best year 250R

[koby1]

What years were the bets 250R?? How do the 86-87's compare to the 88-89's? im starting to look for one, and i don't have alot of information, so any info would be good, thanks

[zedicus00]

they all can be made equall its more of a preference thing. (like im a shortrodder) search this board for 250r differences or sumthing. ive personally typed it out several times so u should b able to come across atleast one of the posts.

[kwatts400]

They are all good!

[JTRtrx250r]

Originally posted by kwatts400
They are all good! Yup

these 2 pretty much summed it up, its a preferance thing, some ppl go for the 88-89 b/c they were the newest w/ the best/latest design, but you really can make the 86-87 compare to the 88-89's so like kwatts said... They're all good!;) :macho

[ridinredodb]

the 86-87 had a 51 inch wheelbase, the 88-89 had a 50 inch wheelbase. the 86 was the long rod and the 87-89 were short rods. 88-89 had the headlight built into the hood and 86-87 had it on the handlebars. the 86 frame was the strongest and heaviest, every year it got lighter but also weaker. theres a lot of other things too.

i personally prefere a 86 because of the stronger frame and the inch longer swingarm. but seriously they are ALL good. just buy one thats in good shape.

[1988R]

Originally posted by ridinredodb
the 86 was the long rod and the 87-89 were short rods.

86 was the short rod and the 87-89 had the long rod

[2StrokeFreak]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ridinredodb
[B]the 86-87 had a 51 inch wheelbase, the 88-89 had a 50 inch wheelbase.

I thought the wheel base was the same for all years. 88-89 swingarm ie 1 inch shorter and a-arms are 1 inch forward??
T or F ??

[ridinredodb]

no, the 88-89 the a-arms went 1 inch forward and the swinger was 2 inches shorter. if i remember correctly.
im getting rusty on all this stuff.

[TheFontMaster]

No the 88/89 swingarms were 1 1/4 inches shorter than the 86/87's

Peaople usualy prefer the 88/89's for motocross becuase of the ebtter wieght transfer to the rear tires. The 88 motors made the most power stock, but like that matters because we all know how hard to find a stock 250r is. The 89 motors had the best clutch. Putting the 89 clutch into the other year motors is a common upgrade. There is alot of little things, like the the way the spindles are designed or the foot pegs. I do belive the only things that aren't interchangeable from year to year is the foot pegs on the 86/87's are different than the 88/89's and they will only fit the years they are meant to go on. Regardless of what some people will say you can swap swingarms from an 86/87 to an 88/89 and vice versa, but you will need to do some modification to the frame and/or engine mounts.

Like everyone else said do a search, there is alot of information out there on this site. And trust me you will find all you need to know on here. A year ago I didn't know anything about the 250r's, a year latter, and a partly finished 250r sitting in the garage and I have learned almos all there is to know.

[Tom TRX250R]

There really wasn't any "best year" of the 250R. It just came down to preference. Mxers preferred the 88-89 geometry for traction and handling (88-89 had +1 a-arms and -1 swingarm) I have an 86 and have done everything I want to it to mod it how I wanted. I put an 89 long rod motor in, 89 clutch up date, and just little odds in ends. No matter what year 250R, you can't go wrong just look the R over real well and make sure it hasn't been trashed and you have a good base to start with.

[wilkin250r]

Originally posted by TheFontMaster
Regardless of what some people will say you can swap swingarms from an 86/87 to an 88/89 and vice versa, but you will need to do some modification to the frame and/or engine mounts.

Well, that's just plain silly. Of COURSE you can swap them with modifications. With enough modifications, you can swap in the entire rear end from a '68 Barracuda, but that's hardly a feasible "swap".

I don't know about you, but my idea of a "swap" is almost NO modifications beyond a few spacers.

[TheFontMaster]

Originally posted by wilkin250r
Well, that's just plain silly. Of COURSE you can swap them with modifications. With enough modifications, you can swap in the entire rear end from a '68 Barracuda, but that's hardly a feasible "swap".

I don't know about you, but my idea of a "swap" is almost NO modifications beyond a few spacers.

Ok so I will elaborate. If you put an 88/89 swingarm on an 86/87 then you will need to add a motor mount to the frame, ether across the back of the frame, or on the bottom before the linkage mount. If you put an 86/87 swingarm on an 88/89 frame then you will ether need to cut off the tabs that are on the crossmember on the back of the frame, or bend out the mounts on the thing that hooks to the swingarm pivot bolt.

While it is a little more than a few spacers, it is by no means hard. You ether need to weld a couple small mounts on, cut a couple off, or bend one. None of which is hard at all.

[Jake250r]

here's my philosophy(sp), when you mod them out, their basically the same. so the tie breaker? price v. condition.

[track 2 trail]

the early models had a longer wheelbase but shorter overall length.this made the 88-89 models a fav. because the had lighter front end ,and roomier rider compartment.depending on size and skill you might like one or the other.