PDA

View Full Version : crazy idea for a shop class project



G-Ram
12-08-2007, 04:26 PM
now, i recently aqquired a 1987 honda cr80 dirtbike...i'm not gonna lie, its a fun little bike to ride. BUT, i've always been fond of 3 wheelers, and i've come also got a swingarm, which i believe is from a 200X. I've got some pictures, so maybe someone could help me identify it. I've also got the 3 wheeler shock, but i doubt it'd fit on that little bike without some hacking, which i'm trying to avoid. Getting triple clamps to put a 3 wheeler tire out front is gonna be the hardest part, i'm not exactly an expert machinist. Once i get it into my shop class and get it torn apart, it'll be easier to see exactly what to do. I've looked around at some other dirtbike conversions (cr125 and 250) but i was wondering if anyone has converted a cr80 specifically? any help is muchly appreciated!!!

now lets see if i can remember how to put up pictures...its been awhile! :lol:

G-Ram
12-08-2007, 04:34 PM
well i guess i gotta use photobucket....:rolleyes: sorry bout the hugeness

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z45/drydenstreetbmx/PHOT0000003.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z45/drydenstreetbmx/PHOT0000002.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z45/drydenstreetbmx/PHOT0000001.jpg

Nick_R_23
12-08-2007, 05:00 PM
Im in the process of doing somthing similar...Im using a 1982 CR80 though. For the triples, I used a lower one from an 86 200x, and a top one and forks from an 83-85 200x. I had to modify the bearing races on the frame, and some of the races/spacers on the triples, but I made it fit. I dont know if this would work for yours, 87 is liquid cooled right? Im not sure if the triples would clear the radiators.

I havent figured out what Im going to do for the swinger yet, I know for a fact that Im gonna have to use at least the part of the swinger that bolts to the frame due to how mines mounted. Ill end up cutting it and welding it with another swinger, but Im still looking for the perfect quad to use a rear end out of. Im thinking about using a rear end out of a 230cc+ chinese quad, it would be about the perfect fit.

Seat and rear fenders, I dont know what I will use. Im gonna go with probably 18" rear tires and find a smaller front rim that fits a 200x hub, or at least a smaller tire. I plan on using mine for ice racing if I ever get it done. I have a thread on my build you could search for, like I said Im still not finished, but it should help you get started or at least some ideas on what you would like to do.

HTH!!

-Nick :TrikesOwn

G-Ram
12-08-2007, 05:28 PM
thanks alot man...btw are my pictures working? my internet has been on the fritz so i don't know if it just won't load them for me or if i didn't do it right...

ATC-Eric
12-08-2007, 07:23 PM
Im pretty sure, was it Jason Hall? Built his son an 80 that looked like a little 250R. That thing ripped! AND looked really cool.


I dont know if it was a conversion or what, all I know is that thing was fast, and COOL!

Nick_R_23
12-08-2007, 07:38 PM
Yeah it was Jason Hall who built it, but it was a CR60. Pretty hot lookin bike. He has a picture of it on the second page of my cr80 thread.

G-Ram, I cant see the pictures,, can anyone else??

-Nick :TrikesOwn

G-Ram
12-08-2007, 07:43 PM
hmmm...i'll try to fix em

Nick_R_23
12-08-2007, 07:51 PM
Pics work now,,,and yeah thats all 200x stuff, 83-85.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

G-Ram
12-09-2007, 01:49 AM
ohhh ok, i was unsure of what gen. of X the swinger came from. thanks a bunch
here's a couple pictures of the bike

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z45/drydenstreetbmx/PHOT0001.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z45/drydenstreetbmx/PHOT0002.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z45/drydenstreetbmx/PHOT0004.jpg

i did some measuring, the 3 wheeler swinger is about 2 inches shorter (approximately) but from what i can tell, is about the same width where it mounts up. i'm hoping that making a custom lower link to lower the back end will even out the shorter length. now for the front end, could i not just use triple clamps from a 3 wheeler, but the fork tubes from the dirtbike? or should i try and find a complete front end? leading or trailing axle?

