From: masys@nlm.nih.gov (Dr. Daniel R. Masys)
Subject: Getting to know the CR250
Organization: National Library of Medicine
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 92 13:38:27 GMT

Well, I survived my first 30 minutes on a CR250, and had a good time.
My son & I stuffed the two XR250's and the "new" '88 CR250 in the van
and headed down to Pocomoke State Forest, where the state of Maryland
provides about 15 miles of wooded trails.  Since there has been a lot of
rain recently, and there was water standing in farmers' fields, we first
scouted the trails on the XRs, and found them to be in reasonably good
shape.  My XR250 just got a Bumpstiks rear suspension rebuild and it is
one smooth trail scoot now...

The main event was firing up the 250 CRitter--I let my son go first since
he has no fear and heals quickly :-).  I rode as the safety chase as he
took off down the trails.  Took about 15 minutes for him to make a mistake:
adding some power to get through a puddle at the same time that he stood
up on the pegs, the bike went vertical, and he exited in a sitting position
landing on the sand.  The bike continued up about five feet, then executed
a graceful hammerhead stall, and came down on its side about six feet
away.  Reconfiguring the handlebars with an interesting new bend...
My son was fine, since he and the bike parted company at relatively low
speed.  He quickly acquired a case of Respect for the CR, and proclaims
that it is the first bike he has ever ridden which "doesn't need more
power" :-).

I got my chance and naturally assumed the "attack" or "cringe" posture,
depending upon how you look at it, in an attempt to keep my own center
of gravity as low as possible.  Head down, elbows up, lean forward, toes
on the pegs--outta my way, Stanton!  Zoomed around the forest for a half
hour before wearing myself out; no drops, no bruises, and it's fun 
throwing roost 50 or more feet.  First impressions on the transition
from a mid size thumper to a MX machine:

1. The supercross frame and lightness of the 250 make it feel like a 
   much smaller bike, even though its wheelbase is actually about 1/2
   inch longer than the XR.

2. The CR acceleration is a kick, but I actually like as much the fact that
   it *decelerates* so well--you can charge up to a water hole and
   slow or change direction almost instantly.  The momentum of the XR
   more or less forces you to commit to a line when footing is poor, 
   with no sudden changes (or you simply end up taking the same line,
   only sideways :-( ).

3. Learning trail riding on a full size four stroke thumper is great
   background for the transition to the CR, because the basic navigation
   skills are the same and switching to the two-stroke makes power and
   acceleration the new "single variable".  Sort of like swinging a bat
   with a 10 lb. weight on it, then taking off the weight and stepping
   up to the plate...

4. It's loud and it smells :-).  My son loves it and doesn't want to
   ride his XR any more.

Now a question for the CR afficianados.  We changed the gear oil just
before riding; the old oil had a silvery sheen which says to me that
the gearbox is making metal.  Just after the ride (about 2 hours total)
drained the gear oil again.  What went in as clear amber 10W40 came
out as black stuff with silver sheen again.  My son says this is normal
wear from the clutch plates.  Is this so?  Does this bike make metal
dust every time you ride it?

Anyway, as the Honda Christmas commercial says "Oh what fun it is to ride..."

Dan Masys
masys@nlm.nih.gov

From: jld@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Jeff Deeney)
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 08:03:04 GMT
Subject: Re: Story - "So THATS why they call it Enduro" (Long)
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA