New Member - Port Talbot - South Wales
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- Posts: 29
- Joined: 02 Feb 2012, 10:42
- Bike Owned: CRM 250 MK2
- Location: Port Talbot - South Wales
New Member - Port Talbot - South Wales
Hi to everyone,
I have been doing the rounds on this forum for a couple of weeks, mainly in my quest for info regarding CRM's, and to aid my quest in purchasing my first example of this cult classic. Now that I have succeeded in purchasing a CRM I thought I would formally introduce myself, and give some background as to how the CRM 250 was the correct choice of bike for me.
It wasnt until my 30th birthday (December 2011), that I finally bit the bullet and decided to start the rigmarole that is the modern day bike test. For years my uncle (Yam XT600 owner), had conveyed to me that I should do the test and I would never regret it. I managed to book my CBT for the day before Christmas Eve, cue the legendary Welsh weather to not let me down, and produce a wonderful riding day in heavy rain. Once passed I purchased insurance on my father's KDX 125 as a stop gap until I could gain my full unrestricted licence and purchase the bike I wanted. By the 16th of January I had passed my Mod 2, Mod 3 and had gained the full CAT A bike licence :-)
Cue the search?????????? What bike? Two stroke, four stroke, engine size/power, new/old its a mine field out there, one thing I knew is that it would be Enduro orientated. Various trawling through forums and websites the obvious choices were cropping up - KTM exc's and exc-f, Yam WR's, Honda CRF's. None of them seemed to tick all the boxes, where I live there are some cracking trails/byways some of which require a 20 - 30 mile road ride to reach. All of the above as you all know are competition orientated and hence are only bearable on road. Also there was the servicing issue; with racking up the miles I would be forever servicing the above bikes. In addition to this at 5 ft 8" I am not the tallest rider in the world and at an average seat height of 960mm I would be like a ballerina at best on the above bikes.
So in summary I wanted: - An Enduro bike which was not a pig on road. Preferably a more friendly seat height to the vertically challenged. Longer service intervals than the modern day competition Enduro bikes. I also decided that I would prefer a two stroke due to ease of repairs in comparison to a more complex four stroke engine.
After week’s of research and head scratching, a conversation with my uncle led him to dig through his old TBM magazines in search of a bike “The CRM 250 – Honda”. Once found I preceded to read about this 1990’s – 2000 Enduro two stroke. After checking out this designated website (which he also knew about) and scanning every relevant Youtube video I could find I was hooked………. A bike which ticked all my boxes and I even liked the styling, even if it is dated by today’s standard Enduro bikes.
Cue the search for a CRM 250 MK2, MK3 or AR. In my time of looking an apparently excellent condition MK2 with blue graphics presented itself on ebay (phoned as soon as I seen the advert – sold). Similar condition MK2 with red/orange graphics on Gumtree (phoned as soon as I seen the advert – sold). There was also an AR on ebay which I would have liked to have gone and seen, however this coincided with a Snowboarding holiday. There have been a few other’s, however I was holding out a good conditioned example of this bike or better.
All in all it has been a highly frustrating experience, if I was searching for one of the modern day bikes the search would have been much easier.
On Monday of this week a chance search on google saw me stumble upon ‘Dirt Bike Rider – magazine website’. I knew that this was a motocross orientated website but I thought I would look in their for sale section. And to my amazement one of the most recent advertisements was for a CRM 250 MK2 in the traditional red/orange graphics. There was only one picture and a small paragraph about the bike – the bike looked in excellent condition - £1000.
I made a list of applicable questions and phoned the owner. The bike was still for sale and had been relisted due to there being only one interested party when he advertised the bike over Christmas time for £1200. All the questions were answered and all the responses were positive. There was one draw back which prevented me from going to view the bike immediately, the location. Located in West Yorkshire it would be a 9 hr round trip!
