Dirt Rider and the CRE250
Steve Jamison
Don't get me wrong. I really like Kevin Hines as a racer and a
businessman. He was always willing to talk on the phone and help me
out with a question. BUT. . . . $10,000 for a dirt bike no one
but the best can be comfortable on is ridiculous. The Paoli forks and
Ohlins shock are necessary to smooth out the suspension so the stiff
frame doesn't kill you in the rocks.
My "CRE" cost me $4,000. I bought a '94 CR250 used for $2,800 in
pretty good shape and bought the following:
Acerbis Rear Fender with Light $40 (It looks cool)
Acerbis Elba2 $45 (let's pretend)
Pirie Composites Bash Plate $45 (soft white underbelly)
WER Suspension Revalve $325 (with new seals all around)
Adapter Plate for WER damper $20 (Don't race without it)
Two 9 volt batteries/switches $10 (just to get through tech)
Hand guards $45 (I like my hands)
ICO autocal $225 (no odo on a CR)
Devol Radiator Guards $40 (I'm crash prone)
Air Box Drain plus misc $20 (To submarinize air box)
Acerbis Front Disk Guard $20 (To protect the ICO sensor)
Clark 3.0 gallon tank $150 (so I can get home)
A-loop weld on flywheel wt. $90 (so I can ride it)
No one in their right mind would buy a brand new bike for $10,000 to
thrash in the woods. The CRE handles great (hell, its a Honda), makes
low end like a tractor, and screams like a motocrosser when required.
It is definitely the nicest bike I have ever owned. I was the eternal
C rider in the 200 class(90 KDX) and the 4 stroke class(90 DR). I
bought the CR and was kicked out in three finishes, 1,1,3, gone. (In
the ECEA you can prolong your stay in the C class by not accumulating
more than 50 points "in any given displacement class") There is no
reason anyone can't do exactly the same thing with a KX, RM, or YZ. A
"woodsocrosser" based on these bikes would be far more desireable than
the aluminum framed bone (and wallet) crusher based on the 97 CR.
There is a reason Hatch, Davis, and Hawkins ride converted mx'ers
rather than the enduro mounts manufactured by their factories. (I'll
throw you KTM guys a bone, I think Lafferty actually rides the EXC) I
think Dirt Rider gives the impression the only way to do this is by
buying one from Kevin. This is great for him and I am happy for him.
I just think it should have been clearer that a budget CRE is within
reach of the average rider.
Steve Jamison
aged CRE250 pilot
Warren
Let's pretend!, so the aged CRE250 pilot is actually a CR..........
--
Warren Kurtz
http://www.sky.net/~wkurtz
Steve Jamison
Uh, oh. Busted!
It's kind of like a '65 GTO. You can take a Tempest and hang all the
same stuff on it, drop in a 389 six pack, and functionally its a GTO.
The only things on a true CRE not on my bike are things like the grab
handle, ISDE center stand, Italian ported jug, and the lighting coil.
None of these things would help the bike go faster in my neck of the
woods at my skill level. It is certainly not a CR any more, so what
is it? : ) (sniff, sniff, smells like bait to me)
Steve Jamison
aged CRE?250 pilot WITH an 18" rear wheel
Dirtboy
xspa...@webspan.net (Steve Jamison) wrote:
>My "CRE" cost me $4,000. I bought a '94 CR250 used for $2,800 in
>pretty good shape and bought the following:
I got the issue, but haven't read the article yet.
I guess this is just my skewed eastern perspective, but the end of the
CRE was the first thing that occurred to me when it turned out that
all of the aluminum frame rumors were true.
It sure is a cool bike, but it seems like they're just doing it for
the sake of doing it. I keep a bike for years, and all the train track
crossings, log crossings, rocks and falls would probably start tearing
up that frame after a couple years -skid plate or not.
If nothing else, it seems like a bike for the elite, who keep a bike
one season (not some trail riding schmoe like me... heh).
For me, the KX would be the MX bike to convert. It already has the
killer bottom end. You just need to mellow it out.
--
Tim dir...@voicenet.com
94 DR350se -Maybe its soft & top heavy, but at least its ugly
89 KDX200 -The Immaculate Contraption
Mark Klein
>For me, the KX would be the MX bike to convert. It already has the
>killer bottom end. You just need to mellow it out.
The motor is one of the easy things to get acceptable. The new KX
suspension is more than adequate to run a supercross with completely
stock. Waaaaayyyy too stiff for any kind of woods work.
Concerning the current "enduro" offerings of the big four
manufacturers, my RMX has proven to be more than competetive at
anything under the pro level with a few normal mods. There isn't a
"woodscrosser" around that can do anything any better, 'cept maybe
motocross.
MX Tuner
Steve Jamison
On Sun, 06 Apr 1997 21:12:33 GMT, mxt...@atl.mindspring.com (Mark
Klein) wrote:
<snip snip snip>
>Concerning the current "enduro" offerings of the big four
>manufacturers, my RMX has proven to be more than competetive at
>anything under the pro level with a few normal mods. There isn't a
>"woodscrosser" around that can do anything any better, 'cept maybe
>motocross.
