Adventure/dual sport bike for a very short gal

[Transalper]

See Transalper!
Trade the CRF230 on a 230L and you won't have to trailer it

Believe me they have caught my eye.
Have also been considering on and off the mods to make mine road legal.
Modding mine may still be cheeper vs a trade.
Then there's the bit where it would all mean an ongoing cost of extra REGO each year etc etc.

Maybe koubalink.com has something or procircuit.com

I believe it's a koubalink they are waiting for.

[timg]

I believe it's a koubalink they are waiting for.

Yup, ordered it when we ordered the bike. Bike arrived first.

[timg]

The Hobbits bike has clocked up just over 1000km mostly commuting from Rolly to central Chch, with a couple of runs home via the Summit Road/Dyers Pass Road.

When we ordered the bike we also ordered a lowering link from koubalink.com which arrived about a fortnight after the bike. $190 to the front door. It looks like a well finished quality item. Fitting was a breeze and should take about 15 minutes to remove and convert it back to standard ride height should I want to go out to play on it. It is fine for me commuting lowered. The link lowers it 38mm in the back and we've slid the forks up 30mm. With the thickest soled boots we could find Debbie can get just get enough toe on the ground to feel secure. 30mm in the forks sounds a lot but we've been running a 10mm blob of blue-tack under the guard and it hasn't been knocked of yet despite some determined attempts so I'm figuring it's ok.

The bike does 100kmh on a flat road commute and tops out at about 118 with a bit of a run up. However XF650, Nigelp & I went on a wee ride up around Coleridge yesterday and the bikes performance was disappointing on the way there. Heading up the plains with a light crosswind and bulky wet weather gear on the bike had difficulty pulling and maintaining 100kmh. Not good news as we intended this to be a miniature adventure bike for Debbie and it failed it's first test in the real world. On the shingle roads around Coleridge it was in it's element and is a sweet handling wee bike happy at 90-95kmh. On the way home (down hill) it was cruising at 100 kmh easily.

Next step will be trying to free up some upper end power - exhaust, jetting and airbox mods and see what result we get.

We were trying to get a Suzuki 250 Grass Tracker perviously but none of the local importers could source one for us after several months of trying. Murphys law and 4 of the bloody things turn up on TradeMe a week after we buy the CRF Any way we have got a Grass Tracker coming to run alongside the CRF and will keep which ever seems to suit best. Should be fun

1 Kouba link fitted
2 Raised forks
3 Hobbit on her bike. Tiny eh?
4 Grass Tracker

[NordieBoy]

The link lowers it 38mm in the back and we've slid the forks up 30mm. With the thickest soled boots we could find Debbie can get just get enough toe on the ground to feel secure. 30mm in the forks sounds a lot but we've been running a 10mm blob of blue-tack under the guard and it hasn't been knocked of yet despite some determined attempts so I'm figuring it's ok.

My XR250 has a 21" front wheel instead of the 23" and the rear shocks are 2cm longer than stock.
I'm effectivly trying to race a bike in cross countries and MX that's been lowered 5cm through the clamps. No wonder it feels twitchy
The CRF shold feel nicely planted with the back lowered more than the front.
My brothers g/f put shorter springs in the front of hers.

Next step will be trying to free up some upper end power - exhaust, jetting and airbox mods and see what result we get.

Have you seen Super Hunkys CRF230 hot-up articals?

http://dirtbike.off-road.com/dirtbik...tegoryId=46424

There's 26 odd episodes in the hot-up

[Rosie]

Thanks for the update
The grass tracker looks like a cool little bike

[Transalper]

Picture number 3, where's she looking? I'm not sure but eyes up, eyes up I say!

[Queen of the Hobbits]

Picture number 3, where's she looking? I'm not sure but eyes up, eyes up I say!

You mean like this? Cheeky sod!

[XF650]

1st bike, 1st post & great reply.
Welcome to KB Debs, but have you cleaned the CRF yet?

[timg]

Have you seen Super Hunkys CRF230 hot-up articals?

http://dirtbike.off-road.com/dirtbik...tegoryId=46424

There's 26 odd episodes in the hot-up

Yup, seen that thanks Nordie. Unfortunately there's not much thats interchangeable between the 230F & 230L, but the basic principal is there. There's a couple of threads on Thumper Talk dealing with 230L mods which is quite informative. Cheers, T.

[helenoftroy]

You mean like this? Cheeky sod!

Hey great to see you on here Debbie!!
Atta girlgotta keep those cheeky ones in line

[tri boy]

Hi Tim,
I will be interested to hear about the comparrison between the CRF n Tracker.
I'm picking the suspension package on the Honda will win the day, as twin shock systems seem to struggle off road. (Kanny's Volty is cool, and handles gravel, but something like the Sherpa/DT/CRF might be better).
Oh, happy trails Hobbit Queen.

[Transalper]

You mean like this? Cheeky sod!

Ah, a conveniently placed stick.
like that, round and round we go.
Welcome to the site.

[NordieBoy]

Yup, seen that thanks Nordie. Unfortunately there's not much thats interchangeable between the 230F & 230L, but the basic principal is there. There's a couple of threads on Thumper Talk dealing with 230L mods which is quite informative. Cheers, T.

The engines are not the same?

[timg]

The engines are not the same?

Yes, same engine, just 'detuned', different cams, different carb, different gear ratios (taller), different airbox, different exhaust (F exhaust won't fit), different frame, different tank, different seat, different rear shock and linkages etc etc. The CRF230L is actually what has been sold in Japan for several years as a XR230. It looks similar to a CRF230F but is a significantly different bike. Cheers.

[NordieBoy]

The XR name has a proud heritage as does the CR and I hate to see how they are using CRF as a marketing tool.

But aside from that...
I wouldn't mind a 230L or even 250L as a road legal trailey.