1985 honda 200x/cb550 Trike project

[mcgyver331]

Well here I go again. I have a decent 1985 honda 200x chasis with +2 arm and +4 axle.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/8345/img00473.jpg (http://img255.imageshack.us/i/img00473.jpg/)
ok shape maier plastics and a good seat. I have been trolling the local internet and found a low miles cb550 motor electrics carbs and some exhaust and the frame.
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/6171/cb550motor.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/cb550motor.jpg/)http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/cb550motor.jpg/1/w547.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img196/cb550motor.jpg/1/)
I dont know yet if I want to extend the 200x frame or weld in the 550 engine cradle area or weld on the 200x top tube and head tube to the 550 frame.

Any suggestions would be apprieciated. Thanks and I will post the whole build.

[cr480r]

IMO that motor is way too heavy for a trike.. there has got to be a single cylinder engine available that would be easier to swap, have just as much power, and be light enough to handle decent..

[mcgyver331]

I have been tossing up the idea of a xr600 motor. The cb550 was frozen and I wouldnt buy it. I also see that the bbase of the motor is too long front to back. I had the opportunity of a dt 360 motor too and it is also deep. ideal is 250x 300ex 400ex xr 500 xr 600 xr 650. those are what I'm searching out now.

[cr480r]

what is the planned primary use of this machine? it sounds like you are wanting a four stroke engine. but most of those you mentioned woud basically be recreating the 350x... and the frame would end up very butchered if you used the Xr5 or xr600... if you arent against using a two stroke I would suggest an early air-cooled kdx200 engine... decent output, cheap, reliable, lightweight, and very easy to come across...Your frame already has a single downtube in front of the engine so the exhaust routing would be fairly simple... and of course you wouldnt have to bother with any radiators, custom engine cradles, frame grafting, stretching, etc... the single dowtube really limits your options unless you want to modify the frame... i dont know, maybe you have something larger in mind, but I 've always thought a lightweight air cooled 200cc kdx powered trike would be a fun lil machine.

[oldskool83]

back in 2007 when i build my 200x i wanted to use a 250X motor but it was as big as a 350x motor, the chassis is just to small and the sprockets will not line up unless you offset the motor to the right hand side. i know this because i had a custom 300ex style swingarm made and it was a PITA to get right.

stuff a small 2 stroke in there. a 125 motor will rip it up!

[mcgyver331]

UPDATE!!!! I just picked up a rebuilt 1983 honda xr 350r needing just a kick start spring. I am going to check tonight if I can put the front end of the 200x on the xl frame and also the swing arm on the xl frame. keep those ideas comming. Thank you for you input so far. I wanted to get a blaster 240 motor but I cant spend too much on this build.

[Cadaver Dog]

I like the Blaster motor idea actually. Glad you gave up on the CB550 idea I think it would have been a big let down. I had a CB750 and I guess on paper you'd think "4 cylinder, 750, should rock" But I think the bikes of yore didn't crank nearly as hard as modern crotch rockets, more like good for going long distances at a casual pace or something unless you get one of those CycleXchange.net builds done and were just sand dragging it woulda been heavy and lame like the other guy said

[audioworks04]

To me a 200x frame seems a little small for most of these motor options. I think the blaster motor would be the best fit or maybe a cr125 motor. But if you are looking for a four stroke then an nn250 motor would be great, but rare to find and liquid cooled. The xr350 motor that you said you just got could be a good fit, but may need more suspension and but the +2 swinger may be necessary. Lets see some pics when you get to the mock up stage.

[300rman]

a CR 125 pushes double the HP of a blaster motor. a bigbore worked over blaster might compare to the 125 for power....

[taz]

i have a xr 500 frame with a r250r front end and a modified swing arm using 250r rear end so the xr 350 and 200x should be kinda compatable

[Ed200x]

IMO that motor is way too heavy for a trike.. there has got to be a single cylinder engine available that would be easier to swap, have just as much power, and be light enough to handle decent..

Hmmm! Whatcha think about making a Hondaha or is it a Yamonda?! NEWay, I have 2 Yamaha XT/TT 500 singles that are THE torqiest things I've encountered. Hmm!! Good Lord, I'm nuts to even think about that monster ina trike frame. OHH Yeah! Hmmm!

[HaggLE]

A stock 125 GP road race bike has 38hp (capable of 50 odd hp), I think a stock CR125 is 35 hp.
Stock 200x is about 18hp...
So double the power and half the engine weight, I think CR125 is the go and you can pick them up anywhere plus theres heaps of go-fast parts all over the net.
The downside of a CR125 is you have to make a 2 stroke exhaust chamber fit without too many mods or it wont work and you also have to find a place for a radiator