Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

Which aftermarket aluminum swingarm works best for 79-80 CR125 and CR250?

For the '78-'80 CR250R's, an original Fox Factory arm in good usable condition or a repro Mugen ME360 arm.

For the '79 CR125R, an Al Baker works copy or the real thing.

I have read that both of these swing arms produce a rising rate geometry that is preferred over the stock falling rate. I have a DG arm which is basically stock geometry plus 1" longer for more straight line stability. The price differential between the two designs can be up to $500 so take your pick or more likely buy whatever comes up first and upgrade later if you can afford it.

Novation Racing is offering a new rising rate swing arm but it uses shorter than stock shocks which might be a problem unless you planned to sell on what you have now and buy some new ones.

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

Red,

Is the Novation swingarm for CR 250 or 125?

Does anyone make a replica of the Baker or Mugen arms?

I've seen a replica of the 80 CR125 Pro Fab arm. What size shocks did the 80 CR125 use?

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

Check the web site at http://www.novationracing.com/index_page3.htm. I seem to remember CR125R and CR250R being listed. The Red Racer board months ago had a thread about a guy who was going to build replica Mugen arms, but nought came of it.

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

I went to Novation website, but they don't have any pics of the swingarms. I'm waiting for a reply about which type of replica they are.

I saw on another forum that someone had posted that 78-80 CR250 and 79 CR125 swingarms were the same. I know the shock length is the same, but they all 4 have different part numbers. Could an aftermarket stock length CR250 swingarm work on a Cr125?

J

_________________
#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