BannedCR500Riders.com

I've been collecting parts for over a year for this conversion and It's time to start making boxes of parts look like something. I had no luck in finding a cheap 250f roller and since I was going to change so much anyway, I started buying pieces and parts off Ebay and locally. Keep in mind it could have been done quicker and cheaper but it wouldn't have been as personal and it wouldn't have had all the new parts that were important to me. Here's what I'm doing.

The engine (viva la enginecycles) is an 87' which is my favorite. Every bearing, seal, etc. is brand new. Glen bored it and I purchased the new Wiseco piston (Thanks Glen, the work is really nice). New crankshaft and 39.5mm carb as well. I didn't feel the need to do any mods to the motor. It out-pulled modded 450s up the big hill at the local track and won 7 out of 7 motos (before the water pump rot got it) in the over 40 with a cracked piston and a crooked bore (in the 87' chassis). I think it's gonna be just fine stock.

The chassis is an 06' CRF250 ($59, it cost more to ship it than buy it) with an 07' CRF250 swingarm (new) and an 08' CRF450 rear wheel. Here's where my build will differ greatly from others. I hate USD forks. I've never ridden a bike with USD forks and thought to myself "damn, that's plush". Jackhammer is my pet name for them. I decided to go with the 98' RM forks. They're 49mm twin chamber conventional Showas. Same technology still used today. I figure if I can pilot an 87' CR500 with 43mm conventional forks around a track fast enough to win my class, these should be just fine.

Totally rebuilt 87' engine
New bearings everywhere
98' RM forks, rebuilt, triple clamp modded by Gary Emig
280mm EBC rotor

I'm waiting on the crankshaft and carb to make it in then it's on.











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That going to be sweet.What rads are those.

FRO53 wrote:That going to be sweet.What rads are those.

The $125 Chinese ones you see on Ebay. We'll see how they work out. I have an extra used set but wanted to give these a try since literally everything else is new.

whats up with the conventional forks?

yota wrote:whats up with the conventional forks?

Personal preference.

color choice, it's cool to be different. Let us know how those forks do in that chassis.

Diggin' the JT sticker!

hoofarted wrote:Diggin' the JT sticker!

Thanks man, that's actually an old JT Racing number plate that I trimmed to fit. The number plate that came with those forks was hideous.

what forks ya got? i've had some conv forks in the past that were really good, WP 50mm extremes and I have 49mm suzuki convs on my 81 Maico now.

yota wrote:what forks ya got? i've had some conv forks in the past that were really good, WP 50mm extremes and I have 49mm suzuki convs on my 81 Maico now.

49mm Showas off a 98' RM250.

Didn't catch your thread 'till now.

Bike looks super clean w/the new parts. The conventionals don't look bad, and the rads look rad.
Awesome begenning.
Keep up the great work.

let us know how they fit, they're supposedly bigger in every aspect

87CR500Rider wrote:

FRO53 wrote:That going to be sweet.What rads are those.

The $125 Chinese ones you see on Ebay. We'll see how they work out. I have an extra used set but wanted to give these a try since literally everything else is new.

clean machine... white and blue is fresh too....

Jeff4510 wrote:let us know how they fit, they're supposedly bigger in every aspect

87CR500Rider wrote:

FRO53 wrote:That going to be sweet.What rads are those.

The $125 Chinese ones you see on Ebay. We'll see how they work out. I have an extra used set but wanted to give these a try since literally everything else is new.

They bolt right on and the shrouds line up correctly. If they hold water I'm good. Work has been hectic but I should pick up my bushings this week and get the motor back together. It's coming along slowly but surely.

I've never ridden a bike with USD forks and thought to myself "damn, that's plush"

its ALL in the valving, i just had mine done for fast trail riding and its almost like a xr200, but i can still launch 40ft far with a flat landing

2strokeforever wrote: its ALL in the valving, i just had mine done for fast trail riding and its almost like a xr200, but i can still launch 40ft far with a flat landing

^^^ wise words right there! Couldn't be more accurate.

hoofarted wrote:

2strokeforever wrote: its ALL in the valving, i just had mine done for fast trail riding and its almost like a xr200, but i can still launch 40ft far with a flat landing

^^^ wise words right there! Couldn't be more accurate.

If USD forks were better for anything besides SX, I'd have put them on the WRM500 and "settled" for what Honda told me I needed like everyone else. We're building custom bikes here, some more custom than others, why bolt on what Honda "thinks" I need? If we went by that thinking we'd all be riding 450s. We're different, it's why we ride these beasts in the first place. You guys do realize that manufacturers will bolt on what they've signed a contract to put on for "X" amount of years regardless that it's been proven other forks worked better. I know what I like and I know I've ridden twin chamber USD forks revalved by the best (Bones @ PC). It's a personal preference guys, enjoy my success or failure at doing it.

87 That pretty much sums it up, you nailed it. We ride what we ride to have fun, and everyone has a different idea. Right now I'm riding a 93CR250 with the entire front end off an 07 RM450. Twin chamber Showa's an all, baby! Having a blast on the bike. Back on a 2-stroke with suspension that carries my 265lbs. 4 strokes suck. Since my 500AF wont see the light of day until 2011, it's what I'm running. The 450 Zook was supposed to be my original AF project (to be different, and build a Barnett "The Bomber" bike) until I got boned on that project. Sorry for the hi-jacked thread and VIVE LA DIFFERENCE![/quote]

That's a really cool looking and unique 500af.

The conventional forks only add to that

i owned a 98 rm 250 one of the best handling bikes i ever rode out of the box rock those forks 87 i would

Man, that looks familiar.

i love the forks on my '88

you didnt change the head to give it the big ol chopper rake tho right

I considered dooing the exact same and running a set on my 250

Roostius_Maximus wrote:i love the forks on my '88

you didnt change the head to give it the big ol chopper rake tho right

I considered dooing the exact same and running a set on my 250

Naw, I used a set of Applied Racing triple clamps for the 98' RM250 (20mm offset) modded by Gary Emig to fit the CRF250 frame. The only "issue" I have with my 87' forks is the underhang below the axle. They define the term "plush". Probably why they carried the "best forks ever made" title for years. Oddly enough, they feel better than an XR200 (did they ever put cartridge forks on the XR200?) and will still handle 40' flat landings with ease. I know, it's easy to overjump tables on the CR500 that 450s have a tough time clearing. 1987, just saying. USD forks aren't "better", people are "used" to the way they feel and accept it. I have an extra set of the 49mm conventionals and I was thinking the exact thing you were. Slap 'em on the 87' along with the Ohlins shock sitting on the shelf. Maybe someday.

Has anyone relocated the headstay mount on the Gen 4 CRF250 frame more to the center so it'll line up straight like the stock (87') CR500 headstay? I have no idea how the later CR500 headstays are shaped. I'm guessing it might make contact with the tank??

Why would you want to? Honda "Zig-Zags" them for a reason....