XR 600R rear shock on CRF 230?

[ThunderChicken]

Here I am again. I still have a complete set of forks, triple clamps and stem off a XR 250R waiting to go on my wife's CRF 230.

However, I haven't installed them because I thought the only option for replacing the stock shock on the 230 was the $500 Works Performance shock.

I just saw in a thread that someone mentioned the XR600R shock being a direct bolt in for the CRF 230...

Has anyone actually bolted on a XR600R shock?

Better yet, has anyone tried the XR250R front end with the XR600R shock on their CRF230?

[art5]

the xr500 as well as the xr 600 shock will work not sure of the year but it needs to be 15 inches eye to eye

[coeshow]

You can check out WORKS Performance's Dirt Bike Applications guide for fitment lengths and a lot more data. I briefly glanced at it a while back and there are a number of older Hondas (XR250 included) that use the same length shock as the CRF150 and 230 which is shown to be 15.13".

Good luck locating a shock from one of these older bikes. If you do find one, it will more than likely be worn out anyway and in need of repair/rebuilding, and depending on if it has a reservoir, body integrated or remote will also determine if it will mount to the CRF230.

If you plan to keep the bike, the shock will only increase its value AND performance, so why not invest in a brand new unit? All of the time and effort needed to find a potential candidate, plus all of previously mentioned work would likely put you over the cost of a new Works Unit anyway.

Good luck and ride safely.

[4strokeridertt]

The Works shock seams expensive until you figure in the cost of getting a XR600 or other shock to work correctly.

The Works shock works and it is brand new and valved and sprung and bolts right in.

First time you ride a properly adjusted bike with a Works shock you will understand.

[ThunderChicken]

Good luck locating a shock from one of these older bikes. If you do find one, it will more than likely be worn out anyway and in need of repair/rebuilding, and depending on if it has a reservoir, body integrated or remote will also determine if it will mount to the CRF230.

Ah, so the res. is the the rub. Because, I bet I could find newer shocks off the XR's in great condition but they would obviously have the integrated res.

Finding fresh stuff is easy. Look at the XR250 triple clamps, stem and forks I got off of ebay. They are in the background of this pic:

But like you said, if I want to find an XR shock it will have to be a remote res. and then the odds of finding one that's fresh go way down.

At the end of the day, I just need to bite the bullet and get a works perforamnce shock. It's hard to justify it when my wife has started riding a 250X more and more so whatever I do to the 230 becomes more about me and it being my project bike. Which is cool, I just need to buy the shock and forget about it.

[ThunderChicken]

The Works shock seams expensive until you figure in the cost of getting a XR600 or other shock to work correctly.

The Works shock works and it is brand new and valved and sprung and bolts right in.

First time you ride a properly adjusted bike with a Works shock you will understand.

I'm not against the works per shock at all. I just am against dropping $500 on a shock for a crf 230.

But like I said, I just need to do it and forget about it.

[MR WRite]

You will be happy you did it, makes a big difference.

[eoth]

Know this is an old topic but brought it up only because I just installed the XR600 shock into my 230F. E-Bay shock cost $30, new hose $30 and oil change/recharge $35... Grand total: $95.00. It took a little time but saved a lot of money vs buying a new Works shock! And for the record, couldnt be happier with the performance!

[tlrmark]

Thanks for posting, it sounds like you used a remote resevore shock not a integrated resevore one. Any issues with mounting it.

[eoth]

Yes it had the remote (think it was 1988). Since I wanted the oil changed and nitrogen charged I started out going to a hydraulic supply store and had them make me a new longer hose so I could mount it on the frame behind the left plastic shield. After that I gave everything to the person who serviced the shock and he took care of everything else.

[SacTown Old Dude]

I was waiting for a used Works shock to become available. I had heard that XR600 shocks worked So I bought one. Just looking at it I was skeptical that it would work. Well, when I saw eoth's report on the XR600 shock I decided to give it a go. Viola! Sweet! I had a new hose made and jumped on ebay and bought another one for my 150F project. The XR350 shock and some of the CR shocks of the 80s work as well. Take your 230 shock to your nearest m/c dismantler and they can match one up for you. Tell them that it has to have a remote reservoir.

