Putting the BBR fork springs in a Honda CRF230--how much labor?

whatgorilla
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whatgorilla
I need to put the BBR fork springs in my CRF 230, since the OEM are just too soft (especially for my weight). The HONDA dealer wants $350 to install the forks, but online explanations make it seem like you basically just take the top off the forks, pull the old ones out and drop new ones in (checking the oil level).
Is that a normal price?
Is the rear shock tough to replace?
Thanks.
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seth505
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seth505 5/31/2017 11:13am
5/31/2017 11:13am
Tell them you can appreciate trying to make easy money but they are trying to commit wallet rape and do it yourself.
731chopper
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731chopper 5/31/2017 11:29am
5/31/2017 11:29am Edited Date/Time 5/31/2017 11:31am
Replacing fork springs is fairly simple if you're at all mechanically inclined and have a basic toolset. If you'd like to do this and more things in the future I'd recommend getting a service manual. You can typically find them for $20-$50 online as a physical copy or for less (maybe even free) as a PDF.

Rear shocks are pretty straight forward to replace as well. You'll need a decent bike stand that gets both wheels off the ground for both of the things you want to do.

$350 seems sky high for what should only be an hour of labor tops. Ask them what their hourly labor rate is and how many hours of labor they anticipate it taking.
whatgorilla
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whatgorilla 5/31/2017 12:17pm
5/31/2017 12:17pm
Hourly labor is $140 and they say front forks are 2.5hrs. Seems a bit excessive based on what I've seen online, but if I'm gonna run into weird issues I don't foresee, I'd be worried. I have all the tools and access to a bike stand (I would be doing it in NE Florida's 95-100 degree weather with no shade to be found).
Oddly, they say rejecting is $210 and they adjust it for you to get it set up optimally (that sounds like a really fair price--especially for a guy who's never pulled or opened up a carb).
Question
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Question 5/31/2017 12:37pm
5/31/2017 12:37pm

The service manual is a good advice, plus I don't know if it can be made by searching on the website the member profile locations, otherwise maybe just go to a local track, then try to introduce yourself, telling you are new, you don't know much and you are willing to meet new people, and currently you would also like to change the springs. Anyone willing to show you how to change the springs then invite them for your "spring party" telling there is for $100 budget for barbecue + beers. That can be a good way for these springs but also to have a good little party with potentially new friends. Enjoy :-)

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Cokeham23
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Cokeham23 5/31/2017 12:37pm
5/31/2017 12:37pm
If they are anything like KLX140 forks (which they seem to be), just pull the top caps off, pull out the springs and drop the new ones in. Don't have to pull the forks apart or anything. If the BBR ones don't come with a spacer, I don't think you'll even have to take the forks off the bike.
Team Ideal
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Team Ideal 5/31/2017 12:41pm
5/31/2017 12:41pm
find a different dealer or as mentioned above get a manual. it's a super easy job. surely if you google it you can find a vid to watch. $210 is a complete ripoff on carb jetting also. that bike should be pretty close with factory specs. why do you feel it needs rejetted?
Dirty Points 5/31/2017 12:44pm
5/31/2017 12:44pm Edited Date/Time 5/31/2017 12:50pm
Cokeham23 wrote:
If they are anything like KLX140 forks (which they seem to be), just pull the top caps off, pull out the springs and drop the new...
If they are anything like KLX140 forks (which they seem to be), just pull the top caps off, pull out the springs and drop the new ones in. Don't have to pull the forks apart or anything. If the BBR ones don't come with a spacer, I don't think you'll even have to take the forks off the bike.
This.

CRF230 forks are a simple damping rod design. I don't think it's even a 5-minute job. The hardest part is going to be clearing the handlbars, and they need to be moved for space.
Falcon
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Falcon 5/31/2017 1:02pm
5/31/2017 1:02pm
If you can change a spark plug, you can do that job.
1 - loosen the upper clamp bolts.
2 - remove the fork caps.
3 - pull out the old springs.
4 - put the new springs in and tighten everything up according to the torque specs in your manual.

The hardest part is getting the fork caps to thread back on with the new springs pushing up on them.
whatgorilla
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whatgorilla 5/31/2017 1:07pm
5/31/2017 1:07pm Edited Date/Time 5/31/2017 1:08pm
Thanks. I have read online tutorials and it sounds very simple, which is why I was asking if there was more to it.

I've read online that this bike comes severely restricted, and can be made a lot better with a few cheap parts and pulling the restrictive snorkel on top of the intake. Right now it's fine for what I'm doing, but at 275# (lost 5 more in the last two weeks), the poor bike deserves all she can get to haul me around.

