CRM250.COM - Model History
|
CRM250 Mkl 1989
- 1990 So this is where it all started, and
it's not hard to see why the japanese (and the rest
of the 2 wheeled world) fell in love with the bike straight
away, with it's good looks straight from the current
CR250 of it's day, (although thats where it's similaritys
end) superb chassis and suspension put the CRM into
a new market and Honda sold loads of them.
The Mk1 looked very similar to the CR250 but was actually
quite different. Oil injection, pillion pegs, twin ring
piston & low reving 2 stroke engine were only a
few of the differences, Yet the CRM was more like the
MTX than the CR. The Mk1 was sold in red or white and
is actually quite small in size compared to later models,
yet with it's peakier motor and less weight this model
is preferd by the shorter rider and it can be easier
to manage off road than later models.
Prices in the UK start at around £600 for a tatty
example going upto £1100 for mint low mileage
models.
|
CRM250 Mk2 &
2.2 1991 - 1993 The MK2 & Mk2.2 are the
same bike in practice, and the MK2 was launched in 1991.
This model was a huge step up from the MK1 with all
new frame and now wears large upside down Showa forks.
Oil is now held in the frame which is much larger than
the MK1 and stiffer too. This bike feels far more substantial
than the MK1 yet feels more nimble to ride. Power has
also increased with the redesigned engine and offers
more tourqe than before.
The bike still had it's little quirks though and with
a couple of design flaws including the wheel bearing
securing plate (Made from a soft alloy which screw into
the hub also made from soft alloy - Cue bad corrosion,
and a seized plate. But even still this bike is the
most popular CRM250 and holding it's own in the values
game even when so old. Beware for balancer shaft wear
in the engine, if regular oil changes are not done done
this seems to be the first thing to fail resulting is
a death rattle from the engine that still runs with
no problems.
The MK2.2 had few differences including foot pegs that
were different and a new set of graphics.
Prices vary between £700 for a rough looking H
plate but useable bike to £1500 for a very clean
tidy example on a K plate with around 8000kms on the
clock.
|
|
|
CRM250 Mk3 1994 - 1996 So here we have
the MK3, and this was the model that looked so different
to the MK2, yet it was actually a very similar bike.
The frame and bodywork was all new again, with much
more modern styling, Oil was held back in a plastic
tank, but the main difference was the suspension. The
suspension while looking very similar to the MK2 was
actually very well refined, and while still quite soft
still actually seemed to climb up those muddy hills
and soak up the bumps much better than the previous
models.
The engine was actually the same as the MK2 and performed
about the same too. Overall bike weight remained the
same at 125kg but actually felt lighter to ride (until
you got stuck in that 2 foot deep muddy bog and tried
pulling it out anyway). This is actually my favoured
bike as it is relatively cheap still, and looks far
newer than the MK2 model. The paint schemes for the
MK3 were a little sinister to say the least and did
nothing to help the bikes sales, yet it was still the
favoured choice over the RMX range.
Prices start at around £1000 for a rough worn
out example to £2000 for a low mileage minter.
|
CRM250
AR 1996 - 1999 And this is where it all stopped.
Honda like all manufacturers were under increasing pressure
from the USA and it's own country to clean up it's act
and this is the first and only production bike that used
Honda's development "Active Radical System".
The "Active Radical System" or AR as it was
known was a clever way to reduce emmisions from the unfreindly
2 stroke engine while giving more low down grunt at the
same time. To ride a AR for the first time is quite odd.
On the over-run it feels more like a 4 stroke engine and
almost feels like the ignition has been cut, yet as soon
as the throttle is opened up it kicks straight back into
life. The AR models are very different not only in the
engine area, but also the ignition and carburation, And
features many electronic pickups and sensors to give the
maximum burn with maximum efficiency. Dont let the style
fool you with a Mk3 as the frames and motor are not interchangeable.
Regarded by many as the Ultimate CRM250.
Prices are quite high for this model, and older well used
bikes go for around £1400+ while the latest low
mileage bikes are still changing hands for as much as
£2200. |
 |
Prices are based on typical private sales on ebay / biketrader
and "gut feel" prices at this monent in time.
dec 2007
|