Restore/Replica bikes questions

jammin76tx
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Waco, TX US
1/26/2014 7:45pm Edited Date/Time 1/31/2014 1:41am
I love all the restored/replica bikes on here, it's my favorite part of vital!
For those that updated their suspension to something more modern (like those with the mid '90's CRs), how happy are you with the change? Was it a night and day difference?
Has anyone swapped an air fork onto an older bike, yet?

Thanks,
Marc
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Ove
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1/27/2014 12:50am Edited Date/Time 1/27/2014 12:52am
Hi Marc.
If you read my post: 1990 CR250 restored, you can see that on this bike the upgrade was a night and day difference.
Then again , the 90 CR 250's had pretty harsh suspension stock, so it benefits a ton from this.
The headshake is gone, and the bike corners great. This bike can carve insides and rail outsides and is stable as anything.

The beefed up RG3 Diamond kit fork, RG3 triple (and a bit of changed geometry :offset,trail) and Öhlins shock really helped this bike
.
1/27/2014 5:42am
I'm currently building a '90 cr125 with an '08 CRF250 front end in it.
I'll report back once it's had its first outing.

Should be a huge improvement over when I used to ride it as a kid.
MXM
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pickstick BD
1/27/2014 8:20am Edited Date/Time 1/29/2014 6:58am
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jammin76tx
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Waco, TX US
1/27/2014 7:59pm
Thanks for the replies so far. Ove, your CRs are sweet! MXM that KX is awesome as well. MXM and Goodluckmonkey, can't wait to see your CRs.

I guess I'm curious because I can't decide wether to modernize an old bike or style a modern bike after an old one. I do know I want a bike with good suspension. Smile

The Shop

ledger
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1/27/2014 9:19pm Edited Date/Time 1/28/2014 12:33am
Jammin,Restore's can be a challenge, time consuming and get costly (been there and still there) but the satisfaction gained knowing that you revived an OLD WARRIOR is like the "first time",,, I know you know what I mean,lol .Great looking Kawi from MXM. P.S. FWIW,my wife purchased a 1986 CR 250 for me for our anniversary and the bike had 90 or 91 fork's/triple's and I ended up putting the stock fork's/triple's back on which was a bonus for that bike.You gotta love ebay,,,,at time's.
MXM
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pickstick BD
1/28/2014 7:01am Edited Date/Time 1/29/2014 6:58am
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MXM
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pickstick BD
1/28/2014 7:03am Edited Date/Time 1/29/2014 6:58am
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jammin76tx
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Waco, TX US
1/29/2014 6:22pm
Seems like most people use '02 and up Showas, any particular reason for that? The '06 and up KYB SSS forks have a good reputation on the YZs, do they not perform as well on other bikes?
MXM
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pickstick BD
1/30/2014 8:27am
You have to remember that even though newer stuff might bolt on old bikes does not mean they will be better for that bike. The action may improve but every bike have different frame stiffness, geometry, weight, engine power and so forth and so the action may get better but the whole bike could get thrown out of whack in the handling department, and the weight distribution department because the bigger heavier new suspension will not match what the original balance design was. My 2 -cents
1/30/2014 8:37am Edited Date/Time 1/30/2014 8:37am
But all riders are different weights too.

Whatever you ride, you need to set it up accordingly.
Having newer components with less wear, and another two decades of r and d in them will generally be of benefit once set up to suit.
All the CRF kit going into my bike (wheels included) also gives a reduction in unsprung weight too, which is of additional benefit, as the suspension has less work to do.
MXM
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pickstick BD
1/30/2014 10:30am
I would like to see both sets of stock wheels and suspension componets on a scale, I have a hard time thinking 1990 cast hubs and skinny 125 wheels including a 100 series tire on the back with a smaller shock body and shaft, let alone the smaller diameter tubes and internals of the old school forks would be heavier than a 2008 CRF 250 set. I really don't think so.
1/30/2014 4:09pm
I don't own any scales, so if I can get hold of some I'll weigh all the parts.
What I do know is, the difference in the wheels at least is clear when you're holding them, one in each hand.
CamP
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Colleyville, TX US
1/30/2014 5:55pm
The OEM wheels on my 07 CR and 08 CRF are noticeably lighter than my OEM 95 CR wheels.
jammin76tx
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Waco, TX US
1/30/2014 8:26pm
So, let's say I'm rebuilding a '90 CR 125, and want to use modern Showas. The front wheel will of course match the forks. For the rear, I would imagine the axle size would be larger for an '08 vs a '90. What's the best way to address the size difference to be able to run the newer wheel?
1/31/2014 1:41am
Custom spacers to put the rear wheel in.

For mock-up purposes, KTM rear wheel spacers (which have a 25mm ID bearing on a 20mm spindle too), and a 2.5mm washer either side fit everything together nicely.

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