Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

I bought a 79, have the forks at a suspension guy, but he can't get the forks apart the cap seems to be seized on one of them making it impossible to work on them. These forks need dust seals and oil seals. So now it looks like I need to hunt down another pair of forks.. What will work?

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Kristi J
1979 CR250 with 43mm forks, Race Tech springs and Gold Valve emulators, Works Performance shocks

1978, 1979 and 1980 forks will fit the stock 1979 triple clamps because they are the same size fork tube. 1978 - 1987 (at least) triple clamps use a common headset bearings and therefore will fit your 1979 frame. The steering tube will be longer and will require a large washer under the top triple clamp. Or you need to have someone with a press transplant your 1979 steerer to the newer lower clamp. 1981 Showa forks are 41mm and as rare as the CR250R/CR450R from that year. 1982 forks are 43mm 3-way adjustable. 1983 forks are Showa and 15 click adjustable. 1984 on the forks went to a disk brake design and need fabrication to use with the 1979 drum brake. With 43mm forks you can use the newer double-leading shoe hub (and its correct axle) or use the 1979 hub and axle.

I am running 1983 Showa 43mm forks with Racetech springs and Emulators in a 1982/1983? 43mm triple clamp set with a 1979 steerer. I run a 1983 front hub.

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

does your mechanic tried to heat up the top of the forktube? this often helps to loosen the sized cap.

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80 CR250Ra
80 CR250Ra
78 CR250R
80 CR80
82 Bultaco Sherpa 340
78 Bultaco Pursang 250 MK12
76 Bultaco Frontera 370 MK10
76 Bultaco Alpina 250
73 Bultaco Lobito 125 MK6
76 Suzuki RM125A
90 Kawasaki KX250

Sweet, now the question is: If I find a 82-83 CR250 triple clamp, then the 83 43mm forks along with a 83 wheel and brake faceplate, will the bars be moved back an inch or so? I know this is a problem with the CR480 triple clamp

Kristi

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Kristi J
1979 CR250 with 43mm forks, Race Tech springs and Gold Valve emulators, Works Performance shocks

The suspension guy did try to heat them up, no deal. Honestly I think he did not understand. He says the damping rod and spring were attached to the top cap. He did not loosen the 6mm allen screw on the bottom. If I have read all the manual and Clymer, you have to loosen the 6mm screw first.

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Kristi J
1979 CR250 with 43mm forks, Race Tech springs and Gold Valve emulators, Works Performance shocks

Do you or your mech have the factory manual? It does say to undo the allen screw at the end of the fork leg, then undo the camp, then remove the damping rod and spring. These forks are not designed the traditional way where the damping rod is attached to the fork slider...

...and let me know if you want a brand new set of Pro-tech air caps for the forks

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

Possibly. I believe some of the 1982-1983 clamps have rubber mounted bar mounts and they are angled back. I have a top clamp of unknown vintage with solid mounts that go straight up like the 1979...

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

480 has the rubbers and 250 not.

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80 CR250Ra
80 CR250Ra
78 CR250R
80 CR80
82 Bultaco Sherpa 340
78 Bultaco Pursang 250 MK12
76 Bultaco Frontera 370 MK10
76 Bultaco Alpina 250
73 Bultaco Lobito 125 MK6
76 Suzuki RM125A
90 Kawasaki KX250