Shortypants Bike - Converting a CRF 150R into a trail oriented dual sport

GailCallsMeKarl · Oct 24, 2012

I am an RFS* chic. (*Really Fing Short) 4 11, 27 inseam. I started riding a little over a year ago. I bought a TTR125 to start trail riding to improve my riding skills. I was lucky enough to find a great friend and teacher in MGorman. I rode and wrecked the TTR until I almost killed her. MGorman gave me the go ahead to move up to bike #2. I have a 230 but it proved to be too big for me to successfully trail ride. I could pick it up about twice a day and that was about it. I also felt the suspension wasnt what I wanted. (His KTM spoiled me) The search was on for a light, small and powerful bike. Enter the CRF150R.

For those that think its just a 150.it weighs in at just 183 lbs. and generates nearly 20 hp.

This thing is a wheelie machine! Grown men would steal it away for a lap of the parking area and come back grinning ear to ear. I knew I had a good machine, but she did scare me a bit! I went ahead and bought it, knowing I didnt have many options in the little bitty bike category.

The bike was still pretty tall for me so first things first; lowered by installing KoubaLink.

Now its time to convert it!
First off, I dont wire things. Ill tear into anything mechanical, but electrical stuff..

So what do I do? I find an engineer to do it for me! This was his wiring diagram. (I should have been scared, maybe?)

I was ready to open the crank case and replace the OEM flywheel and stator. Im a Legos kid so I like to have drawings of how its supposed to go back together. A piece of cardboard served as a great way to keep track of what bolt came from where.

Got stuck here at 9pm on a Saturday Night with no impact wrench to remove the flywheel:

Naked Sunday morning with her headlights staring at me

OEM flywheel

Weighted flywheel

Trail Tech Battery bag

The now crammed air box

All finished! Ready for the first ride on a gravel road!

Shot of the nice clean brake light.

A little custom touch for my little red wagon..

GailCallsMeKarl · Oct 24, 2012

Parts List
Koubalink Lowering Link
Trailtech X2 Torch Halogen Headlight
Trailtech DC Stator, Battery
Trailtech Flywheel and puller
Acerbis X-LED Tail Light
K & S Rear Brake Switch
Tugger Strap
Flatland Racing Skid Plate
Trail Tech Kick Stand
Clarke 1.7 Gallon Fuel Tank - added Oct 2012
G2 Throttle Cam - added Nov 2013

The THANK YOU! List
MGorman – Fabulous friend and mentor. He gives me the confidence to ride hard and wrench on my bike without hesitation. First man I met that actually encouraged me to work on my bike and let me wrench.
MuddyRabbit – My parts connection!
MikeF5000 – For always having an opinion and helping with the parts list.
Z@ch – For picking the parts, wiring the bike and for the continued encouragement. I’m so lucky!
Sion – For giving me my rear view mirror. I’ll always think of you looking back…..

itrack · Oct 24, 2012

Awesome bike and great post, really interested in one of these for my sister. We would be dual sporting it as well so please keep this updated.

GailCallsMeKarl · Oct 24, 2012

Thanks! I will! I'm taking this weekend to the Roll The Bones Rally in Hamilton TX so I'll post pics!

blake716 · Oct 24, 2012

I love that bike.

That's exactly what I want to find for my step son.

z@ch · Oct 24, 2012

For the sister, for the son, whatever excuse you need, these bikes rock!

DaveStockwell · Oct 24, 2012

What an incredibly awesome build! My wife's 4'11" and I've been thinking of doing something similar. I love your choices in upgrades.

If/When you decide you want more power or suspension, you might be interested in what the folks at Brown Brother's Racing can do for you. http://www.bbrmotorsports.com/Home/Home.aspx?s=true

Love It!!

itrack · Oct 25, 2012

If your looking for a good dual sport tire that will fit those wheels check out the Shinko 244.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co.../Shinko-244-Dual-Sport-Front---Rear-Tire.aspx

The Letter J · Oct 25, 2012

Did the +11oz flywheel smooth the power out much? The parking lot ride I took on one of these bikes scared the bejesus outta me, that thing hits like a 2 stroke, not what one would expect from a scoot this size!

