Shortypants Bike - Converting a CRF 150R into a trail oriented dual sport

GailCallsMeKarl · 10-24-2012, 07:37 PM

I am an RFS* chic. (*Really F’ing Short) 4’ 11”, 27” inseam. I started riding a little over a year ago. I bought a TTR125 to start trail riding to improve my riding skills. I was lucky enough to find a great friend and teacher in MGorman. I rode and wrecked the TTR until I almost killed her. MGorman gave me the go ahead to move up to bike #2. I have a 230 but it proved to be too big for me to successfully trail ride. I could pick it up about twice a day and that was about it. I also felt the suspension wasn’t what I wanted. (His KTM spoiled me) The search was on for a light, small and powerful bike. Enter the CRF150R.

For those that think it’s just a 150….it weighs in at just 183 lbs. and generates nearly 20 hp.

This thing is a wheelie machine! Grown men would steal it away for a lap of the parking area and come back grinning ear to ear. I knew I had a good machine, but she did scare me a bit! I went ahead and bought it, knowing I didn’t have many options in the little bitty bike category.

The bike was still pretty tall for me so first things first; lowered by installing KoubaLink.

Now it’s time to convert it!
First off, I don’t wire things. I’ll tear into anything mechanical, but electrical stuff…..

So what do I do? I find an engineer to do it for me! This was his wiring diagram. (I should have been scared, maybe?)

I was ready to open the crank case and replace the OEM flywheel and stator. I’m a Lego’s kid so I like to have drawings of how it’s supposed to go back together. A piece of cardboard served as a great way to keep track of what bolt came from where.

Got stuck here at 9pm on a Saturday Night with no impact wrench to remove the flywheel:

Naked Sunday morning with her headlights staring at me

OEM flywheel

Weighted flywheel

Trail Tech Battery bag

The now crammed air box

All finished! Ready for the first ride on a gravel road!

Shot of the nice clean brake light.

A little custom touch for my little red wagon…..

GailCallsMeKarl · 10-24-2012, 07:38 PM

Parts List
Koubalink Lowering Link
Trailtech X2 Torch Halogen Headlight
Trailtech DC Stator, Battery
Trailtech Flywheel and puller
Acerbis X-LED Tail Light
K & S Rear Brake Switch
Tugger Strap
Flatland Racing Skid Plate
Trail Tech Kick Stand

The THANK YOU! List
MGorman – Fabulous friend and mentor. He gives me the confidence to ride hard and wrench on my bike without hesitation. First man I met that actually encouraged me to work on my bike and let me wrench.

MuddyRabbit – My parts connection!
MikeF5000 – For always having an opinion and helping with the parts list.
Z@ch – For picking the parts, wiring the bike and for the continued encouragement. I’m so lucky!
Sion – For giving me my rear view mirror. I’ll always think of you looking back…..

itrack · 10-24-2012, 07:53 PM

Awesome bike and great post, really interested in one of these for my sister. We would be dual sporting it as well so please keep this updated.

GailCallsMeKarl · 10-24-2012, 07:56 PM

Thanks! I will! I'm taking this weekend to the Roll The Bones Rally in Hamilton TX so I'll post pics!

blake716 · 10-24-2012, 08:06 PM

I love that bike.

That's exactly what I want to find for my step son.

z@ch · 10-24-2012, 08:13 PM

For the sister, for the son, whatever excuse you need, these bikes rock!

DaveStockwell · 10-24-2012, 08:44 PM

What an incredibly awesome build! My wife's 4'11" and I've been thinking of doing something similar. I love your choices in upgrades.

If/When you decide you want more power or suspension, you might be interested in what the folks at Brown Brother's Racing can do for you. http://www.bbrmotorsports.com/Home/Home.aspx?s=true

Love It!!

itrack · 10-25-2012, 09:42 AM

If your looking for a good dual sport tire that will fit those wheels check out the Shinko 244.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...Rear-Tire.aspx

The Letter J · 10-25-2012, 10:39 AM

Did the +11oz flywheel smooth the power out much? The parking lot ride I took on one of these bikes scared the bejesus outta me, that thing hits like a 2 stroke, not what one would expect from a scoot this size!

