Nice bike , I bought a blown up 1988 Honda XR 250 r a year ago . going to see if i can rebuild the motor or find another one some place . Its around 75 lbs lighter than my 1992 Suzuki DR 350 I have been riding last few years so can't wait to getter all done and ride . thanks for the video its fun looking at the vintage and working bikes !
Thanks! The conversion was actually pretty easy. You just need minimal welding skills and you can get parts under $150. I watched your xr250 videos. Its looking good.
@@dunemaster3179 Thanks! I'll definitely have an eye out for the parts now. Next up for me is a valve adjustment. Apparently, the last guy put a new piston in, but I found RTV in the oil filter cover instead of the right O-Ring so I'm a bit skeptical about how well everything was done. 😂
@@weekenderadv4565 Dang it, I hate when people cheap out on little things like O rings and use silicone were you not supposed to. Hopefully, everything else was done with diligence. Good luck with your project.
Nice conversion. Regarding the rear shock, how's the rebound? I've heard that it's the first thing that many owners replaced on the bike back in the day -- upgrade stock spring and remachine the shock to get the desired rebound. I've got my eye on an '88 XR250R for a summer project that's in a slightly better state than what yours started at.
Thanks! Definitely a frankenhonda mix of 86/90 xr250. There's a very faint puff of smoke that comes out on the initial start up when I pull the throttle, but it goes away real quick, so I'm not worried because the power is there.
I have an 89 that I'm about to go through just like you did... mine smokes like yours did in part 5.... could you do a vid with it running now? to hear it after the piston was put in.... its crazy mine runs and sounds like and smokes just like yours did, and I'll probably have to put in a baffle also, but I'd love to hear it run!!
Hey, I will try to post a video of it running soon. I don't know if I mentioned it in any of the previous videos, but I've taken the head to 2 cylinder/ head shops when I was working on it and they said that the valve guides and valve seats were in great shape. I then took the cylinder to the shop that I usually go to and they checked the cylinder, and they even deglazed it for me for free. I tested the valves for leaks and they were fine. I bought new Wiseco piston and rings and put it in along with all new gaskets and valve guide seals, and it still sometimes ( well most of the time) smokes on the startup, but goes away when warm, so I think it's normal for xr250r lol. You are wondering how it sounds with a new piston? I can tell you, it sounds great. It has plenty of power, but it doesn't sound as smooth as my dr350 at idle. Dr350 engine works like a metronome, it never skips a beat, but xr250 sometimes has little hiccups when it's idling. I didn't have any issues with that, but I don't ride it as often as my DR350. But I will try to post up a video soon.
Atf is pretty light. You shouldn't think the front is stiff. Could you have put a little too much in? Did you bleed the cartridge as you were adding fork oil. I'm not being a know it all. Just trying to help figure your stiff forks. Great job adding a disc. I own a super fresh 88. You have me thinking of doing the same
Thanks for the comment. It's totally possible that I put too much oil. This was my first piston rod fork rebuild, so there's a big chance I messed up. I pretty much followed this procedure from Honda service manual (except I didn't use their brand oil): "*Pour the half amount of recommended fork oil into the fork pipe. *Pour the recommended fork oil into the piston rod until a little fluid flows out the side breather hole at leveling minimum stroke. *Pump the piston rod and fork tube slowly 8-10 times. Compress the fork leg fully and leave it for 5 minutes to settle the oil level. *Measure the oil level from the top of the tube. RECOMMENDED FORK OIL: Pro-Honda Suspension Fluid SS-7 STANDARD OIL CAPACITY: (Per' fork leg): 492 cc 116 .8 ozs" I pumped the piston rod-like 20 times though. Also, the Hondas recommended fork oil is 5wt, so that got me thinking that maybe I should try 5 wt fork oil. Anyway, I'm planning to take off the fork sometimes soon and re-measure the oil level, like you said, maybe I added too much oil. Another thing that maybe contributing to the stiff front end is my tire pressure. I didn't check the pressure when I rode.
