The Honda’s C R denotes a competition racer.
In This Article...
What does the CR in the Honda CR250 mean?
In 1973, the CR250M Elsinore went on sale. It was one of the first in its class, with a two-stroke engine, and set the bar for two-stroke motorcycle advancement. Little changed in the CR250M design in 1974 or 1975. Honda updated the CR250M and renamed it the CR250R in 1978, with the R denoting racing. [8] Honda unveiled a redesigned suspension in 1981. A new hydraulic front disc brake and an exhaust valve were added to the 1984 model. [9] Minor modifications to the CR250R between then and 1990 included a larger carburetor, Showa front suspension, and hydraulic back brake.
A redesigned, more aggressive design for the CR250R was introduced in 1992, but it had the drawback of providing more power than the CR250R’s frail steel frame could handle. Numerous riders urged Honda to switch to a stronger frame, but successful riders who were sponsored by Honda, such Jeremy McGrath and Ronnie Mac alone the screaming eagle, preferred the previous stiff, fragile design. The aluminum frame was first introduced in 1997. Although many racers favored this frame, the bike was not popular with ordinary riders in the desert, so Honda began a redesign and unveiled an enhanced aluminum frame in 2000. The bike was made faster and lighter in 2002, and a third-generation aluminum frame and electronic power valve were included. The 249 cc (15.2 cu in) liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine in the Honda CR250 generated roughly 45 horsepower. [10] It had a two-gallon petrol tank and a five-speed transmission with Showa suspension. [11] Honda made the announcement that after that year, they would stop making two-stroke engines.
What does the term “dirt bike” mean?
Competition race four-stroke “look a like”: CRF230F (engine size) Fun fact: Prior to the crf becoming so well-known, these were xr models. However, they wanted to capitalize on the crf moniker, much as how everything kawi is now a ninja.
Honda stopped producing CR when?
A Hondaracing dirt bike was the Honda CR250R. The prototype was constructed in 1971, but sales of the 1973 model “out of the box racers” to the general public did not start until late in 1972. The CR250’s final year of manufacturing was 2007, after almost 37 years of existence. [2]
Honda built an aluminum motocross motorcycle chassis in 1997, a first for the industry. These “first generation” steel frames were thick and robust, which marked a significant improvement over the earlier steel frames, whose early years had experienced flexibility as an issue. In an effort to prevent lean mixture preignition, the 1997-8 engines came with a redesigned stator that provided DC voltage for the new Keihin carburetor with an electronic “Power Jet” system. A rectifier/regulator and a capacitor were part of the new electrics. Although the Power Jet was no longer present, the 1999 model was nearly comparable.
The “second generation” aluminum frame for 2000 included smaller twin-spars, which reduced stiffness and improved handling. Older PJ versions were replaced by the Keihin PWK carburetor. The CDI box has an 8000 RPM cap. With the exception of a redesigned CDI box that increased the redline by 500 RPM and added two more horsepower, the 2001 model was essentially unchanged. Weather variations caused the new Mikuni TMX carburetor to behave temperamentally.
Honda ended the exceptional interchangeability that had existed from 1992 to 2001 for 2002.
A brand-new engine was introduced, replacing the centrifugally operated exhaust valve system in use since 1992 with an electronically controlled, cable-operated RC valve and switching from cylinder to engine case reed induction. The carburetor now has a TPS (Throttle Position Sensor), which is powered by a new stator. There was no ping sensor anywhere, but the ECM would now be able to delay the ignition timing to prevent preignition.
A third and final generation of the CR250 aluminum chassis, which was thinner and had superior flex characteristics, also debuted. Up until the end of this 2-stroke’s manufacture in 2007, the engine and chassis remained the same with just minor suspension and plastics modifications. The case reed engine may have the best design, but Honda never fully exploited it since four stroke engine development quickly captured the industry’s focus. The aftermarket was a necessity for many owners of the final generation of the CR250 in order to maximize that engine’s performance. The 2001 variants of the CR250, which are regarded as the greatest of the best ever made, are still enjoyed by fans.
What exactly does KTM mean?
The company’s preference for using initials for model names is not surprising given that its name, KTM—Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen—stands for Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. It would be simple to claim that street bikes have traditional names, whereas dirt bikes have letter model names. You’ll soon realize that it’s not quite that easy. The Enduro portfolio doesn’t even include the Enduro R variant. Additionally, special editions may deviate from the naming scheme, but let’s save that discussion for another time. Even if we are unable to simplify the KTM alphabet soup, we will try our best to explain it.
Why did Honda discontinue the CR500?
The CR500 was only produced until 2001, after which Honda stopped making them. This was brought on by the 1993 discontinuation of the AMA 500 motocross competitions. Honda stopped paying as much attention to the CR500 because there was no longer a specific motocross race for the bike to participate in.
What does R on a Honda motorcycle mean?
Have you ever wondered what the CB in the CB750 means or why BMW ADV bikes have the GS suffix? What does MV Agusta signify, or what does the XS in XS650 mean? We’re here to solve the riddles of motorcycle naming traditions, so stop searching now. This is merely a primer to help you guys understand what to look for when you see, say, a CB550F4 in the wild; it is by no means an exhaustive list.
