83' CR 480 find-

Superdave19
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Spring, TX US
So I found this 83' 480.. Original owner, who use to be a dang good rider here locally. Come to find out, he was great friends with the likes of DeCoster, and is still good friends w/ Danny Laporte.
According to this guy, the forks are from a true Honda works bike that were 'loaned to him- Any vintage gurus here that can help confirm from these pics?- obviously the bolts are far from OEM- they're Ti.. Thinking of dabbling in the Vintage Race scene, and resorting this sucker-

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newmann
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8/3/2016 1:54pm
They sure look like works mag lowers. Color looks off, you paint them? Cool find, forks are worth more than the bike!
FreshTopEnd
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8/3/2016 2:01pm
I have always deeply deeply wanted a set of those forks. Sad Closest I got was a later gen Suzuki works showa for discs (long gone).
Superdave19
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8/3/2016 3:24pm Edited Date/Time 8/3/2016 3:25pm
Nope- The forks have never been painted..I showed the pics to a friend who races vintage, and he agrees that they look like the real deal- bike was ridden around his yard once in 2008, and before that, sat for years. He had some rebuild the engine shortly after thinking his son would want it, but he had no interest. Can you see the huge rear shock reservoir?? .. For sure not stk, but I think it's an old Works Performance unit-

The Shop

450exc115
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Hebron, CT US
8/3/2016 5:16pm
Shock looks like a factory unit too. Check for an adjuster on the bottom of the forks, could be early cartridge units. I once made the mistake of passing on a set of works conventional 50mm WP forks . Sad
wfoyz250
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Spring, TX US
8/4/2016 5:01am
Hey Joe, I took a look at the bike a couple of days ago and I thought the lowers were mag as well but I didn't think mag was strong enough to take the abuse.
Also, I noticed the over sized reservoir and the twin braided lines between it and the shock.....looks like some trickery there too. What's the history of that?
Suzuki Ed
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Woodland Hills, CA US
8/4/2016 11:26pm
Wow nice score , bike is in great condition .
Superdave19
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8/30/2016 7:28pm
..got another box of goodies. Check out the writing on the cardboard box- This was a parts box for Darrell Schultz, and looks like Chris Haines was the mechanic.. Pretty cool! .. Not much in the box- new OEM chain guides, few other things. I do have another box full of stuff- shock, cylinder, exhaust, silencers, etc. Not completely sure what my plans are for this thing. I'm tempted to restore it- could be fun?!- but kinda got the bug for the new 17' CRF - I'm guessing I could sink $2-$3k in this real fast..



450exc115
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8/30/2016 8:32pm
No 2017 CRF would be as cool as owning this bike with the unobtainable parts and history. Plus it's the iconic open class bike of it's time. I'd personally have a hard time selling it knowing what it is but that is me.
magoo1982
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Miamitown, OH US
8/31/2016 7:24am
83 480 one of my favorites, I have a few friends that had them kick back and crack the cases. one guy found a decent used set after long search . they were told no new available .dealer told these guys,82 and 84 were different ??? Nice Bike
FreshTopEnd
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8/31/2016 11:56am
..got another box of goodies. Check out the writing on the cardboard box- This was a parts box for Darrell Schultz, and looks like Chris Haines...
..got another box of goodies. Check out the writing on the cardboard box- This was a parts box for Darrell Schultz, and looks like Chris Haines was the mechanic.. Pretty cool! .. Not much in the box- new OEM chain guides, few other things. I do have another box full of stuff- shock, cylinder, exhaust, silencers, etc. Not completely sure what my plans are for this thing. I'm tempted to restore it- could be fun?!- but kinda got the bug for the new 17' CRF - I'm guessing I could sink $2-$3k in this real fast..



