Noob questions

[Niner]

I have been digging through all the threads looking at all the different conversions trying to gather up some information, but I am having kind of a hard time figuring out all the ins and outs of different conversions. Here is what I am trying to figure out:
Generation 1=1997, 1998, and 1999 CR250's
Genration 2=2000 and 2001 CR250's
Generations 3=2002-?CR250's
Generation 4=?(years)
What genarations are the CRF450's and are the 450 frames different from the CR250 frames?
I know some bikes are better for taller/ bigger riders. I'm 5'11" so I think I will be better off on a CR250 than on a CRF450. I plan on riding mostly on backyard tracks, trail riding, and a few trips to the dunes a year. I know different bikes are better for the back yard tracks vs. the dunes, but what bike would be the best all arond for me without having to fight it stability wise at the dunes?
I know the first generations for the swap all you have to do is get a head stay, grind off a couple of motor mounts, weld up some newly fabbed motor mounts, and cut out the "x" in the frame. What about the other generations. Looking at the bike builds a lot of them are just pictures with no explanation as to what parts were used/ modified. Maybe a conversion guru on here could fill in the** following:

Generation 1 1997, 1998, 1999 CR250
*type of riding the bike is best suited for*
*parts and modification needed for conversion*

Generation 2 2000 & 2001 CR250
*type of riding the bike is best suited for*
*parts and modification needed for conversion*


Generation 3 *model and years*
*type of riding the bike is best suited for*
*parts and modification needed for conversion*


Generation 4 *model and years*
*type of riding the bike is best suited for*
*parts and modification needed for conversion*

Etc.

It would really help me out and I think it would answer a lot of other newbies questions without searching for hours and still not being able to figure out the ins and outs of the different conversions.

[Mad Dog]

Every one is better than the steelie.

[Niner]

I'd hope so or there would be no point in swapping. Do the first generation CR125's share the same frame as the CR250's?

[AlisoBob]

What Gen you build mostly comes down to funds, accessibility, and your ability to fabricate.

Do a Gen 1, and see how you like it.

[AlisoBob]

Do the first generation CR125's share the same frame as the CR250's?

No, any 125 A/F conversion is the hardest way to go.

[dannygraves]

gen-4 was the '04+ crf250 and '05+ crf450 the '02-'04 crf450 are called a gen-3, but are different from the gen-3 250 and the gen-3 250 was '02+ I think they stopped making the 250 in '08 which would make them '02-'07

gen-1 is cake! contact shanman for a conversion kit, I'm all out!