As a DR Long Haul test bike this Honda lived the life I chose for it. First and foremost was a strict regimen of motocross track days and racing events starting with the MTA World Vet Championships last November and ending with a week inside Ryan Hughes' MX training camp. Throughout the year simple modifications personalized, protected and prolonged this ride.
Almost immediately I tried a few ProTaper Evo handlebar bends. I wanted to mimic the 2009 Yamaha YZ250F's bar ergonomics, and ProTaper's YZ High bend was pretty close. I tried the ProTaper triple clamp but couldn't get the same light steering feel as stock, so I went looking for an oversize bar mount to nestle into my stock clamps. I found one of the trickest setups in the Ride Engineering one-piece clamp. With these two mods, my CRF was now impervious to my many tip-overs as well. I did need a steady supply of ProTaper Pillow Top Lite grips, though. Other bolt-ons, like ProTaper's 2.3 Platform footpegs went on as I continued to use this bike as a DR Tested Mother Ship.
Weak points of the Honda CRF250R can be the clutch life and the wonderful game of dial-in-the-jetting. I solved the clutch life problem instantly with a DP clutch kit. The DP unit didn't have the same smooth pull at the lever as stock, but after 15 hours of serious abuse (some of it admittedly intentional) the DP plates look new. The bog monsters showed up a time or two, so I decided to get rid of them the easy way: with a Boyesen QS 3. This Quick Shot incorporates an adjustable leak jet to fine-tune fuel delivery and alter power character. It works; the bog went away (almost completely), and I didn't really think about it again or have to take my carburetor off for the rest of the year. Plus, I can fine-tune some snap or smoothness in.
The stock chain and sprocket set lasted an average time for us (15 hours or so), so when they finally faded I continued with my ProTaper theme and slapped on a PT 520MX chain and PT sprocket set. Initially, the chain looked suspect with a lot of free-play in the links, but throughout the bike's second half of life it required little or no adjustment and kept its goldish shine. Sprocket life followed suit.
Since I race and ride with 450s, it didn't take long to pick a stout hand guard. The Cycra M2 Recoil filled the bill, and I only broke one all year (in a hard crash). Plus, they integrated with the Ride Engineering kill switch mount to free up space on the handlebar. Cool!
This is a bolt-on extravaganza! And it goes on! You've probably read my review of the CRF Stuff 280mm front brake kit (November '09)...it really picked up the pucker power. I used Honda chemicals in the bike and Twin Air Bio filters/oil. And how could I not wrap this bike up without mentioning the awesome RidePG.com graphics and preprinted backgrounds? Their amazing look got more comments in the pits than the 2010 CRF250R!