MY RED BIG - newest obession!

[oldskool83]

I always wanted a Red Big...everyone knows them by Big Red. I finally got a Red Big, it's Big, it's Red. I do not even like Red.

I got a call about this thing few weeks ago and it needed to leave the owner said. There was a property he was cleaning out (his dads) and this was shoved in the corner of the garage. There was a black 225dr also but it was nice and I can not buy nice stuff.

I bought this for the top end stuff since I am redoing a 200x motor, well after some dickin around I thing I will not tear it apart.

It has a vintage cobra or bassani muffler and header on it. Hard to tell, its not stock and no writing on it.
It was in 5th gear in reverse and rear brake shoes were broken and frozen in mud / who knows what.
Front forks are junk, bolted together so they must of rusted off or something.
Motor pulled right over by hand.

The owner give me a signed DCNR bill of sale and started the title process. Its not a 250 big red like everyone wants but it cost me $100 and no one is getting anything these days for $100 it seems.

A rear shock would be cool but not sure how much travel the U joints can go? Even if it was 2-3" that would be great.

Welcome to my Red Big ...the newest obsession! Playing with different tire options and sizes to save weight is my next action. The small V treads were off my blaster so I could get it to roll on its own.

[MrConcdid]

Enjoy the process. Hard to beat a 200es

[ScreaminRed]

Congratulations! I have an '83 200e my dad bought me when I was 14. I use it mostly to pull my trailer moving stuff around. I just replaced the regulator/rectifier to get the battery charging again, and found out I need a solenoid as the electric start isn't working. Good luck on your project!

[ATC King]

Congratulations. You now own the most produced ATC Honda ever made. Too bad they came with junk forks...

Time to start looking for a steal on 200M forks. A tip is they can be found for a good deal because a lot of Ebay sellers list them as 185S/200S forks. Just got to do a general ATC fork search and wade through all the listings and know what to look for.

5th gear reverse...that's a total 200ES thing. No other ATC, or quad I can think of (other than Polaris) has full forward gearing in reverse. It sounds a little insane but get that dude stuck in some mud and start shifting gears while in reverse and it'll pop out or at least be entertaining.

There are kits for starter rebuilds and whole new starters available. If that's a problem.

On the subject of rear suspension, there was a guy who took parts from a TRX200 (same basic engine and rear axle) and grafted them onto a 200ES. I'm pretty sure it's on this site. Finding a donor quad at this time is a bit difficult, they're just about as vintage as the trike.

The dual range transmission, shaft drive, and reverse makes it a real workhorse. It's still a good trail machine if kept a lower speeds and with squishy tires.

I wouldn't put more stress on the rear axle than needed though. If you go with modern hubs and aluminum rear wheels I'd keep it as close to stock width as possible. The axle won't take a lot of abuse before bending, as in trail riding at speed, and finding a straight one is pretty tough. Would have to have the stock one straightened.

[oldskool83]

My rancher 6ply tires on 12in rims weight about 12lbs less each than whats on right now. I am looking at a 25-12-9 mudlite the the rear tire and run about 0lbs of air pressure. The skinner 10" wide tire does not look right, nore does the 12" rim I think. But it was a free test. I want aluminum rims for sure. For now I put a set of 400ex hubs I had on it and some tires. I have a 25x7-12 brand new front skinny atv tire I'd like to use. Turning that 12" front tire does not interest me. Forks yes, these are junk. Something is better then this. I found new brake shoes I had in stock from my 200sx when I converted drum to rear disk...I could do that on this but do not think I would. Everything still works and is easy to change. I'm only looking to use this to slow ride with some beer and sausage when I take my daughter to ride.

[6spdls1z28]

Cool find big reds are fun. It’s my wife’s but I ride it more haha. It’s definitely the go to trike. They’re the best to learn wheelies on.


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[MrConcdid]

the mudlite is a great choice also you may consider the Kenda bear claw both are lighter and very aggressive patterns.
Love the 84 Big Red, those are little tanks.
MrC

[ATC King]

I found new brake shoes I had in stock from my 200sx when I converted drum to rear disk...I could do that on this but do not think I would.

I've thought about a rear disk brake conversion on the 200ES but it needs to keep the brake cover with the extra outboard axle bearing for support. Either it would require a very small disk or a whole new bearing support to allow for clearance of a larger one.

The other option I've kicked around for years is to design a multi wet disk with a single hydraulic pressure ring. Much like what Kubota RTVs use.

They use a wet brake with clutch-like disc which has a single hydraulic pressure ring that actuates them.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33461190658...eae34fd79c29a6

It would be expensive to make but the rear brakes would run in oil and would last much longer than the OE shoes and have greater stopping power. Just a custom because-I-can kind of deal. Nobody would buy a finished product because of the cost.

[oldskool83]

a trx250r rear rotor with yz426f front caliper and a few mounts would run under a blue bill, so would a trx450r or trx400ex rear master cylinder. A few laser cut plates to weld on and your stopping. Does it need it, nope. I'm staying drums right now, even up front. I just order my 12x6 front solid alum rim to convert to the quad tire.

[oldskool83]

BR fat tire to skinnier tire front wheel adapter. I am running a solid 12" front aluminum rim now with new 4X150 bolt pattern milled in it. Heck of a task but now not having to run a 2ply 12" wide front tire...standard 25x8-12 atv front tire. Onward to the rear wheels now.

Front forks will need addressed. Mine are rusted thru, bolted together and filled with clear silicon...A new conversion bolt on welded in piece adapter clamp for upper top is my idea. If I can find something with 2-3" wheel travel I'm happy. Maybe older honda CB forks or something. One thing at a time however.

[oldskool83]

Front rim job done. Next to work on rear tires, they are off my blaster and not meant for the BR. I bought a set of Z400 9" rear aluminum rims on Sunday for it. After that we will work on the forks, this thing was slammed and bolted together since the forks are shot. Nothings even welded in straight or anything whoever did it. It rolls now. Thinking about just buying a set of mudlites for it, or kenda pathfinders, Don't need a stupid heavy tire, it's never gonna need it.

[coolpool]

Neat project! Did you try to get the rear drum out at all? That seems to be the most frustrating part to these things....other than the forks and weak spark issues that tend to develop over time.

[oldskool83]

I did get the rear end apart. Next on the list is order a set of 25x12-9 rear mud lites. the Z400 rear rims are all cleaned up, might have rings welded in them anyway, just because there is no suspension and i should prob not cut this all up too much.