Messages

1

Projects / Re: A new (long) build begin...from France

« on: December 06, 2021, 12:57:06 PM »

I took advantage of the Black Friday sales to order somes parts : Hotrods crank, DRW case caver, specBolt full rebuilt kit and a seat latch at BVC... Now just to wait for the shipping

Need some advices concerning my frame....

i join 3 pics...  What did you thinks? is it possible to straighten this frame?

I don't kwon of it will have a big effect in the handling... if maybe I can compens with a-arms like ASR or fullflight with adjustable ball joint ?

Find a perfect frame is almost impossible mission in France.... An expedition directly from US will cost a lot.

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Projects / Re: A new (long) build begin...from France

« on: November 25, 2021, 04:11:23 AM »

Ok thanks, so it confirm that's a 85/86 cylinder style.

I will see after what option I will take for the top end.

Now I have enough to do with bottom end... I have to pass orders for all bearing, seals and gasket (OEM Honda), a new basket and certainly OEM clutch disc/plate

It will be enough for my bank account for this month 

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Projects / Re: A new (long) build begin...from France

« on: November 22, 2021, 09:35:46 AM »

Somes questions

Concerning the motor....I'm focus on bottom end now. I will replace all bearings and seals by OEM Honda.

Because I want to start with everything new, I will replace the crankshaft too (After I will rebuild the oldest to have one in advance).

1 - is it better to put a short or long rod? Did we feel difference on the motor?  If I have undestrand correctly the different combinaison... With a long rod, we can run with 87-89 piston style or with 86 piston + spacer plate ?
So it look preferable to go with long rod to have multiple combinaison, no?

2 - Have you some recommandation for the clutch basket? And for plate/disc : OEM (with Neils mod) or aftermarket ?


For the top end, I will certainly go bak to a stock bore... New sleeve on my actual cylinder or find a good used top end... Maybe in a second step, I will look for a big bore... But in a first step, I prefer to kept money for racing parts for the frame

4

Projects / Re: A new (long) build begin...from France

« on: November 22, 2021, 08:58:53 AM »

Parts identification

This is some pics of my top end... Need some helps to identify parts...

It look like a 86 cylinder, right?

My cranck is a hortods with "CK109" inscription. After somes research on google, it's certainly a long rod.

On the piston I have just "50" and "50x50" on top and "ART" inside... It measure 71mm.... So it's outside the 87-89 piston possibilty...

And I have no plate under the cylinder...

So I'm a little pertubated by this combo...

Have you some ideas?

And for the transmission, what is the tips to know the years?

5

Projects / Re: A new (long) build begin...from France

« on: November 22, 2021, 08:54:55 AM »

Case center repaired

I've found a guy for cases centers repair... Somes pics before/after

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Projects / Re: A new (long) build begin...from France

« on: November 22, 2021, 08:53:05 AM »

86 Frame
For the problem of the frame, I managed to find a 86 frame. It look really nice with all of the original fixation... one crack on the top on the suspension mount... and under the frame where it is reinforce (in the front)...dirt was certainly accumulated here and had start to rust on the tube of frame, so I have some holes...
Umh...
OK I'll take it... It will be certainly more easily to repair than my 88... A good deal (I think at the beginning) for 300$ frame + rear maier fender in yellow (with no crack)


But...  ... At home, I start to mount a-arms to see if everything is ok.... I notice that one of the ball joints (of bottom a-arms) is a little more forward than the other (for top it looks ok)... around 1,5cm (0,59 inches) with stock a-arms......

     So this frame looks slightly bent too to the right on the bottom front

If it's possible I will try to used this frame after rebuilt it...I will see

7

Projects / A new (long) build begin...from France

« on: November 22, 2021, 08:51:49 AM »

Hello guys,

I've just create this topic to exchange about my first 250r build. It will be more a reconstruction than a restoration, everything need to be rebuild.
Frame is 88. Naturraly I thought motor was a 88 (number plate is removed, so??), but I think it's a 86, not sure... need your helps to identify

The objective is to build a bike for a mix between MX and endurance racing. So I will have a lot of work.

