Classic Bike Review: 1986 Honda CR250R

[@chadkennedy529]

My dad bought an 86 250 brand new, and it's still sitting in the back of his machine shop collecting at least an inch of dust a year with what I would gamble to say about maybe 30 hours on it. Excellent video as always Tony! I can't get enough of these.

[@purebloodheretic4682]

Dig it out & Put a Quick Vid of it up on Y.T. - A 1986 with 30 Hrs is like Rockin' Horse Poo! -Cheers👍😉

[@2strokin70]

I'd like to buy it

[@FlowFinderUSA]

I had a 1986 Honda CR80R ... The little red shredder.

[@DEREKFUMI]

Bugsy Siegel me too and it was crazy fast! I loved that bike.

[@fredgarvinMP]

86 CR80 was my first motorcycle and yeah, it's a little too much bike to learn on!Long time ago...good times.

[@SOSchangedme]

Best performing CR I've ever rode. Perfect power. Wish my 93' was identical but...

[@davemann7017]

Just picked me up an 86 to restore. What a awesome bike to add to a collection

[@EarthSurferUSA]

The reason the 83-85 Honda works 250's had a electronic power valve was for testing for openings, duration's. It was programmable from a computer in between test sessions. Once they had the time of opening good, they could mimic it mechanically. I could be pretty sure all the factories used a system like that for development.

[@kerrygoodwin4071]

You rock man! Thanks for what your doing for the mx community. I am 49 and still own several bikes. I had an 87 cr at one time. Good bike. Wish I still had it. Keep up your info for the younger guys!

[@davesmith5117]

I was one of the lucky ones I guess, I had this bike , however I did switch forks to 1988 forks, same tree. Pro Crucet pipe fmf baf, 55 Rear & took down GFI North Vs South 94/95 Out in California, Nate Otto was the man that showed me all about real riding. We were out of Burbank Ca

[@teamflanneloutdoors5631]

This year was my first Honda after many years of Yamaha's. My Dad and I were blown away how well they were made and the ease of maintainence. I've had alot of bikes over the years but the 1986 CR125 is still one of my favorites.

[@fredgarvinMP]

MY 87 CR250 was a dream to work on compared to my 95 RM250 which still didn't have a removable subframe!

[@teamflanneloutdoors5631]

Fred Garvin one could basically disassemble the bike with an 8, 12, and 14mm

[@jeffdean7623]

The reliability of the 84 CR250 was directly related to the lack of bridge on the cylinders exhaust Port window. This huge exhaust Port opening allowed cocking of the piston. All CR service manuals say replace piston and rings after 7.5 hours of use. For the 84 CR250, It really, really meant it. An original, (before the bike was sold) dealer service bulletin recommended a large chamfer on the exhaust Port window . It did not help. Some owners received new cylinders from Honda. The ATAC system, if kept clean and properly adjusted, was a benefit on the 250 at least. It's adjustment was critical and often gooped up as it lives in a terrible world. Other than that, it was a great bike. Another great? 94 CR125.... I enjoyed the video, thanks

[@ryanlester761]

Great video. Thanks again for taking the time to make this and share with the world.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Roger DeCoster warned us, and I see how it happened. The 1986 production rule tripled the cost of a bike in 5 years, and that started the market share decline.

[@TNTMOTO]

Great video. This era of 80's honda machines is why i like restoring them so much.

[@johnpowell9261]

I own one and I love it dearly, I also have an 83 and 84 250s

[@MMACHMP]

I raced professionally in 86 and rode the Yamaha and loved it but the CR250 was a sweat bike had the first cartridge fork and they were amazing forks

[@nickogv4468]

I love the way you open the eyes of everything about Honda CR 250 The only only bike I would ever buy in a heart beat and race ❤️💪💪💪!!!1986 CR that I have is in a process of restoration and my other CRF is on the second tank of gas NEW , but for some reason I LOVE the CR , CRF to be honest I don’t like the sound or any of the new 4stroke bikes

[@arnoldsanders6878]

Omara was my favorite. His ride in the Des Nations in'86 was great.

[@johnsmith7622]

Great video of one of the best mx bikes... EVER. Wasn't it '87 when Honda switched to Showa and gave us a rear disc? I raced an 88 CR125... LOVED IT!

[@jessejarzabski5076]

In 86 Hondas cr500 and cr250 got cartridge forks while cr125 got reg damper rods and all bikes had rear drums in 86 but in 87, they all had rear discs and the 125 got the new silverware then too.....

[@OnTheFritz602]

Would love to get one of these to restore.

[@tommyboy1964]

Seen lots of those sub frame get bent!! You can’t beat those old steel frames for strength.

[@fatboy2smoker841]

Excellent review, sir!! Always a pleasure to stroll back memory lane😎

[@jaxxrocket1530]

Great review bro!! Keep an eye on Kaplan America and their New England Motorcycle Museum for finding a sweet 86' for sale, good luck Tony!!

[@cbh148]

This vid is incredible. Gotta love the ambitious Japanese engineering of this era. There’s a charm to endeavors that shoot for the moon with thoroughly lateral thinking. This was a time when a bubble economy bolstered Honda was relentlessly pursuing the best solutions, cost be damned. Any idea if any of the CR250R engines of the 80's were similar to the TRX250R engine?

