98 cr250 what is required to make it a trail bike

[actmobmar]

My 18 yr old son currently has a drz400s, went trail riding this weekend and the drz is horrible! Went to croom, a lot of woops and soft pack and sand, he ate a lot of dirt. On the end of the first day he didn't want to ride anymore, so I switched bikes with him and let him ride my kdx200, he loved it rode it the rest of the weekend, I rode the drz400 once and didn't ride again, doesn't track well and is too heavy. Drz is up for sale! Anyway, my friend has a super clean 98 cr250 that just had the top end done and new clutch, for 1400$. What is required to make it a trail bike? I am amateur to mild intermediate. Ride sand, mud, soft pack and woops. May one day do a hare scrambles. Bike already has fmf pipe and silencer. I am going to ride it and give him my kdx. Thanks

[Julien D]

A flywheel weight and suspension tune for woods would be a good start. Being a 250 MX bike, it is going to be a bit much to handle in certain situations no matter what you do, but with those changes it will still be good fun.

[Jim B]

Don't buy the CR, buy another KDX. (Or another fairly modern bike that was designed for woods riding, not motocross. XR, WR, RMX are some to think about.)

[osobad]

first generation Honda aluminum frame bikes just plain suck in the handling department. While the motor can be made more woods friendly the frames are just unforgiving and to stiff. I am familiar with Crooms ,was riding the mountain bike there this Sunday . Forgot they had the endure going on. Do your self a favor and pass on the 98 cr

[B737driver]

[quote="osobad"]first generation Honda aluminum frame bikes just plain suck in the handling department. While the motor can be made more woods friendly the frames are just unforgiving and to stiff. I am familiar with Crooms ,was riding the mountain bike there this Sunday . Forgot they had the endure going on. Do your self a favor and pass on the 98 cr[/quote


What he said.

[Julien D]

Very valid point about the rigidity of that frame. Not going to make a very comfy ride for a day of trail busting.

[6 Riders]

I was going to say put the motor in a KDX frame

[Jim B]

I was going to say put the motor in a KDX frame

I've got a 2001 CR250 and the motor (as well as the chassis) isn't very good in the woods. Not much bottom end followed by a BIG midrange hit. Makes it a bit difficult to get through the whoops smoothly...

I know it can be done if you spend enough money, but I'm kinda over the whole "turn an MX bike into a woods bike" thing. I could add a flywheel weight, lighting, kickstand, lower gearing, softer suspension, etc. to the CR, but why bother? My 220 already has all those things.

[osobad]

there are mx bikes that can be made into great woods bike (YZ). but first gen Hondas are very though