>
>MX Tuner
>
I rode an '89? and did not come away impressed. It seemed heavy and
the motor seemed smothered. It was totally stock. Perhaps some of
these mods you speak of would help the bike.
Steve Jamison
aged and fussy CRE250 pilot
(yes, I insist)
Mark Klein
>I rode an '89? and did not come away impressed. It seemed heavy and
>the motor seemed smothered. It was totally stock. Perhaps some of
>these mods you speak of would help the bike.
BIG, I mean, B-I-G difference between the '89 and '96 RMXs. As in "no
comparison".
MX Tuner
fidler
Dirtboy wrote:
>
> xspa...@webspan.net (Steve Jamison) wrote:
>
> >My "CRE" cost me $4,000. I bought a '94 CR250 used for $2,800 in
> >pretty good shape and bought the following:
>
> I got the issue, but haven't read the article yet.
> I guess this is just my skewed eastern perspective, but the end of the
> CRE was the first thing that occurred to me when it turned out that
> all of the aluminum frame rumors were true.
>
> It sure is a cool bike, but it seems like they're just doing it for
> the sake of doing it. I keep a bike for years, and all the train track
> crossings, log crossings, rocks and falls would probably start tearing
> up that frame after a couple years -skid plate or not.
> If nothing else, it seems like a bike for the elite, who keep a bike
> one season (not some trail riding schmoe like me... heh).
>
> killer bottom end. You just need to mellow it out.
>
>
> Tim dir...@voicenet.com
>
> 94 DR350se -Maybe its soft & top heavy, but at least its ugly
> 89 KDX200 -The Immaculate Contraption
Also in the new Dirt Rider there is an thing about the radiator shrouds
wearing holes in the aluminum frame of the CR.
damn hondas anyway......
luke fidler
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arcade/5594/index.html
Simmonsmc
you have to spend 10'000 dollars on a honda to make it as good as a KTM?
I bet you guy's love that!!!!
Mike Simmons
husky 360
caribou1
<VBG>
--
Caribou 78 KTM 250 (AHRMA 626) "Katie"
95 KTM 300 MX/C "Sissy"
94 KTM 550 MX/C "Cupcake"
90 Intruder 1400 "Suzie"
Lynn 96 XR100 "Putt-Putt"
Dan Cornett
Steve Jamison wrote:
>
> Don't get me wrong. I really like Kevin Hines as a racer and a
> businessman. He was always willing to talk on the phone and help me
> out with a question. BUT. . . . $10,000 for a dirt bike no one
> but the best can be comfortable on is ridiculous. The Paoli forks and
> Ohlins shock are necessary to smooth out the suspension so the stiff
> frame doesn't kill you in the rocks.
> pretty good shape and bought the following:
April 5th 1997
Tecate Enduro Results..........CRE 250! and Kevin Hines 27.081
.........Kaw KDX frame / KX 250 Engine and Ty Davis 27.0956
...........................TM 125 and Jimmy Lewis 33.0715
The only KTM in the top 10 was Nick Pearson 45.0943
Results speak for themselves!!!
Dan Cornett CR250/KDX200
Cam Mitchell
>April 5th 1997
>Tecate Enduro Results..........CRE 250! and Kevin Hines 27.081
>.........Kaw KDX frame / KX 250 Engine and Ty Davis 27.0956
>...........................TM 125 and Jimmy Lewis 33.0715
>The only KTM in the top 10 was Nick Pearson 45.0943
>
>Results speak for themselves!!!
All that tells me is that Kevin Hines was faster on that given day on that
given course.. the bikes are irrelevant.
>Dan Cornett CR250/KDX200
--
--
/-------------------------------------\
| bcm...@bikerider.com |
>-------------------v-----------------<
| 94 Kawasaki KX500 | 96 GT Tequesta |
>-------------------^-----------------<
| http://users.uniserve.com/~cmitchel |
\-------------------------------------/
Simmonsmc
check the results from the last NATIONAL enduro not some desert race they
call
an enduro.
in case your wondering, Laferty KTM 1st (results speak for them self)
Mike Simmons
Shawn
You can buy a KTM and a WR for the $10,000.00 that you would pay for a CRE.
Shawn
Dan Cornett <dcor...@cts.com> wrote in article <334FB1...@cts.com>...
> April 5th 1997
> Tecate Enduro Results..........CRE 250! and Kevin Hines 27.081
> .........Kaw KDX frame / KX 250 Engine and Ty Davis 27.0956
> ...........................TM 125 and Jimmy Lewis 33.0715
> The only KTM in the top 10 was Nick Pearson 45.0943
>
> Results speak for themselves!!!
> Dan Cornett CR250/KDX200
>
Steve
If you check the results from last year I think you'll find that Kevin
beat Mike at a number of "real" enduros as you put it. Mike raced the
rock infested ECEA series for years before he went pro. Like any one
else moving up to the pro's I think he just needed time to get
adjusted. I hope Mike smokes them no matter what bike he rides.
(It's a hometown thing)
Steve Jamison
aged CRE250 pilot and pretend ECEA rider