Honda Cr250r Enduro

HONDA CR250R ENDURO

Precursor to a production model?

OBJECTIVE: MODIFY A 1987 HONDA CR250R MOTOcross bike into a highly competent enduro machine.

Jon Stillman’s CR250R enduro bike is a very competent woods racer. He modified the motocross gearbox with Honda’s $205.57 wide-ratio transmission kit, which widens the ratio gaps between second and third, third and fourth, and fourth and fifth. The resultant gearbox offers the right gear for almost any enduro conditions. He also installed the Honda-built enduro ignition kit, which increases flywheel weight and incorporates a 25watt lighting coil. It’s a $252.07 item available through any Honda dealer.

But the CR motor needed even more flywheel yet, so Honda's racing shop welded a one-pound steel disc to the outer edge of the enduro-kit’s ignition flywheel. The heavier flywheel helps tame the powerful motocross engine at lower engine speeds and increases rear-tire traction on slippery ground, but the front wheel can still be easily lofted with a blip of the throttle. And the CR’s great lowto-mid-range powerband is perfect for controlled blasts through the woods.

Not only that, seemingly reckless speeds along twisty trails are possible on this bike; the CR’s famous steering precision lets the rider pick fine lines through rocks and around tree roots, and it’s child’s play to zap through corners at impressive speeds. The excellent disc brakes require little effort and aren’t affected by deep water crossings. And Honda’s mastery of the design, placement and operation of the controls lets almost any rider feel comfortable on the CR within the first few feet.

Stillman softened the Showa suspension by replacing the shock and fork oil with 5-weight Showa suspension fluid. This turned a superb MX suspension into a fine, comfortable enduro suspension. He then installed a CR450 front fender ($38.73) and added some prototype fender extensions to increase mud protection in front. A $36.50 XR600R rear fender protects the rider’s back, and it’s topped with a $45.49 XR toolbag. Frame extensions hand-made by Honda’s race shop help support the larger, heavier rear fender.

Numerous other worthwhile items help the CR perform more competently as an enduro racer. Stillman added Honda’s trick-but-expensive electronic odometer/enduro clock, which runs about $305 for all the required parts. Plus, the inside of the odometer drive unit must be machined larger to fit around the CR’s front axle. Stillman also added XR600R aluminum case guards ($59.18, plus the fabrication and welding of the necessary mounting brackets on the CR frame), an XR350 headlight/ numberplate ($97.41), a DID O-ring chain ($62), and a $39.95 spark arrester from Sparky ([714] 779-5318). He then welded a nifty aluminum sidestand to the CR’s aluminum swingarm. The stand goes for $45 from Finish Line Products ([714] 528-0046), plus the cost of getting it welded in place.

Stillman turned to Acerbis for a number of plastic goodies for his CR enduro, all of which are available through motorcycle dealers everywhere. He installed handguards with extenders ($24), fork protectors ($20) and a slick 3.3gallon gas tank ($ 150) that is the slimmest we’ve ever seen for something with so much capacity. This narrow-asstock tank carries the extra fuel in its deeply extended bottom, and its slim shape lets the rider move as far forward as he could with the stock MX tank.

Altogether, this modified CR250R is a fabulous woods machine that created a lot of excitement among our test riders. In one way or another, they wanted to know the same thing: “When can we buy a production model?”