trail riding 98 CR250-FMF?

[RyJen]

Hi everyone. Been trail riding my 98 Cr250 for a little over a year now, and let me tell you....it's a BEAST! I'm looking to tame her down just a bit to make it easier on me. I'm looking into flywheel weights and the like, but I've read many of you suggesting the FMF gnarley pipe. Can I get some background information on why this is the best choice?

Also, what silencer are you using on it? I don't want to be "Quiet", but the Pro Circuit that I have on it is a bit loud.

Thanks!

[DRZ400Senior]

I just picked up a 2001 250R that had a FMF Fatty pipe on it when I bought it. The first ride on the bike was miserable, I felt like I was riding a 125, all top end.

I ended up selling the Fatty and bought a Gnarly, what a difference in the power range, much better spread of power. I has WAY more bottom now and a much stronger mid range with still plenty of top end for off road. I have a Turbine Core II sparky that I run with it.

[RyJen]

Also to note, I have in my possesion a PWK from a 200o CR250. I haven't installed it yet because I'm unsure of the proper jetting. It can't be as easy as swappingthe carbs is it?

[clemsonfmx]

i have a 97 cr 250r with a fly wheel weight. pro circuit pipe and factory silencer with a 13t front and 50t rear sprockets and its more then i need for the hills around here. as the only thing i ride is woods so i would most deff. get a fww and i hear lots of good about the fmf gnarly but never had one.

[RyJen]

FWW is in the works. My plan is to do a total rebuild over Jan-Feb. Going to add a 13 oz FWW while I'm in there. I'm also looking for a headlight system, so I'll be adding a lighting coil while Im in there.

[clemsonfmx]

that's what I want. any ideas were to get a head light coil at.and is that all I need besides a headlight

[jcat]

I just happened to see this and thought I would chime in. I have an RM 250(96), and most know that RMs have light flywheels and are stall prone. I ride tight to semitight woods, and after i added a Steahly 12oz. fww the bike is a tractor. I have the stock pipe, and boyesen power reeds as well as a PWK airstriker carb. I can ride a gear higher and pull out of corners with no clutch. The front end is easier to control when I need to loft it over obstacles(better traction instead of breaking rear wheel loose). I feel you will like a 10 or 12 oz. fww.:busted:

[RyJen]

thanks for the input Jcat. Right after I rode the CR for the first time I knew I was in trouble. I have a PWK airstriker, but have yet to put it on the bike because I'm not a tech, and I have a feeling there are going to be some jetting issues. So if anyone has suggestions on Jetting a PWK from a 2000 CR250 swapped on a 1998....feel free to chime in.

clemsonfox, I have seen lighting coils in different places but can't put a finger on one while I'm at work. I know Baja designs makes a complete kit, and there are aslo kits that don't require a coil. They use a rechargeable battery pack monted separetely. They tend to run at an eaqual price and haven't heard any opinions of one over the other.

[jcat]

Check the slidecut # on your PWK; mine is a #7 cut, and my biggest problem jetting has been in the first part of the needle(slight lean spot). Stock straight diameter with a shorter L1 seems good so far. The #7 slide is leaner through the first half of the throttle than my orig #5. I am not familiar with Hondas but I hope this helps. I dont feel you will be that far from stock on the new carb. What carb did the CR come stock with? By the way I have a Turbine core 2 silencer/SA. Good luck

[J_Daniels]

It has been my experience that when someone says how hard their 2-stroke is to ride and that power comes on like crazy all of the sudden, they aren't jetted right. Of course a flywheel weight helps, but getting the pilot and needle circuits working properly should have a bone-stock 250 smoker pinging up the steepest trails easily.

Check out James Dean Jetting for help with your Airstriker, his kit is money well spent. I swapped a 36mm into my 03 CR125 and spent a couple of hours riding and swapping needles and clip positions, now it's night-and-day better than the Mikuni that was on there. His kit isn't cheap at $70 or so but having all the right jets and needles to cover the range makes jetting easy.

[426 hemi]

the fmf gnarly pipe gives you a ton of bottom end with a cr250 great pipe. I woods race my 00 cr250 and the best thing i did was a auto clutch it smothed it out so much u can lug the bike like a 4t or tap the clutch and bring on he pipe and fly they work great and i sold on them.

[426 hemi]

ps. i have a new lighting coil for your bike i got it for my 98 but i sold it and got a 99 cre250 with the eline stator so i dont need it now it was $149.95 + shipping you can have it for $100 + shipping

[RyJen]

Hemi, put my name on that coil! Don't think I'll have spare money until after the holidays though.

ssanddemon: My concern with Jetting it myself is I would be afraid that I would get in over my head way too fast. What would you say the difficulty factor is with it?

[J_Daniels]

Hemi, put my name on that coil! Don't think I'll have spare money until after the holidays though.

ssanddemon: My concern with Jetting it myself is I would be afraid that I would get in over my head way too fast. What would you say the difficulty factor is with it?

2 on the scale of 1-10, this for a PWK or variant like the Airstriker- they are especially easy to do jettting changes on, right on the side of the trail.

Jetting is a great skill to have, since a bike shop can't take your bike out for real ride tests anyway, you really need to do a test 'n tune day in your riding area and just try different combinations to get it right. It's pretty rewarding to have a 2 stroke that crackles its way up steep stuff right off idle, screams on top and idles peacefully as well; the only way to get that without your own mechanic is to do it yourself.

One of the nice things about James Dean, and the reason I like to recommend his company is that he really REALLY knows jetting and answers any question no matter how trivial. There are some tutorials here on TT as well, I believe.

[RyJen]

Good deal. Thanks for the info. I'll check it out.

I was replacing my throttle and clutch cables, and was going to clean the air filter etc. Do some general repair/maintainence on her and noticed some issues. Looks like I'm going to get to know this machine REAL well over the next few months. I have some parts to source, figure I'll go ahead and rebuild her since I've ridden her for a year, and don't know the last time she was rebuilt. So....with fingers crossed and you guys wishing me luck.....I'm going to tear her down.

Newbie rebuild thread?