@@dunemaster3179 sounds like you did it right. You can try less oil. Before you fully tighten the axle clamp bolts ,grab the brake and push on the forks a few times to align the forks. If they aren't parallel they can bind. I just bought a super fresh 88 XR and got XR650 forks. I should have just done what you did and got newer 250 forks because now I have a project. Watch the bumper on the shock. When they age they disintegrate and it won't be good when you bottom out.
Also watch the rear brake caliper doesn't hit the silencer when you bottom . I believe the later model XRs had a dent in the silencer to clear the caliper. The earlier XRs like ours didn't need that clearance because the drum brakes don't need it
@@64maxpower Congrats on the purchase. I had a blast riding my bike and I'm a fan of xr250r now. I'll try to do what you recommended. Also, thanks for the heads up about the muffler clearance, I forgot about that. Good thing is that I'm still not very proficient at riding yet and I'm afraid to do big jumps, so I never bottomed out the rear end lol
@@dunemaster3179 Did I hear you correctly, you used the wheel from the newer frame to get the rear disk brake, then welded on the bracket for the master cylinder?
Nice bike , I bought a blown up 1988 Honda XR 250 r a year ago . going to see if i can rebuild the motor or find another one some place . Its around 75 lbs lighter than my 1992 Suzuki DR 350 I have been riding last few years so can't wait to getter all done and ride . thanks for the video its fun looking at the vintage and working bikes !
Nice. Let me know if you have any questions. I hade to open the top end twice and I have some experience.
@@dunemaster3179 ....Will let ya know thanks !
Awesome brake conversion! I'd love some more stopping power on my 1987 XR.
Thanks! The conversion was actually pretty easy. You just need minimal welding skills and you can get parts under $150. I watched your xr250 videos. Its looking good.
@@dunemaster3179 Thanks! I'll definitely have an eye out for the parts now. Next up for me is a valve adjustment. Apparently, the last guy put a new piston in, but I found RTV in the oil filter cover instead of the right O-Ring so I'm a bit skeptical about how well everything was done. 😂
@@weekenderadv4565 Dang it, I hate when people cheap out on little things like O rings and use silicone were you not supposed to. Hopefully, everything else was done with diligence. Good luck with your project.
Nice conversion. Regarding the rear shock, how's the rebound? I've heard that it's the first thing that many owners replaced on the bike back in the day -- upgrade stock spring and remachine the shock to get the desired rebound. I've got my eye on an '88 XR250R for a summer project that's in a slightly better state than what yours started at.
Its not great, but I suck at adjusting shocks, so I just live with it
FrankenHonda!...looking good, with minimal investment. Did the smoking go away after new piston/rings?.notice power improvements?
Thanks! Definitely a frankenhonda mix of 86/90 xr250. There's a very faint puff of smoke that comes out on the initial start up when I pull the throttle, but it goes away real quick, so I'm not worried because the power is there.
Sick ass vid, getting same year bike in two weeks, any advice?
Its a great bike all around and dont need much of anything, but I changed fork to Xr600r cartridge fork and its a lot better than stock
Tripod. Powerwasher. Timelapse. Show us how you clean the thing)
This was the first project that I recorded on video, so I will definitely do better next time. Thanks for your feedback
I have an 89 that I'm about to go through just like you did... mine smokes like yours did in part 5.... could you do a vid with it running now? to hear it after the piston was put in.... its crazy mine runs and sounds like and smokes just like yours did, and I'll probably have to put in a baffle also, but I'd love to hear it run!!