I run the bike during 10-15min only... it pull on bottom-middle but can't rev to top, I will understand better why, after the disassembling ^^


Disassembly step

The dissasembly is easy and fast. I have a 400ex and a 450er, many things are similar.
I know the frame is not really "fresh", but after removing everything from it, I just constat that frame is good for garbage..... so many welds I can't count, bend in the front...

Ok...so.. next, we will check the moto now... and a new disillusion.... center cases were cracked on the rear... just behind the swingarm 
The sleeve on top end in cracked too...
Clutch basket need to be change
Transmission and crank looks correct

It's a perfect start for the rebuilt 

After this first disappointed contact, I know this is one of the worst purchase I have made...   
I am not discouraged, it will just take me more time to rebuild (and also a little more Euros )

But I don't know where to start....frame...motor....So I start to contact some guys for the frame, if it's possible to repaired or not... the same for the cases....

So I start to clean all recoverable parts during my evenings, polish some ...etc.. not the biggest steps, but it takes time too

8

Introductions / Re: EricZ from France

« on: November 08, 2021, 08:26:00 AM »

Some parts from other Honda quads can work on the 250R.

Yes, I've seen that. I already try 400ex a-arms and ohlins shocks that I have in stock. It work fine. But the objectif is to put extended a-arms

In France, yes I can find some 450r parts, less of 400ex.

Maybe I will check for a 450r swingarm, but I have seen on different forum a lot of different combinaison... and every time, somes saids that it's not really correct for the suspension, etc... It's not very clear for the good combinaison for the swingarm.
And if I can use a 450 rear caliper, it will be better... I want to rebuild my 250 rear caliper, but it seems complicated to find pistons

9

Introductions / Re: EricZ from France

« on: November 05, 2021, 10:56:27 AM »

@havinnoj , I start serioulsly to search for a 250r 2 years ago. But due to covid, lockdown (3 times in france...), it was more difficult...
In parrallel I've done the restoration also of my 400ex (440 >> 400  due to overheating, problem of setting... )
And also the complete rebuild of the motor of the 450er (bottom and top)
So I've put money in the rebuild and I missed some bikes... We don't have often 250r in the sell market. And some guys try the sell it more expensive than gold ^^
This one is certainly not the best ... I have to do so much work, but it's that I wanted.
But I didnt' really realize before buying it, the difficulties to find some parts and the constraint to have to buy so much parts directly in US ( not directly a problem, but for some parts, it costs me more in shipping+tax than the parts itself )

Picture of the trx family
400ex 2000 +2 a-arms, RPM axle, ohlins front/rear schocks, full exhaust and a lot of "esthetic" parts
450er 2007 Gibson a-arms, RPM axle, Fox shock, Full Rossier exhaust and also "esthetic" parts (QuadTech hoods missing on the pic)
And the 88 250r in the middle...

10

Introductions / EricZ from France

« on: November 04, 2021, 11:34:22 AM »

Hello everybody,

Just a little presentation. My name is Eric, 41 years old, I'm living in France.
I'm in the ATV since my 15 years old. Racing during 10 years in MX and endurance (like 12h of Pont de Vaux, a famous race in France where a lot of US pilots have coming). And after I completely stop racing and ATV during some years
But my current bikes was still waiting on the garage:
2000 Honda 400ex modded for Race
2007 Honda 250er modded for Race

2 month ago, I bought a 88 250R. It was a dream since a long time but now started the most difficult and pleasant phase in the same time.
Bike if full stock with everything to rebuild. I don't have historic of this bike, but it certainly had another motor and come back with 250r.
frame has many welds, like the swingarm,  case center has a crack... So just perfect 

So I'm here to exchange et finds informations for my rebuild. Objective is to make an MX bike that will be enough well rebuilt to participate to some races in vintages class. So extended a-arms, axle, good suspension... for the motor close to stock and I will see after if I have the opportunity to find a nice top end

Like I said at the beginning, I'm from France. It's really difficult to find parts here or only in bad shape for the majority. So I start to enter in contact with guys selling parts in US, I check ebay and facebook 250r US groups.

I have already ordered a gusset kit from Tony, and some others parts on Ebay US...

It will be a long road before the first start, but it's really cool 

Eric