Instead of providing a thorough list of all the production motorbike models that are available, we’ll focus on a few of the more typical and well-liked ones. It is crucial to keep in mind that many bikes have different names in other markets, and that model names are frequently used just to distinguish one bike from another, to identify a family of bikes, or to draw attention to a certain characteristic. We won’t be looking at motorcycles with proper names like Hayabusa, Sportster, Ninja, Fireblade, Boulevard, Multistrada, Super Tenere, etc. for the same apparent reasons. However, we’ll look at the number and letter designations that appear after these names, like as on the Yamaha Virago XV1100.
These designations frequently denote a certain model year, specification or variant, and most frequently, an approximate displacement, whether they stand alone or are used after a proper name. Instead of proper names, other bikes have arbitrary letter and number identifiers. While Suzuki and Honda utilize an approximate displacement, such as the GSX R600 or CBR600RR being 600cc bikes, the Yamaha R1, R6, and R3 signify 1,000cc, 600cc, and 300cc models, respectively.
designations by letters
CBX, GSXR, and other names frequently stand for something specific, frequently a quote that describes the meaning or inspiration for the bike. Honda’s CB is meant to stand for “City Bike,” while Suzuki’s GSX-R stands for “Grand Sport eXperimental- Racing” and Honda’s CBR is short for “City Bike Racer” (or “racing”) rather than “cross beam racer.” It’s interesting to note that the “RR” that follows Honda’s modern sport bikes just denotes that the bike is a sporty, race-oriented model rather than denoting “race replica” or “race ready.” Despite this, Honda is okay with the myth because it helps with marketing. There’s that. The RR on Ducati’s Desmosedici RR does, in fact, stand for “racing replica.”
On a similar point, some names will be purposeful references to earlier models, and occasionally they may even be chosen to poke fun at the opposition.
Not only does the word Hayabusa seem badass, but Hayabusa is also the name of a Blackbird-eating, incredibly swift Japanese bird of prey. This was done on purpose by Suzuki since the ‘Busa was designed to compete with Honda’s Blackbird, which once held the record for fastest production motorcycle in the world. There are several slang terms that have been widely used and persistent as well. For instance, the controversial Honda DN-01 has earned the moniker “Do Not Own One.”
How quickly does a Honda CR500 go?
If not for one fundamental flaw—a bike that favors more experienced, skillful riders—the CR500 would have been rated first in every motorcycle publication without a doubt. Nevertheless, the bike’s abilities were never completely acknowledged, and even its top speed was questioned.
Although the CR500’s highest speed is 150 km/h (93 mph), the Honda CRF450R’s top speed is only 87 mph (140 km/h), contrary to popular belief among riders. It was only a matter of the rider’s abilities matching the two-wheeler for the bike to perform to its full potential.
Riding the CR500 is like riding a double-edged sword because it is faster and heavier than the typical dirt bike. The bike’s courage test starts at this point. At all times, it takes courage, strength, and expertise to put one leg over this vicious machine.
If one of the three requirements isn’t met, this 500-cc 2-stroke engine has a good chance of turning into an aggressive beast that will attack you. On the other hand, if you keep your eyes on the road, the Honda CR500 will undoubtedly surpass your expectations.
Why did Honda discontinue producing two-stroke engines?
Takeo Fukui, President of Honda, made the announcement that the Japanese automaker would phase out two-stroke engines back in 2003. Honda immediately started gradually getting rid of two-stroke motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds. The CR 250, 125, and 85 motocross bikes were the last of its line to be produced. Goodbyes with a kiss. Honda made their threat come true today. There won’t be any more two strokes as of 2008, according to the official statement. This indicates that you won’t need to premix oil in your Honda’s petrol tank after 2007.
Honda is taking a risk with this decision since they are the first of the top five motorcycle manufacturers to make it—a move that most experts in the business agree will soon become unavoidable. Dedicated two-stroke racers will undoubtedly take revenue away from Honda, but only temporarily. Honda’s choice to give up port timing in favor of valves and cams signals the end of the end for pre-mix and expansion chambers, much as the Yamaha 400-F signaled the beginning of the end for those technologies.
What effects will this have on motocross racers? Anyone riding a four-stroke in the 85cc class will feel like they are humming along on a weed mower. Honda is optimistic that the AMA will understand their struggle and permit throaty, 150cc four strokes to crush micro class racers, nevertheless. There might also be a significant reduction in talk in the pits. Once the decibel level exceeds the four-stroke tipping point, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to talk, order a hot dog, or debate with the starting officials. Mini dads will no longer be heard by us or their muffled children as a result of change. By the summer of 2008, be ready for significant sound inspections.
Will Honda reintroduce the CR?
Return of the CR 2-strokes! Ever since the official HONDA announcement, the internet has been ablaze. A leaked Honda release reveals that the CR500 would be making a comeback with fuel-injected variants, which was perhaps the most dependable and powerful 2 stroke motocross bike of its time.