250sx Upgrade options [Archive]

neverdone

07-07-2013, 11:32 AM

So I have had my Honda 250sx since last fall, having a blast with it!

I was wondering though what kind of options are out there to get a little more juice out of the old girl?! Anybody ever cam one? Exhaust? Jets? anything? etc? What kind of options are there for front tires? I would like to go a little bigger than stock in the front? Anyone done it?

Not that it needs anything, but I love to tinker!!!

tri again

07-07-2013, 02:15 PM

Hi,
You should be able to have a good time with the search key.

What I've learned, is that other than bragging rights,
upgrades like exhaust and air filter can result in days, if not
weeks of jetting.
SX carbs are not that much fun to r&r for me.

I have a couple sx's / es that I wouldn't mind experimenting with
but again, for me, the ones that run nicely, like yours,
get left alone except for pampering and neurotic maintenance.

I have heard of cams and exhaust and air filters and air box mods.
but I like the forest service approved oem simply because
we run off the property occasionally.

Yeah, what the heck, get a couple more sx's and have a great time.

Hopefully, someone will jump in with some real suggestions.

Flyingw

07-07-2013, 03:02 PM

In the case of the SX, your choices are limited. You have to consider the design and intended use of the SX. This machine really wasn't designed to be upgraded. Not like a 250R lets say. I have installed 350X front ends on a couple of SXs and other guys have used 200X front ends. Upgrade to the 350X carb is an option but like Tri said, you will be messing with jetting. The same holds true with aftermarket exhausts. There is a company who still sells performance cams but usually with that, a carb and exhaust upgrade would be required to get full benefit from a performance cam. The SX in my opinion is best left stock. They are very dependable and will take you almost anywhere you want to go.

dougspcs

07-07-2013, 03:10 PM

My opinion, the #1 best improvement to this already near perfect machine is the selection of tires and rims that are available now that didn't exist 25 years ago..

Besides a more complex and expensive front end swap as FlyingW has suggest, not that isn't a cool change up, but simpler enhance is a rim/tire change up..particularly on the front.

I have done this with all me ES/SX machines and the change in handling is great.

Here's a pic of my latest..The details for this improvement are available for the asking. No mechanical alterations required..just a bolt on replacement rim/tire and Shazam! A great new look and tremendous handling improvement..

172612172613

Flyingw

07-07-2013, 03:26 PM

I might try this front end mod on my next SX build.

Larry T Moore

07-07-2013, 08:20 PM

I might try this front end mod on my next SX build....looks sweet to me!!

UPNATM

07-07-2013, 09:21 PM

I might try this front end mod on my next SX build.

Im going to on my daughters new SX ive been working on! If it handles as good as it looks, I may even do
the same change over on mine.

UPNATM

07-07-2013, 09:23 PM

Oh, and I have a supertrapp pipe, and Uni filter on my SX, and now that Jim (Flyingw) did a rebuild on my carb it runs awesome.

neverdone

07-10-2013, 07:52 AM

LastFoolerInVA

07-10-2013, 09:33 AM

I have an 86 sx with completely stock motor & stock airbox w/ no holes.. the only thing I did was to put a 350x front end on it & she's a beast... 3rd place in the mid-size mx at trikefest this year then crossed the river & back again without missing a beat!!!! she'll pull a nice wheelie in 3rd (2nd according to Honda)... IMO its the best 3 wheeler I've ever owned.... :Bounce

172751172752

dougspcs

07-10-2013, 01:13 PM

So what all is involved in the front tire swap? I would really like to do that. I did order new shock boots for the front, order some decals, and I built a new grab bar a Monday. Going give the old girl a good cleaning when I get back from my trip then will post up some pics of it.

The front wheel change up is a breeze..

Got this from Rocky Mountain ATV online for less than $120 shipped..

Kenda Bear Claw ATV Tire 23x7-10
Part # 1054490005

4/110 ITP Steel Wheel 10x5 2.0 + 3.0 - 1990 Honda TRX 200/D (Front)
Part # 1087260024

Mount the tire on the rim as a right side tire to get the tread direction right..then install.

