This aint no ordinary 230 -CRF's Only Forums

Old Dude · by **Old Dude** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:56 am

Well here it is! The 230 Honda engineers had in mind before the guys upstairs slashed the production budget. This bike is a no brainier. The modifications I did (to swing arm, frame and triple clamps) to adapt these parts was very easy for a guy with a vision, a few tools, an Associates Degree in Nursing (no engineering degree) and a 10X12 Tuff Shed. I would have been cake for the high $ factory to have mass produced the bike using the 250/450X/CR250 parts (that they already had and that I utilized in my conversion) with minimal change in production effort or cost. My opinion: Most consumers would easily pay the increase in production cost for the benefit of the improved suspension and braking.
I must say that after riding it back to back with my 250X there is still no comparison to the 2 bikes. The only complaint I now have is that the bike is under powered for its improved suspension. I hammered the crap out of this thing in some really whooped out desert uphills and it just soaked it all up much like the X. I didn't jump it hard because this shakedown cruise was also my first outing with 2 brand new knee replacements. :shock:

I'm thinking though, that the suspension would have handled it better than the new improved knees. (although I can say that they didn't so much as whimper when called upon to do their stuff

) It is most likely going to be used as my bulletproof, low maintainance, trailridin, woods weapon. Did I mention that it also has a Works Performance rear shock?... I think I just did :roll:

marks crf · by **marks crf** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 1:56 pm

must be pretty good having a race like bike and not having a bike that needs alot of maintanace

but i still love my crf250r

CRF916 · by **CRF916** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 3:41 pm

Very cool! Bud was telling me about it just the other day..

nminus1 · by **nminus1** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:09 pm

Sweet 230 OD, can you throw in a free rattlesnake too?

Nice mods to say the least...

by **crfsonly** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:08 pm

OD was good enough to stop by the world headquarters of CRF's Only to show me his handy work. you know when someone skilled does it right because it looks like it came that way from the factory...the HONDA factory. these mods look that way. in fact, you see the bike and it leaves you scratching your head wondering why honda doesn't build it this way to start with. i know, price point, market demand, etc. well, if people are going through what OD did to build it themselves it tell me there's a market for it.

great work OD! you represented crf's only members well with this project!

ken

btw, the crf's only sticker kit adds what 5hp at the rear wheel?

Old Dude · by **Old Dude** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:12 pm

Ken wrote.....

the crf's only sticker kit adds what 5hp at the rear wheel?

I'm feeling maybe 6-7: cheaper than a new cam too!
Thanks Ken, It was a surprisingly easy and fun project.
Gotta button-up that "How To" and submit it now that it has been tested.
O.D.

Aussiecrf230 · by **Aussiecrf230** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:49 pm

Ken wrote.....
Quote:
the crf's only sticker kit adds what 5hp at the rear wheel?

Are these legal horsepower or are they somehow banned by some society or association?
Assume sticker would have to be on rear guard to notice full improvement.

Asmith · by **Asmith** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:11 pm

Aussiecrf230 wrote:Assume sticker would have to be on rear guard to notice full improvement.

Naturally...

nminus1 · by **nminus1** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 4:51 pm

Did someone say CRF's only sticker?

nathansharkey · by **nathansharkey** » Wed May 06, 2009 9:35 pm

I am interested on what exactly that you did to the suspension. I would like to improve mine as well. Any thing that you could share, I would really appreciate.

Nathan
[email protected]

Old Dude · by **Old Dude** » Mon May 11, 2009 6:49 am

Nathan.
My project used a complete'97 CR250 front end (forks, triple clamps brake and wheel off of ebay about $400.00) Emig Racing has a stem that presses into the 250 triple clamps allowing you to bolt it right up. ($180.00). There are some additional things that you need to do for clearance purposes like heat the tank and cave it in, relocate the ignition box, build a new steering stop. I had longer throttle cables made.All of this of this sounds like a somewhat daunting task but in reality is quite easily accomplished. I have pix if you would like to see what you are up against. I also have a "HOW TO" on the rear disc that I can send you. As for the rear suspension, I went with the Works Performance rear shock (available thru this site) and the BBR linkage.
I understand that the Race Tech Emulator fork kit and a fork brace, such as one by Summers Racing, also work wonders on the 230 forks. This would be substantually cheaper than the 250 conversion. Go to Thumper Talk and do a search re the Race Tech emulators and look for a guy named Dwight Rudder. He and Mike Coe (coeshow) have some good insite into the 230 suspension. Then come back here to order the parts you need to make it all happen.
Whichever way you go I am more than willing to answer any questions or direct you to someone who can.
Good luck and have fun.
O.D.

patski · by **patski** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:32 pm

Very impressive. I've only had my 230 for a couple of months but am really getting the suspension upgrade itch..... and at 175lbs I am prob too heavy....

Cheers

38isgreat · by **38isgreat** » Thu May 28, 2009 6:59 pm

LOVE the 230!Looks like the perfect trail/ playbike. I do have a question-What is the seat height?....

I've ridden for years....mostly 2 stroke 125's and a klx 300. The problem is...I'm about 5'5" 140 so the full size frames of the motocross bikes have always been a little on the large size for me. I once owned a kx100 and liked it but always thought it was "squirrely". If the wheelbase were say...3 inches longer it woulda been great.
I recently bought an '07 crf 150r. Kinda feels similar although I like ther ergos a little better. The seat height is perfect but still..the wheelbase feels a litle short and of course the seat to peg distance could use a couple of inches.I've seen all of the mods people are doin...lowering footpegs...aftermarket triple clamps..forward and raised bars.

I have a few questions for anyone who might have answers..
1) Has anyone ridden a BBR framed CRF150RB?-If so...how do the ergonomics compare?
2) Has anyone heard of lengthening the subframe/swingarm-I know it would require several other mods-but that might finally produce the bike just suited for a guy that's 5'5"..

Any comments are appreciated...
Since I have yet to coe up with a cool tagline...I'll say"If you aint first...you're last!"..

Thanks
Kevin

Old Dude · by **Old Dude** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:55 pm

I recently sold the 230 to my brother in SoCal.Do not remember the seat height measurement It was quite a bit taller with all the suspension work just a little shorter than my stock 250X
O.D.

limbota · by **limbota** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:55 pm

Old Dude wrote:Nathan.
My project used a complete'97 CR250 front end (forks, triple clamps brake and wheel off of ebay about $400.00) Emig Racing has a stem that presses into the 250 triple clamps allowing you to bolt it right up. ($180.00). There are some additional things that you need to do for clearance purposes like heat the tank and cave it in, relocate the ignition box, build a new steering stop. I had longer throttle cables made.All of this of this sounds like a somewhat daunting task but in reality is quite easily accomplished. I have pix if you would like to see what you are up against. I also have a "HOW TO" on the rear disc that I can send you. As for the rear suspension, I went with the Works Performance rear shock (available thru this site) and the BBR linkage.
I understand that the Race Tech Emulator fork kit and a fork brace, such as one by Summers Racing, also work wonders on the 230 forks. This would be substantually cheaper than the 250 conversion. Go to Thumper Talk and do a search re the Race Tech emulators and look for a guy named Dwight Rudder. He and Mike Coe (coeshow) have some good insite into the 230 suspension. Then come back here to order the parts you need to make it all happen.
Whichever way you go I am more than willing to answer any questions or direct you to someone who can.
Good luck and have fun.
O.D.

can i have that "HOW TO" about the rear disc ?

Awesome!

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