Nick_R_23
12-09-2007, 02:22 AM
If you are going to use a 3 wheeler triple, I would just use the forks that came with it. They would probably have better legnth to match the rear end being lowered, easier to use an axle with, and it would support the bike better then dirtbike forks. I would keep it trailing because that bike will turn out longer then you realize, and it heps to turn the wheel around to lose some legnth. I would watch the triples against that radiator though, they may not clear it. To give you an idea, I have 200x triples on mine, and the right side of the tank on yours is the same as mine, and the triples will touch it, but I havent welded steering stops on yet.

I would check that swinger width closer, I think mine was really close to fitting, but it would require running with out the end seals. Also, the motor on mine mounts as part of the swinger, so I would check that first.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

jason 32
12-09-2007, 02:45 AM
wow nice lil 80 - i dont think i could do it to the bike-

200x newby
12-09-2007, 11:02 AM
the only question i have is how are you going to adjust the chain tension with that 200x swinger? i think you would be better off going with a swinger from and 86-87 200x or a 350x or a 85-86 250r swinger since they have an adjustable carrier and thats waht you need. that 83-85 200x swinger wont work unleed you modify the frame where it bolts up with a slider for it to be adjusted back and forth.

G-Ram
12-09-2007, 11:13 AM
those are some good points...i totally forgot about the motor mounting with the swingarm bolt. Guess i'm just gonna have to dig around and see if i can't find another dirtbike and 3 wheeler swinger with an adjustable carrier.

by the way, how do you adjust the chain tension on a 83-85 X if it doesn't have an adjustable carrier?

Louis Mielke
12-09-2007, 11:20 AM
The 83-85 200x has the adjustment in the frame. Kinda a goofy setup actually.

Yeah man, that li' 80 is in too nice a shape. That thing would clean up really nice with a little elbo grease. Why don't you clean it up and sell it and put the money into your project.

G-Ram
12-09-2007, 01:49 PM
yeah, it is in pretty good shape. I'll see if i can't find anything a little more suitable to my project.

4cylinders
12-09-2007, 02:09 PM
hey, james lucky carries a chain tensioner that can be used with a 200x swinger.

Dirtcrasher
12-09-2007, 02:44 PM
Yes, it is a nice little 80, I actually love the 86/87 style CR's. But, it's wortha what? about 600$ give or take? It's 20 years old guys!!

An 86/87 200X rear end would be great but they are fairly hard to find. It would be allot easier to find a 250R or 350X rear end for this project.

Don't give up yet brah.....

jeffatc250r
12-15-2007, 06:09 PM
I think you will run into less problems if you use the front half of the cr swinger so you can use the cr shock assy, look at my thread. If you have access to a lathe, spin up a new carrier housing and rails and weld it to the front half of the cr swinger. Get yourself a carrier that has a chain tensioner design like a late model 200x and an axle for starters and go from there. Just be patient, it will all come together eventually! Also fyi the rake is off when using atc tripples, i have this problem on my 125, im going to cut the neck and adjust the rake that way. Its not a huge deal, it just acts weird in the woods.

G-Ram
12-15-2007, 06:09 PM
yeah, i'll keep on going with the project, i have no intentions of letting this idea die...3 wheeler parts are pretty hard to come by around here, so it just might take me a while to get another swinger to keep this project alive. all hope is not lost! haha

SWIGIN
12-15-2007, 07:30 PM
what kind of shop is it?

id just build a new swingarm that fits the frame


back in the late 80s i was making 200x front axles in high school metal shop....lol

Jason Hall
12-15-2007, 08:01 PM
I would like to have that 80. I have a 87 cr500, 87 cr125. I hope to have all sizes from 87 one day :D

G-Ram
11-18-2012, 10:38 PM
Hey guys, I'm baaaack! I actually sold this bike shortly after I made this thread, my life changed big time and I had to get rid of all my toys... BUUUUT 6 years later things are better than ever! I bought the bike back this past spring, for a case of beer! Here's how it currently looks:

http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx303/vw-gee/554170_10150868682340964_1350681444_n.jpg

I'm waiting on a sleeve from L.A Sleeves, the cylinder wall is scored up real bad. I'm in college for an automotive course, so I will bore it out and press in the sleeve here at school. I still have the old 200x swinger laying around, and was thinking, could I not just cut off the carrier, and weld tabs onto it, and slotted tabs onto the swingarm for adjustment? I believe Tecate's have this kind of carrier? Anyways this idea has not died, if anything I'm more capable of finishing this project now than I ever was 6 years ago!