Initially the distance put me off and I was of the mindset that eventually another bike would come up which was closer, much like the few bikes I had previously missed out on. By Tuesday afternoon the bike was haunting my thoughts, it was the bike I wanted, was tax and tested it was all there. I phoned the owner and explained about the distance and asked whether he could send me as many pictures as he could. Cue 26 photos of all angles of the bike (including the all important close ups) reaching my inbox by early evening. All pictures tallied with the initial advertisement picture that the bike was in excellent cosmetic condition. That was it mind made up, I phoned the owner and said I would have the bike as long as it was mechanically sound. I arranged for a loan of a van from work and the journey was planned for early Wednesday afternoon so that I would be at the owners house, for when he came home from work.
Less than 24 hrs later and I was stood looking at my potential purchase. And am I glad that I did. After an hour of scrutiny, discussion, starting from cold, re-starting and test ride I was more than happy to hand over the money and purchase my first motorbike. Strapped into the van the four and a half hour journey flew by as I was carried on the adrenaline of the purchase.
The bike is happily sitting in my shed, waiting for its first outing on the weekend. When I have time I shall take some tidy photo’s, but in the meantime this is the link to the original advertisement.
http://www.dirtbikerider.com/dirtbikeri ... hp?id=4354
All the best,
Mark
I have been doing the rounds on this forum for a couple of weeks, mainly in my quest for info regarding CRM's, and to aid my quest in purchasing my first example of this cult classic. Now that I have succeeded in purchasing a CRM I thought I would formally introduce myself, and give some background as to how the CRM 250 was the correct choice of bike for me.
It wasnt until my 30th birthday (December 2011), that I finally bit the bullet and decided to start the rigmarole that is the modern day bike test. For years my uncle (Yam XT600 owner), had conveyed to me that I should do the test and I would never regret it. I managed to book my CBT for the day before Christmas Eve, cue the legendary Welsh weather to not let me down, and produce a wonderful riding day in heavy rain. Once passed I purchased insurance on my father's KDX 125 as a stop gap until I could gain my full unrestricted licence and purchase the bike I wanted. By the 16th of January I had passed my Mod 2, Mod 3 and had gained the full CAT A bike licence :-)
Cue the search?????????? What bike? Two stroke, four stroke, engine size/power, new/old its a mine field out there, one thing I knew is that it would be Enduro orientated. Various trawling through forums and websites the obvious choices were cropping up - KTM exc's and exc-f, Yam WR's, Honda CRF's. None of them seemed to tick all the boxes, where I live there are some cracking trails/byways some of which require a 20 - 30 mile road ride to reach. All of the above as you all know are competition orientated and hence are only bearable on road. Also there was the servicing issue; with racking up the miles I would be forever servicing the above bikes. In addition to this at 5 ft 8" I am not the tallest rider in the world and at an average seat height of 960mm I would be like a ballerina at best on the above bikes.
So in summary I wanted: - An Enduro bike which was not a pig on road. Preferably a more friendly seat height to the vertically challenged. Longer service intervals than the modern day competition Enduro bikes. I also decided that I would prefer a two stroke due to ease of repairs in comparison to a more complex four stroke engine.
After week’s of research and head scratching, a conversation with my uncle led him to dig through his old TBM magazines in search of a bike “The CRM 250 – Honda”. Once found I preceded to read about this 1990’s – 2000 Enduro two stroke. After checking out this designated website (which he also knew about) and scanning every relevant Youtube video I could find I was hooked………. A bike which ticked all my boxes and I even liked the styling, even if it is dated by today’s standard Enduro bikes.
Cue the search for a CRM 250 MK2, MK3 or AR. In my time of looking an apparently excellent condition MK2 with blue graphics presented itself on ebay (phoned as soon as I seen the advert – sold). Similar condition MK2 with red/orange graphics on Gumtree (phoned as soon as I seen the advert – sold). There was also an AR on ebay which I would have liked to have gone and seen, however this coincided with a Snowboarding holiday. There have been a few other’s, however I was holding out a good conditioned example of this bike or better.
All in all it has been a highly frustrating experience, if I was searching for one of the modern day bikes the search would have been much easier.
