Rear Suspension - Honda CR250R 2004 Owner's Manual

After setting the spring preload to obtain the proper
Race Sag, the suspension should sag 0.39 to 0.98 in
(10 to 25 mm) from the weight of the sprung portion
of the bike alone.
If after setting the spring preload (Race Sag) the bike
sags more than 0.98 in (25 mm) in the rear under just
its own weight, the spring is too stiff for your weight. In
this case, the spring is not compressed enough, when
the proper Race Sag can be attained, to allow the
suspension to extend far enough on its own.
A spring that's too soft for your weight requires so
much preload to achieve the proper Race Sag that it
makes the rear end top-out when the rider dismounts.
If the spring rate is too soft, you have to put a lot of
preload on the spring to keep the desired ride height, or
Race Sag. As a result, the weight transfer is incorrect
and the rear end tops-out under even light braking and
on downhills.
Many people think that these soft or stiff spring indica-
tions mean the opposite. But when you take into ac-
count the effect of spring preload adjustments and the
necessity of the correct Race Sag dimension, it is easier
to understand.
A spring that's too firm does not allow the rear tire to
hook up under acceleration and passes more of the
bumps on to the rider.
Both lighter and heavier than standard springs are
available for the shock and fork from your authorized
Honda dealer. The need for a stiffer or softer than
standard shock spring may require the installation of
optional rate fork springs as well in order to maintain
proper front/rear suspension balance. These and other
components are listed in the Optional Parts section of
this manual.
Keep in mind that a properly adjusted suspension
system may bottom very slightly at least once per lap
at full racing speed. This knowledge, combined with
these adjustment guidelines and those on damping
adjustment provided elsewhere in this manual, will
give you a suspension system that's adjusted as well as
any factory rider's motocrosser.

REAR SUSPENSION

Shock Adjustment
The rear shock should be adjusted for the rider's weight
and track conditions.
NOTE:
•
If your CR is new, put enough part-throttle break-in
time (about one hour) on it to ensure that the
suspension has worked in.
1. Place a workstand under the engine to raise the rear
wheel off the ground.
2. Loosen the connecting tube clamp screw and re-
move the rear subframe's three mounting bolts,
then remove the subframe. See page 19.
3. Check that the spring preload is adjusted to the
standard length. Adjust as necessary by loosening
the lock nut and turning the adjusting nut. Pin
spanners should be used for turning the lock nut
and adjusting nut. See page 9 for optional pin
spanners.
Spring preload length (Standard spring)
Standard: 10.19 in (259 mm)
Min.: 9.92 in (252 mm)
Spring preload length (Optional spring)
Min. (Softer, 4.9 kgf/mm): 9.84 in (250 mm)
Min. (Stiffer, 5.3 kgf/mm): 9.88 in (251 mm)
Min. (Stiffer, 5.5 kgf/mm): 9.80 in (249 mm)
NOTE:
•
Each complete turn of the adjusting nut changes
the spring length by 1/16 in (1.5 mm).
2 1
3
(1) ADJUSTING NUT (3) PIN SPANNER
(2) LOCK NUT (4) SPRING LENGTH
4
53