The guy I bought it from had hardly ridden it on a few fire roads, but he was 320. I was looking for a KLX250 or something in a 450 (even the XR400 has a listed weight limit of 220lbs), but couldn't turn down this really clean and good looking 2005 crf230f for $1400.
seth505
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seth505 5/31/2017 1:12pm
5/31/2017 1:12pm
whatgorilla wrote:
Thanks. I have read online tutorials and it sounds very simple, which is why I was asking if there was more to it. I've read online...
Thanks. I have read online tutorials and it sounds very simple, which is why I was asking if there was more to it.

I've read online that this bike comes severely restricted, and can be made a lot better with a few cheap parts and pulling the restrictive snorkel on top of the intake. Right now it's fine for what I'm doing, but at 275# (lost 5 more in the last two weeks), the poor bike deserves all she can get to haul me around.

The guy I bought it from had hardly ridden it on a few fire roads, but he was 320. I was looking for a KLX250 or something in a 450 (even the XR400 has a listed weight limit of 220lbs), but couldn't turn down this really clean and good looking 2005 crf230f for $1400.
Ya, all the play bikes are like that. You can do some basic stuff like drill holes in the air box (outside of the air filter ofcourse), remove any stupid snorkles that restrict air flow even more, remove baffles in muffler (or buy another system that isn't as restrictive) and then you end up going a little richer on your carb settings since the bike is being fed more air at that point. Definitely not worth having a shop do it for $200.
Ryno23
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Ryno23 5/31/2017 2:34pm
5/31/2017 2:34pm
Ummm.... Wow. I am the service manager at a Honda dealership and they are WAY too high on that quote for labor. should take about 1/2 hour or so. remove upper caps, pull springs. Dang, that is pretty steep labor at $350
mx617
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mx617 5/31/2017 2:36pm
5/31/2017 2:36pm
Sounds like maybe they quoted a full rebuild vs just spring replacement?
whatgorilla
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whatgorilla 5/31/2017 4:21pm
5/31/2017 4:21pm
I told them I had the springs, and that it just looked like dropping them in--he said they'd have to change the fluids, etc. I may ask again one day when I have the bike with me.

There's also a local group of riders here in Jacksonville, FL (River City Dirt Riders) that I'm going to join; they have some land they lease for riding. Maybe I'll meet one with some knowledge and free time to help a guy out if I bring the tools and beer. Smile
slipdog
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slipdog 5/31/2017 5:29pm
5/31/2017 5:29pm
Since I do suspension for a living I'd be happy to swap those springs for only $300. You can put the $50 I save you towards a nice torque wrench for your sprocket bolts.


(/sarcasm off) Wink

I'd charge $20 to swap springs out of the forks and $20 to remove and replace them from the bike if you didn't want to pull them yourself. If you wanted/needed a full service of the forks it would be $90 + the $20 for R&R. From $20 to $110 max is a very far cry from $350...
speed_racer
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speed_racer 5/31/2017 5:30pm
5/31/2017 5:30pm
Just did one for $90, and i sucked all the old oil out and did 15wt for the guy, $90.00 for everything, took 40 minutes.
resetjet
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resetjet 5/31/2017 6:55pm
5/31/2017 6:55pm
Not sure on that bike but i assume they are open chamber forks, dont you have to turn rebound all the way out, then unthread the caps, then unthread the caps from the dampning rod by holding it with an open end wrench and unscrewing the caps?
resetjet
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resetjet 5/31/2017 6:57pm
5/31/2017 6:57pm
I am sure there are plenty of youtube videos.
aedwards07
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aedwards07 5/31/2017 7:00pm
5/31/2017 7:00pm
Where are you at in Florida? If your semi close to Orlando area I'll do it for free just for the fact of the dealer trying to rape you.

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whatgorilla
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whatgorilla 5/31/2017 7:24pm
5/31/2017 7:24pm
Sadly, I'm up in Jacksonville, but I'd never let someone do it for free. I'd pay someone $100 just to let me help and learn how to do it myself. And I'd bring supply the beer.
Cokeham23
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Cokeham23 5/31/2017 8:19pm
5/31/2017 8:19pm
resetjet wrote:
Not sure on that bike but i assume they are open chamber forks, dont you have to turn rebound all the way out, then unthread the...
Not sure on that bike but i assume they are open chamber forks, dont you have to turn rebound all the way out, then unthread the caps, then unthread the caps from the dampning rod by holding it with an open end wrench and unscrewing the caps?

Nope. There's no rebound or compression clickers on these bikes. Just pull the caps off (17mm) and the spring is just sitting in there.
resetjet
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resetjet 6/1/2017 4:32am
6/1/2017 4:32am
Wow thats essy.
kage173
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kage173 6/1/2017 7:39am
6/1/2017 7:39am
If you don't already know what/how to do it, then go find a non-dealer mechanic down the street. Most likely he used to work at the dealership and he'll probably do it for a 1/4 of the price. And you don't have to worry about everything coming undone and weeding yourself.

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