hardware and factory looking drilled aluminum washers to finish the bike off at final assembly. Having new hardware on a 19-year-old bike is key and the price of the Bolt hardware kits make it a no brainer for any rider to have. Magik designs was our go too with the look making us up some HRC factory replica graphics using the Polysport restyle kit to look like the 2019 450 body work.

 To break the bike in and get some photos we went over to the Blackmore ranch and as soon as I hit the dirt, I could tell the comfort and rideability was good. I don’t have much time on a Honda 250 2-stroke, but I can say it didn’t take much time to get comfortable on it. The JBI suspension was extremely comfortable with a good balance allowing me to push hard on the slippery hard pack track all the while I still had confidence with a firm feel on the bike. The Maxxis tires gave me a ton of confidence front and rear but with the soft compound I wouldn’t get much time on the tires in the conditions I had but that is the give and take of running a true soft compound on a tire. The motor was jetted really good, but I think I would use a 110-octane race fuel from now on as it I felt some detonation at high RPM. It’s amazing how far bikes have come in the last 20 years. Overall, I can say I was surprised with how this bike turned out and it’s definitely not just a show pony. The bike runs really well and it’s fun to ride so I’m confident we accomplished the goal for this build. Thank you to all of the partners that were involved the bike turned out great and Chappy will have this bike for years to come.

The partners that made this happen

JBI Suspension - fork and shock revalve

Nexus Blasting - Cleaned refurbished all aluminum pieces

Wrench Rabbit - crank, rod, and bottom end kit

Vertex Pistons - piston and rings

Cometic Gaskets- complete gasket kit

FMF Racing - Fatty pipe and Power core 2 silencer-

Magik Graphics - complete graphics kit

Maxxis- ST tires front and rear

Dubya USA Wheels - cerakoted hubs with Excel rims

Maxima Racing Oils- Coolant, MTL, Super M,

Maxima Pro Filter - Air Filter

Bolt Hardware- all new hardware kit

Pro Taper- Bars, sprockets

ASV Inventions - clutch perch and front brake lever