front forks on crf230

[Blue Hawaii]

The front wheel on the CRF230F has a smaller axle than the CR125. You will have to use the wheel that is used for the forks that you buy, i.e. CR125 forks=CR125 wheel.

BTW... The CRF230F uses 26x47 bearings top and bottom. There are at least 25 different Honda models that share the same bearing top and bottom, Out of all of those, only 4 are upside down forks:



If you find something on eBay that works out for you then buy it. Some will need a modified stem due to the length.

I found a set of 1997 CR125R USD forks, triples and front wheel (with fresh seals) for less than $180 shipped here to Hawaii. The CR125R stem is too large in diameter for the CRF230F's bearing races, so I bought a stem from a 1984 CR500R (see chart) that is the same size. A bushing has to be made to press fit the CR500R stem into the CR125R lower triple clamp, and another loose fit bushing is needed for the top clamp as well. On my particular set up, I also machined a 15mm thick spacer to take up the gap between the CRF230's top dust seal and the locking nut under the CR125's top triple clamp.

I'm into all the "new" parts and labor for $275 (CR125 Forks, stem and clamps, front wheel ~ and ~ CR500 stem and clamps ~ and ~ all the machine work of pressing out, pressing back in, bushings and spacers, new bearing and dust seals)

I've sold my CRF230F forks, triples and front wheel for $322, so I have a new, "upgraded" suspension for -$47.00!

With the money left over, I found a set of RaceTech Delta Valves for $35.00 shipped.

I think if I didn't care about money, and thought that the CRF230F was worthy of sinking large dollars into, then I would have sprung for newer CR250/500 forks and purchased the Emig stem and bushing. That way it would have been done a lot sooner, and I wouldn't had to have spent so much freaking time with all the mental masturbation trying to figure all this stuff out, but, that is the exact point of this whole process ~ to take on a project for project's sake.

As you can see, the stock CRF230F and the CR125R clamps are worlds apart.


My first thought was to machine the CR125R's stem to the same diameter as the CRF230F's, but that meant removing over 20% of the wall thickness. Not safe.


So I purchased a CR500R stem and mocked up the proper size spacer to be made.


Lower press fit bushing with dog screw.



Upper 15mm spacer. Looks more like "factory" than a bunch of washers.


Top upper clamp bushing.



I had to remove a small amount of the press fit area on the lower part of the CR500's stem to match the thickness of the CR125's clamp.


I will post more photos when I find where my camera is at...


_________________
2005 CRF230F
2006 CRF100F
2005 CRF70F
2005 YZF600R
2008 EX250R

[chillyengineer]

Thanks for the very informative reply ,i got some cr125 forks /clamps/front wheel etc but they were that poor i havent gone with it ,im sooo pissed with the seller ive stalled on this for now