Motorcycle Repair: 1984 CR 250R blown head gasket, blown head gasket, head gasket problems

Question
I just picked up a 1984 Honda CR 250R dirtbike and it has a blown head gasket.  it had what apears to be a home-made gasket on it, it was sticking out all around where the jug meets the case.  it was said to be bored out but when i opened it up it looks stock.  so my question is, do you think it was just probably the home-made gasget that was causing the problem, in which case i have already bought a new top-end gasket kit and i am going to replace that piece-o-junk home-made gasket with real ones.  was there any issues with these older Hondas and head gasket problems or should i just clean it up real well and put it all back together or do you have any tips/tricks i should try?  any help is MUCH appreciated!  thanks, Matt

Answer
Hi Matt.
 I, personally, am unaware of any issues with the heads on the CR250, however, if you check with a Honda mechanic, you should be able to find out if there are, or have been, any.

 I don't hold too much with home-made gaskets.  If it were cut perfectly, then that would be a different story, but in this instance I believe that the gasket may have been the wrong thickness to begin with, so it will leak anyway.  Putting the proper gasket in should fix it right up.

Good luck.
FALCON