Product Evaluation

PRODUCT EVALUATION

NUMBER ONE PRODUCTS TRICKIT FOR HONDA CR250, MT250, XL250 AND XL350

More travel, better damping. That’s what the public wants and that’s what aftermarket manufacturers like Number One Products are developing.

That company’s latest damper rod kit (part number H101, $29.95), is worthwhile in that it fits the larger Honda XL series machines and yields really dramatic results. For one thing, the damper rod is an inch and a quarter longer than stock, and that increases travel from an inadequate 5.7 in. to an acceptable 7 in. The kit also lessens compression damping so the ride over rough terrain is greatly improved.

If the Trickit is installed in a CR250, travel will remain essentially the same since there is not that much difference in damper rod length. Compression damping, however, is again lessened, making the overall fork characteristics very similar to Betor’s.

Installation is as follows with forks removed from the bike:

1. Drain oil from the forks by removing the Allen-head cap screws in the bottom of the fork lower case or the slider (photo 1). It may be necessary to use an impact screwdriver.

2. Remove the sliders from each side by pulling down (photo 2). Drain sliders thoroughly.

3. Remove the cone (oil lock piece) from the bottom of the damper rod by sliding it off. If the cone does not come out of the slider, leave it in the slider to minimize chances of damage to the fork seals. When reassembling, be sure the cone goes back on the end of the damper rod.

4. Remove top fork caps.

5. Remove fork springs, spacers and/or booster springs.

6. Turn the stanchion tubes (upper part of the forks), upside down to remove the damper (photo 3). 7. Carefully remove the phenolic rings (photo 4) from the stock damper

rods and carefully install them on the Trickit damper rods. These rings will break if twisted. The Trickit damper rod is the longer of the two shown in photo 5.

8. Slide the rebound springs onto the Trickit damper rod.

9. Install the Trickit damper rods in the stanchion tubes until the rods fall through.

10. Install the fork springs in the stanchion tubes. Install the fork caps to preload the springs.

11. Reinstall the sliders and securely tighten the Allen bolt at the bottom.

12. Remove the fork caps and add oil in accordance with factory specifications. Twenty weight oil is a good place to start. Add or reduce the amount of oil in lOcc increments for fine tuning.