i know this is an old thread but i had to add my to it. back in 2002 i sold my 99cr250 and bought a 2002 cr250 brand new and right away my first impression was the new bike had no low end power compared to my 99. i had that bike for three years and i did everything i could think of to increase the low end power of that bike, porting for low end, v-force reeds in the low tension setting,tried several pipes, and it always ran like poop down low too (yes the pv cables were adjusted correctly)and i jetted of course even tried the different nozzle jet then went to a pwk carb figuring it would run better down low and it did but never like my older cr's ,i added teeth to the rear sprocket, higher compression with race fuel, and finily i gave up on ever getting it to run good and have low end power ,then in 2005 my buddy bought a used totally stock 2001 cr250. i took that bike for a ride and sold my 2002 cr250 that week. i was so mad that his stock cr250 had sooooo much more low end power than my bike it wasn't even funny! it made my bike look like a fast 125 his bike had way more power everywhere even though my bike did rev higher (go figure had every low mod i could think of and it reved almost like a 125 lol). i was soo mad my bike had absolutely no low end power i went out and bought my cr500af
thats completely ass backwards to any of our testing. The 2002+ has superior torque over the 2000 or 2001. something isnt right.
my bro bought a 2004 after riding my 2002 because it was so much stronger down low even stock in comparison to his gnarly piped and vf reeded 2000.
your bike must have had something wrong, we ran the heck out of those 3 bikes. we still have the 02+04, a buddy has the 00. we didnt make a mistake on that deal. i dont like the vf in the 2002 bike, the stock reeds were better. need some vf3s, i still have them.
I experienced the same....... had a 95 250 (my favorite bike I had) then got a 2001 and loved it just as much, it was easier to ride due to more useable power the 95 was more like a light switch ON or OFF. I then had a 2004 and absolutely hated it compared to both the 95 and 2001, sold the 04 and found a 2000.........Happy again. 2000 and 2001 are basicaly the same besides some minor porting changes, different ignition curves and the 2000 comes with the more desirable Kehin 38 airstriker.
Roostius_Maximus wrote:thats completely ass backwards to any of our testing. The 2002+ has superior torque over the 2000 or 2001. something isnt right.
my bro bought a 2004 after riding my 2002 because it was so much stronger down low even stock in comparison to his gnarly piped and vf reeded 2000.
your bike must have had something wrong, we ran the heck out of those 3 bikes. we still have the 02+04, a buddy has the 00. we didnt make a mistake on that deal. i dont like the vf in the 2002 bike, the stock reeds were better. need some vf3s, i still have them.
i bought that bike brand new so i don't see what could have been wrong with it i rode it for three years. it might make more torque on the dyno or when on the pipe, but as far as real world usable low end power i think the 2002 cr250 was awful. i never rode a 2003 or newer cr250 because after owning that 2002 that was enough of the case reed engine for me.
This will be a tough one on a honda oriented site, and I know the original question was about CR's, but really for a 250 the YZ is where it is at. 99 or newer, particularly the '06 and newer. I have an '01 and bet I keep it till the day I die.
maddog1927 wrote:This will be a tough one on a honda oriented site, and I know the original question was about CR's, but really for a 250 the YZ is where it is at. 99 or newer, particularly the '06 and newer. I have an '01 and bet I keep it till the day I die.
Love my '07 YZ 250.
The CR500 is like:
The YZ is more like:
No longer have a CR500.
07 Yamaha YZ250, 17 Husqvarna 701 Enduro
Get on with riding or get on with dying. https://www.youtube.com/mojoscojo
as far as real world usable low end power i think the 2002 cr250 was awful
thats the feeling i got on every case reed cr250, went noticably better in the gravel pit, but sucked bag for trails
i think the YZ250 engine rocks, chassis too, might end up trading the rm.... although once the hydraulic clutch is on the RM i think it will be good
the RM is snappy and fun but not quite as useable as the YZ
the 450 will have less power and will be harder to start, and will be heavier, but to make up for it it will require more maintenance.
4stroke=dead fish
to it. back in 2002 i sold my 99cr250 and bought a 2002 cr250 brand new and right away my first impression was the new bike had no low end power compared to my 99. i had that bike for three years and i did everything i could think of to increase the low end power of that bike, porting for low end, v-force reeds in the low tension setting,tried several pipes, and it always ran like poop down low too (yes the pv cables were adjusted correctly)and i jetted of course even tried the different nozzle jet then went to a pwk carb figuring it would run better down low and it did but never like my older cr's ,i added teeth to the rear sprocket, higher compression with race fuel, and finily i gave up on ever getting it to run good and have low end power ,then in 2005 my buddy bought a used totally stock 2001 cr250. i took that bike for a ride and sold my 2002 cr250 that week. i was so mad that his stock cr250 had sooooo much more low end power than my bike it wasn't even funny! it made my bike look like a fast 125 his bike had way more power everywhere even though my bike did rev higher (go figure had every low mod i could think of and it reved almost like a 125 lol). i was soo mad my bike had absolutely no low end power i went out and bought my cr500af 
