Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

Can anyone tell me if the 1981 cr250 is a good year to have. I know it's the first year for liquid cooled but was the engine/suspension any good? What would I expect to pay for one that needs a major clean up but runs well? Thanks, Jon

i had one recently(in the last 5 years)-1-the bike has an excellent engine(FAST) other that the clutch basket bushing can try to seize and make the clutch "drag" 2-the front suspension is too soft and doesnt have enough rebound dampening-3-its not a tight turning bike(has too much rake)4-its on the heavy side-the pro link linkage is heavy and the rear swingarms cracked around the axle mounting tabs-5-when new it was one of the best looking bikes ever(my opinion!)

Hey , thanks a lot for the perspective. I hope there are some others out there who can shed some light if this would make a good Vintage race bike. Thanks

1981 was a big development year for Honda as they went to an all new bike, including a water-cooled engine and the Pro Link suspension. The 450 gets a ton of flak for its handling, suspension, gearbox and powerband but you hear less about the 250. I would factor in a $1,000 to re-build the forks and shock for you specifically and it will probably be as good as any other bike. If you are not wed to the Honda, there are better 1981 bikes - the Yamaha YZ250H would be one because it was at the end of a multi-year evolution.

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Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF

Michael,

I'm not wed to Honda but have enjoyed many years of consistant running bikes. I would however look at a Yamaha or other should one appear in my area. Unfortunately, I have not seen many yellow or red vintage bikes cross my path lately. Thank you for your insight !

This is not an easy question to handle with a quick response. A couple of pointers though...

Check out the rules/class structure for the clubs and events you want to race with. Select a class with a good participation.
Note the brands that are popular and competitive.
Pick a bike that's not revolutionary - 1st editions like the '81 CR450R, '80 KX Unitrak, '82 Maico Spyder can be adventurous.
Look for sources of after-market parts that indicate there is a thriving market for that brand today.
Look for forums like this that indicate a brand has got a good following.
Look on eBay for parts availability.
Historic racing is not cheap. Lean towards paying more for a well-prepped bike someone is racing today over something in someone's barn.
Plan on a fork job and buying some good shocks - new and set up for you.

Based on this for the time period late 70s to early 80s, I feel these brands are favorable to acquire and race - Maico (particularly open class), Husqvarna, Honda and Yamaha. Kawasaki, Suzuki and KTM made great bikes at the time, but the relative rarity makes them harder to work with.