If you want the bike even lower, you can swap to the "small" wheels (17" front and 14" rear) and it will drop the bike another 1", probably not worth the trade off offroad, but my small wheel drz125 still gets by. Also, I noticed that the forks are not slid up very much above the top triple clamp, with your 1 3/4" lowering link you can drop the front end of the bike an inch or so with no ill effects.

Looking good so far, I'm looking forward to see what else you do to it and the places you'll take it!

ben2go · 10-25-2012, 10:48 AM

Can those CRFs be legally licensed and tagged for the street?That would be a perfect first bike for my sons.

GI_JO_NATHAN · 10-25-2012, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben2go

Can those CRFs be legally licensed and tagged for the street?That would be a perfect first bike for my sons.

I'll sell you a TTR 125..

ben2go · 10-25-2012, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GI_JO_NATHAN

I'll sell you a TTR 125..

We may have to deal at tax time.

n16ht5 · 10-25-2012, 11:03 AM

this is awesome!!!

GailCallsMeKarl · 10-25-2012, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Letter J

Did the +11oz flywheel smooth the power out much? The parking lot ride I took on one of these bikes scared the bejesus outta me, that thing hits like a 2 stroke, not what one would expect from a scoot this size!

If you want the bike even lower, you can swap to the "small" wheels (17" front and 14" rear) and it will drop the bike another 1", probably not worth the trade off offroad, but my small wheel drz125 still gets by. Also, I noticed that the forks are not slid up very much above the top triple clamp, with your 1 3/4" lowering link you can drop the front end of the bike an inch or so with no ill effects.

Looking good so far, I'm looking forward to see what else you do to it and the places you'll take it!

The new flywheel is WONDERFUL! I had the same issue. I tried repeatedly to get used to the power hit and just never could. And it would stall in a heartbeat if you weren't on the throttle to depart from a stop. The flywheel fixed all of it. I can now ride around in first and work on slow skills like going over logs without worrying about stalling out and the hit is just gone! It will still get squirrely in loose ground but that never bothered me, it was that hit!

I'm actually pretty happy with the height. I just need to get a foot down to stop. The one nice thing about starting off riding these things is that I never have been able to get 2 feet down so I never learned that I couldn't just do it with one.

GailCallsMeKarl · 10-25-2012, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben2go

Can those CRFs be legally licensed and tagged for the street?That would be a perfect first bike for my sons.

Just check with your state DMV on what is required.

And take him up on the TTR125 as the first bike. I would probably not kept riding had this one been my first. She's a torquey bitch.

10-24-2012, 07:37 PM	#1
GailCallsMeKarl ^OP Squirrel w/ no nuts Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Tioga, Texas Oddometer: 625	Shortypants Bike - Converting a CRF 150R into a trail oriented dual sport I am an RFS* chic. (Really F’ing Short) 4’ 11”, 27” inseam. I started riding a little over a year ago. I bought a TTR125 to start trail riding to improve my riding skills. I was lucky enough to find a great friend and teacher in MGorman. I rode and wrecked the TTR until I almost killed her. MGorman gave me the go ahead to move up to bike #2. I have a 230 but it proved to be too big for me to successfully trail ride. I could pick it up about twice a day and that was about it. I also felt the suspension wasn’t what I wanted. (His KTM spoiled me) The search was on for a light, small and powerful bike. Enter the CRF150R. For those that think it’s just a 150….it weighs in at just 183 lbs. and generates nearly 20 hp. This thing is a wheelie machine! Grown men would steal it away for a lap of the parking area and come back grinning ear to ear. I knew I had a good machine, but she did scare me a bit! I went ahead and bought it, knowing I didn’t have many options in the little bitty bike category. The bike was still pretty tall for me so first things first; lowered by installing KoubaLink. Now it’s time to convert it! First off, I don’t wire things. I’ll tear into anything mechanical, but electrical stuff….. So what do I do? I find an engineer to do it for me! This was his wiring diagram. (I should have been scared, maybe?) I was ready to open the crank case and replace the OEM flywheel and stator. I’m a Lego’s kid so I like to have drawings of how it’s supposed to go back together. A piece of cardboard served as a great way to keep track of what bolt came from where. Got stuck here at 9pm on a Saturday Night with no impact wrench to remove the flywheel: Naked Sunday morning with her headlights staring at me OEM flywheel Weighted flywheel Trail Tech Battery bag The now crammed air box All finished! Ready for the first ride on a gravel road! Shot of the nice clean brake light. A little custom touch for my little red wagon….. __________________ There's no point in being alive if you aren't living.* Shortypants Bike: CRF150X GailCallsMeKarl screwed with this post 10-24-2012 at 07:42 PM

