89 front forks

Travis · Post by **Travis** » August 15th, 2008, 12:03 pm

I rode my bike for like 5 minutes today and noticed my front end riding a little low. I stopped and am able to hold the front brake and bottom the front forks out. It takes some force and they don't bounce back like they are busted but something is wrong. Do you guys think they need a rebuild? Am I better off getting mine fixed or finding a newer set and some trees to use them? When I say better off I mean money wise too. Oh yeah, will 91 125 fronts work???? I have a good set of those? What if I just keep riding it??

teemtrubble · Post by **teemtrubble** » August 15th, 2008, 12:09 pm

There is a set of 97's in the classified's for $60.00 dude

Travis · Post by **Travis** » August 15th, 2008, 12:11 pm

Sweet. Do I need a set though??

Travis · Post by **Travis** » August 15th, 2008, 12:12 pm

Hell, They needrebuilt too and then I have to find a set of trees...

Travis · Post by **Travis** » August 30th, 2008, 4:42 pm

Well does anyone know if the 125 forks are the same? They are still good... How much trouble would changing them be? What does it take to rebuild em? The shop told me $200 bucks to rebuild em.

quantum500 · Post by **quantum500** » August 31st, 2008, 9:41 pm

I upgraded my steelie to 05 CRF 450 forks. Best mod that I ever did! Cost me about $200. Watch for some triple clamps from 96 or later and you can use all the newer front ends. The 450 has the heavier springs for future reference.

Travis · Post by **Travis** » September 18th, 2008, 10:55 pm

Ok, maybe picking up hoofarted's forks. They are off a 92 and are KYBs. My bike is an 89 with Showas I am pretty sure. Will the swap or will I need his trees too? Even with the trees will it swap then? Has anyone done this?

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » September 19th, 2008, 6:57 am

I'm almost positive those '92 front forks are showas. I replaced the seals and oil in those forks a year ago.
Why don't you try the '97+ showa twin chamber, I promise it is worth it!

Travis · Post by **Travis** » September 19th, 2008, 9:01 am

$$$$$

Travis · Post by **Travis** » September 19th, 2008, 9:12 am

dannygraves wrote:I'm almost positive those '92 front forks are showas. I replaced the seals and oil in those forks a year ago.
Why don't you try the '97+ showa twin chamber, I promise it is worth it!

How big is the difference? I can pick up a set of 97s trees and a rear shock that have been setup as a matching set for $300 plus shipping.

Or, get hoofarted's forks for a third of that to my garage door and only swap the forks.

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » September 19th, 2008, 9:33 am

well, the '97+ I am talking about is off a cr250.
your call, I'm just saying...

Travis · Post by **Travis** » September 19th, 2008, 10:13 am

I think I will just wait on a set of those. Maybe get a set with an Alum. Frame for future comfort.

hoofarted · Post by **hoofarted** » September 19th, 2008, 11:29 am

I think u should get mine!

Danny - are u sure they're Showas? They have no markings on them that I can find and look waay different than the ones on my Gen2. Closer resemblance to The KYBs on my Gen1.

Travis - if I effed up and they're Showas (which are better), the same deal still stands.

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » September 19th, 2008, 11:39 am

not positive, but I thought honda went kyb in '95

Travis · Post by **Travis** » September 19th, 2008, 12:24 pm

Sweet! just waitin on the wifes approval. She has the PayPal account. I told her when she was home on lunch to take care of it but she didn't. Maybe this evening or tomorrow.

Travis · Post by **Travis** » September 19th, 2008, 12:27 pm

I was checking to see if they are different and am sure mine are bad. I set it off the stand and it was like popping a balloon, they just sagged down. I was searching parts on HPD but I soon noticed I needed to know what parts I needed before I could order anything. Why don't they sell a kit? Maybe a collection of parts for a fork rebuild? Ah well.

Travis · Post by **Travis** » September 19th, 2008, 12:31 pm

On second thought if anyone has done this maybe they could pull out an old receipt and list what pieces are needed and what the part numbers are so stooges like myself can say yep I need this, this, and this to get it back to working order.

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » September 19th, 2008, 12:36 pm

3 things:
1, '89 forks suck ass, no one liked them and in '89 most guys wanted their '88 conventionals back.
2, I have never had forks that were blown. Forks can take serious abuse, so if they aren't working, it'll probably cost quite a bit more to rebuild them than to just find some from a fellow hoon or ebay. Fresh oil and seal always got forks to new for me.
3, why throw money you don't have at forks that are shitty when new??? buy some newer forks for cheap, change the oil and ride mofo RIDE!

Travis · Post by **Travis** » September 19th, 2008, 10:29 pm

I am just wanting the bike to get me by until I can afford an aluminum frame. Are the 92 forks any better than the 89's? Will the 92's fit my clamps?

hoofarted · Post by **hoofarted** » September 19th, 2008, 11:17 pm

Travis wrote:I am just wanting the bike to get me by until I can afford an aluminum frame. Are the 92 forks any better than the 89's? Will the 92's fit my clamps?

Well the 92 forks did just fine for me. I am 99% sure it'll fit. If you want, measure the inside diameter just to be sure.

Travis · Post by **Travis** » September 20th, 2008, 7:59 pm

Ok, I have new info from Racetech's website.

The 89 500 has 45 mm tubes at the top.
The 92 is the first year they went to 43 mm tubes.

I got this info from the other site so I checked for myself and took some searching but I found it.

They may fit but I don't think I want to risk it. The rates are different too. I also found that 91 125 forks I have are also 45 mm. 125 and 500 are matches except spring rate.

125 is .380 kg/mm
500 is .381 kg/mm

Will this difference be noticeable??

I know Danny wants me to get newer ones but if I have a set that will work I am going to use them. Then I can save my dollars for an AF.

Edit to add links:
89
http://www.racetech.com/evalving/englis ... me=english
92
http://www.racetech.com/evalving/englis ... me=english

Travis · Post by **Travis** » September 21st, 2008, 8:17 pm

Ok may try to swap my forks tomorrow. Is there any tricks that I should be aware of? Anything I need to watch for or is it just slide out the old and slide in the not so old?

Travis · Post by **Travis** » September 22nd, 2008, 12:38 pm

Ok I have swapped the forks and everything worked beautiful. Then I tried to start it and gave myself out. Letting it set for the past month was apparently not such a good Idea. Well, I have to go to work now. I will try to give her a spin tomorrow and see how it does. The forks were different. One side has the four bolts that drop the axle on the 500 then it screws out. The 125 had both sides with the little bolts. I had to use the 125's axle but it fits. Which way is the better setup?

Travis · Post by **Travis** » September 23rd, 2008, 8:03 am

Well with the 2 forks off my bike the bars felt rough turning them. Is this normal or are my stem bearings in need of attention? With the old forks out I realized only one was shot. I could work it with my hand. The other was still good. Is this common?

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » September 23rd, 2008, 8:36 am

you probably busted a rod in there or something.
I've had a few bad stem bearings, they get notchy from little grooved forming in the bearing race.

BannedCR500Riders.com

89 front forks

89 front forks