ETS, is there a major gearing difference between the CR and RM you are referencing. I bought my 97 Rm250 from a friend who purchased a new 2001 CR250 (this is the CR I could buy). I rode it several years ago when he jsut got it and agree with you....it didn't feel faster. The smooth transition in power felt "Blah" to me. Whereas my RM250 was a torque monster and way up on the fun factor, but I know it would have lost bad in a top end race. And it's not that my RM was so bad on top...the CR was just better.
I can see the CR being an easier bike to ride, and the speed will help on the jumps (a big plus to me, cause my RM was hard to get speed up for jumps). However, the other 95% of the time I'm woods riding, crossing creeks, climbing hills, etc... DO you think that an increase in gearing for the CR would help out significantly (like a 51-53 tooth rear).
I'm sure both would be fine, but I'm already unskilled enough at jumping that I probably don't want a hard bike to jump for the 5% of the time that I attempt a motocross track.
Micah