Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

I just bought a 78CR250 in good condition I want to race in the vintage MX series but my left rear shock shaft is baddly bent. I want to keep the bike looking stock can anyone fix these shocks?

_________________
78 CR250
86 250R

Get a pair of 17.5" Fox Shox or a set of Works Performance as replacements. Back in the day no one raced with the stock shocks (for long anyway). You can get the WP springs powdercoated if you absolutely have to have the stock look. The stock shocks are not supposed to be re-buildable.

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

Yes, redrocket said it correct.

_________________
'84 Honda CR500
'84 CR125
'85 KX125
'83 IT490
'82 Maico 490
'80 YZ465
'75 Husky CR360 GP Mikkola
'75 CR250
'72 DT2MX
'91 XR200

They are right, the stock shocks were junk pretty much from brand new. I took one apart and found they were gas shocks with only enough oil for lubing the insides. The seal is unique and not replaceable with anything you can order from a seal supplier. And there is no way to recharge the gas. Take the suggestion of painting or powdercoating a set of works or progressives to look like the originals.

I've had at least 1/2 dozen NEW '78-80 CR250Rs over the years and even on a couple of the BRAND NEW bikes had shocks that had already lost their nitrogen charge. The shocks that remained fully charged worked great 'til they wore out.
My solution has been to disassemble the shocks, remove the valving and make my own rechargeable/rebuildable shocks from the Showa internals. Damping is infinitely adjustable, easily rebuilt and recharged via Schrader valve. It's not an easy process, but it works.
Use the link below for a photo.


http://www.members.aol.com/omegabid/HomeMade

Thanks for the pics look nice it maybe more work than I have time to do? I will probably buy some after market and paint the springs. Which rear shock work good?

_________________
78 CR250
86 250R

Ohlins USA will build you a custom set for about $600. Also, in another thread in this forum, I read that you can still acquire Works Performance shocks new. I have owned and used both, but still prefer the Showa valving.

_________________
1978 CR250R
1979 CR250R
1980 CR250R
1980 ME360
1986 CR250R

Long ago, around 1989 and before what vintage is today or what it has evolved into, I acquired a 1978 cr250 to rebuild and ride. New Honda parts for the red rockets were plentiful and cheap and if you looked in the right place, you could still buy crated, leftover 79' and 80' cr250's (a crated 79' cr 250 I still own today..) That first 78' I got needed shocks andjust for shits and grins, I ordered a pair of the stock Showa shocks from one of the mail order OEM parts places the was advertising in one motocycle magazines. I can remember the package arriving from ups and unwrapping a brand new set of Showa shocks! I installed them on that 78' and I remember that they worked very well on the track When you sat on the bike, the suspension felt great-unlike any other aftermarket shocks I've tried..
..the only problem with the stock Showa shocks is that they wore out fast

Where do I buy shocks from? I looked around on the web non found ? I would like some ohlins used or new.

_________________
78 CR250
86 250R

You can get new shocks from Works Performance http://www.worksperformance.com or Ohlins direct http://www.ohlins.com. For Fox Shox and used Ohlins you will need keep an eye on eBay and the swap meets. Go to http://www.huskyclub.com and read the note the cost of re-building old Ohlins. It may steer you down the expensive but more cost-effective route.

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