so, guys, gen-3 ignition is a big thumbs down. I played with my jetting this morning... the bike fired after only a couple kicks, but still wouldn't idle. since I had a better suited main in there, I went for a spin around the block and it fell on its face when I gassed it, and if I rolled on it, it started sputtering.
I took the flywheel off the gen-1 and grabbed all of my old '86 electronics, plugged it all it, fired first kick, idled too high, so I had to adjust that, then it what wheelie/solid black streaks time all over my neighborhood.
I though maybe timing could be the issue, but I compared the key slot to the sensor thing on the flywheel at it was identical to my '89 cr500 flywheel. the length of the raised spot on the flywheel was the same and the location of the pickup was also the same or 1 or 2 degrees off, not enough to cause this. I think it might have needed the powervalve stuff after all, and I already threw that stuff out when I cleaned up the other day.
fixed some hose and cable routing issues and fixed a leaky waterpump cover. hopefully we will be rolling out to apex or nelson's tomorrow AM
'09 kx450f 4-Poke
Gen-4 trail bike --SOLD--
Gen-3 badass trail/mx bike --SOLD--
Gen-1 built dunes bike --SOLD--
'05 klx110 --SOLD--
'95 pw80
Right on!
shame that ignition didnt work out, was so clean mounting. Have a good ride!
I'm setting up a wedding social for my bro saturday night, but hope to have some time sunday to take the seal out of the gopro so it picks up more sound and do some testing in the field so theres a video comparison of the 87,88, and 03's power delivery. Was thinking of swapping in the 86 500cdi on the 88 250 ignition to see what happens cuz its the same except trigger length and weight.
Danny does your car double as a mobile trash can and your office looks like its been trashed.
Brit if you spent less time you wouldn't miss half as much.
I was thinking white with black seat, after looking at red with blue seat might have to rethink.
Danny totally awesome looking bike.
Bummer about ignition though.
Also would 01 muffler do the same job.
so, we went riding to a new spot up on the back side of spring mountain, 70* and in the woods, it was very nice. lots of fire roads with varying conditions/soil, dropping into desert about 15 miles down. some nice hairy stuff branching off, including rocky ST(much like apex and AZ) on one side and tacky qwad trails all burmed out (very mx track like) on the other side. all in all a great place to test a bike in all sorts of conditions.
first thing, the seat and other ergos fit me perfect, the seat is a lot softer than gen-4 and gen-1 seats, the CR high bend pro taper get to the perfect height for me w/o any spacers.
the vibes were minimal, but I think that had more to do w/ my brand new crank than anything else.
I all honesty, gen-3 and gen-4 suspension are so similar, that when I had my gen-3 forks on my gen-4 I would say adjustments made more differents than the forks alone. so, the suspension between the gen-3 and gen-4 was no different for me.
cornering and stability, now this is the big thing for me, the gen-3 doesn't corner as well at low speed as the gen-4, but much better at high speed. like previous gens and old steelies, in the tight stuff you have to turn with the back end, which was a difference with the gen-4 since it turned where you pointed the bars and bringing the back end out sort of over corrected. high speed stability is no contest, the gen-3 wins. period. the gen-4 sucked ass as far as high speed stability.
since I have ridden all 4 gens (rode Andy's gen-2 on a very familiar trail, and able to evaluate everything except sand/gravel), I am doing a break down, and my opinions, so I don't want to hear that I am "wrong" but feel free to share your own opinions:
of 5
gen-1
ease of conversion: ****-
cleanliness of conversion: ***--
tight low speed cornering: **---
high speed cornering: ***--
high speed stability: ****-
handling in sand/gravel: *****
suspension: **---
comfort: **---
ergos (for me anyway): ***--
chassis related vibes: **---
gen-2
ease of conversion: *****
cleanliness of conversion: ****-
tight low speed cornering: **---
high speed cornering: ***--
high speed stability: *****
handling in sand/gravel: n/a
suspension: *****
comfort: ****-
ergos (for me anyway): ****-
chassis related vibes: *****
gen-3
ease of conversion: *****
cleanliness of conversion: *****
tight low speed cornering: ***--
high speed cornering: *****
high speed stability: *****
handling in sand/gravel: *****
suspension: *****
comfort: ****-
ergos (for me anyway): ****-
chassis related vibes: *****
gen-4
ease of conversion: *----
cleanliness of conversion: *----
tight low speed cornering: *****
high speed cornering: **---
high speed stability: *----
handling in sand/gravel: **---
suspension: *****
comfort: *----
ergos (for me anyway): ***--
chassis related vibes: *****
anyway, gen-3 is by far my fav
'09 kx450f 4-Poke
Gen-4 trail bike --SOLD--
Gen-3 badass trail/mx bike --SOLD--
Gen-1 built dunes bike --SOLD--
'05 klx110 --SOLD--
'95 pw80
I want to make it clear that in ease of conversion I mean, less time consuming and less fab work. for example, I consider heat gunningthe crap out of a gas tank for an hour to be more work than relocating a Y for 20 minutes. even though relocating a Y is a bigger deal, in the long run its a lot less work that molding a tank or fabbing a plate for an airbox.
