CRF230L Owners Check In - Page 14

sw3dl1 · 03-01-2013, 05:52 AM

Has anyone "gussetted" the rear sub-frame on our CRF230L's. I'm planning on carrying a few more pounds than what Honda recomends on a 1300 mile duel-sport ride. The rear sub-frame area where the rear rack mounts looks particularly puny. I'm looking to make tht area a little stouter, I don't want a problem in the middle of nowhere.

jsonder · 03-01-2013, 09:42 AM

Not really. I kept hoping that the frame portion of the rack would suffice. Photo shows where the welding was needed:

It will probably break behind the welds the next time, but I had nearly 10K on the bike when the subframe finally failed. Carried a 20 pound tool bag on the rack when trail riding (which is all that it is used for).

Reconstructed · 03-01-2013, 01:31 PM

Hey guys, has the 230l forum shut down? I occasionally go there to browse around, but I am getting sent to a search engine now.

www.hondacrf230l.com

Just curious.

Kommando · 03-01-2013, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsonder

Not really. I kept hoping that the frame portion of the rack would suffice. Photo shows where the welding was needed:

It will probably break behind the welds the next time, but I had nearly 10K on the bike when the subframe finally failed. Carried a 20 pound tool bag on the rack when trail riding (which is all that it is used for).

You could also weld in 2 tubes going front to rear between the existing subframe rails. Tie them into the existing tube frame rails though, rather than just the stamped sheetmetal cross-pieces, preferably starting them from further forward than the junction with the diagonal downtubes. You could even weld in a tubular cross-piece up there to start them from.

sw3dl1 · 03-02-2013, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kommando

You could also weld in 2 tubes going front to rear between the existing subframe rails. Tie them into the existing tube frame rails though, rather than just the stamped sheetmetal cross-pieces, preferably starting them from further forward than the junction with the diagonal downtubes. You could even weld in a tubular cross-piece up there to start them from.

Your rack is even more supported then mine, just bolts to the rear frame without any lower support like yours. I have a couple of ideas, one using the footpeg mounts to run a diagonal support tube on both sides. The other is to just pattern and weld a 1/8th inch plate along the bottom of the frame rail from just after the foot peg mount to just after the rack mount. I'm still studying the problem.

grnd0 · 03-02-2013, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reconstructed

Hey guys, has the 230l forum shut down? I occasionally go there to browse around, but I am getting sent to a search engine now.

www.hondacrf230l.com

Just curious.

It is shut down. I think it ended late Jan.

CanadianX · 03-02-2013, 11:58 AM

Is hte old forum still reasonably current, can I get answers about suspension questions etc? Wondering what the best replacement for the rear shock is? Bike is for a 120lbs rider but the OEM one seems a little worn out. The bike hasn't been used much so maybe a rebuild with some fresh oil or something, though i haven't looked at it to see if that is viable. Are OEM ones the cheapest route? What are the common upgrades people do to this bike?

jsonder · 03-02-2013, 12:46 PM

IIRC (and that's pretty iffy) the most common swap was from an ~82-84 XR200.

Now, if the shock is "bad" it has probably been hammered too many times (the rear bottoms out pretty easily).

My bike has over 10K miles and has been ridden fairly aggressively and the rear shock is still fine (170-pound rider, factory setting {2nd detent, IIRC}). I have bottomed it out a number of times, but it hasn't done much in terms of jumps.

What kind of riding will this 120-pound rider be doing? If not too wild, the stock shock would be the most simple way to go.

edit: the old forum is shut down.

CanadianX · 03-03-2013, 01:13 PM

Well the bike is virtually new, an 08 with 4000km. I suspect the shock is ok but may have just been sitting. No sign of this bike having been off road let along on a gravel trail (not a mark any place underneath to suggest it's ever been in the dirt. Original owner said he used it around town as a commuter.

The shock oil may just be cold and moving slow causing the shock to move up and down in the stroke kind of slowly. I don't have much t compare it to but there is an 08 sitting indoor at a dealer and the suspension seems to compress and rebound ..better?