No mods required..direct fit with proper offset to centre between the forks.

neverdone

07-10-2013, 01:46 PM

Heck YEAH!! Just checked that out, I can have it on my door for less than $100!!!! How about some rear options??!!! As I seen in your post a few years ago....... I want to man it up.........

dougspcs

07-10-2013, 02:05 PM

Rear options are completely open..

Since the 4/110 bolt pattern is one of the most common you can select from an absurd number of rims..then choose your tires to fit the rims.

Everytime I go shopping for new tires I choose something different..I've tried ITP Holeshots, Kenda Bear Claws, ITP Mud Lites, Duro Knobbies, Mud Sharks..the list goes on and on.

I have more tires that some women have shoes..

On the rear of the SX I'd consider some Bear Claws like I listed on the front..you should be able to get 22x11x8 still and they'll fit right onto your stock rims if you want..

They are badass in the mud!!

172771

This is my other SX all dressed with them! Have some fun with it. There are no wrong choices..

neverdone

07-10-2013, 02:11 PM

dougspcs

07-10-2013, 03:46 PM

Looks just like what I am hunting for!!!!

So I saw this in my search around the forum......
Extened Swinger (http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/61999-250sx-12-2-update-broken-and-fixed!/page2)

Anybody still hear from this guy? How well does the new swinger work? Still happy with it?

Yeah I followed that thread..it was pretty cool what he did. Said it really improved is high climbing ability.

The boy has more skillz than I..as do a lot of guys here. If it's basic mechanical I'm on it..but that whole fabbing thing has never been my bag.

You thinking about tackling that?

Larry T Moore

07-10-2013, 05:13 PM

I wanna do the tire swap but use aluminum wheels..

dougspcs

07-10-2013, 05:23 PM

I wanna do the tire swap but use aluminum wheels..

They look cool, but they have their downside..for track and trail they are decent. But for the really rough rocky terrain I like to ride sometimes they take a beating..

neverdone

07-10-2013, 05:56 PM

Heck yeah I would try the swinger stretch if I could find the swinger! I don't have a problem with fabbing stuff, I do it all the time! Don't really care for his mondo huge tires on the back though!

dougspcs

07-10-2013, 07:52 PM

Heck yeah I would try the swinger stretch if I could find the swinger! I don't have a problem with fabbing stuff, I do it all the time! Don't really care for his mondo huge tires on the back though!

Try the tires 1st and see if you think the extension is still needed..I think you'll be surprised how much improvement you'll get from just that.

my1423

07-10-2013, 08:38 PM

Usually the biggest bang for the buck is more displacement.
Never done it myself.
I have read of people putting the trx300 and trx350 quad motors in the sx ex.
Wide rang of years for those motors. late 80s through middle 90s were all the same.
Remember something about swapping the left case and drive shaft assembly off the 250 but other than that a drop in mod.
The 4x4 had another issue with a bigger output shaft or something.
Some were modding things to put in the 400 motors, but that required frame mods due to height differences.

Larry T Moore

07-10-2013, 09:39 PM

They look cool, but they have their downside..for track and trail they are decent. But for the really rough rocky terrain I like to ride sometimes they take a beating..

Ive had aluminum wheels before and theyve held up fine everywhere Ive rode...Im not a fan of steel wheels to begin with but I ride in abandoned stone quarries..limestone pits and they suite me fine...the ones on my 86 200x took a pounding and still looked as good as they did when I first got the bike

dougspcs

07-10-2013, 10:54 PM

Ive had aluminum wheels before and theyve held up fine everywhere Ive rode...Im not a fan of steel wheels to begin with but I ride in abandoned stone quarries..limestone pits and they suite me fine...the ones on my 86 200x took a pounding and still looked as good as they did when I first got the bike

I often ride in the Canadian Shield..trails with big granite rocks often bigger than footballs..

Don't get me wrong I have a place for alloy rims too..my 350x still has its stock rims.

But for the most severe riding when I'm 20 miles in bush on a rocky trail I want steel on!!

neverdone

07-11-2013, 12:34 PM

dougspcs

07-11-2013, 01:44 PM

I will for sure get the new tires first, but if I stumble on a swing arm I am sure I will snag it just to give it a whirl..... I doubt I will ever try and go bigger on the motor though it could be fun but just way to much work. I like to do small changes just to get the most enjoyment out of them...

