2003 Honda CR250 vs. 1996 CR250 2-Stroke Battle

#cr250 #Dirtbikes #Motocross
Thanks For Watching! Hope you enjoyed! Here is a little information about the video:
Old Dad (50+ Next Gen class) on his 2003 CR250 having a fun battle with a fast y oung man (Next Gen Millennial) on his trick 1996 CR250 at a Great Lakes AHRMA race at the Wabash Cannonball MX. Turn it up and get your daily dose of two stroke music!
Gopro Intro Credit:
• GoPro Hero 7 Black Int...
Creator: Swedish Forestry
disclaimer we don't own any of the music played in this video all credit goes to the artists and the record label
Song Used:
• Don't Stop Me Now
Don't Stop Me Now
Queen Official:
/ @queen

[@lustylusty1238]

I got a 96 cr250 with PC works pipe, TC2 muffler, 38.5 pwk carb and 28oz flywheel weight. Yes, 28oz. It rips. Very linear power delivery, lots of low end, but it still rips your arms off up top. Front tyre wear is minimal, as it's never on the ground.

[@olddadmx5284]

Sounds like you have a great ride Lusty! That last year steel frame CR was amazing, so keep it going and enjoy it!

[@narfer]

Just finished rebuilding a 1996. Seeing this makes me glad I did.

[@olddadmx5284]

They are one of the best CR250s Honda ever produced my friend! Rebuild it, enjoy it, ride it and cherish what a great piece of history you have!!

[@xrjockey86]

Oh, that looks like a fun track!

[@olddadmx5284]

It is is my friend! Thanks for watching!

[@RED-RYDA]

The two best CR frames ever

[@23MikeJ22]

Heck yeah great race all!!! I really enjoyed this... Thanks

[@tangerineRIDES13]

92-96 motors were powerful with hard mid range pull 03 motors had little more down low which smooth out the hit but had better chassis still my 95 race bike was a hole shot beast good memories brought back great video 👍👍

[@olddadmx5284]

Great analogy and appreciate your input! Glad you liked the video and it brought back great memories. That is what moto is all about!!

[@raymondsiewert2720]

That was rad ! Have a beautiful 03' CR 250 l ride every week ! What track was that ? Love that track , great track , great jumps and step downs through the trees .😁

[@olddadmx5284]

Glad you enjoyed also Raymond! Keep that '03 CR250 going and enjoy every second you can on it! The track is Wabash Cannonball MX located in Wabash, IN. It is one of the oldest registered AMA tracks in the country, as they started out running flat track and TT races there back in the 1930's. It is still a club ran by volunteers, and they have done a great job of changing up track design and prep. I have been riding/racing there since 1984. Here is a link to their facebook page it you want to check it out: facebook.com/WabashCannonballMX/

[@coloradodirtbike5930]

That steelie was kick in ass and taking names 👏. They are really sweet bikes. 96/01/and the newer 02-07 are all sweet models. I love my 91 steel frame cr500r and have had plenty of 2000/2001 and 02 and newer 3rd generation 250s. Working currently on a 01/03/ and a 06 rm250.

[@olddadmx5284]

Glad you enjoyed Colorado! I love hearing from those that still preserve and ride these awesome two strokes of any brand. I have never had the pleasure of riding a CR500, so I need to get that off my bucket list. Keep those projects going!!

[@faridzpaijo7829]

Skdirj

[@cleatus7429]

This gets my blood pumping! Can't wait for nicer weather and get some motos in on my freshly built 02.

[@olddadmx5284]

Glad you enjoyed and I too cant wait for spring to hit! Get that '02 out and enjoy it!

[@cleatus7429]

@OLD DAD MX we have a dunes trip planed for late March and I CAN NOT WAIT!!!

[@Monsieurfigueroa]

I have a 1993 cr250r frame with a 95 engine in it with full fmf gold series expansion chamber and powercore exhaust tip and a keihin carburetor with a rad valve system, bilstein rear shock and a custom 450 neck and triple clamps with showa front shocks and a 2.9 gallon tank. And looking to get a lectron.

[@DavidByrski]

I have a 96 and an 05.. maybe it’s just the old school in me but man I love that hard charging power of the 96, the 05 case Reed RC valved engine is just so laid back and kinda boring in stock trim.. Great chassis though! 92-01 engine is this 3rd Gen CR250R Chassis is where it’s at. I have a 96-97-01 engine that will be going into the 05 chassis shortly:)

[@olddadmx5284]

I agree with you David! The 3rd gen '02-'07 chassis is one if the best handling bikes Honda ever made. The '92-'01 motor had a better bottom and overall spread of power vs. the RC valved engines, but they can be tuned to make a bunch of horse power. If you get your project done, please post some riding videos!

[@Mr10usdad]

Thats because Honda kept trying to make the power delivery more smooth like a four stroke. It is just not as much fun to ride.

[@DavidByrski]

@@Mr10usdad well I don’t know , my 08 CRF450R hits much harder right from down low to full pull then both of them by a long shot.. almost felt like they were trying to kill the CR :(

[@olddadmx5284]

@@Mr10usdad The '02-'07 RC Valve engines came out of course at the same time of the first '02 CRF450R 4-stroke, and it's easy to say that the majority of development focus was probably on the CRF line. The concept on the RC system was brilliant it just seems that Honda never took the time to totally prefect it at the production level to show its true potential. There are many articles out there about the improper squish band clearance, they very finicky Mikuni carbs that where not easy to jet, and other things...but once these issues were addressed, this engine put out impressive HP levels and were very smooth and linear. The biggest negative is they do not have the same low-end power of all the previous CR250 engines before. If I remember, that Ricky Carmichael kid did pretty good on this bike! LOL!

