Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

I was wondering if anybody can tell me about the Fox rear shox (they have remote resivoirs)? I bought the bike and the previous owner could not tell me anything about the shox. Any help would be appreciated!!
Thanks...J_W

They are rarer than Fox Shox air (only) shocks and quite desirable. You will probably make a pretty penny if you sell them. Someone on the swap meet was looking for a pair recently. Also interesting is that it appears that a previous owner has grafted on the Pro-Link swing arm from a later (1981-on) bike and converted it to use twin shocks instead of a linkage. And you have a 1983 43mm Showa front-end but not the twin leading shoe front brake setup...

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

J-W,

So, you bought Jimmy's bike? I didn't know if he was still selling it. Are you just using the pics as an example or do you really own that bad boy?



Michael,

Those are Fox Factory Forx without the stickers and it does have a 1981 swigarm that has been modified. It also has the FMF frame modification. Those are the Fox Factory shocks that are similar to Ohlins and the engine has Mugen ME125 kit on it.


J

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#829 The "Factory Novice"

1988 Honda CR250RJ
1983 Honda CR480
1981 Can-Am 250 MX6-B
1979 Honda CR250RZ
1979 Kawasaki KX250 A5
1978 Husky 250CR
1978 Honda CR250R
1977 Yamaha YZ400D
1977 Suzuki RM125B

...should have noticed that the bottom of the fork legs are more square than the Showas. Now I have my glasses on of course I can see that they are actually 44 not 43mm.

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

Hey Micheal


You're right that is Jimmy's bike...I wish I owed the bike but don't. Just using pic so everyone knew what type of rear shox I was talking about. Mine are exactly the same as in the picture...but I'm not sure if they are twin clickers (rebound and dampening adjustments)?

Thanks for input redrocket190!

J_W

The swing arm is an interesting mod. I have seen a 1979 CR250R with a "twin shock" Pro-Link swing arm and a CR480R engine in the frame. Very sweet bike, raced at last year's VIWC at Glen Helen.

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

If you need one, I have the Owners Manual that I can copy for you. Also, I offer a seal rebuild kit on my site if you should ever need one in the future.

Thor

JW,

Those are the well know and highly desired Fox Factory Shox's (as the other gentlemen have stated here); pretty much identical to the Fox Piggy Back Shox's; they share the same internals, shafts and other misc. parts, but the Piggy Backs have an alloy top pivot-eye/cap with a "fixed" reservoir, instead of the remote setup (which makes the P.B.’s "much" easier to mount and less weight). Internally, both use a shim setup for numerous combinations to configure the rebound and compression dampening to the rider’s ability and a verity of track conditions (this is defined in the Fox manual). The Twin-Clicker’s are for single shock bikes and were not made for the pre '80 MX bikes.

On another note…what ever became of Jimmy's bike? I wonder if he ever did sell that hot little '79 Mugen ME125; I'll have to give Jimmy a call this weekend to see what’s up.

Good luck with your new Fox Shoxs…
Robert D. Hawes Jr.
Mesa, Arizona

Hi. Do you guys have a source for replacement seals for these Fox Shox? How about oil weight and quantity? Air pressure (or Nitrogen)?
And how do they come apart? Looks like a plastic cover over the seal? Standard threaded seal head under that?

Hello,

You can get seal kits and a copy of the manual from Fox...(831) 274-6500 was the last number I had for them.

Take care,
Robert

Hi, I also have a pair of these Fox shocks, but one shaft is slightly bent. Anyone know of a place to get shafts, or has anyone had any luck having them straightened?