Swing arm extention and other questions

tdtech

New Member
Jul 29, 2013
2
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Massachusetts
Hi everyone,

im looking forward to starting a new blaster project. I'm planning to trade my built 1998 rm80 for a year 2000 or newer blaster. im 5'11" so the first thing i want to do is a bigger swing arm and possibly somthing with the A arms to make it bigger. I'll be riding on trails and sand pits so im trying to get the biggest swing arm possible without it feeling goofy on the trails. i know they are short machines and thats the reason i want to lengthen and raise it. let me know what you guys think what i should do.

Thanks!
 
im 5'10'' and i havent widened or extended mine at all.... rides perfectly fine, i did do full suspension makes a world of a difference

BTW welcome
 
Not having a shot Gizz but when they get wider and longer the Blaster is so much more stable and saves a large amount of human body movement.
 
Not having a shot Gizz but when they get wider and longer the Blaster is so much more stable and saves a large amount of human body movement.

I agree with you on most things but I ride in tight Eastern Woods and I come from a motorcycle background.
You need narrow to get between the trees and short means you can lift the front on demand to get over rocks and logs.

Now, with the stock narrow width you do have to ride it like a motorcycle, standing up with your weight on the pegs.
This calls for raised handlebars and ideally a raised seat or lowered pegs.
Weighting to the inside peg will get you around any corner.

As for the swingarm length, for stock power the stock length is not so bad.
It lets you plant the rear tires and lift the front end no matter how slippery the surface.
As the power increases a longer swingarm makes the Blaster less prone to flip over, although more prone to spin.
With a few engine mods a 2" extension is a nice balance.
A 4" extension is better suited for a maximum motor but will result in a lot of useless tire spin if you don't have good tires and lean back a bit.

First mod I would do is a re-chambered cylinder head. $60 and 15 min work.
This will result in much more power and crisp operation.

Steve
 
Hi everyone,

im looking forward to starting a new blaster project. I'm planning to trade my built 1998 rm80 for a year 2000 or newer blaster. im 5'11" so the first thing i want to do is a bigger swing arm and possibly somthing with the A arms to make it bigger. I'll be riding on trails and sand pits so im trying to get the biggest swing arm possible without it feeling goofy on the trails. i know they are short machines and thats the reason i want to lengthen and raise it. let me know what you guys think what i should do.

Thanks!

If you are going to be trading try to get an 03 or newer. The brakes are a lot better.
 
I have a 2000 blaster had it for about 12 years needless to say I have gotten bigger and it has stayed the same size. Just decided to extend the swingarm +5. Did it myself with some 1"x2" angle iron. Pretty easy not finished yet but gonna dry fit it tonite just to see how it looks.
 

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If you are going to be trading try to get an 03 or newer. The brakes are a lot better.

Times 3. If you're a bigger rider (I'm ~200) and increase the power output of your blaster you're going to want hydraulic discs, I did the conversion to an 01 and it was more time and money than just starting with an 03-06.