Hey, I will try to post a video of it running soon. I don't know if I mentioned it in any of the previous videos, but I've taken the head to 2 cylinder/ head shops when I was working on it and they said that the valve guides and valve seats were in great shape. I then took the cylinder to the shop that I usually go to and they checked the cylinder, and they even deglazed it for me for free. I tested the valves for leaks and they were fine. I bought new Wiseco piston and rings and put it in along with all new gaskets and valve guide seals, and it still sometimes ( well most of the time) smokes on the startup, but goes away when warm, so I think it's normal for xr250r lol. You are wondering how it sounds with a new piston? I can tell you, it sounds great. It has plenty of power, but it doesn't sound as smooth as my dr350 at idle. Dr350 engine works like a metronome, it never skips a beat, but xr250 sometimes has little hiccups when it's idling. I didn't have any issues with that, but I don't ride it as often as my DR350. But I will try to post up a video soon.
Nice vid ,nice bike!! I would love to see some easy riding :-) ,i have the same bike but doesnt work lol.
Thank you. I think in the next few weeks I will record a video of me actually riding the bike. Thanks for watching my videos.
So it was smoking and running bad and the new piston is what fixed it???
It still smokes sometimes even with a new piston. I just learned to live with it.
Atf is pretty light. You shouldn't think the front is stiff. Could you have put a little too much in? Did you bleed the cartridge as you were adding fork oil. I'm not being a know it all. Just trying to help figure your stiff forks. Great job adding a disc. I own a super fresh 88. You have me thinking of doing the same
Thanks for the comment. It's totally possible that I put too much oil. This was my first piston rod fork rebuild, so there's a big chance I messed up. I pretty much followed this procedure from Honda service manual (except I didn't use their brand oil):
"*Pour the half amount of recommended fork oil into the fork
pipe.
*Pour the recommended fork oil into the piston rod until a
little fluid flows out the side breather hole at leveling minimum
stroke.
*Pump the piston rod and fork tube slowly 8-10 times.
Compress the fork leg fully and leave it for 5 minutes to settle
the oil level.
*Measure the oil level from the top of the tube.
RECOMMENDED FORK OIL: Pro-Honda Suspension
Fluid SS-7
STANDARD OIL CAPACITY: (Per' fork leg):
492 cc 116 .8 ozs"
I pumped the piston rod-like 20 times though. Also, the Hondas recommended fork oil is 5wt, so that got me thinking that maybe I should try 5 wt fork oil. Anyway, I'm planning to take off the fork sometimes soon and re-measure the oil level, like you said, maybe I added too much oil. Another thing that maybe contributing to the stiff front end is my tire pressure. I didn't check the pressure when I rode.
@@dunemaster3179 sounds like you did it right. You can try less oil. Before you fully tighten the axle clamp bolts ,grab the brake and push on the forks a few times to align the forks. If they aren't parallel they can bind. I just bought a super fresh 88 XR and got XR650 forks. I should have just done what you did and got newer 250 forks because now I have a project. Watch the bumper on the shock. When they age they disintegrate and it won't be good when you bottom out.
Also watch the rear brake caliper doesn't hit the silencer when you bottom . I believe the later model XRs had a dent in the silencer to clear the caliper. The earlier XRs like ours didn't need that clearance because the drum brakes don't need it
@@64maxpower Congrats on the purchase. I had a blast riding my bike and I'm a fan of xr250r now. I'll try to do what you recommended. Also, thanks for the heads up about the muffler clearance, I forgot about that. Good thing is that I'm still not very proficient at riding yet and I'm afraid to do big jumps, so I never bottomed out the rear end lol
@@dunemaster3179 Did I hear you correctly, you used the wheel from the newer frame to get the rear disk brake, then welded on the bracket for the master cylinder?
You think it’s possible to put a 93 year read swing arm on a 1987?
Yes, I think it’s the same thing. Edit: 87 is drum brake and 93 is disc, but it will bolt on to the frame and the shock just the same.
@@dunemaster3179 would it matter if mine is a XR600r? Since I’m putting a xr250 swing arm?
@@alexbarrios890 that I don’t know, sorry. I only tried it on xr250
Quiero obtener una precio
Tengo una en ca 3mil todo al cien
@@yulioogomez8705 uff estoy comprometido con una XR200R 2002 EN 1500 AQUÍ MISMO EN PANAMÁ provincia de Chiriquí