My philosophy also, the engine and trailing arm change ups talked about in other threads just seem to me too much work for too little again.

But then my life is so busy with kids and work I'd rather spend the little bit of time I get on the trails not in the shop.

6speedthumper

07-13-2013, 06:03 PM

FST still offers a 310 big bore kit for it. They also offer cams, as does web, and megacycle. I have a web in my 8 trx300fw. It is their bolt in stock spring profile, and coupled with the high comp std bore wiseco it works great. I also have a Supertrapp IDS2 exhaust, hotshots cdi, and EBC DRC kit. It is a very dependable, stout, and fun quad. If I were you, that is the route I would go. Higher comp, maybe bored out .040 or even .080, cam (porting if you intend to use a bigger cam then a "stage one" type), exhuast, cdi, better carb... Very fun, very dependable, simple, and dependable. Carb jetting isn't too bad. You just need to know what each circuit does, how to read a plug, and know what changes need to be made. Not hard.

neverdone

07-16-2013, 06:23 AM

I can handle the porting, changing cams, jetting a carb and yes I know how to read a plug, just don't want to do all that work for just a little gain nor do I want to spend a fortune on this old machine. I just like to do some things to make mine stand out from the rest, and I like to try and get some good handling and performance from my efforts

SawyerCustom

07-16-2013, 08:07 AM

general rule of thumb when rejetting.. new exhaust, & opened up air box = up 1 main jet size, since half steps are hard to find, if you open up either the 1 jet size up will work, when you change out the carb is when the jetting gets tricky.. Depending on how many MM you go bigger will dictate how many sizes up you need to go.. keep in mind, the primary jet will need to be changed also if you mod the motor too much.. There is not a lot that can be done purchase wise, but also thinnk about milling the head .010, .020 (Up 1 jet) and also porting the head (free HP) polishing is not required because it will just get covered in a few hours of running.. Cleaning out the casting marks and making the ports bigger will help with flow and give a noticable amount of power diff. I do like th front tire swap idea, I have a gnarley front tire on my 250sx so I'm not going skinnier plus it's for sale so I"m not going stupid with it, but I do like the idea and may try that if I get one I actually want to keep.. 22's on the back seem to be the perfect size for speed, mud, and all around performance.

neverdone

07-19-2013, 06:14 AM

New shock boots showed up yesterday, decal set on the way. Once the quad is all back together I will start in on getting the trike up to snuff. The wife and I are trying to make a wheeling trip before she goes back to school this fall (teacher) so we will see how it goes.

Outlaw #24

07-19-2013, 08:47 PM

I saw this thread and decided to Chime in! I was going to Purchase a SX from FlyingW (Jim) in the spring! It was Called Storm Trooper it was cool and had a 350X front and was just really Cool. I didn't get to purchase as I waited to long and somebody else got it. Well I wanted it for the Wife. Since I missed out on that one I looked for a nice one that I could modify myself , I picked one up from EBay at a pawnshop in Omaha Nebraska and paid what Jim wanted for his ,(Shoot), Told a friend and he said he had a 350X but no Brakes, so I bought that. I found a Brake system on EBay. Get this now! We bought the SX April 19th, completely stock but has a nice Cobra header. Got the Front less brakes the 22nd, Installed the front on the 28th, spoke to the dude with the brakes on 29th and he sent it then from California, (I paid Extra to Expedite), got it May day and installed it. Loaded the Trailer for Trike Rampage, to take off the next morning . The SX looked awesome (like my Wife) worked Way good. FlyingW gave me some pointers and gave me a stirring stop for the new front Because it will SLAM the tank without it, (Thanks Jim) one of the guys from Missouri that was at Rampage, (Thanks Steve)gave us a wheel as ours looked like it had had a hammer taken to it! I recommend listening to these guys! Just Sayin :crazy: Connie loves The SX She Named it Sexy173505

neverdone

08-03-2013, 05:58 AM

OK, so I got my new tires in and new front wheel!!!

One question for dougspcs......... Since I don't have the front tore apart yet, what direction does the new wheel go (which side is the valve stem on)? That way I don't put my tire on backwards and have to redo it....

I will post some before and after pictures when it is all done and I have it all back together. I think it's transformation start to now has gone pretty well.