If you want the bike even lower, you can swap to the "small" wheels (17" front and 14" rear) and it will drop the bike another 1", probably not worth the trade off offroad, but my small wheel drz125 still gets by. Also, I noticed that the forks are not slid up very much above the top triple clamp, with your 1 3/4" lowering link you can drop the front end of the bike an inch or so with no ill effects.

Looking good so far, I'm looking forward to see what else you do to it and the places you'll take it!

ben2go · Oct 25, 2012

Can those CRFs be legally licensed and tagged for the street?That would be a perfect first bike for my sons.

GI_JO_NATHAN · Oct 25, 2012

ben2go said: ↑

Can those CRFs be legally licensed and tagged for the street?That would be a perfect first bike for my sons.
Click to expand...

I'll sell you a TTR 125..

ben2go · Oct 25, 2012

GI_JO_NATHAN said: ↑

I'll sell you a TTR 125..
Click to expand...

We may have to deal at tax time.

n16ht5 · Oct 25, 2012

this is awesome!!!

GailCallsMeKarl · Oct 25, 2012

The Letter J said: ↑

Did the +11oz flywheel smooth the power out much? The parking lot ride I took on one of these bikes scared the bejesus outta me, that thing hits like a 2 stroke, not what one would expect from a scoot this size!

If you want the bike even lower, you can swap to the "small" wheels (17" front and 14" rear) and it will drop the bike another 1", probably not worth the trade off offroad, but my small wheel drz125 still gets by. Also, I noticed that the forks are not slid up very much above the top triple clamp, with your 1 3/4" lowering link you can drop the front end of the bike an inch or so with no ill effects.

Looking good so far, I'm looking forward to see what else you do to it and the places you'll take it!
Click to expand...

The new flywheel is WONDERFUL! I had the same issue. I tried repeatedly to get used to the power hit and just never could. And it would stall in a heartbeat if you weren't on the throttle to depart from a stop. The flywheel fixed all of it. I can now ride around in first and work on slow skills like going over logs without worrying about stalling out and the hit is just gone! It will still get squirrely in loose ground but that never bothered me, it was that hit!

I'm actually pretty happy with the height. I just need to get a foot down to stop. The one nice thing about starting off riding these things is that I never have been able to get 2 feet down so I never learned that I couldn't just do it with one.

GailCallsMeKarl · Oct 25, 2012

ben2go said: ↑

Can those CRFs be legally licensed and tagged for the street?That would be a perfect first bike for my sons.
Click to expand...

Just check with your state DMV on what is required.

And take him up on the TTR125 as the first bike. I would probably not kept riding had this one been my first. She's a torquey bitch.

GailCallsMeKarl · Oct 25, 2012

itrack said: ↑

If your looking for a good dual sport tire that will fit those wheels check out the Shinko 244.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co.../Shinko-244-Dual-Sport-Front---Rear-Tire.aspx
Click to expand...

Thanks!! I was going to buy those for the 230 so I'll check that out!

MeefZah · Oct 28, 2012

Looks good, Carrie!

dirtydeeds · Oct 28, 2012

I like it.
I just put a Baja DS kit on a KLX140L. It turned out really nice.
I think the next bike will be the 150RB.

thumpergirl · Oct 30, 2012

Did you make it to RTB? I must have missed you. I was only there Saturday night and I did solo rides both Saturday and Sunday. Always looking for more women to ride with - there are not enough dual sport women out there!

GailCallsMeKarl · Oct 30, 2012

thumpergirl said: ↑

Did you make it to RTB? I must have missed you. I was only there Saturday night and I did solo rides both Saturday and Sunday. Always looking for more women to ride with - there are not enough dual sport women out there!
Click to expand...

I did! I think I passed you going the opposite way at one point. It was Sunday late morning, somewhere between 36 and that bridge near the big game ranch. (I don't GPS, can you tell?)

I think I'm headed to Red River this weekend, didn't know if you do dirt or not. I'm also going to try to make DFW First Friday Beer this Friday. Hopefully we can catch each other!

Let me know when you're riding, I go any chance I get!

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