[@TheMotocrossVault]

No they were completely different the Fourtrax motor never had any sort of power valve system and also had features like a counterbalancer that we’re not found on the CRs. They were tune much more for torque and smoothness than outoutright horsepower

[@alexguiver815]

Excellent vid, thanks!! Could you do a similar one for the '92 CR250R? I believe this was the year the HPP valves were retired in favour of the simpler RC Valve and an explanation of how this works would be great. Thanks again

[@OnfloorAudio]

Killer review Tony !! love your channel . Keep up the great work .

[@minibikemafia]

Awesome! More of these!😁

[@80smxpro41]

Great video. I wish you would do a video on the 81 RM125. I was on a Yamaha that year and had a chance to switch mid season and looking back I wish I would have.

[@rmtwofiftyzmann]

good sir you told me in a comment response,several months ago,that you'd do a classic bike review of the 82 rm250z and i never saw it if it was actually posted...can we try again?thank you!!

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I have not done that one yet

[@64maxpower]

These vids are a grear idea Tony. Do one on my 83 KX125

[@prestonbutler1543]

I love kawa bungas lol

[@joenobody2580]

If your looking for an 86Cr Look up tnt moto on youtube , he restores bikes and sells them, and he's really reasonable. He's done a few mid 80s CRs. 87 is my absolute favorite year.

[@fredgarvinMP]

I did love my 87 CR250 as well!

[@johnsonoutdoors8117]

86 was a good year i have a trx200sx

[@100mphFastball]

This is a great video.

[@Tub703]

watching all these classic reviews over the holidays nice work tony ! keep the last of hondas 2t's 05-07 in mind would ya cheers

[@GoViking933]

My first ‘really cool’ dirtbike was an ‘86 CR250R. I really enjoyed this vid, great job on pointing out what did & didn’t work on it.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Wrong wrong wrong sir, (nicely). For the 1986 production rule: If the notion was correct that Yamaha did not want to spend bucks on works bikes, they would not have kept making them for Europe and Europe would have been subject to the same rules. (the same goes for manufacturing global warming regulation for the USA, but not in communist china. That is much more of an advantage though.). The rule was originated with the FIM, thinking it would disadvantage the USA riders. Europe can still use works bikes/parts to this day. It was a USA rule only, and the development went on with out us. Nice that we won the MXofN for the next 8 years still. Now look who runs our racing. Yamaha did not kick off the production rule. They just agreed with it first, like the 4-stroke. To me, Yamaha has proven to not have a very good business philosophy. But FIM and EPA use force.

[@johnchild7522]

My second bike after the 79 yz400. Loved my Cr. Ride that bitch till trans went.

[@bigbkzj7396]

Anyone know what hp this bike has? The internet says my 84 rm125 has 41 but when I look up 86 cr250 it says it has 38. Can this be right?

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Dyno figures can vary greatly based on several factors. Often times the manufactures publish figures taken at the crank because they are often significantly higher than ones taken at the rear wheel which suffer from parasitic loss of the drivetrain. Also, dynos can vary greatly in the figures they provide so it is best to compare figures takes on the same dyno in the same fashion if you want an accurate comparison. The 38 hp figure you mentioned for the 1986 CR250R was taken on Kerker's dyno by Dirt Rider and your 1984 Suzuki RM125 produced 23.4 hp on the same dyno in 1984 so that is a more fair comparison between the two machines.

[@bigbkzj7396]

@@TheMotocrossVault ok thanks. that really cleared it up for me because it just didn't make any sense that a 125 could produce more power than a 250. the 86 cr250 is my dream bike so thats why i was looking it up.

[@claytongreen2744]

Love that Bike!! Bring them Back!!!👍

[@motoboys3676]

nice video

[@robertnehring2663]

Really good videos. Could you do a cr250 history video? Thanks

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I will be doing one yes

[@robertnehring2663]

Awesome! I just bought a 97 restoring/rebuilding it. Thanks looking forward to it!

[@hiker2742]

I am growning very concerned that you are not going to do a video on Kawasaki ads from the 70's. May I ask when or if this video will be presented.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Hiker wow you’re very impatient about this. This stuff takes me months and months to research and compile. I will get to it but I do this as a hobby I have a full-time job that I put in 60 to 70 hours a week on. Rest assured it will be done but like a fine wine it takes time

[@hiker2742]

@@TheMotocrossVault I really appreciate you keeping the Kawasaki ad thing in the pipeline. I do fear that your "job" may be interfering with you gift for compiling these ad videos. You do a great job with these. I feel you are a better asset to society producing these ad videos. Might I suggest you do this fulltime? Thanks

[@danielrelph6878]

I was 16 when this bike came out it was a KO for the competition that year...my friend had the 125 that year and that bike felt like a works bike compared to the rest of the field.

[@joshmarks3954]

Saw, loved and sub'd. Any chance you could do an episode on 1983 80cc's? Anyone got a favorite that year? Let me guess the kx80....

[@unclequack5445]

You named your girls Hannah and Bailey?

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Yes I did

[@lindenphilippson]

Love your videos!! Do you have one for the cr125s??

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Linden Philippson not yet but I will Get to it eventually

[@MrColdwatercanyon]

The bikes were getting so trick Pipes are all about volume management

[@Deathtrap617]

Oddly enough it would be Yamaha would started the demise of the 2 stroke also around 1997

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Pretty ironic huh?

[@Deathtrap617]

I’m from Massachusetts and nothing made me happier than to see Doug Henry rip on that bike. He’s got the heart of a lion

[@ianmangham4570]

ATAC

[@patrickpoupard1517]

Tu t'en fou des Suzuki