Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

I was wondering if anyone has any experiance with the new reproduction fox swingarms.I am considering one for my 79 cr250.Wondering what the build quality is like.Materials used,welds,finish.And more important how your bike handles and if you considered it money well spent.Thanks.

I have one bought from VMX that picked up the manufacturing capacity from the now defunct Red Racer. The welds look good, although the finish is a coarse silver paint. I prefer the natural finish and will have it chemically stripped and polished. The banana shape of this swing arm addresses the stock falling rate design so that is good on paper at least. Can't say how it rides - I still have a DG arm on the bike and will not put this one on until the winter break. IMHO, this is a good replacement for the stock swing arm, but if you have another after-market arm I am not so sure....

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

Thanks for the quick reply Michael.I am currently running the stock arm with 17.5 inch ohlins,but recently came across a set of 17.75 fox shocks.Considering teaming them with the fox arm.In your opinion would the slightly longer fox shocks work with this arm.Looking for an advantage against all the 490 maicos i race against in the expert class,other than letting their tyres down .Theirs a few photos of our racing on our website 1979 honda cr250 #21.Thanks Cliff.www.nicsc.net

They will work just fine. I am 185lbs plus gear and run 140lbs in the lower high pressure chamber, and 80lbs in the upper low pressure chamber. I now someone who re-furbishes these and does an awesome job. Beating Maico 490s (and Honda CR480Rs too) is a more holistic challenge, but you are heading in the right direction.

...I am pretty sure that the extra thickness of the Fox arm is going to pinch the chain against the forward roller. I run a set of thick nylon washers mounted on a bolt threaded into the stock mount. Contact http://www.jastco.com for a more comprehensive solution that includes a new roller mount and a longer torque arm.

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

Thanks Michael.Great set up information for the shocks.