Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

Anything and everything about Vintage Dirt Bikes! After you Register, email nathan@alp-sys.com and let me know so I can activate you.
It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 2:03 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Honda cr250 1980.
PostPosted: Tue May 27, 2008 7:24 am 
Offline

Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 7:10 am
Posts: 5
Hi im new to this forum, ive got a 1980 cr250 with a reproduction fox swingarm and 17 3/4 fox shocks, to which at 5 feet 7" tall finding it hard to reach the ground! is there any way to shorten the shock i really need to bring the bike down about 2inches if poss? Thanks


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Honda cr250 1980.
PostPosted: Tue May 27, 2008 9:14 am 
Offline

Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2004 10:20 pm
Posts: 906
Location: San Clemente, CA
I am 5' 7" also and motocross starts are a problem, but general riding is not. I would avoid surgery on the suspension because it will cost plenty and will hurt if you want to sell the bike later. Try getting a firmer replacement seat foam and cut it down with a carving knife an inch or so.

_________________
Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Honda cr250 1980.
PostPosted: Tue May 27, 2008 9:50 am 
Offline

Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 3:03 pm
Posts: 265
The honda xr500 shocks would bolt on and shorten the rear a little but it wont have fox supesion anymore the stock honda shocks werent that great. I would do what rocket says and cut the seat maybe find some gel pad to go onto it to soften it up.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Honda cr250 1980.
PostPosted: Tue May 27, 2008 11:01 am 
Offline

Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 7:10 am
Posts: 5
Thanks for that, I wonder if i could find a shorter replacement fox shock like 16" 1/2 would that make a difference to the handling? At the moment im running the longer shocks way to soft for the height reason.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Honda cr250 1980.
PostPosted: Tue May 27, 2008 9:12 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2004 10:20 pm
Posts: 906
Location: San Clemente, CA
If you reduce the ride height at the rear in isolation, the trail and rake will increase and the bike won't turn. Up front you may find that if you are running stock forks there is little room to slide the forks up in the triple clamps to compensate. So that means you need to reduce the length and travel in the forks. You can cut down both the damping rods and springs. However then you face another challenge. If you cut the spring you change its rate - I think it gets stiffer - which may or may not be want you want. If I haven't put you off yet, take both ends to someone like Dwayne Jones Suspension.

_________________
Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 32 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group