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how much better are the af bikes

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 1:44 pm
by kim
so i just finished a frame up restoration on my 93 cr500 are the af's that much better if so what gen is the best what frame should i thinck about building should i steal the motor out of the bike i just finished or find another and have two bikes the bike i just finished is real nice and I would ike to leave it together besides that two bikes would be good rite more is always better (ride fast go out strong)

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 2:14 pm
by lewisclan
they are alot better :cool:

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 2:16 pm
by MICK
Good enough that I wouldn't ride a 500 if it wasn't an AF.

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 2:32 pm
by AJ
a LOT better in almost every way !!


except for very long ride seat cushyness.. lol


but then im obviuosly extreemly biased..

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 3:18 pm
by AlisoBob
Who you kidding AJ? I bet your on the pegs 90% of the time.

:whoop:

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 4:08 pm
by Balaclava
MICK wrote:Good enough that I wouldn't ride a 500 if it wasn't an AF.

yyyyup...

Image

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 4:30 pm
by Slow old Fart
All the AF's are different and some better than others. I like the 87 n 88 Cr 500 better than a AF in some way's.

If you are a normal sized rider do a GEN 3 250cr and you will be real suprised the chasses is more stiff compared to your steelie however.

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 4:35 pm
by Balaclava
might be stiffer, but much more "flickable"...steelys have that awesome seat though... looks comfy as shit...

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 4:46 pm
by Slow old Fart
Balaclava wrote:might be stiffer, but much more "flickable"...steelys have that awesome seat though... looks comfy as shit...
I find the seats on a GEN3 to be better than a stock 500CR.

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 4:50 pm
by Exnav
I know I'm gonna regret asking, but how do you find the Gen 3 seats better?

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 4:52 pm
by Balaclava
gen3 450? or 250? i have both and i say the 250 seat is more comfy..

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 5:03 pm
by teemtrubble
I'm to bias I'm staying out of this one :roll:

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 5:22 pm
by Balaclava
bias for what seat? haha bias that the steely has a better seat? i don't get everyone's bias...

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 7:30 pm
by kim
so it seems like gen 3 is where its at so im going to ask a stupid ? what year bikes are Gen 3's and should i do 450 or 250

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 7:33 pm
by hagendog
If you live in CA do a 2002 so you get a green sticker :cool:

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 7:45 pm
by Slow old Fart
kim wrote:so it seems like gen 3 is where its at so im going to ask a stupid ? what year bikes are Gen 3's and should i do 450 or 250
What is your stature and what kind of riding do you do?

My 500 CR seat chaps my butt more than a GEN 3 450

Posted: October 14th, 2008, 7:59 pm
by kim
i live in az so i dont need a green sticker or do i what if i want to ride there

Posted: October 21st, 2008, 5:13 pm
by Blusmbl
Does a 500AF feel like whatever bike the frame started life as, or do you still notice the increased mass/rotational effects of the motor? I love my 500's power, but I love how light and easy to ride my old YZ250 felt. Do you get that same feeling back with an AF conversion?

Posted: October 21st, 2008, 5:45 pm
by Slow old Fart
Blusmbl wrote:Does a 500AF feel like whatever bike the frame started life as, or do you still notice the increased mass/rotational effects of the motor? I love my 500's power, but I love how light and easy to ride my old YZ250 felt. Do you get that same feeling back with an AF conversion?
50% the lighter crank you run the better. The 500's work well when you do not rev them if you do they feel like a 500.

Posted: October 21st, 2008, 8:39 pm
by nmdesertrider
IMO a gen 3 250/500 feels very much like a 250, handling wise.

Posted: October 21st, 2008, 9:28 pm
by MICK
Blusmbl wrote:Does a 500AF feel like whatever bike the frame started life as, or do you still notice the increased mass/rotational effects of the motor? I love my 500's power, but I love how light and easy to ride my old YZ250 felt. Do you get that same feeling back with an AF conversion?
NO. It will never feel as light and flickable. As long as it's got a 500 crank and / or flywheel it will always retain the drawbacks thereof. Even if the static weight of the machine was 10lbs lighter it would still FEEL heavier once you punched the kicker.

But I think it's close...real close. Closer than I would have thought if I'd never ridden one. With suspension work, some trick goodies here and there I believe my AF handles every bit as well as the next 250. No drawbacks that I'm aware of. Having said that, cornering habits have been a priority of mine. If any 250 I rode saw an equal amount of attention as my CR I'm sure it would carve noticably better. But a 500 is a 500 you can't change that. Only mitigate the problem as best you can.

Posted: October 22nd, 2008, 10:06 am
by dannygraves
02-07cr250/125 and 02-04 crf450 are gen-3s. I would do a 250, they are a very easy conversion and have a much nicer seat than a gen-1 or gen-4. by far the gen-2/3 make the cleanest conversions.

Posted: October 22nd, 2008, 10:58 am
by hoofarted
Yup - I love the way my Gen2 handles now. Am much more confident in the turns, etc. But it definitely feels MUCH different than the 250. I want to say - more solid. Havent had it at a track yet - after the conversion. But I am eager to try it.

Posted: October 22nd, 2008, 11:44 am
by Balaclava
awesome that your conversion worked out for you...My gen3 450/500 is really awesome for a big guy...if youre a big guy, the 450 conversion is easy as well (minus airbox mod :roll: ) and it handles awesome in sand or going straight as fast as you want and takes jumps big...honestly my gen3 450/500 feels bigger when you sit on it then my Gen3 250 or my gen4 450. i guess the lighter weight difference between the 500 and 450 motors makes my ass end sit even higher. Even looking at it you can easily tell it's the baddest and biggest looking bike...i'm looking forward to riding it again against my Gen3 250/500 next summer...BIG TIME!

sorry i'm calling it 450/500, 250/500 it's just that both my conversions are GEN 3's...so it's easy to get confused...

Posted: October 22nd, 2008, 12:11 pm
by Slow old Fart
dannygraves wrote:02-07cr250/125 and 02-04 crf450 are gen-3s. I would do a 250, they are a very easy conversion and have a much nicer seat than a gen-1 or gen-4. by far the gen-2/3 make the cleanest conversions.
I don't know what the conversion problen is with your gen 4 but mine turned out better than a GEN3. I had a service honda gen 3 250 and both my GEN 3 450 and GEN 4 450 500 were easier to work on by alot. My gen 4 450 can have plug removed with tank on.