Converting 1980 CR250 engine to a CR420 fire breather!

It's all in the amount of the twistie, with big bores, you can go slow with the bottom end grunt or run it in third gear or wot they can do it all. It's nice to feel the extra power sometimes. You know there's egos involved when someone is near you on a newer bike and we're riding the old clunkers as they think. There are some trails were we can braap, braap, braap it through the woods too. I enjoy lighting it off, turn rip out of the turn, coast into a turn and braap out again.

I did one guy in on a older Suzuki with the cr390 and within that week he shows up with a new yamaha 4t 400. I'm selling new bikes with the old 390? Lol I'm comfortable on the cr390. But I wasn't afraid of the 1200 bandit either. I always put new tires and had good brakes, the best they could be on the dirtbike.

Sickest lil beast in my books remains a piped 84 WR400 l/c twinshocker. It would squat, lug or squirt its way across the tight stuff unlike anything i ever rode. Should never have sold it.
Bore82,5 stroke 74.

I have never had an open Husqvarna that I ever thought needed more power. The 69 360 Sportsman had more power than I needed when I was 14 and the 78 390ACC I had when I was 21 I was perfectly matched with. It had all the power I needed but did not have the brakes I needed after they got wet at a water crossing.

When I have ridden my Huskys, I can honestly say, I have never thought, mnn, I need more power!

Better brakes, better suspension, maybe.

I do like the bigger bore bikes, especially for trail riding, simply because you can stay in the same gear and lug them from down low

whereas, with my wr250 you would need to change gear more often.

the big bore huskies are definitely set up nicely..i do like having a good strong 250 as well. the big bores do wear the body more in a day, where i feel like the 250 handles better..less engine inertia and smoother running. i like em both!

My cr390 was my weight loss machine I lost 40lbs in three months. I made three passes at the dam and in the beginning I could just about put the bike on the trailer. I was out of energy. The 390 wore me out. I hammered the bike only in my mind it really hammered me. Great exercise.

I have to agree. One time a guy spotted my 400 on the back of my truck at a gas station and mentioned his buddy once having a 430 (seriously, testosterone play with a bike you don't own and your buddy probably doesn't any more either!?!?!? Before you ask, the guy was absolutely a 'bro' trying to make the testosterone play). My response was something along the lines of, "My 400 is a fast, strong bike, and I'm not sure what I'd do with something more powerful"

Anyway, I can understand the drive to upgrade your 250. Personally, I've got two 250 "ground-up" projects (that I'll probably be working on for a while, and wonder if I'll ever complete one of), and while I'd like to add a 430 or 500 to the collection some day, I'll keep the current projects at 250. Having a range of bike options can be nice, especially as time and past folly start to catch up with you and have the occasional day that kicking over a big bore just doesn't sound that inviting.

i really wouldnt stress over finding a 430...the 400/430 are very similar in personality, and are identical except bore diameter. of course if you are talking air cooled, that 430 is a lil different with the older style intake/reeds and ringing fins. no air cooled 400 bikes..

Yes, there can be! If you want to re sleeve a 430 cylinder that is bad you could install a smaller 400 sleeve. Andy mentioned that idea

haha, yeah thats a good thing about the 400. the 430 picks up where the last 400 size ends...so if you have a stock bore 400 you have like 9 overbores left, lol...

that's nice to know

I liked my '86 400 WRX.

They never made them in 86

I thought it was a '86/400. Wr cross country. I had the head off to install a compression release. She was a 400. Single shock on the rear.

in 1986 there was a WR400 and an XC400. in 1985 there was WRX250/400 single shock drum brakes ft/rr . and the WR 250/400 were still twin shockers. 85 XC 250/400 were single shock front disc brake.

WRX was a 1 (one) year only model and it was 1985 !

It could of been a 86/400 cross country I think that's what the swing arms said. Brain fade from years ago. It wasn't a tractor like the 83-430wr ac was. She's inbetween the 390/430. I think the 400 was one of the best wr's. I'd like to see a new 400 e start today. If they offered the 400/500 today with electric start I'd buy them today. No amusement ride needed.

Bigbill, As the owner of one of each, the noticeable differences between a WRX 85 and WR 86 are:
Front drum brake vs. disc (85 drum, 86 disc)
Floating brake w/ stay arm in rear (85) vs. brake that is held in place by the swing arm (86)
Extra bolt by the kicker shaft on the clutch cover (86 with/85 without)
Veglia speedo drive w/ Nippon Denso speedo (86/WR) vs. VDO speedo equipment on the '85
White front shock lowers (85) vs grey (86).
Zerk fittings on the "i links" of the mono linkage (86) vs no zerks '85.
There is a bushing/spacer on the '85 rear axle shaft that looks like hell.
I feel like the '86 rear subframe has a mount point for the right side number plate welded on, versus a bolt on leg on the '85.
Anyone else able to name some differences?

Seems like the rear brake stay and front brake would be the items that would stand out from a maintenance perspective, maybe the zerks.

As to 400 vs. 430. I'm not motivated to try to convert either of mine, but I like the observation on the potential for about a dozen overbores if I ever screw up that severely and frequently over time.

Half year actually. I'm pretty sure they started shipping the WRX after they ran out of the '85 WR twin-shock frames.

must be an echo in here !