[hondafan]

does anyone know what year Honda started making the aluminum frame? my buddy said '98 but i just saw a '97 with an aluminum frame.

[crfsonly]

it definitly was the year 1997 when the first twin-spar aluminum frame hit the streets. one of the things that was different then is the radiator was one complete unit that stretched from one end to the other. Honda claimed at the time that the frame was 4lbs. lighter than the previous steel frame of a 250R.

ken

[dnold]

Yeh 97 was the first year of the production aluminum frame. I thought that single large radiator look cool on those bikes.

[hondafan]

so do you know why they changed the radiator?

[crfsonly]

i'm guessing it was for a lack of air flow in the middle section along with the desire to move weight back to lighten up the front. the solution to both was split them and mount them next to the down tube not in front of it.

[hondafan]

man where do you get those factory photos at?