Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

Someone just gave me a 1982 basket case CR250 Elsinore today. Couldn't have been happier!

The engine is in pieces, but appears to be all there - the crank appeared okay - and when I picked up the cylinder "surprise" it looks like whoever ported it had a clue about what was going on back in 1982 - it almost looks like a Krause Flow Bench Porting job on the bike. Could be.

The bike is missing a pipe - no problemo~ as I'm sure the stocker would have been beat. Maybe I can find a DG or something. Now just have to go through all the parts and "PRAY" they are there. Pick up the necessary items and then to keep from pulling my hair out - send it all to Eric Gorr for a fresh bore and let him slap it back together LOL Hey he's inexpensive and very-very good!

I think I'm going to do the whole deal and "tahitian red" the frame after I get it sand blasted - find the original style swingarm decals and as close as I can radiator decals - make it look like a stocker if possible.

Lost our house in all the hurricanes here in Florida, so this will be a long process, but I plan on doing the swingarm bearings, triple clamp bearings, rebuild the carb, blast and paint the frame, rebuilt and repainted engine etc, etc... I want it to look as close to rolling off the showroom floor as possible the first time I crank it up - so it'll be on a stand being "slowly" rebuilt as I have time/patience and cha-ching $$$ LOL

This is going to be fun. Oh yeah, suspension of course will have to be rebuilt. I remember the 83 used to blow the hoses on the shock - does anyone know if the 82 did that as well?

Last but not least - this should prob be in a tech section - but how much of the 82/83 stuff is compatible anyone know?

Mike Patrick aka Mikeee P

_________________
The Race Isn't Over Until YOU Cross The Finish Line!

Have fun Mike.
Oh, need a test rider?

I just spent the last 2 hours on eBay and in here on the "Swap Meet" seeing what was out there. Heck I dunno what kind of shape this bike is even in --- I grabbed the rod in the box and spun it around - but the cases have to be split as it has 4 hurricanes worth of water in the crankshaft area haha.

How have you been Rick - hope the boys are doing good.
MP

_________________
The Race Isn't Over Until YOU Cross The Finish Line!

You can still find a lot of the mechanical parts, such as motor parts, etc. but body parts such as plastic, seats, etc are harder to find.

Some 82 parts are interchangeable with 83, but a number of them are different. The only way to tell for sure is to check the OEM part numbers. For example, even though the 81-83 bikes used essentially similar cases and motors, each had a different barrel and different clutch basket. In the case of the latter, none fits the other!

I've not heard of the shocks blowing hoses and have not seen that problem. The weak spots on the bike are the radiators (the outlet tubes on the bottom crack and leak) and I've heard of water pump/case problems. Also, the rivets holding the primary gear on the clutch basket will eventually break.

The bike is very strong-running (I think its the fastest of its generation stock) and overall very reliable. Good luck with the restoration.

Interesting to know about the cylinders - I was going to check the fische to see if they used the same base gasket - the 1983 was a strong runner for sure - the 1982 - not sure, my buddy had one and it seemed okay, but the 83 was the cream of the crop back then.

Interesting about the clutch basket too - I'll be sure to check that closely when I get into the engine - thanks for the heads up!

The radiators look good, but the bike doesn't have any water in it, so I'm hoping they don't have any leaks or holes in them. We'll find that out at a later date too I guess...

Just got the call that the people that gave it to me found the exhaust - so that's a bonus. Worse case scenario popping some dents out.

It's looking rough right now, still have vines growing all over it but it's in my shop, so hopefully I can get on it soon. Have two projects ahead of it right now though.

Any more 1982 info anyone has, would be greatly appreciated. I was a hardcore YZ125 guy that year so I know them inside-out but not the CR250.

MP

Hi Mike,

I've been running an '83 CR250R both in regional and national AHRMA events for the past three years. I haven't experienced the hose problem you mentioned. One area to watch for is in the water pump hosing. Pull the cover and check for corrosion. On my bike the pump area was packed with it and it had eaten through the pump cover. A little alumiweld fixed it nicely. The bike is sweet. You'll love it. It is the best handling of all my bikes. The front brakes are second to none. The motor pulls like a freight train. The suspension soaks up anything you can through at it. Great ride! Good luck with your project.

Nathan

Yeah I loved my 83 CR250 it was a fantastic bike! The rubber hose on the reservoir used to pop when you had been riding hard so there were companies making stainless steel braided style ones. Of course motos were a little longer back then too LOL

The bike I rode had a Roost Factory pipe (FMF), Boyesen Reeds and that was it. I pulled a ton of holeshots against mod bikes, won a bunch of races and miss that bike to this day.

Daytona 40 bikes used to be allowed at the gate - 250B I pulled a holeshot so big with just the pipe and reeds that I actually looked back to see where everyone was at as I went into the first turn - I could only hear one engine... it was the guy inside me with a stuck throttle and while I was leaned over with the holeshot of my life, he hit me so hard that I looked like a chicken on a hot-plate dancing around in the first turn dodging 38 other motorcycles! Loved that bike though it never DNF'd ever.

Peace...
Mikeee P
Oh yeah, I did have a FOX shock on it after a while which was sweeeeet for my speed!

I had a 1983 CR250 new back then and have just finished restoring one to race now. I honestly don't think they have a weak point other than the difficulty in getting some parts and the water pump housing corroding. I have now become an expert in repairing them. Mine has an Ohlins rear shock so I don't know about weaknesses there. I have given a few friend a ride on mine and every one of them has fallen in love with it. The best MX bike ever made. As far as the '82 is concerned I have a pile of new gears, radiator shrouds and shock springs if anyone needs them.

Magoo, I'm looking for rad shrouds for an 82 CR250. Are they new or used? How much are you asking?

Thanks.

I've got some brand new shrouds, I'll check them tonite when I get home.

I went through my stuff and found 3 brand new L/H shrouds but no right ones. Let me know.
Cheers

Thanks a lot for checking. Wouldn't you know it, it's the right side I really need.

hya magoo

question of you mate how much do u want for one of the left shrouds from the 82 water bottle mate

can you let me know please

mailto:IANSCR250@hotmail.com


thanks mate