On Monday of this week a chance search on google saw me stumble upon ‘Dirt Bike Rider – magazine website’. I knew that this was a motocross orientated website but I thought I would look in their for sale section. And to my amazement one of the most recent advertisements was for a CRM 250 MK2 in the traditional red/orange graphics. There was only one picture and a small paragraph about the bike – the bike looked in excellent condition - £1000.
I made a list of applicable questions and phoned the owner. The bike was still for sale and had been relisted due to there being only one interested party when he advertised the bike over Christmas time for £1200. All the questions were answered and all the responses were positive. There was one draw back which prevented me from going to view the bike immediately, the location. Located in West Yorkshire it would be a 9 hr round trip!
Initially the distance put me off and I was of the mindset that eventually another bike would come up which was closer, much like the few bikes I had previously missed out on. By Tuesday afternoon the bike was haunting my thoughts, it was the bike I wanted, was tax and tested it was all there. I phoned the owner and explained about the distance and asked whether he could send me as many pictures as he could. Cue 26 photos of all angles of the bike (including the all important close ups) reaching my inbox by early evening. All pictures tallied with the initial advertisement picture that the bike was in excellent cosmetic condition. That was it mind made up, I phoned the owner and said I would have the bike as long as it was mechanically sound. I arranged for a loan of a van from work and the journey was planned for early Wednesday afternoon so that I would be at the owners house, for when he came home from work.
Less than 24 hrs later and I was stood looking at my potential purchase. And am I glad that I did. After an hour of scrutiny, discussion, starting from cold, re-starting and test ride I was more than happy to hand over the money and purchase my first motorbike. Strapped into the van the four and a half hour journey flew by as I was carried on the adrenaline of the purchase.
The bike is happily sitting in my shed, waiting for its first outing on the weekend. When I have time I shall take some tidy photo’s, but in the meantime this is the link to the original advertisement.
http://www.dirtbikerider.com/dirtbikeri ... hp?id=4354
All the best,
Mark
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Re: New Member - Port Talbot - South Wales
Welcome to the World of CRM - you won't be dissappointed I'm sure.
I was a convert around 4 years ago, and my only regret is that I didn't find CRM's sooner. They are a great all round bike. I used to dread the ride to the meeting point for trail rides on my all sing/dancing CRF250, but the CRM is a pleasure to ride anywhere.
I'd suggest you think quickly about getting hand gaurds, belly pan, and possibly frame protectors, I also have wider foot pegs than standard and bar risers which help when standing - I'm about your height.
No doubt there will others along shortly with their thoughts.
Rich
I was a convert around 4 years ago, and my only regret is that I didn't find CRM's sooner. They are a great all round bike. I used to dread the ride to the meeting point for trail rides on my all sing/dancing CRF250, but the CRM is a pleasure to ride anywhere.
I'd suggest you think quickly about getting hand gaurds, belly pan, and possibly frame protectors, I also have wider foot pegs than standard and bar risers which help when standing - I'm about your height.
No doubt there will others along shortly with their thoughts.
Rich
- F-A-B-I-O
- Site Supporter
- Posts: 29
- Joined: 02 Feb 2012, 10:42
- Bike Owned: CRM 250 MK2
- Location: Port Talbot - South Wales
Re: New Member - Port Talbot - South Wales
Thanks Rich,
Yeah all of the above are on my list of 'must' purchases.
In terms of belly pan and frame protectors are there any other alternatives to the ones advertised by Leisure Trail?
Yeah all of the above are on my list of 'must' purchases.
In terms of belly pan and frame protectors are there any other alternatives to the ones advertised by Leisure Trail?
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Re: New Member - Port Talbot - South Wales

Mike
VFORCE REEDS-MUGEN HEAD AND BARREL-WHITE POWER-ALL ON MY WISH LIST!!
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Re: New Member - Port Talbot - South Wales
fmtb +1
glad you found what you was after
glad you found what you was after

Im thinking about a bike with more valves than a powervalve