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With a little luck of being able to get out of work this weekend, I'm going to
go race it and see how it feels!
I had revalved the suspension on my CRF450R (lots of homework there, too!) and was super happy with how it came out. This one was a little different in that I had no real point of reference what with putting the later model suspension on an older steel frame. It was a lot of looking up what OEM stacks were, seeing what other people did for stacks (combing through threads on Thumpertalk) and then taking a lucky guess. I gotta say it feels great! I haven't even turned a clicker yet; everything is at baseline (all clickers out 11 turns). I've set the sag and HS compression and it's just a ball to ride. I frigging love the motor!
I couldn't get off of work last weekend so I didn't get to go racing but I have to get a video or something because
it sounds GOOD!
The Shop
Had a little weird thing happen- the kickstarter started getting pretty weak in returning to position.
Like the spring was all sacked out. Took the assembly apart and after mucho head scratching and comparing
it to other photos dug up on the web, it seems that tab at the end of the shaft had rotated. It's a press-fit and
just sorta backed off a little which gave the spring no preload.
I could have just tack welded it but a complete assembly was only $20.00 on eBay which allowed me to replace
my somewhat worn gear while I was at it.
Raced the 40+AM and 50+ AM classes at an SRA GP at Glen Helen yesterday. (hand on helmet start).
That bike is FUN!!! I absolutely love the motor and the suspension feels great. Honestly, I have
not even turned a clicker! Doing the valving was just total guesswork going off of what other people were doing on the various Thumper Talk suspension threads so I'm glad it worked out!
Quite a few people came over to ask me about the bike, too. It was great chatting up moto projects with fellow gear heads.
One thing about the bike is that it definitely feels smaller than a modern bike. I can't recall if this model was considered a good turning bike back then but these days, because it's shorter, it definitely feels like it turns well. And still stable at speed, too. Or, maybe, probably, I'm just not that fast and can't tell. I think down the road, I might mess around witha slightly taller seat and bars to see how that feels.
Obviously at my level, the bike is not the weak link in the program and I feel like I would finish in the same spot whether I'm on my '06 CRF450 or this bike. But man, this motor is AWESOME!! Such a fun bike to ride!!!
Very, very happy with how this whole project has turned out!!!!
So fun to ride!!
1. Do you know the color code for the paint/powder coat that the team actually used in 95?
2. Do you know anywhere to get the blue front fender, number plate, and radiator shrouds? I remember the team bikes looked more like a Navy Blue, not the YZ blue that we all are accustomed to now.
Thanks for any info you can give!
Pit Row
Thanks!
My shock and fork came off of an '07 450 and the shock was a perfect fit.
Sorry, I don't know the color code. I just went to my powder coat guy and picked one that looked like it
was the closest match.
Blue plastic . . . man, I wish I knew! I just grabbed an Acerbis front fender and could not find anyone that does the other plastic parts in blue.
I measured the '07 shock on my bike, and it is the same length as your '09 shock, right about 19.3" long.
I don't have my '95 shock anymore but as I recall it was the same length as the '07 (and '09) shock. The
top and bottom bushing widths are the same and it bolted right in. Strange that the '97 125 is a little shorter!
I'd dig around on some of the other forums because I could swear I had read that all those shocks were the same length. But then again, I'm also the guy that would just put the longer shock in anyway and run it. hahahaha
One thing that has been bugging me is the low seat. When I got the foam from Ceet, I just
went with the standard height and density. I guess it's pretty close to OEM but man, I just feel too
cramped and the foam feels too soft.
So I got the 1" taller foam (and spec'd the firm foam this time) and it feels MUCH, MUCH better.
It also looks a little better and not so much like some broken swayback horse.
While I was fussing around, I also thinned out the rear fender profile with a disk sander. That area
always just looked a little too fat to me. Subtle, but I like the change. Before and after photos below:
One thing I'm toying with, if finances allow it, is to send the cylinder and head off to Tom Morgan.
Kinda just seems like the appropriate thing to do, doesn't it?
to ride and a good example of the era, I saved some pennies and sent the cylinder and head to Tom Morgan
to perform his magic.
I loved the motor before and now I REALLY love it. More power throughout, still has the beautiful mid-range, and
will pull a little further on top before signing off. It's frigging awesome. Such a fun and easy bike to ride!!
video short right before I gooned out at the top of the hill and let a bunch of guys by. hahahha (Still ended up 3rd)
Let's be real - as a 55+ local B rider, the bike is NOT the weak link in the equation. So
I might as well ride the bike I have the most fun on, while still being competitive, right?
I am totally digging riding this bike!
Post a reply to: 1995 YZ-250 long rod. Tom Morgan porting magic. :)