The CRF250X rippa

[DJ Dlugosz]

So I've had this 05 CRF250X for about 2 1/2 years now. It's definitely not the ideal bike to race stock, and Honda hasn't made any real drastic changes to the bikes since they came out. The last they even updated the graphics on the stock bikes was 09. So if you go into a dealer and purchase a ''2013 CRF250X'' it'll look the exact same as the 2009 model. So basically here's what I've done to my bike and what I plan on doing to it in the next couple of months leading up to the 13-14 FTR hare-scrambles/King of the woods series and 2014 River Ranch/General GNCC's.

FIRST THINGS FIRST... IF YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING DONE TO YOUR BIKE THAT YOU CAN'T DO.... GO TO DON LEARN. www.jaxmoto.com The last thing you want to do is **think** you know how to do something but don't, and then end up messing things up even more. For example... I'll never touch my engine or suspension... I know nothing about them and they are complicated

I remember riding Giovanna's CRF250X a while back... and I hated it. I had a RMZ250 at the time and before that I rode a RM85. I was definitely used to riding a MX bike and that's what I was comfortable on. As a lot of you know, I had a few problems with the RMZ250, which ended up in me buying the CRF250X while on spring break in Vermont. As soon as I got the bike I rode it a few times to get used to it, and then headed to a dealer and got ProTaper bars in the Kevin Windham bend and Factory Connection fork/shock springs. Being that I'm a bigger guy these are definitely a must. I'm pretty picky about my bars, and I just like the K-Dub bends. I chose FC suspension because I'm from NH and live here in the summer/winter. So if I ever have a problem with any of my suspension I can drive a few towns over and have things serviced right next to team Geico Honda's stuff. I also needed tires, so I bought some Dunlop MX51's. To me... they're the best tires you can get and work good in any riding condition. Especially in the woods where terrain can be quite different section to section.

Since I don't ride on the street (just got my license a month ago) and I want to be able to ride a moto track on occasions, I took off my front headlight, and rear lights and replaced the plastics with CRF250R plastics. Since then, I got a 2010-2013 CRF250R front fender/number plate from one of my buddies, and the new Honda plastic really gives a whole new improved look. Like I said before, the plastics on the 250X has been the same since 2004. It's cool to have something new and different, that looks a lot better! Since I'm a graphic designer for HBD MotoGrafx, I made myself some graphics, and there's my bike.

Last Friday- I took off all my plastics, got a red Scotch Bright pad and some Dawn soap (yes, for washing dishes) and washed/scrubbed my engine and any visible part of my bike. Right now, my 8 year old bike looks like it could've almost come off a showroom floor. I actually washed everything once with the dish soap, then washed it again with Simple Green, then again with the dish soap. I got some new plastics for my bike, as well as a new custom seat cover that we are now making at HBD that I'm putting on my bike. I also took my air filter out, cleaned it and re-oiled it. That's actually a first for me.... normally I just buy a new filter and throw the old one away. If you were at the Anchor 3 hare-scramble back in April and saw me racing or my bike after the race... or G's pictures of my bike... I completely demolished my muffler. I dented, burned, and put a hole in the thing. I actually felt something heating up as I was racing, but just kept going. I didn't actually notice what happened until my muffler burned out my rear brakes and I slammed into a tree after that little downhill after the bridge (riding that course with just my front brake/clutch in whoops and sand wasn't easy and I lost a lot of time. Also lying on the ground in pain and watching people you've been leading the whole race... sucks) I got a stock CRF250R muffler as a temporary replacement... it doesn't have a spark arrestor so I can't race with it. I also have taken off my header and am trying to take the 2 year old header wrap filled with dirt off... but I need to take off my header guard and have a stripped screw. When I get everything off I plan to try and clean/shine my header as best I can. I have a dent in the front of it, so if I see a cheap one on eBay I might try and pick it up. After everything's put back together, I'll change my engine/transmission oil... which will also be a first for me. I'm waiting on my new FTR number so after I get mine I'll get my new graphics printed out. Here's a few pictures of what it all currently looks like...

[scootergirl]

Well, not hate....

[DJ Dlugosz]

Hahaha trust me, i'd love a KTM 150 or 200 2smoke

[queenofslow]

That's a 250 .... not a 150 or 200. Much better suited to you.

I saw it today in Don's shop as I dropped off my pumpkin, and that forlorn, lonely bike asked me about you.... (wink wink nudge nudge).

[patrickfloyd]

Jul 28, 2013 6:33:12 GMT -5 queenofslow said:

DJ, thanks for the photos and the story. As a former CRF250x owner, I feel your pain (although for different reasons). That was my favorite bike for climbing trees, due to that snappy throttle response. Great, say, if you have a bear chasing you but no so good for my majestic slow riding.

Let me plant an evil idea in your head..... (Debbie will HATE me for it, but all is fair in love, war and motorcycle riding).

In a corner of Don's shop there is a lonely 2 stroke pumpkin. It comes from good stock, having been owned by a AA rider, and most recently by another very experienced enduro rider. It is a really good bike but needs a bit of "bowel surgery". More like "transplant" actually. The current owner is thinking about it.

Since the owner is a friend, I will stay mum about the circumstances which led to the "disembowelment". What goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Every time I am in Don's shop I cast covetous looks at it (and even go and pat it when nobody's watching....). That bike needs some loving, bro!

If you can cajole the current owner into selling it, that would be an AWESOME bike for the racing program you have in mind.

Plus, it can be tagged and you would be able to come with us on our dual sport rides! Ocala and Osceola, here you come!

LOL- I think most of us know the who, what and where on that lonely bike. The story kinda goes like: Great bike set up perfectly, experienced rider covets said bike and buys it, decides he can make it better and BOOM- And there it sits while the owner decides the DRZ is all he really needs-

[queenofslow]

Patrickfloyd, remind me not to share with you my most embarrassing flops (of which there are MANY). With friends like you, who needs enemies....

The name of the "experienced rider" shall remain unsaid, please. (Obviously it was not me, since nobody in their right mind would call me "experienced" - except in slowness- and even "rider" is a bit of a stretch).

Jokes aside, no, the DRZ is NOT all he needs. I have seen him riding the orange bike and they are a very good team, as long as he stays away from the sands of Withlacootchee -AND/OR- stops following GUNS as a lead. (But that is a completely different story, and it involves Clint impersonating a red cross ambulance driver...while careening on I--75 screeching "I am a liiive wiiiire!").

I wish I could help the experienced rider re-join the orange bike (after guts transplant- of the bike I mean)or find a new home for the bike.

All this flapping of gums to hide my own covetous feelings for the lonely bike. Maturity= no more lusting for tall Viking types (well- at least, not as often); strong lusting for orange bikes. Yes, I have the room and the bucks. No, I do not have much time to ride the two (excellent) bikes I already own. BUT... that two smokes lonely bike would be SOO MUCH FUN!!!! And I was hoping I could do one lap of our own enduro next year....

Just thoughts passing through the mind of a middle age woman...

[queenofslow]

... and I believe that the sound of the catastrophe in progress was not "BOOM" but more like "GNAAAK"

followed by very expensive silence...... followed by unrepeatable words....

[patrickfloyd]

("as long as he stays away from the sands of Withlacootchee -AND/OR- stops following GUNS as a lead. (But that is a completely different story, and it involves Clint impersonating a red cross ambulance driver...while careening on I--75 screeching "I am a liiive wiiiire!").

Haha- Some of us know this story as well. If he hadn't tried to take a short cut -- well, we all know how THAT ended!

Patrick