I think the gen-3 makes the easiest conversion, more so than a gen-1. although some may consider a gen-1 to be less work because more of the stuff (like heating the tank) is something any idiot can do, as opposed relocating a Y which may take a higher skill set and more handy-man confidence, but the Y at the end of the day is less work than the tank, or airbox, for Y for coolant lines, or swingarm spacers.
If I were going to find another bike to convert tomorrow, it would be a gen-3 or I would settle for a gen-2 (its rides like a less ridgid gen-1 with gen-3 forks and shock), but would not do another gen-4 or 1.
'09 kx450f 4-Poke
Gen-4 trail bike --SOLD--
Gen-3 badass trail/mx bike --SOLD--
Gen-1 built dunes bike --SOLD--
'05 klx110 --SOLD--
'95 pw80
right on. what was the vibes like with the 250 in there ? mine buzzes alittle but im thinking its normal or maybe the chassis design because i checked the crank, rod and bearings and everythings tighter than a nun on sunday.
100hp honda wrote: right on. what was the vibes like with the 250 in there ? mine buzzes alittle but im thinking its normal or maybe the chassis design because i checked the crank, rod and bearings and everythings tighter than a nun on sunday.
never tried it w/ 250 engine, the bike came with a blown up motor, kid but the piston in backwards and snagged a ring
although today marshall was riding a 2003 cr250 and he hopped on my bike and said vibes weren't an issue, did notice the gyros, but basically came back with a big ol' grin on his face. I would have ridden his bike, but he is really anal w/ his stuff and I don't like riding other peoples bikes anyway.
'09 kx450f 4-Poke
Gen-4 trail bike --SOLD--
Gen-3 badass trail/mx bike --SOLD--
Gen-1 built dunes bike --SOLD--
'05 klx110 --SOLD--
'95 pw80
So Danny now that you rode it with a long rod engine, isnt it bugging the hell out of you to try it with a short rod in that chassis?
I've got another shortblock here setup with 86 rod and deckheight that i think may find its way into that 03 bike
I'd compare my '88 as beeing the closest to my gen3 for handling
and the '98 feeling more like the gen4
atleast how the chassis i ride feel
I fired up bro's 04 250 and ripped thru the orchard sunday, then got on the 03 500, the vibs were very similar and it was almost cheating how little body riding it took to make the chassis work with the big engine
Beautiful job Danny - I really envy you guys for being about to pick up such cheap donors. I live in a small town in
Canada and bikes are so expensive and hard to come by. I saw a 1988 CR500 for sale the other day in what I consider fairly poor condition for $1700.00 - insane. The crazy thing is the guy will get it. I know a guy who sold a rebuild 1992 steelie for $5000.00.
kkvslayer wrote: I know you must still have a spot in your heart for the 86,I guess it lives on through your gen 1 eh,nice bike Danny
yup, I still get a little sad and nostalgic over it... The best was when justin was bitching about me being so far behind, we switched bikes, the he was the one struggling to keep up
'09 kx450f 4-Poke
Gen-4 trail bike --SOLD--
Gen-3 badass trail/mx bike --SOLD--
Gen-1 built dunes bike --SOLD--
'05 klx110 --SOLD--
'95 pw80
The guy i got the frame from was cool enough to let me Store it and pay as i go kinda thing.. I still owe him a bit of cash and im not gonna go cutting it up when i dont own it completely yet.. so as soon as i get him squared away ill be getting started. bout a month or so and i should be able to get started.
Danny your build thread sucks now with out pictures, I forgot that you lost all the bike / porn pictures the other day.
Good pictures are worth a million words.
I guess I will have to use my imagination now.
Jack Schitt
DIE FIRST, worry about it later!
DON'T talk about it, Just DO IT!
When in doubt, GO FLAT OUT!
2001 CR500R1 - SOLD
2007 CR250R7 - SOLD
Wife and Daughter - Left Aug 17 - 2010
Jack Schitt - ??????????????
totally awesome looking bike. 
... told it will be here tomorrow 
Ill be picking your brain and looking over your bike when it comes time to do my conversion.
