Honda CR series

The Honda CR series is a range of off-road motorcycles made by the Honda corporation from 1973 onwards.

CR80R

The CR80 was manufactured between 1980 and 2002 by Honda. It was changed in 2003 to the Honda CR85R and subsequently to the Honda CRF150. Several changes were made throughout the years from being air-cooled to water-cooled and different styling each year. The CR80R Expert started production in 1996. The machine was powered by a 2-stroke engine and utilised a 6-speed manual transmission.[1][2][3][4][5]

CR125

Honda CR125M Elsinore

Honda launched the CR125M in 1973, branded as the "20 Horsepower Feather". Offered at a low price of $749,[6] it had a top speed of 60 mph and was equipped with a two-stroke 123 cc (7.5 cu in) air cooled motor.[7] It was a very popular motorcycle, and it dominated motocross for a while.

In, 1978 Honda launched the CR125 Red Rocket Elsinore; a rare bike very well built equipped with a 6-speed transmisson, it can be recognized by the expansion chamber on the front of the cylinder where the exhaust is to be attached.

CR250

Honda CR250M Elsinore

The CR250M Elsinore began selling in 1973. It had a two-stroke engine and was one of the first of its class, and set the standard for two-stroke motorcycle development. In 1974 and 1975, the CR250M design changed little. In 1978, Honda revised the CR250M and renamed it the CR250R, the R standing for race.[8] In 1981, Honda introduced a new suspension. The 1984 model had a new hydraulic front disc brake, and a new exhaust valve.[9] Between then and 1990 the CR250R had minor changes such as hydraulic rear brake, Showa front suspension, and a bigger carburetor.

In 1992, the CR250R was given a newer, more aggressive design, but a disadvantage was the amount of power the new engines were producing in relation to the weak steel frame. Many riders advised Honda to change the frame to something stronger; but successful riders who were sponsored by Honda such as Jeremy McGrath and Ronnie Mac only the screaming eagle preferred the old stiff weak frame. In 1997, the aluminum frame was introduced. Many racers liked this frame but the bike was not selling to casual desert riders, so Honda undertook a redesign and in 2000 introduced an improved aluminum frame. In 2002, the only real change was the bike was made way faster and lighter and the electronic power valve and third-generation aluminum frame. The Honda CR250 had a 249 cc (15.2 cu in) liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that produced about 45 hp.[10] It had a five-speed transmission with Showa suspension and a two-gallon fuel tank.[11] In 2007, Honda announced that they would produce no more two-strokes after that year.

CRM 250

The CRM 250 was a 2 stroke trail bike made from 1989 to 1999.

Model history

  • CRM250 Mk1 1989–1990
  • CRM250 Mk2 & 2.2 1991–1993
  • CRM250 Mk3 1994–1996
  • CRM250 AR 1996–1999

CR500

The CR500 was first produced in 1984. The CR500 had a 491 cc (30.0 cu in) air-cooled two-stroke engine that produced 60.8hp, the most powerful motocross bike that Honda had ever produced.[12] The CR500 raced in long desert rallies like the Baja 500 and the Baja 1000. The CR500 was discontinued in 2001, and replaced by the four-stroke CRF450. Although the CRF450 was slightly heavier than the CR500 it had a modern twin-spar aluminium frame.

The 1985 CR500 was the first year being water-cooled.

References

  1. Haynes CR Motocross Bikes 1986 thru 2001 Manual (82cc, 123cc, 124cc, 249cc, 491cc)
  2. "Honda Motorcycle CR80R (1986 - 2002) Repair Manuals". Haynes Publishing. October 21, 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  3. "Honda Elsinore / CR80R Motorcycles". www.motorera.com. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  4. "Honda CR80RB "Expert" Motorcycles". www.motorera.com. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  5. "Honda CR80R and CR85R history 1980-2007". August 1, 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  6. Sieman, R. (2002, February). The amazing history of Honda dirtbikes. Retrieved March 17, 2016, from Honda-Elsinore.com, http://honda-elsinore.alp-sys.com/publications/hondadirtbikes/index.html
  7. "King of the Hill: 1974 Honda CR125M Elsinore". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  8. Motocross, T. (2004, September 9). 2005 Honda CR125R & CR250R specs. Retrieved March 17, 2016, from Features, http://motocross.transworld.net/features/2005-honda-cr125r-cr250r-specs/#MYcD7jZddwBrUBbI.97
  9. Sieman, R. (2002, February ). The amazing history of Honda dirtbikes. Retrieved March 17, 2016, from Honda-Elsinore.com, http://honda-elsinore.alp-sys.com/publications/hondadirtbikes/index.html
  10. "1998 Cr250r Horsepower Specs Motorcycles Repair Manual Download and Reviews". Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  11. "2006 Honda CR250R Specifications - Honda.com". news.honda.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-24. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  12. MOTOCROSS ACTION'S TWO-STROKE VERSUS FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: 2004 CRF450 VERSUS 2001 CR500. (2012, January 2). Retrieved March 17, 2016, from Bike Tests, http://motocrossactionmag.com/news/motocross-actions-two-stroke-versus-four-stroke-shootout-2004-crf450-versus-2001-cr500
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