CRF250 L thread

[WillS]

Steve will be bringing his KTM 450!! So have the fire extinguishers at the ready!!
It is a different one from the last escapade on the RB1 from Bossôst.
But you never know with these "Lithium Batteries" and KTM

Sounds like it's going to be a fun few days on the Spanish trails

It certainly will be a great weekend! If Steve's bringing another Katey maybe we should ask Alan for details of old Civil War trenches, air raid shelters, etc. loads of them around there, to take refuge every time he 'fires' up.

Simon

Now that sounds like a plan Simon!!
It's easy just to follow the smoke from under his seat!!
Let's hope this "Katey" lasts longer than the last one!!

Will

[garyboy]

just a few notes/observations ..

. I didn't know there is a big bore fit for the L .. I thought it meant a re-bore, but it has a new bigger cylinder
. But it makes sense to buy the cbr300r engine, to save fuffin around?, and its a complete Honda tuned/set up.
. The 300 engine may have road gears but a larger rear sprocket will reduce them for `off road` ? (plenty of torque there)
. I will be sticking to the standard L set up (but 14/42 sprockets, [most have lower than this])
.

. Check your coolant level, as when I drained, to get the new clutch plates in, it was low! (1/3 litre put in to `top up`,
. (previously the cooling fans were coming on a bit early?, so probably low level from the showroom?)
. Take care with tightening the 8mm bolts .. they are like chocolate and they bed into cheese.
. No point in using a torque wrench, as it will be too heavy at even the manual spec. (just finger tight is enough, plus locktite?)
. Halfords do a very good low-priced twist bar for 3/8 bits.
. Halfords do a cheap very good suction pump with tube for draining coolant to level.
. There is a small screw set into the rad cap (to prevent unscrewing of the rad cap), but normal screwdriver ok.
. Castrol coolant is the one to use (suitable for all Hondas? I believe).
. To drain the coolant, open the rad cap (air lock otherwise and does not drain).
. Fill through the radiator (cold) even tho the book says to use the expansion bottle (don't work that way.
. I put new oil in, but left the filter replacement for when I re-fill in a few 100 miles.
. The new crank case gasket will most probably not be wanted, as old one comes off easy and clean.
. The oil drain plug (bolt) did not seem to have a copper washer.
. //?The oil drain bolt is unfastened with a large Torx key (you will need one). ... (( EDIT .. BEEN TOLD ITS A 12MM HEX HEADED BOLT ))
. The video is indispensable .. but it is double the cost (£140, plus fluids [oil, coolant, knuckle blood] .. not £70).
. The return spring at the bottom of the clutch lever shaft will come loose when the crank case comes off .. manual for info.
. It is very potchy (but simple) to get all the fittings off from the outside of the clutch casing (over £60 labour by shop).

[AlanHolt]

Simon, there will be a standard 2017 crf250 for you to try when you come here in April.

Great, we can have the 'play off' between that, Will's posh version and my little Beta Alp!

Regs

Simon

PS, is it yours or is Steve bringing his wife's?

A friend has bought 2 (he wants 4) which he is hoping to hire out to people on holiday in the area so they can sample the trails and what is on offer. He will be making an appearance when you guys are here and riding with us. You may know him Simon, as he runs a bike magazine for the South East of the UK.

[WillS]

Simon, there will be a standard 2017 crf250 for you to try when you come here in April.

Great, we can have the 'play off' between that, Will's posh version and my little Beta Alp!

Regs

Simon

PS, is it yours or is Steve bringing his wife's?

A friend has bought 2 (he wants 4) which he is hoping to hire out to people on holiday in the area so they can sample the trails and what is on offer. He will be making an appearance when you guys are here and riding with us. You may know him Simon, as he runs a bike magazine for the South East of the UK.

Sounds like the trip is getting better Alan, looking forward to riding the trails with you locals and all the knowledge.
Think we will be booking a return soon !
Will

[AlanHolt]

Sounds like the trip is getting better Alan, looking forward to riding the trails with you locals and all the knowledge.
Think we will be booking a return soon !
Will

Now i'm under pressure to find some great trails

[minkyhead]

I've seen posts that say the cbr300 motor's gears aren't suitable for off road. Is that the case? Or are that talking rubbish.?

no they are wrong i was wary of that myself and spent quite a bit of time on gear commander before fitting the fist engine

http://www.gearingcommander.com/

you have to alter the rear tyre size but you can see the 1s gear is lower and 2nd is closer and any crf owner will tell you there is to big a gap between them for the power
the downside on paper is that 6th gear is a higher on the 300 ..but agian any crf owner will tell you 6th is a little too tall


so for that reason i left the300 box in and geraed it up ...where the 250 box i would have to gear it down ..


ive messed about quite a lot with the final combos for duel sport

the 250l has 14/40 on as standard ..i was running 13/40 ..or 14 /43 in the end to make it work with the gap to 2nd and 6the gear

the 300 motor was a tad tall at 15/38 and after a few combos i had lying around i have them both now at 15/40 ... ist is low enough for pretty much anything in relation to trail riding and 6th has usful acceleration from 50mph and although it still wont rev out ..will ease its way into the low 80s so the slightly taller 6th on the 250 box is not a advantage ..best part it will hold 70mph uphill headwinds ect all day long ..and it has much more low down punch in 1st nad 2nd ..the difference between 13/40 and 15/ 40 is considerable but the 300 is quite happy i find it probably the best combo for travel and trail

one of the good features on the crfs is you can change a sprocket at the side of the road if needed in 5 mins ...all you need to do is slack the rear adjusters off and two 10ml bolts on the sprocket ..

ive never needed to alter the gearing in the uk ..but maby if i was in the sandy stuff in marroc ..or certainly bulgaria where there some 6000 ft elevations i can throw a14 on the night before ....this combo is pretty short and susprisingly punchy and still practical for 50/60mph all day ..it isnt what you call a beast but its pretty handy with this gearing and it will move along pretty quick

threres some irony that a motor from a sportsbike is actually better suited to a trail bike but its tourque curve is ace you can get it going get you feet up in half a bike length and when its really slippy it finds grip easier than any big banger ...setting off on steep hills is amuch easier afair than the bigger bikes ..soft power and tiny 1st gear ... works well

a full 250l cassette is only 70/80 quid on ebay but i really dont see any need to put one in at all ..gap to 2nd will still need bridging so id have to gear it down more ..that would make it a bit more dynamic in the lower gears but i think then the 5 to 6 would show more .. i dont thk there would be much in it tbo but the 300 spacings are probably better being less gappy on a 31hp bike ..it certainly works well and im not inclined to split the engine to install somthing that may in the end not be as good ??

[fatowl]

Minkyhead, thanks for taking the time for this detailed answer. It also answers other questions i have been thinking about!

[garyboy]

20180212_155450 by gary boy, on Flickr

testing my `new` wind-breaker hand guards. cool ... I mean `warm`

[garyboy]

for me .. a slow rider .. I have got 14/42 .. (just had to change the rear sprocket) .. and it suits me fine.

with 14/40 std, I could quite easily get 100mpg, and 75mph, but now with just 2 teeth more on the rear, I get only 80+mpg taking it easy, and higher speeds 70ish are still quite difficult to reach, without revving the guts.

The difference up hill though, on steep stony stuff or slippy mud, is much much better, and worth the loss of speed on the tarmac.

[Brenhden]

This little beauty arrived from Chris AKA Catcitrus. It looks great and has filled the lounge with that classic resin smell

IMG_20180216_111029.jpg (100.62 KiB) Viewed 3623 times

It's weird that that the shiniest, fanciest bit of my bike will be that bit that gets all the grief!