85 250R - 2" or 4" Extended Swingarm?

[BENCH]

I have a 1985 250R with a Selvys pipe. While I love doing wheelies, it is a pain keeping the front end down while climbing a dune. Is a 2" extended swingarm enough (noticeable) or should I run a 4"? I dune mostly with the occasional drag race. I mainly ride in Glamis or Pismo.
Thanks.

[CeaserTheThird]

Welcome to the boards- I have a + 2 on mine and works awesome + 4 would be the most i would go.


Please post some pictures of your 250R .

Keep us Posted !

[FlyingW]

I have 4 3/4 on both of my Rs and it made a huge difference for me. One of my Rs had a descent hit and the front was always trying to come up but not so much after the swinger stretch.

[Dammit!]

I ride Glamis as well and run a +2. I didn't think it made a real big difference until the last trip when I hopped on somebody else's R that had a stock swinger. Huge difference between mine with the +2 westcoast and his with the stocker. I can control the front end now where before it was a constant battle.

I've ridden 250's with a +6 before and felt like it was too long. I think a +4 is the absolute longest I would go on a 250. More than that is overkill on anything but a high powered big bore.

[wild200x]

i am at almost 5" the front stays down. i ride very steep dunes. love it! i have a plus 4" on another and it stays down as well. i have never tried shorter but plan to on my next. cant speak on wheelies as i dont do them much. i need to learn some day...but maybe i am to old.

[NOS_350X]

I got a +4 on my R and it comes up with ease with paddles. I think a 6 might fit better for the dunes, Its just a ported stock cyl. I woudnt even want to think about riding my bike with a stocker.

[HondaATC500X]

I rode Hall's +6 when we were at Gordons. It had been a while (few years) since I'd spent any time on something with an extended arm (and I had never been in sand before) but with the +6 it was definitely a bit harder to throw the rear end around compared to what I'm use to. I did get use to it though after just a few hours of seat time. If you want the front to stay planted all the time, go with a +6, and if you want to be able to bring it up and play around a little bit, anywhere from a +2 to a +4 is probably a happy medium.

[Mr. Richard]

i also run a +6 and i love it!!! with the right powerband you can still wheelie with ease... i would never go any shorter for duning,,, :D :D :D

[wild200x]

so, as you can see, there are alot of right answers...or are they wrong answers...hmmm at least we can all agree that an extention is good!

[NINJA]

I've always been an advocate of a +2 swinger on the R if you ride many different types of terrain and also play on the track. The only place it really sucks is on the ice, where you need all your weight right above the rear tires.
If my machine was solely dedicated for dunes, I'd be running a plus 4-6.

[co 250r man]

i run a +3 and it is great can slide wheelie and still feels really stable

[jadleybray]

If your dedicated to the dunes, you can dune a much longer swinger than most think. But, alot will depend on your riding style also, as much as motor tune. Since you said you mostly dune AND occasional drag race, I say start at a 6 over tops. If your tuned in well, you will be able to lift the front IF you want to.

[BENCH]

The +2 swingarm I am looking at uses the 1986 carrier, how much of a hassle is it to change over?

[tm0n3y]

i also run a +6 and i love it!!! with the right powerband you can still wheelie with ease... i would never go any shorter for duning,,, :D :D :D


I agree totally with MR. Kasey!! I run a +6 and love it... it takes a couple hours to get use to it but once u do its awesome!! A well tuned bike will bring the front up and still be fun!!

[Duner]

i also run a +6 and i love it!!! with the right powerband you can still wheelie with ease... i would never go any shorter for duning,,, :D :D :D

no question +6 is the shortest I would go..

Jadleybrey is also correct, for Oregon sand, I duned my +10 for over a year and just ask the 450 quads how well I kept up...or they had to chance me thru the trails. Its like anything, your riding style can be groomed in very little time for your bike.

[NOS_350X]

BENCH, I would like to invite you to join us in Pismo this summer, We got a ride going on there 17-18 of July. Check out the Local rides section for more information.

[wild200x]

i have an 8 over 85 R swinger if your intrested...to long for my tastes...

[boosted96cobra]

I run a +6 and love it. I dune only and race once in a while, lotsa steep dunes. yes it is harder to throw the rear around, you still can but takes some leg work. You can still get the front up when you want to, and when you do it awesome because you feel so much higher than you would on a stocker.

[zleehw]

I have a good +5 swing arm with fresh black powder coat.
Its a 1985 ATC 250r stock swing that has been lengthened.

50.00 + ship
Doug

[glamy]

i also run a +6 and i love it!!! with the right powerband you can still wheelie with ease... i would never go any shorter for duning,,, :D :D :D
I hear ya, if you want to throw the rear end around go with short paddles like i do, i don`t like alot of hook-up in the rear but i love that +6 swinger it`s nice and comfy!

[Breastman569]

it really all depends on what you have done to your motor. im rockin the +6 and only ride glamis and have no problems thowing the rear end around, and at the same time the i can pull front end right up. with that said i got this arm for free so i really didnt have a choice. i think +4 would be the smallest i would go if i were doing it over but i have no problem with the 6.

as far as changing over to an 86, its going to be a different brake stay but same caliper, its not hard at all.