CRM250AR Strip Down Diet?

[corvid]

G'day,

I have convinced myself to strip my AR down and clean it up, I want to remove the bits and pieces I dont need to save a bit of weight.
Here are my plans thus far.

*Strip frame clean - Remove mounts I dont need, Only thing I can see is the Helmet Lock, anything else im missing?
*Powder coat frame - Im going for a satin black as the white just looks well.. Lame!
*New Rims/Plasitcs - My aim is to remove all puple from the bike - I know its cosmetic but I have always hated the purple.
*Fuel Tank - Spent a day reading this site about the tank - The easy option is to strip the metal tank and paint it black. Id love to ultimately fit a plastic tank from a CR. My research and reading from here tells me that im after a CR125 Early 90's tank? Is this correct. Looks like I would have to weld on some new mounts? I have looked at Knackereds build and that looks like what he did. How many litres is the CR125 tank? I dont really wanna do this if its 5 ltrs :(. Still confused on the seat I use to match this setup? Help here would be greatfully appriciated. Also if I do this, will the tank clear the autolube resoviors? I noticed knackered doesnt run them?
*Carby - Research suggests that a PWK 33mm will give me quicker response with a gain in bottom and top end? is this correct? The standard carb has ALOT of additional "bits" running to it? Is there any environmental gear I can scrap here on the AR?

Im trying to get this bike lean so any bits I can do away with would be great. I relise I have probably opened a can of worms with the load of questions above. If you do spend the time and reply I am really thankful, It would be great to have some suggestions from ppl who have been here and done this rather than going it solo!
Thanks Fellas!

[corvid]

Oh yeh,
The bike has only done 3700KM's, whilst I have the motor from the frame is it worth doing a top end/piston on such low milage? And if so any specs I need to squeeze an extra pony or two here?

[fallenmikethebike]

Corvid, by way of a hugely personal question, how much do you weigh?
Only, it may prove easier and more cost effective, and healthier, to lose half a stone of you, than the bike .
Or, lighter riding boots.
Certainly when I owned one, and I used it for Trials, Long Distance Trials, and 3 stage Trials, the excess, weight was never and issue IMO.
You may well find, if you shed some weight of the old girl, you end up with a lighter, but, flightier, ride, losing that sure footed planted feeling the Standard bike gives.
Just some thoughts.
Mike

[Active Rascal]

I often worry about the weight of mine, plus it has loads of extras so dry weight is probably more like 137 kilos!! However, that bike still battles with other 250's well which are near 110 kilos, so you have to think about how powerful the bike is aswell. All the extra weight I have would not be worth compromising to save a kilo here or there, as I carry spare tools, all the stainless guards and bashplate and obviously the large heavy tank, which again makes my mates jealous with their light bikes that usually run out of fuel and cause problems when we're out on the lanes as we're not often too near fuel stations!!

At the end of the day it depends what you want out of your bike and where you use it. I think a lot of weight is in the chassis and petrol tank, however chaning these isn't too cheap or easy (don't know anyone that's cahnged a CRM chassis) and I wouldn't compromise any of the weight on my bike. I think knackered made an aluminium side stand, and my mates gasser has an ali side stand, both of which bend very easily I understand. You have to admit that although the CRM is relatively heavy, it is damn solid!!

Lastly, agree with above comments, as I flipped my bike when petrol tank was empty (own stupid fault) but it does make so much difference, you may find it too light at the front if you change the tank.

Shaun.

[knackeredMk1]

Three biggest places to loose weight (on a CRM ) easily.

1) Exhaust. Change expansion chamber and silencer. 1-1.5 kg.
2) Tank. Change to plastic and save ~ 1.5kg.
3) All the rear lights and gubbins and the subframe support that are needed to support it. Got to be worth a good kg.

My CR125 tank holds ~8 litres. You really could put any tank on and I did think about a CR 500 as that would match the style and be bigger. Move the oil tank somewhere else if it won't fit or go autolube if you are really serious about weight. You have seen the list on my project but you can go further by going autolube and removing the balancer shaft and drive. 10kg is quite possible, 15kg would be really serious.

33mm carb will give quicker response but I'm not sure if any top end gain would be noticed. ARs in Japan tend to go with the 35mm option that will give you more top end but sacrifice a little low end. How you go about removing the sensors and actuators I don't know.

Do the top end whilst it is out.


AR - I did have an ali side stand but it was too weak and I changed back to an original one.

[corvid]

Ha! :) Yeh im not overly heavy.. im 5'11 and ~80kgs.. If i lost weight it would probably be muscle and i need that to lift my heavy bike hahaha!

Thanks for the replies fellas.

ok, so re-assessing after all your input.

1) Exhaust has to be done - for weight but also because I would like a bit more "Ding-Ding" sound.. and hey.. if I can an extra Pony I cant complain.
2) Im going to grind off the un-neccessary mounts and clean the frame a little. Helmet holder, tool box holder mounts etc.
3) For the extra 500grams I am not willing to drop the autolube. I love filling straight fuel and laughing at my mates on KTM's at the service station calculating oil and mixing.
4) The tank is a very contentious question for me still. The advantages of weight saving are only one reason I want to do this, its also because the plastic tanks take the knocks better
5) Different seat, Like knackered I could do with about 1 inch higher on the seat, the AR stock is a very Dipped V shape, I would prefer it to be flatter to I can move around a bit easier, get forward more and make it a little less cramped.
6) Plastics, I spend all night last night trawling over CR250/125 pics on the net and looking at the subframe. ~92-96/97 they look like they mount the rear fender the same as the AR, If I purchase new plastic what are the odds of this fitting? I also relise that the front fender is easy replacement so no probs there.
7) Ill do a top end cause its out, and in future if I have to do it on the bike its going to be a huge pain in the a**.

Again, thanks for your input. If you can bear with me and my gumby questions that would be fantastic. I will start posting some pics of my progress.
Cheers,

[corvid]

I dont know what I was smoking when I looked at the CR250 95 model and thought the subframe looked the same.. It mounts the plastic completely different. DAMN!

any other CR's I can use rear fender from?