ATC 250r Front Forks ride height? *Pics*

[k00leo]

ATC 250r Front Forks ride height? *Pics*

Ok, so I have a 1985 ATC 250r. I posted a picture of it on here awhile ago and someone was telling me that someone must have lowered the front end of my 250r because it is much lower then it should be.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/k00leo/1985%20Honda%20ATC%20250r/IMAG0362.jpg

My question is this, could the springs wear out and they just naturally became weak and lowered, could someone have cut them, or could someone have put smaller springs inside?

I know these questions can’t really be answered until I take apart the forks, but I’m just wondering what could have happened.

Another question,

I want to raise the top end since I don’t like sitting so far forward on the seat, which front fork springs should I buy? I want to take the bike to its original ride height. Would this work?

http://www.cheapcycleparts.com/products/87128-progressive-suspension-11-1127-forks-front-ends-progressive-suspension-front-fork-springs

If you have a better suggestion for front fork springs, please let me know. Would buying used from springs of here or ebay be a good alternative? Or would I run the risk of getting worn out springs that could be just as bad?




On an unrelated note…. I traded by 350x for another 1985 ATC 250r.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/k00leo/1985%20ATC%20250r%202nd/IMAG0380.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/k00leo/1985%20ATC%20250r%202nd/IMAG0381.jpg


You can tell the difference between the front forks ride height by looking at both of the pictures… Thanks for all the help!

[Hurricane635]

Anything is possible as far as previous owners, but you can push the tubes down a little in the tripples. Also does either set any air pressure.

[k00leo]

I will give that a try. I dont think there is a lot of room left to push the forks down though.


What do you mean "does either set and air pressure"??

I've never fooled with front forks before.

[Hurricane635]

Unscrew the plastic cap on top, there is a shrader valve.

[k00leo]

Ah yes, i have noticed that valve.


i was skimming through the manual and couldnt find the proper PSI that the front forks should be running.

does anyone know the proper PSI?

[Dirtcrasher]

Very little. Download the manual.

There is a groove on the R forks that should be flush with the upper triple, your friend is wrong, pic 1 is right..........

[HONDA_ATC_FREAK]

looks fine to me gues you have to be there

[Bretmd94]

Just try moving the tubes down like suggested. Pic 1 looks correct to me too, but if you want it raised up more just go for it (much like your second 250r).

Coming from sport bikes I can tell you that a lot of the Track guys that ride the K4-K5 suzuki 600's use a raised top cap for their forks allowing them to slide the forks down an extra inch in the triple clamps in order to raise the front end up higher than possible with the stock forks. It really helps with the handling I guess for those bikes. If you know the right people its possible to have something like that made.

[leviblue]

yes springs wearout. How high do you want the front to sit? It looks like there's nothing in the top trees. man my tubes are dropped 1 3/4 under stock height. I have a set of NEW Progressive springs if your interested. whats your all around ride height your looking to achieve? whats yor rear shock set/rated at? is it stiff enough where it looks like the height is off when your not on the bike? I couldn't ride your R with the forks set like the way they are

[JasonB]

looks nice! I like that ride height though.

[k00leo]

Thanks for all the help guys.

Well i just raised the the front end a little bit on the first 250r pictured. It looked like i had around 1 1/2 worth of forks to move down. Hopefully this will improve the handling a little bit more.


I wanted to raise the front end of the bike because when i sat on the bike it seems that my by body was leaning forward more then center. I was practically sitting on the tank. It felt awkward. Of course, my new Fly CR handlebars (which are lower then the one pictured) probably doesn't help too much either.

[cr480r]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/k00leo/1985%20Honda%20ATC%20250r/IMAG0362.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/k00leo/1985%20ATC%20250r%202nd/IMAG0381.jpg


You can tell the difference between the front forks ride height by looking at both of the pictures… Thanks for all the help!

Other than obvious different position in the clamps the appearances can also be thrown off by the tweaked fender, the different size tires, and the fork boots.. the bleeders can afffect the forks sag as well

[leviblue]

though it looks cool sitting that high you loose so much in the handling dept. the R's handled ok at stock height but dropping the trees down to tune it in is the way to go. whats the use of lowrise bars when your reaching for the sky? get some high bars if you wanna sit back in the seat.
i run progressive up ft set 1 3/4 in under stock height. werks shock in the rear. i'm 6'1 and my knees rub the tank, hack look at my stunt bike and the fairings are gauged to sht from my shingaurds. it's where you gotta sit to help turn/controll a stock "race machine"
i'd put it back to stock and get new bars....but if your dead set on raiseing the height you could swap for a set of motocycle tubes

[pmktm]

Here is one of my 85s. 21MM up, or even with the little groove in the fork. This is the way it came from the Honda shop. hth

http://turnsleft.smugmug.com/Other/ATVs/IMG0693/1183599151_9SLQF-L.jpg

[k00leo]

though it looks cool sitting that high you loose so much in the handling dept. the R's handled ok at stock height but dropping the trees down to tune it in is the way to go. whats the use of lowrise bars when your reaching for the sky? get some high bars if you wanna sit back in the seat.
i run progressive up ft set 1 3/4 in under stock height. werks shock in the rear. i'm 6'1 and my knees rub the tank, hack look at my stunt bike and the fairings are gauged to sht from my shingaurds. it's where you gotta sit to help turn/controll a stock "race machine"
i'd put it back to stock and get new bars....but if your dead set on raiseing the height you could swap for a set of motocycle tubes

Between the two bikes, i actually think that the higher 250r handles better. Thats why i wanted to raise the bike a little. I think that raising the bike by lowering the forks may have been the trick.

By no means do i want to gain crazy height from raising the front. I just want the first 250r to have the same handling as the 2nd 250r.

Getting another set of handlebars may also help.