1988 Honda CR250 Test Ride - 32 Year Old 2 Stroke

Taking a 1988 CR250 for a cruise around Murphys MX. The motor felt strong and sounded great. The biggest drawback of these old bikes is just the unpredictable suspension.
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[@circularpizzabox2134]

Nothing like listening to the sound of the PB when it hits. Straight up orgasmic!

[@nathanc5789]

My dad had one new. I remember riding it around the yard with him when I was young. This is awesome.

[@simon40607]

I rode one of those when it came out 👍🏻went across a ploughed field like a hot knife through butter !!! What a machine

[@cm_wooten4250]

I'm currently in the process of rebuilding on of these. Any tips for what other parts work? Any tips in general?

[@kuurakarahka]

Check the water pump. Magnesium alloy doesn't take too kindly to, well, having water in even with additives. It just corrodes away in huge pits. Fixing the clutch case with epoxy will not work: the resin layer comes off eventually and gunks up the coolant system. I ordered a '89 aluminum clutch case, problem solved. I also had corrosion in the clutch cover, which I sort of fixed by TIG welding. Dirty, porous metal bathed in oil doesn't really make for a solid weld.

[@cm_wooten4250]

@@kuurakarahka I just bought a new water pump housing. Mine was ruined. There's a crack in my oil drain port. I need it tig welded, then paint the engine. Anything you recommend paint-wise? The closest powdercoat shop is super expensive from what I've heard. They charged a guy 500 something to do his four-wheeler frame.

[@DM-qp7do]

I had an 87 a million years ago, what a great bike.

[@familieritter9259]

I'm sixteen years old and just got myself a 350 Honda 4 Stroke to start riding enduro. It was built in 85'. Really great bike! :D

[@taylor5542]

God I love the smell if 2 stroke in the mornin. That smell... that gasoline smell. That's the smell of...... insanity.

[@DavidKAnderson]

I'm old enough to remember the smell of castor-based premix smoke...best mechanical smell ever. =)

[@rwbz28]

Yeah. Used to ride my buddy's IT 250 he rode his YZ 490. Great smell. He was running Bell ray in those bikes at the time and chucking fucking damned near boulders back at me and laughing. Great times.

[@chargerfan2]

Had a friend who bought one of those new. I had a 85 xr600r at the time and we used to do a lot of desert riding back then. We did a two day ride down in Mexico and we would switch off bikes at different points of the ride. I loved that thing, it felt so light after riding my 600. He's sadly no longer with us, died a few years back of prostate cancer at age 47. We sure did some killer rides though back in the day.

[@JBAutomotive794]

This track looks awesome, im an old guy just now trying to get into the sport and that track looks fairly rideable for a novice like me but still fun AF. Subscribed to your channel to see more! Stay steezy bro!

[@wsmaga]

James Bradley I was thinking the same thing. I’m an old guy also and this track looks awesome.

[@DavidKAnderson]

Modern "four-stroke freeway." Smooth and fast...

[@thedarkside1254]

They are such nice bikes! I had a 97 cr250 wish i never sold it. Lots of power for a 250, the 500 is just insanely powerful. Awesome video brings back alot of good memories. Thanks for sharing man.

[@kuurakarahka]

My brother had one when I was a kid, and of course I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Now I happen to have one, same year, too, and the sound it has at pipe is both terrifying and exhilarating - the first time riding it was simply terrifying! I have a flat track on my field, and now my kids will have memories of the big red bike with the sound and smell you just don't forget. I have thought it'd be cool to have a 500, but then again, I'm so far from mastering this bike it'd just be a waste.

[@mrsportybloke1336]

Great the way you were smoking the four strokes 👌

[@dennieweideman4055]

I,m almost 40 now i own one when i was 17 years old and ride it like it was my last day on this planet the sound en power was unbeliefull now a 450 4stoke but i want my 250cr 88 back

[@victortamini847]

Hell yea! Nice video! That’s so cool that you are getting to ride some old school 2 strokes.

[@zachdavis3974]

For sure. Gives me a new appreciation for these nice modern bikes we’ve got now.

[@victortamini847]

Zach Davis Here’s a cool question for you, now that you have ridden a 500,and a modern 450, would you like a 500 2 stroke motor in a modern 450 chassis? What do you think of the power of a 500?

[@joeyriveira6697]

Always got to have haters in every crowed . Haters that don’t truly know . Unless you can actually say you’ve ridden one don’t talk it down . Best to lead by experience & not by what you’ve heard . That just makes you a poser or best put “Hardparker” . Go throw your leg over a cr500 or kx500 then report back . Yes they are older but are even to this day the bench mark pinnacle performance that’s why there’s so much buzz about the big bore 2strokes . Put that old 500 2stroke into a modern chassis then pair it to a top rider then see how your beloved holy grail modern 4stroke compares . I’d bet even with all the tech you’d be surprised that a 20yr old motor or as put rattle trap would literally amaze even the haters . There is a reason why they’re still getting so much recognition today . As these paved the way for what we have today . I myself do ride an A/F 500 & prefer it to my modern 4strokes as I’ve had many & even a Varner racing stroker crf it was a blast but not nearly as fun as my cr500 .

