Posts
190
Joined
3/5/2014
Location
ZA
Edited Date/Time
7/10/2015 6:49am
Hey Guys,
I'm posting here as I've gotten to know a few of the old school moto guys.
I have a 2003 and after almost finishing my '96 McGrath replica, I decided to tear down my '03 for a decent clean. I took it too far and pulled engine out and commenced operation wire brush then scotchbrite.
Looking at some pics I thought I could make a pretty sweet '06 Phoenix MC replica seeing as though the CR250 remained pretty much the same throughout those years.
I need a few answers from the boffins :
-What brand is the front number board? HRC or Cycra?
-What coating is on the forks in this period - it looks like a pale anodized finish?
-What ignition cover did he have - I cant seem to find any left hand side shots of bike. (any and all pics will be welcome!)
See pics below...
Other than the obvious it would be relatively easy to replicate - and still get oem bits.
What do you guys reckon?
I'll post some progress pics of this week's stripping, cleaning and polishing...
I'm posting here as I've gotten to know a few of the old school moto guys.
I have a 2003 and after almost finishing my '96 McGrath replica, I decided to tear down my '03 for a decent clean. I took it too far and pulled engine out and commenced operation wire brush then scotchbrite.
Looking at some pics I thought I could make a pretty sweet '06 Phoenix MC replica seeing as though the CR250 remained pretty much the same throughout those years.
I need a few answers from the boffins :
-What brand is the front number board? HRC or Cycra?
-What coating is on the forks in this period - it looks like a pale anodized finish?
-What ignition cover did he have - I cant seem to find any left hand side shots of bike. (any and all pics will be welcome!)
See pics below...
Other than the obvious it would be relatively easy to replicate - and still get oem bits.
What do you guys reckon?
I'll post some progress pics of this week's stripping, cleaning and polishing...
Then I took the frame in for a chemical polish at my local anodizers, This was just to get it super clean, I will still dull it down a few notches to look factory.
Interesting build - when I saw the heading, for a moment I thought you were going to do an '03 KTM 250SX
Cam Potter, a super smart bike guru & frequent Vital poster, LOVES the RC motor. With turning the cylinder and an '00 up YZ250 carb, that motor can be made to r i p.
MXA also did a build recently which details the simple mods to make the RC motor a track shredder
The Shop
Ahhhh that sounds sweet! I just want mine to rip too, Jeremy Pincus is the guy who built my '96 HRC pipe - he's a 2 smoke guru so hopefully he'll make it sing!
I cant find that article on the RC motor - do you have a link?
justin@redladder.co.za
When I saw the graphics I fell in love with them - so simple, old skool and clean! I've ordered a blue gripper seat to also go old school, just before I decided to go the MC replica route.
Actually I have a Santa Cruz Driver 8 in that siff orange colour, plus its got a bead blasted finish, which was then anodized.
So I was googling ways to polish out the bead blasted finish.
After stumbling across this chemical polish, I went to my anodizer and he took half an hour with it!
Its a chemical dip, and it really shines the aluminium, so I had to tone it down a notch or seven, now it looks great. Looking at pics of Team Honda bikes in that era (supercross), they are pretty shiny anyhow!
take note :
-the chemical is quite caustic and there was a bit in the frame, so when I tilted the frame it ran and marked the aluminium. I then flushed it out and had the fun job of getting all the water out of the frame. It comes off ok with scotchbrite pads an WD40. I'll post some pics tomorrow.
The forks are in for re-valving, and tubes have been anodised to that weird colour as seen above. (please guys, still need some help on those questions my first post!)
I was scratching around and found my showa from my CRF250 2011, its been valved and sprung to my weight already (Eibach spring). So I took it in and asked the suspension guys if I could do the swap. I had only found info on the older CRF shocks being swopped out. We measured and it all seems ok (not the most accurate measuring techniques were applied). So we swopped out the clevis and the rest is to be seen. I was out having a ciggie and wondered if the newer shock was lighter?
