2000 CR 250 Stock Suspension Settings

[inf0r]

I kinda looked around, but didn't find this exactly. Can someone look up in a 2000 manual if they have one what the stock settings are for fork rebound/compression and the shock rebound compression.

Also should the forks be flush with triple tree or lowered slightly? I put a pair of moose 1piece bars on it - modem was cr low. I dunno what i've done wrong, but I don't feel like I have any control of this bike. I measured them and they are 1in longer than the stock bars. Maybe its the bend, but it won't turn for anything really. Any experience with this? Im about to take them off and put stock back on, but $65 i would think they would be worth it.

[The Baron]

Bars aren't going to change the handling or suspension of the bike. If they are wider or the wrong bend they will put you in a poor rider position. You can cut the bars down at the ends to narrow them if you want. I'd start 1/4" at a time on each side.

I always run my forks 5mm up in the clamps on pretty much every bike that I've owned. As far as clicker settings, I don't know what stock is but a good middle of the road starting point is:

100mm race sag
Forks: Compression 14 out
Rebound 10 out

Shock: Compression 12 out
Rebound 10 out

Make sure that you set the sag before you do anything. Also make sure that you release whatever air pressure is in the forks.

[ossagp1]

I am curious, did your handling all seem to change with just the bar change?

stock in the factory service manual says
compression 12 clicks out from full in (don't twist hard, just feel it bottom out)
rebound 14 clicks from full in.

Did you perhaps change anything on the rear of the bike?

[inf0r]

Here is a link to the bars I have [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

They have CR-lo and CR-hi options. I didn't really know what i wanted to I got cr-lo. The new clamps also raise the bars slightly.

I bought this bike and rebuilt it, it needed a lot of motor work. I got new bars, grips, levers, throttle tube. suspension - both forks and shock completely redone by local shop. My friend has a 2001 CR250 with stock bars. I rode his and the handling was just way different. After riding mine he said he also noticed the handling a little goofy. It's simply no fun to ride and i don't feel like i have control over it. The bars are really nice, but I'll take them off if they are causing the problem.

thanks for suspension info, I have it setup middle of the road pretty much. If anyone have any insight on the handling, bars question I appreciate it.

Dan

[ossagp1]

Earth to Dan!!

I would love to help you along here, my son has the same bike, it is pretty identical to the 2001.

I still can't tell if you actually rode it before the bars and liked the handling. If you can't remember let me know, and I will quit asking.

[inf0r]

Sorry bout that, No I did not ride it before changing the bars out. I bought the bike, the bars were bent. I went through the whole bike replacing as needed. I am comparing it to a 2001 CR250 with stock bars.

[ossagp1]

If you like the way the 01 works, the first thing that I would do is to see what the preload, ride height or whatever you like to call it is with you on it. Baron calls it race sag. I never liked that term since people who don't race tend to read right past it sometimes. (He races so it is a daily term.)

Are you familiar with how to set that and determine whether the spring is too soft for you?

[inf0r]

Yep. I'm pretty sure the suspension is right on. I spent like $500 on a complete suspension rebuild for forks and shock. new fork springs, all fluid and seals replaced. The shope said stock is setup for about 165lb to 175lb rider, im more like 185lb so he adjusted it slightly. I think its just the damn bars, but its hard to believe. would the bend on the cr hi make that much difference?

[ossagp1]

I guess I disagree with the part about the suspension being setup right. We have two complete suspensions for my son's bike. One a custom set up, and one the stock. With the preload set right for him either work well in the control dept. One just works better for him on the bumps. (Not for me though.) It may just be the bars, but Tyler has CR Lows from ProTaper on his. Just do some checking on the preload and the positioning on the one you like and see what that brings you.

For moto he likes about 97-98 mm of sag on harder packed surfaces and 105 or so on soft with long straights, about what he settled on for high speed sand.

[ossagp1]

Oh, the one thing we havent discussed is tires and air pressure. compare what your friend's bike has to yours. that can be a whole world of difference in control on some surfaces.

[inf0r]

My tires are slightly lower than my friends. He runs like 20psi and im prolly 15-18psi. I really feel the handling problem is with in the front end with the turning of the bike. Either the forks or the bars or the tire. I lean toward the bars because its a major handling problem, not a problem I notice on high speed turns. Only thing I know to do is put on some stock bars and see. The forks were flush with the triple tree so I changed them to about 3-5mm out and I didn't notice any difference. Any additional ideas appreciated.

Dan

[ossagp1]

the back end has more than you seem to realize to do with turning. less sag on the back puts more weight on the front. so does moving your back axle.

set the sag as his is for comparisons.

you both seem high on tire pressure for offroad to me. 12-15 lbs being what lots of us run.