[@rtyhhas]

i had hondas all through the 80s . Alot of head shake get use to it. Great bike .

[@chrisstephens6194]

Loving the track

[@pawee1]

That sound brings me back miss my 88 regret selling all my old bikes

[@kennyrichard2971]

So happy Out of my race bikes I kept my 88 CR 250 Awesome video

[@enduroak8898]

The old 500 2t are some of the best bikes ever made (I have had many and currently on a CR 500 AF which has a snow bike kit in the winter) Only bike that ever stood chance against the 500 2t was a Honda goldwing with knobbies (quick little hack for u newbs goldwing with timbersled = perfection) also for winter riding a little PBR in the gas works as a fuel de jeller

[@rlyle5804]

sounds WAY better than a 4-stroke!

[@rasanen5661]

Man some of your videos get more than 1 million views and u got about 32k subscribers. You deserve more subscribers and keep up the good work.

[@EF.BE.I]

"I'm not gonna go that fast because I respect people's property,5 seconds later:BBBBBBBRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!

[@jimrosenberger1917]

Love watching these vids of old bikes like I used to ride. CR500's, YZ490's and RM500's were my rides of choice until I got bit on a 490 real bad. But I have to say that every time you go off that jump and under the banner, I find myself ducking. Does anyone ever hit that thing or is it higher than it seems? Thanks for the memories

[@SpudEater]

My first dirt bike I bought when I was 16 in 2012 and it was a 91 CR250. I rebuilt it, rode the hell out of it and I should have never sold it...I miss that damn bike. I bought it for $400 and sold it for $1500 but that doesn’t count all of the things I did to that bike..wish I could track it down

[@footlockmasterleopard7700]

Bad ass bike, bad ass rider!!

[@hardline5889]

I bought that bike brand new back in the day, it was a great bike

[@rwbz28]

Just bought a 1980 YZ 250 in real good shape.

[@ghoulredeyedemon2024]

Fire Breathing Machine 🔥 Happy Easter Zach 🐇🐰🐣

[@hondadude7]

i had an '88 in college. it ran great, got alot of air with that bike ... fun fun

[@yawningkitty457]

Two reasons why the 250 has less bottom end, 1) its a smaller engine, obviously. 2) the 250 has a power valve which opens up later in the rev range, the 500 does not, its just straight ported so all of the power comes in right off the bottom, Usually on a 500 you never use 1st gear outside of the pits. Cool video of a bike from my era.

[@backwheelbandits2.0]

2t for life man..your some pilot give ye that pal keep up the good content as allways💪👌

[@backwheelbandits2.0]

@Furn333 😂just a reference as into how good he is...its Dublin slang pal.

[@1MACVSOG1]

Definitely 2 smokers for life. 84 cr500. 99 kx250👊🇺🇸👊

[@Junior-fd8ux]

This made my day. Honda conven forks t👍👍

[@monkeyboyfilmss]

That track looks so fun to ride!!! I need to find more tracks for my you tube videos

[@smokepeddler]

88 was a fast year. Still nice and peaky.

[@andrewoof4649]

For having a 88 cr250r in my shed. these bikes are hella quick

[@Hanky_Bannist8r]

This is my era. These bikes we're all motor and not so much on suspension. You had to have brass balls and surgeon like precision to be fast otherwise you'd just get hurt.

[@stigjensen4818]

I ride a mc, but I don't know nothing about, dirt bike riding, looks like a lot of fun! 👍😁 now I have to try! 🙈 haha

[@johnhancock1855]

I found one of these for sale local to me. I want one for no other reason than just to have it.

[@travismoon5290]

I find old bikes have a way more exiting powerband

[@SpudEater]

Travis Moon I miss my 91 CR 250..

[@travismoon5290]

@@SpudEater mine was an 88, the old Hondas with orange plastics.

[@1972mercurycougar]

You should find a mint KX250, 85-90, those were sweet! 2stroke fun!!

[@DaCodesMan]

Where you been man?! Miss your vids!

[@onlygazza]

I had one when they just came out and it was brill 👌

[@jamesboxold9671]

Man i miss my 88 250 thing took a beating

[@wrighty338]

Nice! What is your camera set up? I noticed it picks up the bike and yourself pretty well - are you using an external mic on it?

[@reba7895]

wrighty338 clipper mount with external mic

[@kellygf1]

My first 250 was an 88 cr250rob. The old hpp motors where throaty.

[@dednside5229]

Steel frames Made these so dangerous, I remember standing up on 80's era 125's and getting terrible headshake

[@herbrachel9707]

Ol girl rips when you put the pepper to it

[@anthonygonzalez367]

Great video, where is this place?

[@yztrailryder]

Hey man is that track you go to for all experience levels. Alot of the jumps look like if u cased them you would be fine.