Riding will be easy trails and dirt roads nothing hard on a suspension or new rider.

jsonder · 03-04-2013, 10:26 AM

If using it doesn't loosen up the rear shock, a stock replacement would make the most sense.

SUMORYDR · 03-04-2013, 12:52 PM

What if the rider wasn't a newbie and quite a bit heavier ( like 220lbs )? Does anyone have a particular set up for that ( other than getting the old XR200 set up )? Shouldn't a stiffer rear spring be adequate for pretty much everything?

Just looking for opinions from folks that have done the mods already.

PineyMountainRacing · 03-04-2013, 12:56 PM

Steve, I looked around for a higher rate spring (Factory Connection, Racetec are 2 that I remember). I'd love to find one, I have my preload cranked down to compensate for my weight, but would prefer to change out the spring and back off on the PL. If you find something, LMK please.

SUMORYDR · 03-04-2013, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PineyMountainRacing

Steve, I looked around for a higher rate spring (Factory Connection, Racetec are 2 that I remember). I'd love to find one, I have my preload cranked down to compensate for my weight, but would prefer to change out the spring and back off on the PL. If you find something, LMK please.

Will do for sure. Last time I spoke to Dave at FBI ( Fast Bike Industries ) he guaranteed me that he could ship me one for $110 +S/H and that it should solve any trail riding and mild off-road riding issues that I might have. Being pessimistic I opted to come here and ask the question again just to make sure........ you know, before I buy a spring and it not work and then have to dump money into a full XR200 swap.

Wanna call him and ask too? I've got his number pretty handy. Oh and I'm not sure which company he would get it from but he said that it is easily attainable.

PineyMountainRacing · 03-04-2013, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SUMORYDR

Will do for sure. Last time I spoke to Dave at FBI ( Fast Bike Industries ) he guaranteed me that he could ship me one for $110 +S/H and that it should solve any trail riding and mild off-road riding issues that I might have. Being pessimistic I opted to come here and ask the question again just to make sure........ you know, before I buy a spring and it not work and then have to dump money into a full XR200 swap.

Wanna call him and ask too? I've got his number pretty handy. Oh and I'm not sure which company he would get it from but he said that it is easily attainable.

I bought the spring for my DRZ from Dave, good guy. I'll try to give him a call tomorrow. Did he have different spring rates available? I'll try Factory Connection again, maybe give them a call. They had nothing for the CRF-L on their website, I sent them an email last fall, but never heard back. They sold me a spring for the WR400, it was less $ than FBI.

SUMORYDR · 03-05-2013, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PineyMountainRacing

I bought the spring for my DRZ from Dave, good guy. I'll try to give him a call tomorrow. Did he have different spring rates available? I'll try Factory Connection again, maybe give them a call. They had nothing for the CRF-L on their website, I sent them an email last fall, but never heard back. They sold me a spring for the WR400, it was less $ than FBI.

Didn't hear if he offered variable spring rates but that'd be good to know ( I'm sure that he was assuming the stiffest spring since I'm so weight challenged ). I'm eager to hear if anyone else ( large company ) has a spring for our little red pigs. Surely the bike can't be that under produced to not warrant some other parts for it...

Speaking of other parts for it, I have recently spoken to Dee Dee at Sprocket Specialist and got some good news. Gearing for the little piggy comes in a bunch of different sizes. Not only do they have 13, 14, AND 15 tooth front sprockets for the 230L but they also have rear sprockets from 38 tooth all the way up to 74 tooth. Yes really.
Fronts are steel.
Rears are aluminum ( but can have the "TITAN TOUGH" coating applied for an additional $15 ).

Part number for all front sprockets is = Stock # 568 ( 13 -15 tooth ) $24.99
Part number for all rear sprockets is = Stock # 425 ( 38 - 74 tooth ) $59 for up to 45 tooth then $66 up to 74 tooth +$15 for extra "TITAN TOUGH" coating.

Hope that someone finds this information helpful.