10-24-2012, 07:56 PM	#4
GailCallsMeKarl ^OP Squirrel w/ no nuts Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Tioga, Texas Oddometer: 625	Thanks! I will! I'm taking this weekend to the Roll The Bones Rally in Hamilton TX so I'll post pics! __________________ There's no point in being alive if you aren't living. Shortypants Bike: CRF150X

10-24-2012, 08:06 PM	#5
blake716 _____________ Joined: Nov 2008 Location: Baton Rouge, La. Oddometer: 3,499	I love that bike. That's exactly what I want to find for my step son. __________________ _________________________

10-24-2012, 08:44 PM	#7
DaveStockwell Rock Fodder Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Betwix the Cascades and Puget Sound Oddometer: 205	What an incredibly awesome build! My wife's 4'11" and I've been thinking of doing something similar. I love your choices in upgrades. If/When you decide you want more power or suspension, you might be interested in what the folks at Brown Brother's Racing can do for you. http://www.bbrmotorsports.com/Home/Home.aspx?s=true Love It!! __________________ "Yes. It looks insubordinate, but it isn't really." - T.E. Lawrence

10-25-2012, 11:03 AM	#13
n16ht5 ride the night Joined: May 2010 Location: Arlington, WA Oddometer: 1,729	this is awesome!!! __________________ http://whitehorsephotography.net Chronicles of Gnarnia Dust2Dawson

10-24-2012, 07:38 PM	#2
GailCallsMeKarl ^OP Squirrel w/ no nuts Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Tioga, Texas Oddometer: 625	The Details Parts List Koubalink Lowering Link Trailtech X2 Torch Halogen Headlight Trailtech DC Stator, Battery Trailtech Flywheel and puller Acerbis X-LED Tail Light K & S Rear Brake Switch Tugger Strap Flatland Racing Skid Plate Trail Tech Kick Stand The THANK YOU! List MGorman – Fabulous friend and mentor. He gives me the confidence to ride hard and wrench on my bike without hesitation. First man I met that actually encouraged me to work on my bike and let me wrench. MuddyRabbit – My parts connection! MikeF5000 – For always having an opinion and helping with the parts list. Z@ch – For picking the parts, wiring the bike and for the continued encouragement. I’m so lucky! Sion – For giving me my rear view mirror. I’ll always think of you looking back….. __________________ There's no point in being alive if you aren't living. Shortypants Bike: CRF150X GailCallsMeKarl screwed with this post 10-26-2012 at 05:06 AM

10-24-2012, 07:53 PM	#3
itrack Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2012 Location: South Texas Oddometer: 104	Awesome bike and great post, really interested in one of these for my sister. We would be dual sporting it as well so please keep this updated.

10-24-2012, 08:13 PM	#6
z@ch Turn it up to eleven Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Tejas Norte Oddometer: 4,509	For the sister, for the son, whatever excuse you need, these bikes rock!

10-25-2012, 09:42 AM	#8
itrack Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2012 Location: South Texas Oddometer: 104	If your looking for a good dual sport tire that will fit those wheels check out the Shinko 244. http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...Rear-Tire.aspx

10-25-2012, 10:39 AM	#9
The Letter J lost in the 690 mega Joined: Aug 2010 Location: Santa Maria, CA Oddometer: 318	Did the +11oz flywheel smooth the power out much? The parking lot ride I took on one of these bikes scared the bejesus outta me, that thing hits like a 2 stroke, not what one would expect from a scoot this size! If you want the bike even lower, you can swap to the "small" wheels (17" front and 14" rear) and it will drop the bike another 1", probably not worth the trade off offroad, but my small wheel drz125 still gets by. Also, I noticed that the forks are not slid up very much above the top triple clamp, with your 1 3/4" lowering link you can drop the front end of the bike an inch or so with no ill effects. Looking good so far, I'm looking forward to see what else you do to it and the places you'll take it!

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