Topic: Honda CRF Bikes

[BenelliSEI]

My grand g’kids are up for CDN. Thanksgiving and riding is their entire day. I love the look of these Honda CRF’s. My grand daughter has outgrown the “50”. Looking for a CRF110 next….. These bikes take abuse and just keep on running. I picked up the CRF230 for $500 and all it needed was a really good going over, a carb clean, and a new battery (no kick start).

[BenelliSEI]

My grandson is coming up for the next three days and I was surprised when the CRF230 started right up this am! It has a tiny battery, electric start only. This bike had been parked for a few years when I picked it up for very little. Gave it a really good going over last June (2024). Carb clean, valve adjustment, fork seals and a couple of rapid fire oil changes. It’s been over a year so what the heck….. Good news; the strainer/ filter was spotless. Tough little machines.

[BenelliSEI]

Jack gave the plastic a really good polish a while back. Still looks great.

[kyle750]

I've owned this CRF250L since 2013.  Now 60km.  Perfect size for me, reliable, starts every time, and very little maintenance. I bought another in 2019 but didn't like it all.  Soft suspension and bounced up and down, strange power range, and front steering that was squirrelly.  Sold it quickly. 

[seanbarney41]

My first dirt bike was a '07 CRF450r...no good except for serious mx racer.  Service intervals are measured in hours on these and we are talking stuff like piston/cylinder inspection!  I traded an unwanted bike for it was the only reason I got it.  The thing was really hard to ride because it was so powerful...way too much bike for mortals.  Don't try the Honda r's.  I would guess the L's are fine.  The older xr's are wonderful bullet proof troopers.

Now I got a 1997 Kawasaki KDX200.  Love the hell out of it.  Just so light, maneuverable, and tough.

[Stev-o]

My grand daughter has outgrown the “50”.

Many years ago I bought one for our daughter, she outgrew it and I sold it. 
Then she got into bicycles and does triathlons.

[scottly]

My first dirt bike was a '07 CRF450r...no good except for serious mx racer...  The thing was really hard to ride because it was so powerful...way too much bike for mortals.

You would have hated the 1982 CR 480. 51 horsepower and 227 pounds. It was the first brand new vehicle I ever owned, and I loved it!

[seanbarney41]

My first dirt bike was a '07 CRF450r...no good except for serious mx racer...  The thing was really hard to ride because it was so powerful...way too much bike for mortals.

You would have hated the 1982 CR 480. 51 horsepower and 227 pounds. It was the first brand new vehicle I ever owned, and I loved it!

CRF450R was rated at 62hp and about that same weight...but I am guessing that CR 2 stroke power band was less than forgiving!

The thing about  riding dirt in Michigan is trees... a hell of a lot of them, and they can be rather big.  I have found it is much more fun to ride around and between them than to use all that powerr to examine tree bark closely.

[BenelliSEI]

Last year my grandson and his younger sister put a lot of miles on these two bikes. He’s traveling further and further on our property and local trails, and she has grown a lot too. Talking to my son today and i think we need another one. She’ll be moving up and one of us should go with him when he “travels”. Looking for another CRF R, X, or L.

My son suggested we really need 2 or 3 more! It never ends…..

[BenelliSEI]

Spoke to another CVMG member who responded to my ad asking if anyone had a “Honda CRF?? stashed away collecting dust?”.

David’s son had a very nice, clean 2005 Honda CRF250 X that developed a “knock” 10 years ago. They ordered a new “HONDA crank, rod, piston, bearings, gasket, valves, etc., and made a winter project of a through rebuild. That summer the son went to British Columbia, for a great job. Guess what? Met a gal, got married, two kids, never came back. The bike is “pretty much back together and just taking up space”.

Seems like a really decent guy, isn’t riding anymore, and he’s only a few hours away. As soon as I can get my trailer out of the barn (and the roads clean up a bit) I’ll be heading to Paris, Ontario to have a closer look. He sent a few pics and the bike looks good.

Premium version of what we have with an alloy frame, bigger forks, more HP, and rear disc brake. Looks like fun!

[Stev-o]

David’s son had a very nice, clean 2005 Honda CRF250 X that developed a “knock” 10 years ago.

