Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

Howdy,
I just received a swingarm in via UPS today that has to be one of the most incredible works of machine art that I have ever seen! I have had C&J and DG swingarms during the period when the '78-'80 Red Rockets were new. The one that I just received from Novation Racing is so far superior in workmanship and detail, there's no comparison. I still have a DG swingarm that looks pretty pristine but, the welds on the Novation are so fine and the absence of sharp edges and presence of smooth finish on this new puppy are incredible. What's more, the bolt holes are aligned properly. Yeah, it cost me $500. It's way better than a used, torqued-out thing on eBay for over $700 that I've seen.
Yeah, they were a tad slow in getting it out in the three week estimate. Well worth the wait and money. Awesome!

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1978 CR250R
1979 CR250R
1980 CR250R
1980 ME360
1986 CR250R

Did you go with the stock geometry and 17" shocks or the rising rate route with the shorter shocks?

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

Michael,
I went stock. The last rising-rate swingarm that I bought form C&J made me feel like a low-rider. I almost put Chi-Chi balls around my fenders.
Bob

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1978 CR250R
1979 CR250R
1980 CR250R
1980 ME360
1986 CR250R

Most swingarms currently made for these bikes should be of superior workman ship and quality (which those that I have seen are). However, I've found (at lest for the Elsinore's) that just because it's new and looks great, it doesn't mean that it will fit or work on your bike (not to saying that the Novation arm will or will not work on your bike). Those who made aftermarket arms for these bikes back in the day needed them to look cool, save weight "and" fit/work on the bikes; their livelihood depended on it. Currently, I don't think this is the case; most have a lot more lucrative work that they could be doing besides making swingarms for these old bikes. I just recently picked up an old 360 arm which was more $$$ then any arm I've ever bought or sold and in rougher condition; however, it is what it is. I know it will fit on the bike and the "cool" factor is the best for my ME360. Finding an arm that was made back in the day, is not the easiest thing to do and then you have to pay for it. I would love to be able to buy a new swingarm that doesn't require any sanding or repairing which could be easily mounted and work on my bike(s); that would be choice. Hope the arm works out for you. Just don't make the mistake of letting them sit around for 2 years before putting it on and find out if it's right for you and your bike (I've done this with other arms).

Good luck.

Robert

And on that note, today I received my handcrafted 1980 CR250R pipe from Vintage Iron.

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1978 CR250R
1979 CR250R
1980 CR250R
1980 ME360
1986 CR250R