CR250, MT250, MR250

[Tahitian_Red]

What are the differences between the three? (Frame,Trans, Ignition, Porting, Etc.)   Thanks!

CR=Full Race Desert/MX
MT=Dual Sport/Enduro
MR=Combo of both?

[evo550]

Red,
I believe the MR was built from excess superceded CR stocks so they are basically CR's with a lighting coil and I think in Oz they where regersterable, not sure about the U.S. though.

[JohnnyO]

The MT is the trail bike version of the '74 CR250, heavy and not so good handling. The MR is the enduro version of the '76 CR250, a lot better bike than the MT.

[jimg1au]

cr250m 1973-1974 under slung pipe exhurst port on rhs of motor.close ratio gearbox(some very prone to brakage)
mt250 road trail version of 73/74 cr parts fit to hot up
cr250 1975-1976 up over top pipe exhurst port on lhs of motor.crankcase,crank barrell will not fit 1973-1974 close ratio gearbox much stronger than 73/74 will interchange.
mr250 enduro version of 1975-1976 cr different porting and different gear ratios but better than mt250.most parts interchange with 75/76 cr250
all gearbox parts interchange as well as clutches and i think clutch cover with all the pre76 250 elsinore range.
i dont think mr250s came to australia only the mr175s and smaller.
if you want any other infomation pm me and i can see if i can help you.as i have had all 3 motors still have the mr250 imported it as parts for other 2 bikes but only have 73 now

[JohnnyO]

Jim some MR250's came to Oz, a friend of mine had a brand new one in '76. There may not have been many, i don't remember them being common.

[Jimmy]

I owned a Honda MT250 back in 1981, (I think it was a 75 model).  It was the second bike I had owned as a 16 year old and I remember thinking it was pretty good.  Slightly better than my previous ride of a Yamaha DT250A.  I recall the rear suspension was rather ordinary though.

After following some other kids who owned YZ80's over some jumps, I managed to snap one down tube just above the front engine mount.

To ride, I'd rank it in the same category as the DT.

cheers

[bigk]

I have a test on MR250 in a magazine which states the frame while very similar to the CR250 is only mild steel, not chrome moly like the CR. Does anyone know if it's true?
Cheers,
K

[Rossvickicampbell]

it is an urban myth that the 75/76 gearboxes are stronger than the 73/74 ones.  3rd gear still fails.

 

Rossco

[YUMASTEPSIDE]

We only ever got the '77 MR175 out here,any 250's were private or grey imports. The 175's used mainly m1 and m2 Elsinore parts and were touted to be 25 pounds lighter than any other enduro bike in its class,but they are a very small bike physically.

                     Roger

[JohnnyO]

Some of the '76 gears were beefed up compared to the '74's but the dogs still didn't engage far enough in and missed shifts and jumping out of 3rd was still common. I'd believe that about the mild steel frame on the MR, same was claimed with the MT.

[YUMASTEPSIDE]

Sorry to steal your thread for a minute Red,but I have a '77 MR175 that I'm trying to restore and of course I need all the bits that everyone throws away........headlight,speedo,taillight,toolbox and switchgear !
  So if anyone has this stuff to spare , drop me a line...........back to you now Red !!

                   Roger

[clutchslip]

Just in case you've really got to have one...

http://www.vintagemx.us/cgi-bin/largephoto.cgi?C=9NAB8bKzGYfDfrzn

[JC]

I have a test on MR250 in a magazine which states the frame while very similar to the CR250 is only mild steel, not chrome moly like the CR. Does anyone know if it's true?
Cheers,
K

I believe that is true. It was quite a few Kg heavier too

[Expat]

Word from a US CR250 specialist is to under cut the gear dogs to 6 degrees...factory was about 2 or 2.5 degrees and not all dogs contacted /matched the mating gear so the load was not evenly spread.