To CRM or not to CRM?

[centaurus]

Hi everyone,

I'm fairly new to this site. I've been reading the forums in the last month but this is my first post.

I'm preparing to take my learners test and buy my first bike . Due to the fact that I drive/ride quite aggressively, I get bored quite easy with small/slow cars/motorcycles. On the other hand, if I have a bike that's going too fast, I'm gonna lose my license for sure. So I reasoned that I need a torquey bike, even if it's not very fast, especially that I'm gonna use it mosly for town/commuting during week. This and the fact that it would be fun to go offroad/trail riding/mx-ing in the weekends, made me think towards a road legal offroad.

I've been doing some research in the last months and CRM250 from '91 to '96 (MK2 and MK3) seems to be the most aggresive road legal offroad in the 0-250cc range and not too pricey (the AR - '97 and up gets pricey), very reliable and easy to repair. However, it's not easy to find one for sale, especially a road legal one, and I couldn't find too much information regarding their situation in NZ (spare parts availability and prices, knowing specialists/mechanics, second hand parts availability, etc...)

Can anybody tell me how easy/cheap is to own/maintain/repair this bike and if I have any other alternatives comparable in specs? I left the road bikes out because as far as I know, the road/sport 250cc bikes are faster but the acceleration is slower (especially at lower speeds) than the offroad 2 strokes ones. Is this true?

Thanx

[far queue]

Ghost Lemur has one of these - you could try a PM to him.

[Ghost Lemur]

Ghost Lemur has one of these - you could try a PM to him.

Pros of the CRM are it's a perposely designed 2 stroke dual sport machine. Used my (97 AR model) to commute and as of monday have also taken it for a full day play. There was nothing I could throw at it that it couldn't handle, of course I'm a n00b too, so maybe in the hands of a pro it'd have it's limits but it'll be a while before I find them.

Now cons. And unfortunately there are a few. Documentation is non existent. CRM250.com is practically the only english language resource for these things. I've been having some starting issues with mine and besides being having no experience I also am having to work blind on it.

Parts. Fat chance in NZ, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for any wrecks I can snap up for a steady supply of spares. Although these bikes are still hugely popular in Japan so parts are readily available over there and not to badly priced. Brian d'marge has offered to arrange parts on my behalf when needed.

This bike is rediculously fun (while not being a licence looser). Put it in any gear, twist throttle hard... INSTANT GRIN.

Unfortunatly you're right these bikes are incredibly rare here. The one I've got now was the first and only one I've come across (one of the reasons I snapped it up).

My advice would therefore be to go for the Yamaha DT230. Up until they stopped production of them they were available here new from Yamaha NZ, this means heaps of parts, documentation, etc, etc. Being a 2 stroker too, means it's just as much fun as a CRM. The DT230 also comes with electric start, something I scoffed at, now wishing the CRM had it too.

Motu might come along soon otherwise PM him. He's got the DT and loves it.

[Motu]

I haven't had to buy much for the DT230,just an air filter - but they were sold here new,they have parts cateloges and stock at Yamaha NZ....I'm about to test what they have in stock soon.

I have heard some people say the DT230 is under powered,I don't know where they are coming from - they are either expecting it to be a YZ250,which of course it isn't,or they have been riding a restricted Japan domestic model....mine is an import and not restricted.They are more aggressive than a road bike around town and on tight back roads,but difficult to ride smoothly...it's all or nothing,and you tend to go for the all part and fang it around the back streets rather than ride sedately down the main roads.I actualy hate the bike in the city.

I have ridden motocross bikes on the road,and they are difficult to control with the hard hitting power - the front wheel just wants to come up soon as the power comes on.Sounds like fun,and it is for a while....but it means you can't ride the bike fast,just squirt it down a few short straights.Pretty embarassing when a CB125 can go around corners faster than you because you are too scared to light the fuse.''I'm not too scared''....yeah right,but wait until you've tasted the sting of an MX 2 stroke on seal,they crack like a whip and flick you into the bushes in the blink of an eye.

The DT230 is well balanced in power and weight and I find it perfect for me - exiting corners hard the front wheel just skims or maybe comes up a couple of inches if I hit a bump or drop off,so I only have to concentrate on the rear wheel and make sure it doesn't spin up or step out on the same bump or drop off,at my age I don't want to do a flying W.

But as a first bike? You can handle any sized bike for your first bike,but you need the maturety and skill from experiance to take advantage.Some say the DT230 is gutless....but I can make mine keep up with much bigger bikes on seal and gravel....off road we are both out classed by a well ridden PW80. I am totaly over power and speed.

[centaurus]

Thanks a lot guys. I'm starting to get the bigger picture now.

I have a tip about somebody who imports motorcycles from Japan. I'm gonna try to negociate a deal with him for a CRM250. If it doesn't work out, I'm gonna start looking into the DT230 subject more closely.

One more question. Anybody can tell me anything about RMX250? I've heard that there are two types: one slower created for trail riding/greenlane-ing and another one more aggresive, closer to the RM250 in performance. Is it true? There are also people that say the RMX250 is close to CRM in torque & power, and people who say that RMX is more like a 4 strokes 250 (a very sedate machine). I haven't ridden one, so I wonder which is the truth. Anybody out there with RMX250 experience?