[therooster70]

My son learned how to ride this year and I made him work his way from a 125 TT to a CR85rb. At just short of 5'11 I didn't have many options but now that he put a long summer behind him demonstrating some skill I went and found him a beautiful 04 CRF 250r. We took his bike out for a quick installation ride and found what we knew was inevitable which is. at 145 pounds without gear the stock spring is too much. But here is where it gets confusing.....
RaceTechs calculator shows that his bike and my 12 250x have the exact same 50 mm showa springs with different rates and the exact same forks with different rate springs as well. The calculator shows he needs a 4.8 kg......thats what my bike has and that I need a 5.3kg.......thats what his has. Same exact thing on the forks. The only thing I find odd is that the calculator indicates my stock 4.8 is optimal for a 145 pound rider. That seems odd to me so I am curious if that is a data error or that bike is really set up for someone that small.
Funny not that the conditions are good for riding trail right now (grounds hard and frozen) but I was riding the R and felt super comfortable on it.
So could I be so lucky that this is right and that the parts will plug right in?
It would be nice. Thanks, Matt

[crfsonly]

yes you could be so lucky! remember the purpose of the springs is to hold up the weight of the bike and the rider in riding gear. the reason for this is to maintain the designed full travel of the suspension. if the weight of the rider is to great for the springs the suspension sags into the travel and you loose the initial plush portion of the travel. the result is travel feels harsh. the spring calculators are an estimate but usually close. you can use other calculators and get different answers but they should be close. the valving between the R and the X is different as well. R valved for motocross and the X valved for off-road.

ken

[therooster70]

After some thinking about it and riding his bike and mine I think im going to take the shock, forks and son down the road to factory connection and have it done by the pros. We trail ride mostly and are certainly still learning. This is a big jump for him from the 85rb and my guess is it will increase the safety factor for him to sit down with some pros and find a stable middleground.
My new delema is that I have been riding his and am in love with the
R. I love that 19 inch tire and the spring set up on his suits me well. Also love that procircuit pipe. My neighbors probably dont but it sure sounds nice.

[crfsonly]

the correct suspension setup is money well spent.