xr 650 trike for the street

[lilgsxr1000]

Because i cant post where i wanted here it goes. I started watching the site because a few years ago sitting around in the shop with a few friends drinking beer we came up with the great idea to get trikes and make them street leagle. So i started looking for a Kawasaki Tecate to turn into a road runner, i picked that because i had a 87 honda trx250r and just wanted something different, so i picked up this it was a 85 klx250a3.

Made some phone calls to albany, New York states DMV head, and found out that it was going to caust me a ton of money and they still wouldn't let it pass. He then told me if i really wanted to do this i should pick up a on road bike and turn it into what i was looking for. So i traided the 3 wheeler for a 2002 Honda xr650 with 21xxx miles. Bike ran great so i didn't care how many miles where on it i just wanted a good bike to start with.




So the project beings, i stated by stripping the bike to the motor and frame, because thats all i planned on keeping. the stock subframe would not work so that was cut off also.

[lilgsxr1000]

I had a front end off a 85 tecate that was layin around for parts from that last machine i had so i decided to try and start with that because i likes the fat front tire. after a little work i seen with some slight machining i could make the stock bike neck bearings and would not have to change the stock frame.
After turning down the tripple shaft i ended with this.


Welded it back to gether and my tripples where set for the project

Everything worked great bolted right up and the front end was done, and we where on to the back. I looked at everything, stock 85 tecate swinger, 300ex swinger, 400ex swinger, trx450r swinger, and a kfx450r swinger. None of witch would fit into the bikes frame, so i new i was out to build one of my own. I wanted to use 300ex swinger as a base because i have had alot of the quads and i already had most of the rear parts i was going to need to finish this project. so i took a ebay swinger and chopped the front and back out of it because i needed those 2 peaces for my new swinger. the first one i build out of tubing, and was just way too long and i couldn't get it to stop flexing it just wanted to twist, so back to the drawin board. That was was chopped back apart and i build another one out of square stock, and i shortened it 3 in from where i was at. +1in from stock 85 tecate.

This one worked perfect, added some mounts for the xr chain guide, and a mount for the stock bike rear shock, I used the 300ex +4 axle and aluminum bearing carrier. for rear brakes i also used the stock 300ex setup and it was ready for paint.




For the rear plastics i went with the trx450r plastics and seat, if i was thinking i should have went with the yamaha 450 because the honda had that peace for the kick start and it was more problems then it was worth. but for now it is running trx plastics. The gas tank is the stock xr one and it worked out good with the seat plastics set.


For the rear grab bar i used a trx300ex aluminum one, picked up a cheap $10 tail light and used the stock bike turning sig for now.
The stock bike pegs where tossed to the trash because they where to small. i picked up a set of trx250r pegs because they folded like the bike ones did, but the size didn't fit perfect so i ended up cutting the mounts some to get the pegs to sit right then just welded them into place so they couldn't move anymore, and that fixed my small pegs prob.
On to the headlight, i needed something that had a high/low because this was being build for the street and came up with this idea, not the best but for now its going to work, until i can figure out what i really want. the front turning sig was also from the bike because they worked good and i wanted to keep the price down for now untill i get all the other bugs worked out of it.
On to the tires i wanted to keep them close to stock. the front rim was a stock 10in wide and i wanted to keep that so i picked up a 22x8x10 DOT tire rated for 80mph
To the rear i found a set of 205-50-10's (18x7x10) and mounted them on a set of 10x8 wheels(honda bolt patern) These where alot smaller then i wanted, but its hard to find DOT tires that are not crazy in price.
Now that it is ridable i loaded in into my box van and took it to a scrap yard to get the new weight.
The next day i headed to the dmv to try and get my paperwork and put it on the road. a few phone calls and 30 mins later i was done. had the paperwork in my hand and had a leagle trike for the street.

[badass350x]

Welcome to the site,,, Awesome Job!! now you need a longer rear brake line!!! lol... but Really I like it and would love too see a video!

[fabiodriven]

That is one fan-friggin tastic build. Top notch work man. I may have to do something similar someday.

[Matt85'350x]

Great work! I really like it. Are you going to keep the gas tank red? Love it otherwise!

[JJMF1979]

Best thing I have ever seen I have been thinking about using a dirtbike to do something like that in the future, and now I know where to start I am surprised we don't see more of them around, do you get pulled over by the cops often when you drive it?

[350XJEDI]

very cool build , we should all build one ,saves gas ,adds fun to any comute, !! any hasles yet?

[Grindin' Gearz]

AWESOME!!! Hope to be passing through NY and see this thing rippin down the road, great build man. Hope it brings a ton of fun!

[lilgsxr1000]

Thanks everyone idk about the color of the gas tank, for now i'm going to leave it they way it is and let the cops settle down and get use to the idea of it being on the road. I'm having probs with the front end on it. The front tire i chose to use is just not any good, its too big and its just too wide. It handles really bad at speeds over 60mph. but for now it just has to be.

[lilgsxr1000]

i put it on the road thurs so i have only had one day that is was not raining so i havn't had alot of street time on it. but yes the cops are all ready all over me about it. but hey that was one of the reasons i started the build, to have fun with the cops, and not get any tickets

[Bryan Raffa]

Cool Man nice build...

[atc300r]

Awsome build.Did you get the tires balanced.And can you get it inspected or havent you tried yet.Also would it work out if you registured it first and then converted it.Sweet bike .Have fun with the cops lol.

[JasonB]

Kick ass build! Very resourceful man, love it!

[350XJEDI]

update us when you find a better front tire. could the handling prob be from the geomitryof the one off front end? rake /angle, started looking for a enduro for a similer build , 350x front end/300ex rear need research wash. state law ,!!

[wide'n'low]

very nice. ive been thinking about doing the same thing, as street trikes and utvs are legal here.