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View Full Version : Longer Fork Tubes for an 83-85 200X



EZ in NZ
10-23-2005, 11:44 PM
I recently finished a rebuild of my 83 200X where I 'Monstered' its proportions. This included widening, lifting and lengthening the trike. Widening was acheived with hub spacers and offset rims. Length with an extended swinger. To get the height, that came from the lengthened swinger and a 350X shock and swapping out the stock fork tubes for a longer pair.

Here's what I did for that:


The 83-84 XL200R fork tubes are 33mm - the same as the X. (I think the XR are 35mm). I got a nice pair from a wrecker and ripped them apart. The tubes were 95mm (almost 4") longer than the X ones.

I ended up mixing a few of the parts from different sets of forks to come up with what I thought was the best combination:

From the X:

Lowers
Top (shorter) springs
Dampening rod Spacers

From the XL200R:

Upper Fork Tubes
Dampening rods and springs
Bottom (long) springs

This all went together with no problems at all. All completely interchangable. By using the spring combination from the 2 sets, I got a decent amount of fork tension although my X springs were a little tired and I had been using a PVC spacer in them before this conversion.

Without a mod to the back end like mine has had (lifting it too), it WILL add extra rake (fork angle) to your stock trike. Because the same trees are used with 4" more length. It will give it a chopper look.

If the whole trike is being lifted like mine was, it keeps everything in proportion.

NOS_350X
10-24-2005, 12:23 AM
how sturdy is it when you ride it tho?

EZ in NZ
10-24-2005, 03:50 AM
No problems that I've found so far. I wouldn't go up without going wide though. I think it would tip to easy. The trike is 10" wider with the spacers/rims/tires combination

dads
10-25-2005, 06:22 PM
Nice looking Trike. To bad the frame will not hold up.
I would watch by the front engine mount too. Like the 200x break.

EZ in NZ
10-26-2005, 02:29 AM
Well, I'm an optimist with things like that so I'll keep riding it and if anything breaks, I'm more than confident I can repair it.

These single downtube frames aren't great for offroaders - trike modified or not ;)

Black Sheep
10-26-2005, 03:02 AM
Originally posted by EZ in NZ


These single downtube frames aren't great for offroaders - trike modified or not ;)

really, :confused: :confused: :confused:

almost every off-road trike or motorcycle uses a single downtube frame.

the only ones i know of with cronic frame failure in the downtube area is the 83-85 200X.

what did you do to the stock shock anything?

EZ in NZ
10-26-2005, 03:57 AM
Yeah, I realise it's a common design. It's just a personal preference. I'm more of a twin tube set up guy.

I used the 350X shock with a custom dogbone I made out of aluminium. I had the shock rebuilt by a guy who does a lot of race bikes. He said he shimmed the valve and put slightly heavier oil in it. I'm not real familiar with the valve shimming process but it seems pretty stiff now.

Black Sheep
10-28-2005, 07:10 PM
JEN SAYS UNETHICAL

thebasher
10-30-2005, 08:03 PM
Any idea were I can get 83-84 XL200R fork tubes. I have been looking on ebay with no luck. Please let me know if you run across a set that I can buy.