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Hi
So i bought a 08 crf 250r the previous spring and the bike was well looked after except from the radiators...
The right one does not leak, it has some bent fins and it is a bit bent itself but its still usable. On the other hand the left one has been deformed in all possible ways and was leaking quite bad before i welded it.
Furthermore i use the bike for trail riding and were i live summers are really hot (35-40 C) so even with brand new stock rads i would still be overheating...
The question is what would you recommend? Should i change the left radiator with a used stock one for cheap (so as not to worry if i trash it again) and find a way to power a fan so the bike stays cool on the trail or should i buy some aftermarket oversized radiators of questionable quality (budget doesnt allow for nice ones ) and intall guards?
I am on a tight budget and i definately dont want to be destroying new rads or riding the bike in the summer without a better than stock cooling solution.
Of course I am open to any other ideas or recommendations (cheap or not)
(as is temperatures are fine in the winter)
Thanks

Hi Odvog,
Where are you that reaches 40 degrees C?

If Jimdirt doesn't jump in with a reply on how he kept his 450R cool then PM him. You might be able to find a previous post he has done showing his overflow tank etc he installed to keep it cool.

What pressure cap are you using?

He was the one you messaged with over the trans oil.

Hi Odvog,
Where are you that reaches 40 degrees C?

If Jimdirt doesn't jump in with a reply on how he kept his 450R cool then PM him. You might be able to find a previous post he has done showing his overflow tank etc he installed to keep it cool.

What pressure cap are you using?

He was the one you messaged with over the trans oil.

Hi i live in Sounio, Greece and i ride by the sea, thus the 40 C
My cap is 1.2 bar and it opens quite alot with the type of riding i do (trail) especially in the summer
And yes Jimdirt seemed very knowledgeable, i would really like to hear his opinion on this...

Thanks for the reply

Bump up to the next level cap, add a reservoir to catch and return coolant, use a good coolant at 70% mix. 70% coolant [ Prestone } and make sure your system is clean and full flow with no restrictions. Pretty simple.

I flushed the system when i welded the radiator so it should be quite clean, however it still wont be enough for warmer days.
I thought about changing the cap but as i described the radiators (especially left one) are in bad shape and increasing the pressure will only worsen the whole situation.
Expansion reservoir is also something i considered but to make it right i will need to be spending some money, in which case it might be a better idea to actually go for one of the solutions i wrote in the first post.
I went through exactly the same thought pocess as you but i cant seem to find any cheap reliable alternatives...
(here is a photo of my leaking left radiator so you get an idea...)