03-01-2013, 05:52 AM	#196
sw3dl1 DR Don Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Oddometer: 399	Has anyone "gussetted" the rear sub-frame on our CRF230L's. I'm planning on carrying a few more pounds than what Honda recomends on a 1300 mile duel-sport ride. The rear sub-frame area where the rear rack mounts looks particularly puny. I'm looking to make tht area a little stouter, I don't want a problem in the middle of nowhere. __________________ 2005 BMW R1200GS 1983 GL1100 Honda Aspencade 1982 Honda GL500 Interstate 1988 Honda NX650 - X2 1987 Honda XL600r

03-01-2013, 09:42 AM	#197
jsonder Tired Old Fart Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Green Valley, AZ Oddometer: 461	Not really. I kept hoping that the frame portion of the rack would suffice. Photo shows where the welding was needed: It will probably break behind the welds the next time, but I had nearly 10K on the bike when the subframe finally failed. Carried a 20 pound tool bag on the rack when trail riding (which is all that it is used for). __________________ John 2009 Honda CRF230L 1989 Honda NX250 (daily rider)

03-02-2013, 12:46 PM	#203
jsonder Tired Old Fart Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Green Valley, AZ Oddometer: 461	IIRC (and that's pretty iffy) the most common swap was from an ~82-84 XR200. Now, if the shock is "bad" it has probably been hammered too many times (the rear bottoms out pretty easily). My bike has over 10K miles and has been ridden fairly aggressively and the rear shock is still fine (170-pound rider, factory setting {2nd detent, IIRC}). I have bottomed it out a number of times, but it hasn't done much in terms of jumps. What kind of riding will this 120-pound rider be doing? If not too wild, the stock shock would be the most simple way to go. edit: the old forum is shut down. __________________ John 2009 Honda CRF230L 1989 Honda NX250 (daily rider)

03-04-2013, 10:26 AM	#205
jsonder Tired Old Fart Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Green Valley, AZ Oddometer: 461	If using it doesn't loosen up the rear shock, a stock replacement would make the most sense. __________________ John 2009 Honda CRF230L 1989 Honda NX250 (daily rider)

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03-01-2013, 01:31 PM	#198
Reconstructed Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: Lawrenceburg, Ky Oddometer: 215	Hey guys, has the 230l forum shut down? I occasionally go there to browse around, but I am getting sent to a search engine now. www.hondacrf230l.com Just curious.

03-02-2013, 11:58 AM	#202
CanadianX Oh!? That is deep. Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Oddometer: 820	Is hte old forum still reasonably current, can I get answers about suspension questions etc? Wondering what the best replacement for the rear shock is? Bike is for a 120lbs rider but the OEM one seems a little worn out. The bike hasn't been used much so maybe a rebuild with some fresh oil or something, though i haven't looked at it to see if that is viable. Are OEM ones the cheapest route? What are the common upgrades people do to this bike?

03-03-2013, 01:13 PM	#204
CanadianX Oh!? That is deep. Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Oddometer: 820	Well the bike is virtually new, an 08 with 4000km. I suspect the shock is ok but may have just been sitting. No sign of this bike having been off road let along on a gravel trail (not a mark any place underneath to suggest it's ever been in the dirt. Original owner said he used it around town as a commuter. The shock oil may just be cold and moving slow causing the shock to move up and down in the stroke kind of slowly. I don't have much t compare it to but there is an 08 sitting indoor at a dealer and the suspension seems to compress and rebound ..better? Riding will be easy trails and dirt roads nothing hard on a suspension or new rider.

03-04-2013, 12:52 PM	#206
SUMORYDR Old school rookie Joined: Feb 2013 Location: North Florida Oddometer: 14	What if the rider wasn't a newbie and quite a bit heavier ( like 220lbs )? Does anyone have a particular set up for that ( other than getting the old XR200 set up )? Shouldn't a stiffer rear spring be adequate for pretty much everything? Just looking for opinions from folks that have done the mods already.

03-04-2013, 12:56 PM	#207
PineyMountainRacing I've got bike ADD Joined: Jul 2008 Location: SW Florida / Western NC Oddometer: 1,101	Steve, I looked around for a higher rate spring (Factory Connection, Racetec are 2 that I remember). I'd love to find one, I have my preload cranked down to compensate for my weight, but would prefer to change out the spring and back off on the PL. If you find something, LMK please.