Hey John...just read that these are prone to valve issues. A little surprised to hear that about a Honda...


"Common Issues and Maintenance
Valves: The titanium intake valves can lose clearance and wear out quickly, often necessitating a top-end rebuild with durable stainless steel valves"

[seanbarney41]

Yeah, that is one reason I got rid of my 07 CRF450R...valve clearance would tighten up every 10 hours of run time and smaller shims were running out!  However mine was an R, requiring full race bike teardown and inspection intervals.  I am not sure the X models are quite so high strung.  I do know the X models are geared more for enduro riding...not a motocross track weapon.

[BenelliSEI]

David’s son had a very nice, clean 2005 Honda CRF250 X that developed a “knock” 10 years ago.

Hey John...just read that these are prone to valve issues. A little surprised to hear that about a Honda...


"Common Issues and Maintenance
Valves: The titanium intake valves can lose clearance and wear out quickly, often necessitating a top-end rebuild with durable stainless steel valves"

You guys both are spot on. David actually mentioned this and said they used an aftermarket set of stainless steel valves from a vendor in California. Seems like he knew what he was doing. All the other bits were from Honda and I suspect he spent more than the bike is worth! Could be a good find. If I get it I will be checking those clearances before start up!

[grcamna2]

Spoke to another CVMG member who responded to my ad asking if anyone had a “Honda CRF?? stashed away collecting dust?”.

David’s son had a very nice, clean 2005 Honda CRF250 X that developed a “knock” 10 years ago. They ordered a new “HONDA crank, rod, piston, bearings, gasket, valves, etc., and made a winter project of a through rebuild. That summer the son went to British Columbia, for a great job. Guess what? Met a gal, got married, two kids, never came back. The bike is “pretty much back together and just taking up space”.

Seems like a really decent guy, isn’t riding anymore, and he’s only a few hours away. As soon as I can get my trailer out of the barn (and the roads clean up a bit) I’ll be heading to Paris, Ontario to have a closer look. He sent a few pics and the bike looks good.

Premium version of what we have with an alloy frame, bigger forks, more HP, and rear disc brake. Looks like fun!

That'll be a nice bike John.

[BenelliSEI]

Sounds like it could be. Weather is improving fast so may go sooner than later.

[grcamna2]

Sounds like it could be. Weather is improving fast so may go sooner than later.

Early Spring 

[MauiK3]

I suppose the stainless valves are heavier and thus might inhibit rpm a little but if racing isn't the goal who cares?

[BenelliSEI]

You’re probably right but we just bang around the farm and surrounding trails, so it will do. The bike is 250 kilometres from home. I just dug out my trailer from the barn and plan to head there tomorrow. Next news should have some CRFx photos!

[grcamna2]

You’re probably right but we just bang around the farm and surrounding trails, so it will do. The bike is 250 kilometres from home. I just dug out my trailer from the barn and plan to head there tomorrow. Next news should have some CRFx photos!

 

[BenelliSEI]

Long day. Got it! Had to dig it out of a very dusty, packed shop. This gentleman had at least 50 vintage bikes (along with cars, trucks and snow machines). Most are 60’s and 70’s BSAs and lots of others.

[BenelliSEI]

Got it back in my shop late today. The engine is fully rebuilt, top to bottom. Loaded with coolant and clean oil. Everything else is either loosely in place or in several boxes that came with it. A cursory review suggests it’s all there (including a VERY dead battery), time will tell. Lots of new fasteners, gaskets and small parts, including several manuals, parts lists and service books. Looks like it will be fun to work on something different and cleverly designed.

The “Owner’s Manual & Competition Handbook” is a very complete technical document. I flipped through it and will be checking valve clearances before start up. It uses a bucket and shim system for adjustment. The cam has to come out for changes.

[grcamna2]

You've got a decent project;something else grabbing more of your time John 

[BenelliSEI]

A bit more than I wanted at the moment but I’m assuming David did a really fine job on the engine, so likely worth it. Reading through the Owner’s Manual last night was fun. In addition to the usual technical stuff there are sections on tuning for competition, suspension tuning, fitting the bike to specific riders, and even loading and tying down the machine correctly.

What was really surprising (unlike the older machines) there is a torque spec for virtually EVERY single screw on the bike. I like that.