Get the K&N and an Outerwear (Outerwears are about $15 and well worth it)and loose the air box lid, just get rid of it. You're going to be letting in a lot more air. Now, you're also going to have to increase the main jet size in the carb when you do this. If you have a stock carb, .152 size main jet, get a .160 and start doing some plug checks until you get it jetted correctly.
I have run 12 tooth counter-shaft gears and it seems to wear out chains quickly. I then went to larger rear-sprockets, got the same results and the chain seems to last longer. Stock rear sprockets are 39 teeth, try a 42. Three rear teeth = 1 front tooth. Stick with steel, cheaper and last much longer than aluminum.
Try repacking your silencer. Believe it or not, a properly packed silencer will add horsepower over a empty silencer/no silencer.
Try gapping your plug smaller. Since stock R ignition is kinda weak, you make the spark jump a smaller gap and it fires better. Try gapping down to .022. It really works.
If you really want to learn about the TRXHonda250R, check out
http://pub20.ezboard.com/bhondatrx250rThe site is dedicated to them and lots of info!