Cr500 fork conversion?

I have a friend who is parting out a 97 CR500, he offered the forks (great shape) for 100.00. Is there any advantage to this or is the conversion going to be costly and not offer as much or the same as heavier springs and a heavier fork oil on my existing BRP forks. I'm 240lbs and ride hard, frequently bottoming out until I replaced the rear spring with an Eibach 11.5 sr spring which helps but I still have the front end to worry about. Any thoughts or experience here will help. Thanks


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I would use the XRR front suspension. Just modify the valve, shim stack and spring for your weight. This makes a night and day difference.


Now with the CR500 rear shock you could use your XRR and the CR500 shock to make one hybrid shock.

Search under suspension for all of the infomation.

AURORA wrote:I would use the XRR front suspension. Just modify the valve, shim stack and spring for your weight. This makes a night and day difference.


Now with the CR500 rear shock you could use your XRR and the CR500 shock to make one hybrid shock.

Search under suspension for all of the infomation.

AURORA, Good advice, looks like the a progressive spring and heavier oil will do the trick. I am out of it and have been since Saturday. Took a nasty spill at Stonyford here in N. California, my riding buddy picked the bike up off of me and I didn't have any recollection of the spill or even who drove to Stonyford. Diagnosis: severe concussion. I rode 4 or 5 miles back to the truck and cannot remember that either, apparently I hit my head on a manzanita tree.....so hard I have the cloth pattern of the helmet padding still across my forehead! I was running a brand new Sedona set of tires and believe me, they hook up everywhere, fantastic tires...every bit as good as Maxxis desert IT's (in my opinion). What happened was my front tire set down in an outside line and the rear stayed on an inside line after coming out of a tight uphill turn, I believe I was thrown into the tree. The bike suffered not one bit of damage!
It was completely my fault, trying to ride tight switchbacks and tight trails in the trees on my pig, just 50 yard of straightaway and my buddy was toast but in the trees it was tough to keep up to him on his yz250f. Lesson learned....
The pig has an endless amount of torque, surprising me on slippery and very steep uphills but roosting and clawing her way up anything I threw at her. These truly are incredible machines.....now on the search for an equally tough new helmet.

Troop

xabntroop wrote:

AURORA wrote:I would use the XRR front suspension. Just modify the valve, shim stack and spring for your weight. This makes a night and day difference.


Now with the CR500 rear shock you could use your XRR and the CR500 shock to make one hybrid shock.

Search under suspension for all of the infomation.

AURORA, Good advice, looks like the a progressive spring and heavier oil will do the trick. I am out of it and have been since Saturday. Took a nasty spill at Stonyford here in N. California, my riding buddy picked the bike up off of me and I didn't have any recollection of the spill or even who drove to Stonyford. Diagnosis: severe concussion. I rode 4 or 5 miles back to the truck and cannot remember that either, apparently I hit my head on a manzanita tree.....so hard I have the cloth pattern of the helmet padding still across my forehead! I was running a brand new Sedona set of tires and believe me, they hook up everywhere, fantastic tires...every bit as good as Maxxis desert IT's (in my opinion). What happened was my front tire set down in an outside line and the rear stayed on an inside line after coming out of a tight uphill turn, I believe I was thrown into the tree. The bike suffered not one bit of damage!
It was completely my fault, trying to ride tight switchbacks and tight trails in the trees on my pig, just 50 yard of straightaway and my buddy was toast but in the trees it was tough to keep up to him on his yz250f. Lesson learned....
The pig has an endless amount of torque, surprising me on slippery and very steep uphills but roosting and clawing her way up anything I threw at her. These truly are incredible machines.....now on the search for an equally tough new helmet.

Troop

I would go with a linear spring for your weight, shimmed for riding style, vavle opened up and good light weight oil.

Yo Troop,

let's see, how many fingers do I hold up now?
Correct - high5!

You're declared cured now, so go on and find a new helmet first. Then, when you've got that, maybe consider a woods weapon to go with the Pig? Give a Pig space and it has no peers, but in tight stuff either 'behave' (yeah, no fun) or get something more suited. After all, Pigs get piglets, not so?

Haven't see those tyres here yet, will keep an open eye out for them.

BuRP wrote:Yo Troop,

let's see, how many fingers do I hold up now?
Correct - high5!

You're declared cured now, so go on and find a new helmet first. Then, when you've got that, maybe consider a woods weapon to go with the Pig? Give a Pig space and it has no peers, but in tight stuff either 'behave' (yeah, no fun) or get something more suited. After all, Pigs get piglets, not so?

Haven't see those tyres here yet, will keep an open eye out for them.

I was thinking a KDX 220 or a CR250, but the reality of the situation is I may be past those fast woods days...There wasn't any feeling of fatigue or being short of breath on the last ride but I was riding in my comfort zone, not over my head. The pig is quite capable but my setup is a poor choice for what we chose to ride in. I am running 15/47 and though I didn't have any flameouts, I did slip the clutch often. The guys down in southern Ca have more "pig friendly" terrain, Ocatillo wells, Pismo beach ect. I'm thinking maybe I should find a few fellow pig riders and make a trip to Moab or even SoCal. My GF immediately suggested we sell the pig and buy a UTV, Teryx... the Kawasaki is what she wants. The pig isn't going anywhere, she fires first or second kick....everytime and I remember while I was in the service wanting a pig sooo badly, especially when we had plenty of klicks between us and the helo's. I may make some small changes to her but she'll stay with me for the duration. Now.....on the search for a 2 smoke!

Troop

Troop,

ridden a 4-stroke lately? Small one I mean, 250 or thereabouts? I have a KDX, I lurve the smokers, but on some enduro trips lately I found out that it's being beat by them. No, not on top but the low-down torque you see, easier riding. Hence I am more capable and it's less fatiguing also, which then translates to more fun.
Bought a CRF230F. Yes, to-tal-ly out of breath, an asthmatic thing out of the box. Pwr-up kit in >> lots better already, but still a bit weak. Put a 12:1 piston in, and ported the head, cam kept std >> it's all you need bru!
No, it's no crf250, if you're good then buy that, but for really gnarly stuff I'll take this aircooled 'ladies bike' to places where I'd struggle with the Kwacker. It goes without saying that wooded trails on it are downright easy, I've surprised myself at times. A bit wider trails tyre back will help a lot too so btw.
Try one on? Beg, steal or borrow, but at least feel for yourself how easy some things can be.

BuRP wrote:Troop,

ridden a 4-stroke lately? Small one I mean, 250 or thereabouts? I have a KDX, I lurve the smokers, but on some enduro trips lately I found out that it's being beat by them. No, not on top but the low-down torque you see, easier riding. Hence I am more capable and it's less fatiguing also, which then translates to more fun.
Bought a CRF230F. Yes, to-tal-ly out of breath, an asthmatic thing out of the box. Pwr-up kit in >> lots better already, but still a bit weak. Put a 12:1 piston in, and ported the head, cam kept std >> it's all you need bru!
No, it's no crf250, if you're good then buy that, but for really gnarly stuff I'll take this aircooled 'ladies bike' to places where I'd struggle with the Kwacker. It goes without saying that wooded trails on it are downright easy, I've surprised myself at times. A bit wider trails tyre back will help a lot too so btw.
Try one on? Beg, steal or borrow, but at least feel for yourself how easy some things can be.

I have not been on a small 4 stroke for about 4 years, I have been looking into a KTM 300, this may be just what I need.....for now.

Troop