okies - the crm250AR update


okies - the crm250ar i got defo has an electrical gremlin! ... took it out the garage today, started 1st pop. noticed that the engine was ticking over smoothly, the headlight was shining brightly as was the tail light the neutral and sidestand lights shining nice and bright!.

i flicked the headlight switch to low, the headlight went very very dim, as did the tail light and the dash lights and the engine was running rough and hunting and pinging. flicked the headlight switch back to hi and it all stayed the same.

switched bike off. put headlight switch to hi, started the bike, started 1st kick agian, headlight and tail light shining bright and engine ticking over sweet. rode around and was very very smooth.

so there is some kind of electrical fault that links the rough running with the head tail and dash lights going very dim. when the lights are shining bright, the engine runs really good!.


the crm250 mk3 complication!

i also have a crm250-3 ... red an white - with a different exhaust system thats much much quieter than the dep on the AR - ok the DEP does look nice but iv been pulled over already an i guess the noisy dep attracted their attention.
so am thinking of changing the back pipe from the 3 onto the AR - but will it work with the nicer lookin AR dep pipe?

the tailpipe on the 3 says GHOSHI on the inside - anyone know what that pipe is?

the crm3 runs perfect - nice an quiet - lots of power - electrics work fine - nice led tail light etc ...
its also got a nice red handlebar (ar has a gold one) and has nice white plastics.

so between the 2 of them - i wud like 1 nice bike!

so do i base it on the AR and get the electrical fault sorted and put the nice bits off the 3 onto it and make it a red/white AR?
or ditch the AR - sell it and concentrate on tarting up the 3?

dunno what to do now! ...

this is the AR:-

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k453 ... MG5403.jpg

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k453 ... MG5404.jpg

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k453 ... MG5414.jpg



this is the 3:-

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k453 ... MG5370.jpg

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k453 ... MG5435.jpg

The Mk3 has the original Honda exhaust and silencer on. If these have not been altered then popular opinion is that you can swap them over. I am not 100% sure of this as I havn't seen it done with my own eyes but if they will fit then it should be fine.

You will notice that the original expansion chamber and silencer weight considerably more than the DEP system. You may also notice a small decrease in power but if you want maximum noise reduction this is the way to achieve it.

The AR seems to have some kind of short. These are usually because of a botched wiring job done by a previous owner or a wire getting trapped between 2 components. Whichever way you can trace it . Have you got the AR wiring diagram .

my vote is obviously gonna be to keep the AR...but they are both good looking bikes.
Your AR exhaust is missing a small bracket below the shock reservoir by the way.

Actually, picking up from SkidMark's point, it looks like your silencer does not properly fit. It is an old style silencer but it looks like thesilencer pipe is too small .

If memory serves I think the silencer pipe goes over the end of the expansion chamber. I think you may have the wrong silencer .

Post a closer photo of the junction to be sure. The wrong silencer will effect running of the engine but not in the way you are currently experiencing the worst.

The wiring fault on the AR sounds like a partial short on the low beam circuit. Check the switchgear is not shorting out internally against the bar. Check the loom for wear as it may have chafed through and be shorting on a bracket somewhere around the headstock behind the headlight.

Hhhmmm, well, having owned both Mks, and, in MHO, plump for the MK3, Why?.
Well on balance, the superior looks of the AR, are unfortunately let down by the fickle design elements.
While I was sad to see the departure of my AR, I was pleased to be able to unload it, before it cost me shed full of cash in components, made from unobtanium.
The MK3 will be usable for many years to come, with most parts still easily available.
Home servicing on the MK3 is much simpler,with all parts more aces sable.
A quick trawl thruogh the search archive will throw up, considerable post on the AR bugbear, THE ECU.
But at the end of the day, it's your choice for the making, they are both, still, a superb Trail bike.
A clocked up 170mls Sat, on the MK3 and she never missed a beat, stream crossings and all.
Yes I know, due to now owning a MK3 my opinion is probably somewhat biassed.
Mike

I to would go with the Mk3 if you want tokeep one bike for a long time. ARs, engineering triumphs that they are, are too difficult/expensive to repair and service.

If it`ll make things easier for you, give me your AR an i`ll give you my Mk2... its easier to decide between a Mk3 an a Mk2 then.. i dont mind

Swao all ur AR plastics and tank etc onto the MK3 and ur sorted

jeeez ... i thought joining this forum wud simplify my choices lololol ...

so i have a mk3 that i luv the look of as it is - red an white ... an it goes good - getting the mot done this week! ..

iv got an AR that i thought wud be the bike id keep and change the panelling on to make it look like the MK3 that i prefer the look of!

right heres a Q for u guys, ... which bike goes further on a tank of juice - i was under the impression that the AR was the most economical (im not looking for mpg figures lol - but i wanna go up north and some spots fuel stations are far between - so AR or MK3 - which is better in this way?)


im totally stumped as to what to do now- ill need to get my AR running right 1st - altho today she was started and ran sweet as a nut.

in what way is the AR engine different to the MK3 - im not an expert on these bikes - so apologies in advance guys - i wanna get to know them tho.

out of the 2 bikes i like the looks of my mk3 - colour wise but i like the IDEA of the AR being more advanced but not if its going to be hard to maintain time and cost wise.