[@Mr10usdad]

@@olddadmx5284 very informative post, thanks!

[@littlewolf947]

Man that was awsome..ya'll were definitely hauling.

[@olddadmx5284]

Appreciate that Joe! We were having a blast!!

[@TRGP331]

Awesome video! I ride an 04 CR250R and I love seeing guys who can actually go fast on these "old" bikes!

[@olddadmx5284]

Glad you enjoyed it...and appreciate the complement! Keep your '04 CR250R rippin and enjoy it my friend!!

[@TRGP331]

@@olddadmx5284 it will be the one bike I never sell! I have never had so much fun on a dirt bike as I do on this CR!

[@imtheplayerandthecoach2409]

Have 2001 an 2002 CR250r my 2002 is fully built an my 2001 has small stuff an I like the 2001 motor better pulls way harder the case reeds you have to ride em like a 125 the 92-01 is rocket an I can keep up all day with my buddies on there 450s my 2002 not so much

[@olddadmx5284]

I agree with you, and you can kind of see that in my video. If they could have given that RC motor the same low end as the previous 92-01...it would have been amazing!

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

No complaints with my steelie '96 CR500, but I would love to try a CR500AF..

[@Mr10usdad]

Awesome! I have a 1995 CR250 I ride everyone weekend.

[@olddadmx5284]

Great bikes of a great era of MX. Keep that '95 going and enjoy it!

[@robertfitzgerald235]

So F'n cool. Love your vids bro. Bike sounds so good, and you killed it out there.

[@olddadmx5284]

Thank you Fitz...that means a lot! Just an old guy trying to stay young!

[@nathansumerlin8391]

Great video, enjoyed it! I have an 03, and you can hear that 96 has the advantage out of the corner but the 03 has the hp advantage on the longer puls. If you haven’t done it, taking .030 off the base of the cylinder helps the bottom end, have had a couple 01 Honda’s and they have a goo mid hit but the 03 screams

[@olddadmx5284]

Appreciate your input on this Nathan! Might have to get that done!

[@nathansumerlin8391]

I am curious to how your 86 compares to the 03 in power, and power delivery. I have had an 85 87, 89, 94 97-01 cr 500’s but never an older hpp Honda 250, have rod a few different 92-01 250’s but not any 86-91

[@olddadmx5284]

@@nathansumerlin8391 Great question! They are very different to say the least. The '86 engine is actually pretty amazing for its time and I can now see why it was a class leader back then. It has an amazing low-end hit that pulls hard through the mid-range and then flattens out on top. It honestly is so easy to ride as it makes very smooth usable power that doesn't tire you out like the '03 can. It really works well on tighter tracks and it turns on a dime but that chassis still has high speed head shake and disc/drum brakes that keep you on your toes. The '03 RC engine feels like it has 8-10 more horse power than the '86, but all that power doesn't come on until the mid-range up. It requires more work to keep it in its narrow powerband and definitely shines on faster tracks. I always thought it would be cool to put that '86 motor into a '02+ 3rd gen aluminum frame and see what it would be like, but I can't imagine putting that '03 RC valve engine in the '86 chassis as it would be a scary mess! I hope that helps.

[@quadzillahp3040]

I have an 05 RM 250, a guy is selling a 96 cr 250 locally here, does anyone know how that would compare? I know it is the last year of Honda's steel frames and it is supposed to be a nice bike but I just don't have any experience with Honda 2T's let alone that year and model specifically. Thanks for your time and help.

[@331moto]

I like how the dude on the RM tried to get out front. You blew by him after like 3 turns...

[@olddadmx5284]

Ya, glad you got a kick out of that Rapid Foal. I messed up and went off the track trying a new line in that corner trying to see if I could get a pass on the leader and let Big Mike get by. He told me after the race his bike cut out for a second in that corner...not sure what that was all about. It was just fun having some guys to actually race and battle with even though they were not in my same class.

[@paulmryglod4802]

My favorite motor is the 97, favorite chassis is the last generation

[@philipmalcomson2263]

Great race. The big lad on the 125 suzuki didnt last long.

[@olddadmx5284]

Thank you Philip!

[@douggoins4426]

Great ride Bryan!!👏👏👍👍

[@olddadmx5284]

Thank you friend!

[@onlygazza]

Absolutely loved it 😎👌

[@olddadmx5284]

Appreciate it bro!

[@Duppavich]

That's a sweet track 🤘

[@olddadmx5284]

Yes it is! It is actually one of the oldest registered AMA track in the country! They started racing TT/Flat Track races back in 1937 before it was later changed to motocross.

[@Monsieurfigueroa]

Ohh and I put a new aftermarket wiseco top end. This thing beats any new or old 4 stroke and 2 stroke

[@shawnhorne9296]

Inside lines , my man

[@buffering7612]

03 is beautiful I had a 125 but I’d take the 96

[@mustknowinfo2001]

Is this your private track

[@olddadmx5284]

I wish! No, this is at the Wabash Cannonball MX in Indiana.

[@rainerzufall1521]

cr250 has literally no low end power

[@olddadmx5284]

The '02 - '07 RC Valved Engine does not have the bottom that the previous mechanical PV CR engines have. It has a pretty good mid-range hit that revs hard and then flattens out on top end (also depends on the pipe you have on it). You can kind of see in this video how the '96 pulls better out of the corner, but the top end of the '03 seems to real it back in.