The Hodaka Club Forum

A while back I picked up a basket case 94 Wombat. This bike came with a 250 front suspension complete with wheel, triple clamps with modified steering shaft to fit the Wombat and forks.
My questions are: who has done this mod? is it worthy of doing? Any other issues I should be aware of?
Thanks for your input.

If it has already been modified to work, why not try it? Won't hurt to see.

Terrible idea. I’ll send you a set of 94 forks in exchange for those nasty ones. No extra charge...
Bob

Sounds like a deal Bob . I suppose I’ll need to send you some money and pay all the shipping cost too.

There's a subplot here.....

BTW I have the frame and swing arm for the 250SL (70A) if anyone wants to pick it up in Olympia, WA. No title.

Why do you think they came on the 03 Wombat? Yes it’s a 03.

Ok I’m going to make the swap.
Looks like I will also need longer brake and speedometer cables, larger headlight mounts and figure out the fender mount.
This is the bike I am putting the forks on.
Since the 250 forks are about 3.5” longer should I put longer rear shocks on also to balance things out? The shocks that are on it now are obviously not stock. They are 14” eye to eye and work well.

I ran 14 and a half inch eye to eye Works shocks on my 125s after swapping to the 34 mm forks. I used lighter springs as 250 SL springs were meant for a very heavy bike. Seemed to be the best balance. If your 14 inch shocks are good, you can try the forward upper shock mount or drop the forks and inch or 2 to get the cornering traits you like best. The biggest change you will notice is not the improved dampening, neither the 30 mm or 34 mm are great, its the lack of flex in the front end over rough ground that will make you say WOW. The front wheel will now go where you point it.

Well I got the 34mm forks installed. Put new seals and 15 weight oil in the forks. I have not rode it yet on account of the cold November rains but they feel like I might want to go to 20 weight oil.
For the rear I used a set of new Progrssive Suppension 15” shocks that I had for my ‘72 Honda XL 250. The springs feel a little too stiff but I’m having a hard time figuring out where to get springs for these and what to get if I can find them, really don’t know anything about spring rates and what the numbers mean. The store where I got the shocks was no help, telling me he can only get them 5 pounds lighter and that it won’t make any difference. His suggestion was “just go faster”
My riding style is what I call “old man” mostly forest roads and trails with some Puttin’ around town. I’m not into going fast put I like a smooth good handling ride.I do plan to do the Bad Rock ride next year.
A few years ago, in a weak moment, I bought one of those Chinese 200cc dual sport bikes. I engine seemed to run great. One day while riding down a farm road with some shallow ruts, crushing along on a straight stretch at maybe 20 mph l found myself suddenly going down landing hard on my shoulder. As I’m getting up and shaking off the dirt and pain I’m thinking, what the heck happened, I’ve ridden tons of this kind of stuff. The handle bars got tweaked as a result of the fall. I got in front of the bike, grabbed the front wheel with my knees and tried to straighten the bars. What I found by doing that was it took very little effort to twist the forks. I’m sure this was a major contribution to cause of the fall. I no longer have that bike that I named Satin.

Try mounting the shocks in the forward mounting position before investing in new springs. That might be all that is required to smooth out the suspension to your liking.

Thanks Matt. I figured the chocks might be on the stiff side so the forward mounts are where I started.
I will go out for a ride before I do buy springs. Maybe I’ll like it as it is.

It is very hard to determine how the shocks and forks will work without riding the bike. Best to take a short, easy ride and see how it handles. The forks, being made for the 250, should be plenty stiff enough, and stiffer rear shocks will probably even out the ride. Many places sell Progressive shocks and should have replacement springs. Just find out the spring rate (pounds or kilograms) that you have now and work from there.

Yes, I’ll get some riding in maybe Saturday as the forecast is for no rain Saturday, rare for November in western Washington. I figure I will need to slide the forks up in the clamps to get the feel I want.
I will need to make a longer kick stand also.

I'm not sure if Progressive springs will work on Works shocks, but you should be able to source some from WP. d_r's question is the important data to know. What is the rate on the Works shocks you currently have. The springs should be labeled with the rate. I resprung a pair of Works shocks on a 1978.5 RM250C2 that I campaign in open class on modern supercross-style MX tracks and needed heavier springs to avoid bottoming out. They were a bit spendy at just over $100 for the pair.

I tried going online to Progressive and go nowhere, they make you put bike info in then they select somthing.
When I enter the Honda XL 250 that I bought these for it gives me two choices for springs, standard or heavy duty. I don’t remember for sure but given those choices I’m sure I would have picked standard.

This is the marketings on the springs, Can someone tell me how to de-code these.

Oopsie - I got confused. Its Old Dogs with the Works shocks. You are running Progressive. The rate may be printed on the opposite side of the spring or found under the dust cap. Sorry about the confusion.

The upgrade for the 250s is /was to fit a KX 250 fork set. Or a KL 250 will work. Early models from Kawi

Instead of trying to decipher Progressive's part numbers, or trying to figure it out on-line, I would call Progressive and talk with a real person. Then, you can explain that you are using the shocks/springs on a bike they don't list and see if they can make recommendations for a different spring (if needed after a test ride).

I went to Progressive's site and looked up your shocks/springs. The springs are the following rates:
Shorter spring: Part# 1406-20b - rate 0f 200 lbs per inch
Longer spring: Part# 1431-20b - rate of 130 lbs per inch

Judging from those numbers, they will be way to stiff for your bike. On their site, they recommend a 75 lb per inch spring for a Hodaka 125. The lowest spring rate you have is a 130 lb per inch.

To find the spring rate information, etc., you have to go to this document:
https://www.progressivesuspension.com/pdfs/7100-105.pdf

Hope this helps.

OK so I finally got out for a ride with the new forks and shocks. I am happy with the rear after some adjustment.
The forks are too stiff. Changed the oil from 15 to 10. Helped slightly but the stock 250 springs are just too stiff.
I have no idea of how To go about finding and picking out springs so any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Bob

250 springs are suitable for a 450# rider. Ones from an 03 will be much better.
The Other Bob

Find someone who has stripped a crashed or rusted out 03; the springs will survive. Or go on a 100kajillion/day calorie diet.
I told you to send them to me!

Sorry Bob, I was going to send them to you but I wasn’t paying attention and the next thing I knew they were on my bike. I’ll be more careful next time. BTW the DS80 oil pump you sent me is installed and working. Thank you!
I have started my search for 03 springs but no luck yet.

Has anyone tested the different springs to see what the spring rates are? It would be interesting to see what rates they came with from model to model.