ST O.D.

[mxscotty]

When i recently bought another crf230 it came with extra wheels (for road tyres) some USD forks (cr125 maybe?) and a rear shock with remote resevoir which i am told was also from an XR600

I haven't tried it on the bike yet but was informed i may need to replace the connecting hose to get the resevoir to 'mount' in a suitable place. I will fit it with the res just strapped out of the way to try it out before spending on a new hose for a better location

[Tech25]

When i recently bought another crf230 it came with extra wheels (for road tyres) some USD forks (cr125 maybe?) and a rear shock with remote resevoir which i am told was also from an XR600

I haven't tried it on the bike yet but was informed i may need to replace the connecting hose to get the resevoir to 'mount' in a suitable place. I will fit it with the res just strapped out of the way to try it out before spending on a new hose for a better location

Hey mxscotty, can you do me a favor. Tell me how many clicks that XR 600 rear shock has on both rebound and compression. If you want to be able to reset the adjusters where they are now slowly turn in the adjusters and count the clicks until the adjuster stops...write down that number. Do that for both compression and rebound so you can return them both to their current settings. Then slowly back out each adjuster again counting the clicks until it stops and write down that number. The number of clicks from all the way in to all the way out is the number of adjustments for each adjuster.

Thanks

Tech25

[SacTown Old Dude]

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/honda/honda_xr600r%2085.htm.

Note rear suspension specs: 14 compression adjustments and 4 rebound adjustments

ST O.D.

[Tech25]

http://www.motorcycl...xr600r%2085.htm.

Note rear suspension specs: 14 compression adjustments and 4 rebound adjustments

ST O.D.

Thanks ST OD, that's what I thought, If I remember right my 83 XL 600R had preload and 4 rebound adjustments too (no compression adjustments) and I could tell little if any difference at all from full soft (fast) and full hard (slow) from the adjuster. Looks like the XR 600R rear shock may not be the best choice for my project...bummer.

Tech25

[Chuck.]

These were typical 40mm remote reservoir shocks that Honda used in that era on the XR/XLs, some with compression clickers on the reservoirs, and some with a 4 position rebound clicker in the clevis, some with both. As Tech25 pointed out these can be weak on rebound damping, which makes for a pogo stick ride. I suspect it is from piston/bore wear. In the day we use to joke about the J shocks being factory filled with fish oil that needed to be changed for better damping and shock life, I bet most were never serviced.

Repair parts can be difficult to find for some of these shocks and some wear, like the rod or bore, are not cheap to repair.

[SacTown Old Dude]

excellent info chuck, thanksI I obtained 2 very well preserved appearing units which I am having serviced before installation on a 150F and a 230 Dual Sport. They have both compression and rebound adjusters as you describe. I will keep you posted. They may not be suitable for all types of riding as tech indicates.

ST O.D.

[eoth]

My experience was similar to O.D... The person who serviced my xr600 shock was impressed that for a older shock it was in excellent condition (although the oil was definately "expired"). He went on to comment about a lot of the newer shocks that he services are built cheaper and won't hold up nearly as long (probably my old shock would have been a perfect example of what he was talking about). like said before, might not be your "cup of tea" but after 30+ years of trail riding and going through bikes than I care to admit to... I am having a LOT of fun with this set-up.

[thumperjay]

Curious what the cost of a good condition unit is once rebuilt... and what the total adjustability of the 650 shock is.

[Tech25]

I'd be all over hunting down an XR 600R shock and having a longer reservoir hose made for it...if it 14 rebound adjustment settings. For my project I need lots of rebound damping adjustment range. I looked at the XR 650R shock microfiche on Service Honda's web site, It looks to me like the piggyback reservoir stands a bit too far off the damper body and may have clearance issues with the 150/230 frame tubes. I don't know this to be fact, just an observation....I found these pics online maybe my old eyeballs are wrong, but it looks like the clevis is narrower on the XR 650R shock. Does anyone know how many compression and rebound adjustments the XR 650 damper has and the length of the shock?

CR 85 shock

XR 650R shock