growth hormones for crf150?

[Dirty Dave]

Has anyone tried to turn the crf 150 into a full size bike i.e. 21" front wheel and 18" rear. I can see that the swing arm needs to be swapped. The Honda sales guy says the 150/230 frame is the same so in theory the rider position should be the same. My wife is 5' 10/11" and her TTR 125 LE is just too small. When she sits in the proper spot on the seat (butt over the pegs) her knees are almost to the front of the shrouds. :yikes: She has taken a couple of falls because she couldn't get to the brakes or shifter properly.
Bike weight is a big issue to her so anything like the 230 is out. :bang: I just want to make sure she stays interested in riding because we have a great time out on the easier trails/jeep roads. :cool:

 

[Vic]

According to Honda's published figures, the 230 only weighs 15 lbs. more than the 150. The bigger wheels and swingarm probably account for the difference, so if you put them on a 150, you'll have a 150 that weighs as much as the 230, but has less power.

 

[firecracker22]

If she's 5'10" or more, why not just get her a CRF250? I'm 5'7" and I feel cramped on the smaller bikes ... My old XR200 felt tiny once I tried a fullsize for the first time. Not only the seat height, but the footpeg-to-seat measurement and the handlebars too will fit her better. 5'10" is way too tall for a small bike.

 

[highmileage]

A possibly more viable issue is to spend approximately $225 and get the BBR triple clamps and rear dog bone. It will raise the bike approximately 1 inch. Add a set of tall bars, tall seat foam from Guts racing, and a set of Fastway pegs, for another $200.00.

For less than $450.00, you will get her some height, ground clearance, and open up the rider cockpit. Hope this helps.

 

[firecracker22]

Not sure about a BBR dogbone. Clamps are $200, swingarm $450, and it'll STILL be cramped. My point was that at 5'7" if I'm cramped on a TTR, she must feel way hunched over! I'd love to be 5'10"!

 

[Dirty Dave]

Not sure about a BBR dogbone. Clamps are $200, swingarm $450, and it'll STILL be cramped. My point was that at 5'7" if I'm cramped on a TTR, she must feel way hunched over! I'd love to be 5'10"!

Firecracker, you hit the nail on the head. It wasn't that bad when she first started ridiing again because she always sat down no matter how rough the trail. Now after getting more comfy with riding she know standing is better to cruise through the bumps but... her standing on the TTR is almost comical (but I dare not say it, she'd never touch the bike again). I was looking at the used KTM 200 EXC also.
Thanks to all for the info/advice. :cool:
Firecracker, I'm glad she's 5'10" but that's for a different forum :debil:

 

[firecracker22]

How aggressive a rider is she? If you guys are doing fire roads, she wouldn't get her money's worth out of a KTM. However, it might be SO MUCH better that she'd go after the tougher trails.

(on a side note, I think significant others often sell their wives/girlfriends short ... by worrying too much about what they can handle, they make the gal think she can't ... but that's just a general observation I've made)

Personally, I think the KDX200 is gold for anyone tall enough to ride it. Zippy enough to have fun, smooth enough to feel comfortable, upgradeable as she progresses, and while it's heavy, it's not like the overweight little thumpers. Either that or a YZF or CRF 250 would get my vote for her. She'll get used to the height and weight, and it will undoubtably improve her riding experience. The standing-to-sitting transition on a small bike is not only uncomfortable but tiring as well. I used to work for BBR and took one of their aluminum 150s to the track along with my 200 a few times. It's kinda fun, but I felt more sketchy than I do on my fullsize bike. If I was 5'3" it'd be different.

Line up some buddies with bikes in the range you are considering and have her try them out, get a feel for whether she wants to switch to two-stroke (recommended--I LOVE IT!!) or stick with thumpers.

 

[ledkat]

Hi!
I've got a CRF150 (175 now!) that has had nearly everything done to it that BBR has to offer (except the aluminum frame, $$$, :yikes: OUCH!). I am 5'9" and it is still way too small for me. My first bike was a TTR250, but found that the height/weight was intimidating as a begginer. Now that I have ridden a few years I am looking into another full size. CRF250X, WRF250, and KDX200 are all options I am looking at.
If I could invent a bike I would put the TTR250 on a diet. The power was perfect for me, and now I would be okay with the height, but 30-40lbs lighter would be nice! I am a bit intimidated to go to a CRF/WRF250 because it is such a huge jump in power.
Is it that the manufacturers CAN'T make a mid-power/lightweight/fullsize bike (4strk pref), or that they just aren't? Come on, I'd love to be able to lift 250lbs in riding boots, in the mud :laugh: , but most of the time the CRF150 is enough for me to lift.

 

[SpeedyManiac]

I would look at moving her to a KDX200 or CRF250X.