• Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Sweden - About 1988 and older

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1980 Frame with 1983 Front Forks...same travel?

Fox

Fox

Husqvarna
I'm helping a friend put back together a 1980 WR250 with what I believe is the stock Ohlines on the rear and 1983 CR250 Front forks. When the bike was together the suspension was soft in the rear but the bike seemed to ride like a chopper and he claimed wouldn't turn well (as you would guess).
I was sending the shocks off to be rebuilt and possibly lengthened but the Ohines guy asked me if the stock 1980 forks had the same length and travel as the 1983 forks it has now??? Anyone know? He thinks they were the same with just larger diameter tubes...
Thanks in advance for any help...image.jpg
 
83 forks will have alot more travel then the 80, but that shouldn't make a difference , just pull the forks up the triple clamps further. The stock 80 WR shocks should be 15" vs around 18" of the 83, so you should have 2"-3" longer tubes, then the 80, besides the larger diameter. You didn't say what he's using the bike for VMX?

Depending on what his doing with the bike, you can pull longer then stock shocks & not screw up the steering. I have a 80 390CR with suspension upgrades...longer shocks & 82 forks

I just looked & according to the 80 WR brochure the fork travel is 9.5" & 11.8" for 83 CR forks....Husky John
 
Fox, measure the length of your ohlins you have they may not be what came on your bike .wr as a general rule of thumb has shorter travel than a cr .
I upgraded my 79 wr to 84 wr forks and added a longer spacer on the bottom of the ohlins shock bracket the eye part. You will need to slide the forks up in the triples make sure the front tire does not bottom out and you will need the angled handle bar clamps so they wont hit the bars.
Hope this helps.shock bracket.JPGfork 1.JPG
 
You will need to use the WR length damper rods in the 83 40 mm forks, if you just slide the forks up in the tubes the front tire will start hitting the fender. Dangerous!
 
even better, use the wr dampers and the shorter fork sliders from the 83 wr and it should match nicely with no drama.
 
suprize said:
even better, use the wr dampers and the shorter fork sliders from the 83 wr and it should match nicely with no drama.
Click to expand...
All ofThe 84 WR's and AE all had the shorter fork sliders and the 83 125WR also. The 83 250,430,500CR/XC/WR plus 125CR/XC all used the same longer slider. So if you look for the shorter slider it would be easier to find if you look for the 84 models. Hope this helps.
Marty
 
The '83 125WR did not get the shorter sliders, I have one and its got 9.5" damper rods with long sliders, they did not come out until the '84s. He does not need the slider, just put the shorter damper rod in the longer slider.
 
Kartwheel68 said:
The '83 125WR did not get the shorter sliders, I have one and its got 9.5" damper rods with long sliders, they did not come out until the '84s. He does not need the slider, just put the shorter damper rod in the longer slider.
Click to expand...
I was starting to question that myself although the 83 parts book shows the 83 125WR had them part # 151239301. Maybe a mistake in the manual, I'm not sure. Doesn't really matter, Just look for the 84 WR forks. And I also agree just use the shorter dampening rods in the 40mm forks.
 
I don't know the differences but I picked up a few pairs of 500cr forks from '86 & '87 with the master cylinder/caliper/hose assemblies with the front disc wheel. I'm not sure of the fork travel nor the fork springs being stronger. Where can I find the info on the forks? I'm thinking the cr500 would have more travel?
 
Bigbill said:
I don't know the differences but I picked up a few pairs of 500cr forks from '86 & '87 with the master cylinder/caliper/hose assemblies with the front disc wheel. I'm not sure of the fork travel nor the fork springs being stronger. Where can I find the info on the forks? I'm thinking the cr500 would have more travel?
Click to expand...


1987-88 Owners Manual has an excellent section on the front forks and how to service, also get a parts manual for the 1987 or 88, it shows the break down with part #'s. Parts, Service/Work shop Manuals are your friend and savior.
 
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