Posts
209
Joined
2/13/2016
Location
Langley BC
CA
Edited Date/Time
7/24/2019 11:25pm
Hi Guys. I am doing restorations on a couple of 1988 Honda CR250Rs. Bike #1 is going to be very stock and original looking. My plans for bike #2 are to have it a little more tricked out. I am sticking to the 43mm conventional forks on bike #1 and am using the best parts from both sets to build up a nice set of forks. I want to put a set of something different on the second bike. I thought of some USD showas from a later Honda but kind of want to stick with conventionals. I plan on riding my bike off road on trails. I used to do some cross country and hare scrambles in my younger days but I am more a trail rider now. I had a line on a set of 46mm KYBs off of a XR650r. The deal did not work out but I am sort of glad that I didn't get them as I am really more interested in the 49mm Showa forks from a 96' to 98' RM or from a DRZ. I think these forks would work great with the 1988 CR250 geometry and still give me the trick look I would like. They should make for an awesome hard core trail machine. I have a set in mind already along with a front wheel, axle and clamps. Anyone have any info to help me along with this idea? I know many will say to stick with the original 43mm showas but both these bikes were basket cases in boxes. The forks are beat bad but like I say I believe that I will end up with a reasonably nice set out of the pair. I can buy a set of the 49s for pretty reasonable. Let me know what you think. Thanks
Greg.
P.S.
I will collect up some pictures and start a build thread here soon.
Greg.
P.S.
I will collect up some pictures and start a build thread here soon.
Good luck!
I'm curious, are the DRZ400 forks the same as the RM125/250 forks?
As for fitting the forks. If I can't use Suzuki clamps then I will have to pass as there is no money in the budget for custom clamps. All balls lists the bearings to fit the Suzuki clamps. Making spacers is no big deal as I have a lathe at home. I plan to use the Suzuki wheel and axle. I am just hoping I can use my Honda calliper and calliper bracket or at least the calliper.
The Shop
I used the All Balls kit to put this '97 RM front end on my '84 CR250.
Greg
http://www.allballsracing.com/99-3540-5.html
The hard part is getting the correct spacing with the bearings and races to match the triple clamps to the steering tube. That's what the spacer washers are for. You may need to assemble and remove the bearings/races several time to get it correct.
If I remember correctly, the CR steering tube is longer than the RM, so the challenge was to get the RM clamp sucked up into the steering tube far enough so I had enough threads at the top for the nut.
That's the hard part, the rest is cake. Even the steering stops matched up. I would plan on getting the correct caliper though, I don't know if the Honda caliper will match up.
I removed the gold anodizing from my forks. It was a bitch to do
Greg
Greg
Greg
Thanks! Brian
Pit Row
The RM forks are probably the sweetest woods fork out there. Being twin chamber has zero to do with what terrain you are on.
When I had my 76 KX125 I looked into fitting MTB cartriges into the stock tubes. The old KXs forks were just too small diameter but I bet it could be done on a larger 80s fork.
No matter what fork you pick the most important thing you can do is pick the right spring for your weight! That is 70-80% of getting a fork or even shock to work the best.
I never did get these installed. They are for my next bike project and I have not really got into the build yet. I used 2001 USD Showa TC from a 2001 on the bike I just finished building. Should be no big deal to fit these forks. I just need to get the All Balls Bearings then they should bolt right on like the last set. I think they will be great.
Greg
I am having a set of clamps made
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