[@farmerman7947]

My dad used to have one of these bikes, exact same year, he found it hard NOT to crush the expansion chamber and control the handlebar shake when you let go of the gas

[@YEHMATE]

Use to own one powerband was nuts

[@MXUnion]

Cool!

[@diegodeluise4702]

yeeeeee boy

[@lmtada]

88 was decent bike. Honda cr250 had more power than my 92 Rm250. The 250 had enough power (40-43hp) for 99% population.

[@warrenparker6234]

I live about a hour from washougal and remember Rick Johnson Jeff ward David bailey on the the 2 stroke five hundred

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Well, it looks like any bike can go slow in the corners and still make the jump way down the next smooth straight. We had more skill with 2-strokes on tracks that were much tougher than a old TT track.

[@MastLuc]

Now how the hell can you compare a four stroke or one of those new electric bikes to this classic?

[@hondata05]

Could any of these old bikes still be competitive with say 2000s upwards? I'm not talking about stright line speed as you can make anything fast like that. But round a track?

[@zachdavis3974]

Not really. Modern suspension and bike frames are almost a work of magic compared to these old bikes. Only way it could be competitive is if you took an old cr motor and dropped it in a modern frame with modern forks

[@MichaelSmith-jb5md]

I hunt down and rebuild old bikes like this then take them to the UK to my shop and triple my money.

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

I have the '88 500 that Im currently restoring. Makes stupid power with instantaneous response.

[@christiemurphy6095]

Hi zack its Evan

[@zachdavis3974]

Hi Evan

[@jakecohoe]

👍🏻

[@smallblockchevy1022]

"It feels pretty similar to the 500. You mean it feels like a motorcycle? lol. Of course it does. Dirt bikes have changes very little since the mid 80's. They're all going to feel about the same, unless you're talking pre-80's

[@juanrubio6748]

Yo Davis u haven’t posted in 2 months come on man

[@motocarib925]

I had one, sound’s new

[@quad_burbu5338]

🔥🔥✊

[@vaughndrew852]

The 87 hit harder

[@bigb8114]

Where is this Murphys track located at ?

[@oscarjensen1850]

Looks dope man

[@micheleasson7012]

the only thing he says about the bike during the whole video is that it's like a 500

[@dednside5229]

It's not anything like a 500 That's a whole different ballgame .

[@AZ-bj1gb]

Bro why we going so fast

[@kennethalbert4653]

I only wish I could smell it too !

[@chrsmcwtrs]

Nice Bru

[@quentinrance8974]

What track are you riding at?

[@ZC250]

Does that thing have a flywheel weight? The power seems so linear

[@cbh714]

No flywheel weight on this one. This was one of the first bikes with a power valve. It has V Force reeds and Pro Circuit pipe.

[@crffilmz7300]

Track name and location?

[@steelshotproductions]

Murphys MX.....about an hour south of Austin, two hours north west of Houston.

[@jmendo2546]

You must be a 4 stroke rider you never should free rev 2 stroke motor in air after jumps very bad unless you are nose down trying to get frontend up on landing. Free rev motor in air and landing puts alot of stress on crank bearings and drive sprockets. You are very afraid coming out of corners you almost stop especially on the CR500.

[@ryanclucas919]

Didn't even come close to pushing that little 250. You'll shit your pants. You ride it like a 4 stroke.

[@gustavob.offroad1508]

Top tento uma Cr125 1992 show

[@blakeh5847]

Anybody know of any central Tx tracks still open?

[@zachdavis3974]

If you find any let me know... from what I understand there are a couple of Houston tracks still open. Might be worth the drive

[@connorfreeman5455]

I have a 1998 cr250r

[@oluminator359]

I got the cr250 82‘

[@MrSnapy1]

Thanks for the video! don't get me wrong but... Always in the wrong gear its hard to watch he is riding it like a four stroke. Its power not torque and only has amazing power if your railing it. In other words he is only using a quarter of the bikes power. Rip the straights break hard! down shift rip out of the corners and repeat yes its not that easy but its how this bikes was made to ride. To learn a two stroke you need to ride smaller bikes so you can rail it and learn to control the power band. A 125 is what is needed...

[@erikstend8562]

MrSnapy1 He doesn’t own the bike

[@johnrodgersdigital]

Now I'm friggin bored

[@santinoforte1993]

First!!!

[@badgumby9544]

Modern motocross tracks suck. Nothing but jumps and slow, sharp corners. Not enough straight track or sweeping fast corners, no flow. Jump, tight turn, jump, jump, tight turn, jump and so on and so on. It's not how fast you can ride on dirt anymore. It's how well and how far you can jump. Boring.

[@Flintlock-yg8hl]

First

[@johnpiowarcyck1420]

Your throttle control needs work.

[@johnpiowarcyck1420]

I think you are scared..........

[@philbartlett1368]

My Maico490 Piss Over That An Any Other Bike U Wanna Put Up 2 IT