1989 Honda CR250R - Classic Motocross Test Review

[@cbh148]

Man, these '89s look so good. Top-shelf Honda MX aesthetics right there.

[@Davido50]

Hondas era was 80s-90s. They dead now. 100%.

[@TroyCollier]

I'm commenting even before watching. Perfect timing as I just picked up an 89 cr250 and stripped it for a full restore this week.

[@Davido50]

Awesome! Treat her right & get the best parts possible. That's a forever bike. Highly recommend a VHM head! Not only a beautiful piece but improves performance & top end longevity. Have one on my pristine 06 RM125 "forever bike" I restored.

[@TroyCollier]

@@Davido50 Yes I really need to start digging into what I need to do. The exhaust mount tab by the rear brake reservoir is cracked so I'll have to address this issue.

[@jewintheoven9442]

@@TroyCollier tig weld it. Should last. Then Powder coat or paint over it

[@Davido50]

​@@TroyCollier Hope it's going well. Enjoy! -NW Ohio

[@Davido50]

​@@jewintheoven9442 Yes, def go over whole frame check for cracks then powder coat & paint. 💯

[@keithpeterson3447]

In the middle of a full resto mod on one of these for my buddy. Solving the fork problem with modern forks. 😉

[@terrygreen4838]

Thanks for what you do.

[@jewintheoven9442]

Thank you for doing my request! Watching it as we speak. Restoring a 89 right now. Also a 99 kx 125

[@TroyCollier]

Me too... Are you sharing the build process anywhere online? I'd like to follow along with mine. I'm fully stripped and motor out. Next is powder frame and start to buff clean and polish parts or replace if needed.

[@jewintheoven9442]

I will probably post a video of the bikes when done. Almost done with the kx.. aiming for a RC replica look.. the cr however is just getting torn down now

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

I have an 89 and the forks work for me?🤷‍♂️It runs pretty good. Jumps better than my 86, 85, 82..it's a keeper.

[@pheasant2323]

My first ever 250 experience was on a buddy’s brand new 89 CR250. At that time I was desert racing on my mighty 1990 YZ125! Almost the complete opposite in handling characteristics then a CR at speeds. I was quickly introduced and feared “heads shake”! Good looking bike though!!!

[@nvmcrider8475]

I was at my first ever Supercross , the 89 Houston SX, where Jeff Stanton won the main on this bike, unfortunately RJ had been hurt prior and I never got to see him race. JMB was also there on a temporary Pro Circuit ride, but wasn't a factor in the main.

[@raoulduke3770]

I had those JT gloves at the 5:00 minute mark. Another excellent video.

[@murrayminimotors1674]

Them late 80s honda ripped!! Had a 87 cr 80 thing hit hard!!

[@mcman47]

I bought a leftover on 1990 for $3000 instead of the $4k for the 90 model. I loved the motor, It would eat up a 93 KX in a race. I put stiffer fork springs in and it helped some. I rode this bike in the Virginia City Grand prix in 93 and it almost killed me. The fork would deflect off every small rock on the course and my arms and legs were cooked by the time the 4.5 hours were up. Definitely not a desert bike in that form. Traded it for a 95 that was so much better at everything. Thanks for the memories

[@mcman47]

sorry I meant to say 89 model

[@ozzielinkin]

that bike is beautiful. There’s nothing like the 90s fluorescent colors and especially the Kawasaki green . man. Everything looks so good. I wish I had the Time patient knowledge and money to restore a bike like that. That is so cool.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

One of the things I liked about the 88 was the new "low boy" pipe that let the gas tank get lower. It was not really a lighter bike, but it felt about 10 pounds lighter in motion than the other bikes on the line at the time. It was noticeable.

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

Tony, I love these single machine retrospectives.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thank you

[@ozzielinkin]

hey earth surfer, it’s pretty funny that I just saw you comment on this video. I have seen you comment on other stuff too. What a small world.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I gotta say, I did just a bit of engine work to the 88 CR250, stock pipe, good jetting, and that thing ripped. Many great MX starts. Soft on the bottom, but mid-range on up it was fast. I would run it against any other stock CR. I think it was the fasted 250 I ever had.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Yes, there’s a lot of power lurking in that motor , waiting to be uncovered

[@spottyjack614]

Another great vidd Tony

[@free-birdrocker8809]

I have an 89 in my garage. My forks are just fine. Engine is bullet proof, breaks are great. Either the 80's test riders were whiney feminim spoiled twits, or I just love bulldogging dirt bikes. The 89 is just as good as any other cr. First year of the usd and after an oil and seal replacement its good as new. fjb!😁

[@russellambrosini5344]

My 90 cr 250 was by far the best and worst motocross bike I have ever owned all in one package. between sticky power values, contaminated fork oil and a head shake at throttle chop that would put the fear of God in you every time It happened (and it happened alot). But the turning and amazing power where something to behold for 1990 and even though it seemed to set my amateur racing career back a bit I can still say I wish I still had it

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I had the 88, with I think similar power valves. Mine was just a matter of good jetting and a clean burning oil. Rode it a lot all summers,( 5 of them), and it never gummed up. After mine shook it's head from stop to stop while braking on a slight downhill into a corner, stiffer springs, and my weight further back pretty much fixed it for me. With just a bit of porting still using the stock pipe, it had a great mid-range and up motor that got me a lot of good starts. It was just the rest of the race I usually had problems with. :) I also paid $3,200 for it new. That was double the price from just 3 years ago,---after the 1986 production rule. That is when the racing was great, but the sport started its decline in sales, (which is everything).

[@camdunnage6214]

Totally agree with problem forks. I have a 91 CR 250. From your description it sounds like they didn’t improve over the next few years. Other than that it’s a great vintage MX bike.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

They really were terrible

[@timmyfogle8819]

U should make a video on the 1994 kx 125 and what changes happened to it

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I will in the future

[@EarthSurferUSA]

You really can't do a bike test review with modern MXA, because they don't know much more than clicker adjustment, if that. Back then, after reading MXA, you know what you were buying. Today, you might as well save your 5 bucks and enjoy the surprises.

[@JB.buds.]

Can you do a honda cr85 2000-2007 updates and diffrens

[@threewheelerboyz5771]

🤘

[@highwayman1218]

Had an 89 CR250. After great runs with 85 & 87 CRs, I was in for a shock with the 89..... So Cal tracks and desert were not fun on this bike and just plain sketchy handling. It looked and ran great, but it was a white knuckle ride.....

[@allvintage4442]

Tony, where did you get the old school renthal handlebar pad you did on the Jeff Stanton replica bike you did

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I bought it from a gentleman out of Europe

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@TheMotocrossVault Ahhh man. I thought for sure you were going to say you still had it from that era. In fact, you probably do somewhere. :)

[@kellybrown6988]

U can find them on eBay. Takes about 10 days to arrive tho

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I had the 88 model. It's forks were nothing special either. But they are all fixable IMO.

[@M.V.1]

3:18 CR 1986 is sexy... 👍👍👍🖐️

[@joshuaross4644]

I love your channel and I support it via the Spring store 👍 but seriously give the Honda’s a rest Your last six review videos have 5 out of 6 being Honda’s. I’m gonna start calling this channel “The Honda Vault” Keep up the great work and please do some more Magazine reviews as I love them

[@TheMotocrossVault]

LOL I had not noticed that but I will keep it in mind.

[@LifeWideOpen780]

Bahahaha well is their any other brand 😅

[@EarthSurferUSA]

It was a Honda decade.

[@Tvalentino]

What year do you prefer of the cr250r, 1989 or 1990?