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I am getting a crf for my 14 yr old son and just bought and need to pick up the 230 for myself. Did I make a mistake at being 6'3" and 250 lbs? Am just getting back into riding after 20 years. I want to do some trail riding. Used to have a cr 125.
Also am considering to make it street legal here in NJ if possible. I know I'll have to get light kit and tires. I don't know how tough NJ is though.
Thanks for input.

Did you already buy it?? At 250lbs you are WAY too big for that bike unless your just going to "putt" around. If you can i would buy the crf250x. The 250x suspension can handle your weight.

The height isnt so much the problem, but you're about 100lbs over the ideal rider weight. My manual even says "WARNING max weight limit 230lbs"

I wouldnt be surprised if the shocks came close to bottoming out under your weight alone.

But like was said above...im sure it will still carry you around fine, (gonna need some heavy duty shocks though) aslong as youre not worried about going anywhere fast.

Steppenwccr wrote:The height isnt so much the problem, but you're about 100lbs over the ideal rider weight. My manual even says "WARNING max weight limit 230lbs"

I wouldnt be surprised if the shocks came close to bottoming out under your weight alone.

That might be a problem too when you go to stand up. I think you'll be hunched over. I'm only 5'11'' and 3/4 and i had to put bar risers and a hi bend bar to keep from hunching over abit.

I just picked it up. It was a quick ebay purchase. I will just put-put around I guess. Haven't tried it yet. Maybe tomorrow I'll get a chance. Yes, I noticed ita squatted when sitting on bike, but it was already purchased. What can I do about the rear shocks? at what cost? I've read that the fork oil can be changed to help on the front end somewhat.
Thanks!

you can shim and/or put heavier oil in the forks,
but if you havent bought your son his bike yet, i'd say give him the 230
he'll outgrow it in a year or two

If your situtation dictates that you must keep this bike; it can be made to work for your weight and height for about $350 more.

BBR makes springs for both the forks and rear shock that are more suited for your weight. I believe they are about $80 for each set. You do not necessarily have to change the fork oil as long as you purchase a fork spring with a suitable rating (Joker also makes springs for this bike).

You can get a triple clamp that will raise your bars 1" to 1 & 1/2" higher than stock. This should help when standing, so you will not be as "hunched" over.

If you are into trail riding, you will love this bike, because it is durable and rather low maintainance. If you are looking for power and bragging rights, you will want to move up to a bigger bike.

I own one of these and a 450X; am similar in height and weight and still ride it on occasion, as I still enjoy it from time to time.

I just bought a crf230 and I am 230 lbs. It is a 2005 and already had the BBR springs, front and rear, power-up kit, fork brace and a few other small things.

I use it to ride with my 5 year old. He is just learning on his 50cc quad and this bike is perfect for me. It allows me to putt around at 3 mph but is also capable of hauling me at a pretty good pace. It has nice torque just off idle, but dies a bit on the top.

Like I said, it is exactly what I needed -- putt around after my son, electric start and will also handle small jumps, even at my 230 lbs. I also have not ridden dirtbikes before -- I had a quad back in my youth. I do ride on the street and have for 15+ years.

The previous owner told me the new springs made a big difference. I have bottomed out the fronts on a few jumps, but only because I didn't land right.

Anyway -- Like I said -- I love this damn thing!

I'm 6'2", bought a CRF230 and realized very quickly that I was too big for the bike. I'm not saying that you can't ride it and have fun, but its definitely a small bike for a large frame. My new 250X fits me fine now sizewise and performancewise without having to upgrade everything to make it a bigger and better bike. Just my $0.02 for whoever reads this in the future.

Purchased the 150 for my son and the 230 for myself. Both used, but in very good shape. The 150 has a Pro-cuit pipe. The 150 is pretty peppy. It also has Renthal handlebars which feel better for my large frame than the stock bars on the 230.
The 230 is ok. I'm pleased with both after our first trail ride outing. My son is just learning, but is catching onto the clutch, shifting, & corridating the brakes, etc. At my size and weight for the 230, (250 and 6'3"). I'm ok for now. The knowledge that I can upgrade the shock springs and heighten the handlebars is great. I may do that in the future, as I am no longer the racer wannabe at the age of 50. Though I remember fondly the quickness of my old CR125.
Thanks so much for the imput from all of you. Smooth riding to you all...or bumpy if that is what you want!

You are not to big for a 230. Ihave one and im 16 years old 6'1 240 and it has plenty of power. I had my friend ride beside me and he was doin 60 and could not keep up with me. I would like to get a 450 but its not because its underpowered its just personal preference.

6'3" and over 250(just had the annual physical) and am enjoying the 230 just fine. I just do the trail riding with very little gravel pitriding with little jumps and hills. Bike is great fun. I enjoy the power that it offers. I would like to have more at time, but certainly don't want a heavier bike... or to spend more money. My son enjoys the 150f!

I have not ridden in over 20 years, and I just got my 230; so far, I am very pleased (I am 5'11-250lbs). I know I will not win any races, but I ride just for the fun of it and have not ran out of power yet. Also, it might be that the prior owner had already done most of the 'power up' mods I have been reading about on this forum. Just my opinion, but so far having a great time pretending I am young again and re-learning about trail riding.

My 12 year old son just bought a crf100f and I picked up a crf230f to ride along with him as he learns. 30 years ago I was big into dirt bikes and had an xr250r that I really liked. At 6'1" and 200 lbs if all we were doing was trail riding, the 230f would be fine. I bought it figuring it had more displacement than my old xr and more suspension travel, and I wanted the simple air cooled maintenance I was used to from when I was a kid, but on our first joint outing we went to a MX park and my old riding skills came back pretty fast. I was bottoming out on jumps pretty easily and feeling the power drop off at the top end. The next day I started looking for a 4 stroke with more capable suspension and am picking up a crf250x I found this weekend if it checks out OK. For the difference in price between what I can sell this 230f for and what I can buy the 250x for its not worth it to throw a few hundred at the 230f even though I know the 250x is going to have higher running costs and need more maintenance. I work on Porsches as a hobby so not too worried about the occasional valve shimming and top end rebuild work I'll need to do on the 250x for the upgrade in power and ride. The one I'm looking at already has the airbox mod, FMF pipe and has been rejetted. I liked my 230f for the 6 hours I've ridden it but can tell I should have done more research before deciding that was the right one.

Don't get me wrong though - the 230F can be a lot of fun and if I was just doing trail riding, I'd keep it.
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Hi petza914 and welcome to the site.
You will love 250x but if your son is 12 it will be less than a year before he wants to ride it as well. Well that's what fathers normally find.
My son had progressed to 250R before he turned 13 and picked up a KTM200EXC because it was faster and you can't not love a 2 stroke zing.

How is your sons fit for the 230.
It maybe better to keep the 230 unless you're thinking about a 450 in your future.

Dirt bikes are a disease after all.