Yowza, pretty doggone jealous for sure!!
FreshTopEnd
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8/31/2016 11:57am
And if you need funds for the CRF, I "know someone" interested, lol.
Superdave19
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8/31/2016 12:58pm
Would you sell a silencer?
I've got like 2-3 silencers, but none are 'like new'.. I'm sure you could find one on line thru ebay.
wfoyz250
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Spring, TX US
8/31/2016 5:06pm
C'mon Dave......it's "works" history from the golden age of MX.
You can buy new bikes year after year and not much changes.
In the meantime, ride the suzy and save the 480 in the back of the garage till you have the time to restore.
Superdave19
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8/31/2016 7:29pm
... help me tinker on his thing Lar!! Smile . .., you've dabbled in these things a while- I'll email you sometime soon and maybe we can kill some brain cells while getting it ready to rip
wfoyz250
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8/31/2016 8:21pm
Sounds like a plan man.
Looks like Clem is adding "oldschool" back into the EMX series for 2017.
9/1/2016 5:39am
Would you sell a silencer?
I've got like 2-3 silencers, but none are 'like new'.. I'm sure you could find one on line thru ebay.
Ok, I looked on the bay but nothing caught my eye. I may end up with a new aftermarket system. This is what I'm dealing with-


newmann
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9/1/2016 6:15am
Would you sell a silencer?
I've got like 2-3 silencers, but none are 'like new'.. I'm sure you could find one on line thru ebay.
Ok, I looked on the bay but nothing caught my eye. I may end up with a new aftermarket system. This is what I'm dealing with-...
Ok, I looked on the bay but nothing caught my eye. I may end up with a new aftermarket system. This is what I'm dealing with-


Looks like something I would bring home!!Smile

9/3/2016 7:39pm
..got another box of goodies. Check out the writing on the cardboard box- This was a parts box for Darrell Schultz, and looks like Chris Haines...
..got another box of goodies. Check out the writing on the cardboard box- This was a parts box for Darrell Schultz, and looks like Chris Haines was the mechanic.. Pretty cool! .. Not much in the box- new OEM chain guides, few other things. I do have another box full of stuff- shock, cylinder, exhaust, silencers, etc. Not completely sure what my plans are for this thing. I'm tempted to restore it- could be fun?!- but kinda got the bug for the new 17' CRF - I'm guessing I could sink $2-$3k in this real fast..



Yowza, pretty doggone jealous for sure!!
No doubt, very cool find.
9/3/2016 8:51pm
I've got like 2-3 silencers, but none are 'like new'.. I'm sure you could find one on line thru ebay.
Ok, I looked on the bay but nothing caught my eye. I may end up with a new aftermarket system. This is what I'm dealing with-...
Ok, I looked on the bay but nothing caught my eye. I may end up with a new aftermarket system. This is what I'm dealing with-


newmann wrote:
Looks like something I would bring home!!:) [img]http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt171/duc-man97/IMG_20160827_174514_768_zpsw7og1tmc.jpg[/img]
Looks like something I would bring home!!Smile

Yours looks way better than mine!!
FreshTopEnd
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9/6/2016 12:19pm Edited Date/Time 9/6/2016 12:21pm
^^ Honestly. those look like FFF, not Showas. Forks on SD19's look like the real deal Showa works conventionals.
Superdave19
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Spring, TX US
9/7/2016 9:02pm
Few questions - I'm starting to dig in to this thing a bit. Maybe its because it's my first vintage scoot- The peg mount holes on the frame are a bit wallered out. Not too bad, but I'm pretty particular. I thought of actually drilling them out a wee bit, and having a friend at a machine shop make a couple of over sized pins, and getting some new modern pegs, drilling them out as well. Wouldn't this be easier than welding the holes in the frame and re-drilling the frame?

Secondly, the upper chain roller mount that's on the frame is gone.. Taken off, broken off, whatever.
Guessing I could strip the bike down as a rolling chassis, and leave the chain on, take it to a welder and have 'em fabricate a mount for the chain roller.

I bought this thing cheap, so I even considered finding another 480 for parts..

One more thing- starting this thing is just about impossible. Real effort, so after its all said and done, I think I'll look into a decompression valve. Once running, sounds awesome, but sh*t its loud as John Force's funny car, and rattles like the Space Shuttle taking off! Are they insainly loud/vibrate, our am I just a Newbe?
9/8/2016 5:55am
Starting a cr480 with a left side kicker takes practice and technique! I had one as a young man weighing 130lbs. and could start it pretty easy. I now weigh 160lbs. at 50 years old and can still start it easily. I have a muscular buddy that weighs near 200lbs. and he can not start it. All Technique!
Mine is not terribly loud but it does vibrate excessively. Maybe your muffler needs new packing.

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