(I've built wheels to the lightest spec - just because the wheels were stripped down - turned oem Honda hubs, sm pro rims and spokes claimed to be lightest). It turns out the newer shock is heavier - 4.1kg vs 4.6kg! Look it may just be the spring - it has a lot more turns for my fat ass.
Spring is coming - sorry northern hemisphere, its OUR turn! so Ive been applying elbow grease all weekend, with some pudding for after... detailing the '96 MC wheels
So there are going to be variations. You may have your best luck in picking a bike (even a good picture) you like, and then trying to copy that.
To answer one of your questions, I understand that the "Honda Racing" HRC cover was used on the ignition and clutch cover. Also, I know that some of the semi-factory teams were running the dull aluminum forks by '01, so it's not impossible MC's forks had the same finish.
Where on earth did you find that factory rear sprocket? I need to locate two of those.
Awesome, so I'll go with whats above. I bought a cheap gripper seat cover for the meantime, in blue, and will run the current graphics and seat for now - or even for the year until that 2015 CR250R comes out - fingers crossed!
I'll stockpile the oem stuff until I have all that's needed for a sweet build.
Well Sir, if Ive fooled you then I'm happy
Awesome, will do this. Yeah, Col got his Renthal team sprocket from our buddy DJ, who in turn got them from some guy peddling a bunch of left over Jeff Demint parts.
As to the article on the RC motor, do a search here for "RC motor." It will have a link to the project bike that MXA built.
I really want to come visit the states, meet you guys and go ride some moto! Maybe next year.
Thanks, will check it out now
2002-2004 CR250 vs 2005-2007 CR250 - does anyone know the differences with engine?
http://mxa-old.ironfly.net/Main/News/MXA-BUILDS-A-RACEREADY-2006-HONDA-CR250-TWOSTROKE-11223.aspx
The person who would know with certainty is Cam Potter. My understanding is that turning the cylinder down and switching to a '00- up YZ250 carb work equally well for the '02-'04 motor, but the '05-up has more ultimate potential. Cam knows and has spoken with Terry Varner about this; Cam used to be a factory mechanic himself.
If you found the RC motor thred, then you can PM Cam from there. Otherwise, you may want to start a new thred specific to building the motor.. If you title it something like, "'03 Honda RC Motor Build" or similar, I'm sure he'll post.
I'm totally going to use that sprocket trick on my '93 CR250.
Pit Row
Actually there the Ricky Carmichael Honda graphics.
When I stop riding (which means finding something else later on), I'll put the plastics, graphics, seat etc. on.
Started putting it all back together...
Different way to build a bike on a coffee table
I painted the fork lugs black and polished the stanchions just for that extra plushness
New linkage and swingarm bearings were fitted
I built the linkage this evening - looking new and feeling sooooo smooth
Gripper seat and some decals etc fitted
That's as far as I got tonight, its 1:11am and I'm going to bed!
Going to fetch the engine tomorrow (two week lead time so I'll ride it until Pincus is ready to work on it again), wheels will be done (re-powdered them as they didn't match, now they are pretty dark but I'm all out of powder that I had imported), radiators are being refurb'd for $70 - they were acid dipped, fins were combed and he even straightened them as well - I'll post before and after later today.
Sweet!
The upper fork tubes are magnesium - that's why they are so "white". The ignition cover is just the OEM aluminium one.
Thanks for this, these pictures will come in very handy! Some unusual details hey - like the undrilled front disc???
Tell me, are those clamps the real deal HRC ones? Do you have a picture of the other side perhaps?
Interesting on the magnesium upper tubes too!
Thanks again for answering my questions!
Here are some more US Team Honda bikes:
Good luck with the build!
I found a nice '95 last week and have serious thoughts on going for this... I have the '95 graphics, fender and fork guards and to me that's enough for the start of a new project LoL!!
Not as clean as James one, but $1800 - $2000 to get it to South Africa is a bit steep. This guy is going for $1300!!
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