Making Mods any advice on the installs?

[tedwilley]

Okay, I've been reading all of the good (and bad and misplaced) advice here since before I bought my 250ex two months ago.
Here is what is getting put on over the next ten days, if I can stop riding long enough!

300ex rear shock - hope it will ride smoother

300ex Front shocks - ditto, am going to plan this out a little first
$165 for all 3 shocks on Ebay

HMF full exhaust - loose the lawn mower sound and better breathing $250 on Ebay

Moose power up kit - to complement the exhaust (filters, jets)
$50 on Ebay

Big Gun CDI - small rev increase, but better ignition curve, I hope $99 on Ebay

Following these installs, I'm putting 20x11-9 rear tires (Maxxis, Kendas or Holeshots, can't decide)

I'm also planning on Amstar +2 a-arms with a diamondj shock adapter to adjust my my angles
And +2.5 rear spacers, then I'm finished, at least for this season!

I'm mostly riding at off road parks, and some trails, rarely ride any mx tracks unless they are empty. I am an older guy so I don't want to embarrass myself!


Any one have any good installation tips or advice?

BTW I have always done my own vehicle mods (BMWs, other sportcars) and have almost every hand tool required, just no welder or machining tools.

[klutchbuster250]

everything sounds good exept the dimond jwidening kit since ur geting a arms and im guesing +2 a arms u can adjust the camber on the a arms itself the widening will just widen it and its no good if ur already getting a arms and the 300ex shocks DO NOT FIT THE FRONT OF A 250EX ONLY THE REAR and teh rev box will also increase top speed by a lil and since ur geting 20 inch tires instead of 22 u wil need it i know by experiance my 250 tops out at 50 with 20inch razer but with 22 it sops out at 54-56 but with the rev box ur looking abou tclose to stock speed with smaller tires and i sugest kendas best tires mad and cheapest and last forever if u street ride alot

[tedwilley]

Just to clarify, I was referring to diamondj's shock adapters only, not the whole widening kit. This is only an option if I need to lower the front back down to stock, as the 300ex schocks are slightly longer. I am hoping to use the spring preload adjustment to find a ride height I can live without losing the benefits of the new shocks.

The issue with the fitment of the 300ex front shocks (according to all I have read here and on another active forum) is that the bottom bushing of the 300ex shock is wider than the 250ex shock mount on the spindle. I have verified this. The top bushing fits. The bottom is thicker than the mounts. It is possible to machine .010-0.15 total off of the shock bushing (evenly per side of course). The alternative is to splay the spindle shock brackets and force the shock bushing in. Not a good idea.

Your comment about tire size and gearing is what I had figured, but the rev box should compensate as you stated.
I am hoping by going to the 20's I would definitively get rid of the stock 250's tendency to lift its inside rear wheel during slides.
I find hanging my old butt clear out onto the inside fender too demeaning!
Thanks for the feedback!

[klutchbuster250]

o kool let me know how the 300 shocks work on the front and that would be better than spending 300 or 500 on shocks and yea with teh 20 the inside tire stays planted nicely have fun let me know how it turns out

[BlasterEaten250]

The only thing I would say is that if you are not an aggressive rider and under 150 pounds or so, I would look for options other than the 300ex rear shock. I am about 165 and am very aggressive, and it works great for me, but it might be on a little bit of the stiff side if you dont ride as hard. Now my dad is around 200, (he doesn't ride hard at all) and he also says the shock is great.

Between the tires, I would say the Kenda Klaws, I have razr's and my dad and brother both have klaws on their 400's, and I have to admit the klaws seem a bit better.

Good luck and by the way, what year is your 250?

[mx825]

will a 300ex shock fit on the back without drilling and washers and crap?

[tedwilley]

Width wise at the bushings, the 300ex will fit. You need to add two flat washers on either side at the top mount. The shock should not have more play than it needs to pivot.
The bottom mount looks about right, and according to other posts, it will fit without washers. However, the bottom bushing requires a 12mm bolt. Stock is 10mm, so yes you have to drill out the stock mounting holes on the bottom, and use a shoulder bolt (one with threads only on the end, not where it goes through the shock bushing) and a lock washer and nut to secure the new shock. Locktite is a given.
When I actually mount the shocks, I'll post what sizes and such, gotta go to Hollister and ride!

[Conman007]

I want to see pictures when your done.

[mx825]

same here dude, i want to see it when you're done.

[tedwilley]

Well, now I have an electrical problem. Won't start or even light the neutral light. Didn't see anything obvious, and it ruined my day at Hollister Hills. I chose to drink some beer and look at it tomorrow.
After it is running I'll start the mods. As I mentioned previously, my past practices for modding any vehicle is to do it in stages and benchmark what each change is doing and sort out any issue before adding another variable. If you don't change everything at one time and then have some issues, it makes it easier to diagnose,
'What was the last thing I did before it quick running?' is my motto.
I plan to do the rear shock first, then have a quick ride, I have a couple of rocky/rough areas I can go to after work. After I see how that feels and effect handling, I'll get started on the fronts.
I should be getting my HMF/filters/jets between the rear shock install and doing the fronts. It will hard to resist adding those on and testing the ex!

BlasterEaten250 - It is a 2007, I am 5-11 ~200#. The stock suspension beats me up on most trail rides.