Lowering the rear of 85-86 250R's....any tips?

[InPiEcEs]

I plan on lowering the rear of my 86 R for the ice.
It's been a long time since I've hit the ice........like 10 years.
I know they make the lowering strut, and if I end up getting one, I'll go that route.
I remember using a different link, or maybe a shock from a different machine, that lowered it a few inches. I just can't remember just what it was though.
Any ideas out there to lower the 85-86 R, besides the adjustable lowering strut?

[maggiesboy]

go with the dura-blue strut...... easy, clean, and fast.

[BigTBones]

An adjustable Dog bone will do the trick too! This is how mine is lowered along with a stiffer spring etc!

[SWIGIN]

im thinking the other strut you used would of bin a 88-89 trx 250r dog bone

[Rustytinhorn]

Dog bone...lowering strut...same thing.
The only way I can think of lowering it besides the strut would be to eat more. lol I'm j/k.
Maybe a shorter rear spring. I guess you could also soften up the preload to give you another couple inches, but I would tighten it back up before hitting any bumps.

[TeamGeek6]

18 x 9.5 x 8 tires, if it doesnt already have them. Nice low profile flat track type tire.

[SWIGIN]

Dog bone...lowering strut...same thing.
The only way I can think of lowering it besides the strut would be to eat more. lol I'm j/k.
Maybe a shorter rear spring. I guess you could also soften up the preload to give you another couple inches, but I would tighten it back up before hitting any bumps.



what im saying is the 88-89 trx dog bone is longer or shorter....i cant remeber which.....and this will lower the early style r

or was it that a early r dog bone will lower a newer style r?


getting old sucks....lol

[Billy Golightly]

use an 86-87 trx250R durablue lower link and machine a new bushing for the shock end to utilize the smaller diameter bolt.

[deathman53]

no, you want to use the 85/86 lowering strut, 87-89 use the same strut. I don't know why everybody thinks that 88/89 had the shorter strut, 87-89 did.

[Jason Hall]

I still don't believe that the 87 has the same length dogbone as the 88-89. Why In the world would Honda change the dog bone length If the swingarm Is exactly the same. If you measure from the swingarm pivot to the dog bone mount on a 86-87 swinger then do the same measurement on the 88-89 swingarm there Is a difference of about 1/4". The 88-89 Is shorter. It only makes sence that the 88-89 would have been changed. I might be wrong, but just don't understand why Honda would do that. Putting a shorter bogbone on the same geometry would give less suspension travel. I think maybe the lower linkage bolt size might have been made bigger in 87 and their Is enough adjustment In the durablue link that It will work on both swingarms.

[Billy Golightly]

no, you want to use the 85/86 lowering strut, 87-89 use the same strut. I don't know why everybody thinks that 88/89 had the shorter strut, 87-89 did.


I'm just posting what I did on my flat tracker.

[Jason Hall]

Here Is how I lower the rear of mine when I Ice race. I have made different size bushing for the longer link so I can use it on my 89 TRX also. I Also Included a couple pic's of the 86-87 swinger compared to a 88-89 swinger Pivot to linkage measurement.

[Rustytinhorn]

You could also extend the axle to lower your center of gravity.

[InPiEcEs]

I might try an adjustable link. I'm already +4 wide, and 18x11-10 Trekkers.
I gotta take a look in the garage. I may have a heavy-duty double heim joint that could work. If it does, it will do pretty much the same thing as the Dura-Blue deal.

[oldsking86]

custom made is where it's at... it's not to hard to make your own adjustable link if you have the right parts sitting around... remember, the shorter the link the higher the bike, the longer the lower.. it's opposite on the 250r's when compared to most bikes

[InPiEcEs]

The heim joint I had worked fine, except it didn't adjust low enough for me.
What I did was take one coil out of an extra spring I had.
Between that and the heim joint, it works out.:w00t:
Only question I'm still wondering about is the rake in the front.
I lowered it to match, roughly. Would it be better to have more or less rake for ice tracks.
I'm assuming more rake for a longer, faster track, and less for a short one, like we have here. It's close to circular, with no real straights in it.
Thanks in advance,
Dave

[300rman]

easier way is to put on 100 LBS. that way, you wont get as hurt because the trike wont go as fast.

[InPiEcEs]

:lol: Nah....I'm already at 200, so I don't wanna go too much more..LOL
Once the weather cools off around here again, I'll see how it handles.
Then maybe move the front end up and down, till I find the sweet spot, I guess.
That's one way, right? It's gotta be better already, being lower now.