Possible Winter Project

[jbandb]

Hey all, I've been contemplating a possible winter project using the spare 185 frame that I've got, so I thought I would see what you all think and get some technical info first. So here goes.

The rear of the frame was broken and re-welded incorrectly, so the rear axle cannot be aligned correctly.

I had thought of just cutting the frame tube that was broken and correcting the alignment problem, but I was wondering if anyone has grafted a swingarm to one of these frames before to make it have rear suspension like a 200x?

If this isn't too off the wall, what swingarm would be the best to try to find and are there any swingarms that will accept a stock 185/200 rear axle (I have both), or would I have to find a different axle to match whatever swingarm I use?

Any ideas on the best ways to mount the swingarm and the shock?

What about front forks? Are there any shock front forks (200x, 250r) that will fit the stock 185/200 neck? If so, what are they and what years?

I've got my complete 200 that I just rebuilt the motor on, and everything works on it pretty much, so I have the wiring, motor, tires, wheels, etc. to put on if I could get these mods accomplished on the spare frame.

I'll be doing the work myself, so there won't be any labor costs involved, which will be good considering I've got next to no budget at the moment...lol.

Hopefully this isn't too dumb of an idea, but fully suspended trikes sell for high dollars in this area, so finding even a good roller for cheap is nearly impossible. But I'll have all winter to see what I can come up with on modifying this frame if it is possible at all, so I figured I would see what the consensus was. After all, it doesn't hurt to ask right?

So, if anyone has and ideas, information, or suggestions about making a 185/200 frame fully suspended, I'd like to hear it.

Thanks as always...

[Vealmonkey]

If you are going to be using alot of 200x parts, why don't you just use a whole 200x roller. It would save you alot of work in the long run.

[litebulblsc]

You can make your own swinger out of the rear frame and a little tubing, which would allow you to use your stock axle and should help with cost. The 200s had front suspension that should fit the 185

[AutoXer]

If you are going to be using alot of 200x parts, why don't you just use a whole 200x roller. It would save you alot of work in the long run.

+2 on that ... keep your eye open and you will find a 200x roller

[jbandb]

Thanks for all the replies.

And first of all, I realize that the simplest and easiest way to go about this would be to just buy a 200x roller, but that was not my question. Trust me, I know that a 200x roller would be perfect and all I would have to do is swap my 185/200 motor into it and have an autox 200x, but that is not what I'm trying to do here, and that is not what I was asking about.

The whole point of this thread was to get any ideas or technical information on what would and wouldn't work and what I could or couldn't use to make what I already have work for what I'm wanting to build. I don't want to buy another rolling bike or a bunch of other parts that I don't need, when I already have stuff that is just sitting there waiting to be used.

By that, I mean that I already have the spare 185/200 frame that is damaged and going to have to have the rear worked on anyway to ever be used again. I also already have fenders, a seat, wheels/tires, and nearly everything else to make that trike a roller except for the motor which I just rebuilt and is on the 200 frame that I am currently riding.

If I had the money to run out and buy a rolling trike and just put my motor in it, then I would have just done that instead of wasting the time to post a question.

A special thanks to litebulblsc for actually trying to answer the original question that was asked. It was much appreciated.

So, once again, what I am asking is this:

1. Has anyone converted one of the 185/200 frames to full suspension? And if so, how did you do it and what parts did you use for your conversion?

2. Does anyone know what suspended front forks, besides the 200s obviously, that would fit a stock 185/200 frame neck? I am concerned about if the 200s forks would have enough travel with a custom made or even stock 200x rear swingarm added. The 200s and big red forks don't seem to have very much travel to them.

3. If I use my stock lower frame to make a swingarm out of, as litebulblsc suggested, what recommendations are there for adding the bearings, bearing support housing, and pivot bolt to mount the swingarm to the frame? Would simply making a pivot out of tubing and finding bearings and spacers that would fit the inside diameter of the tubing be strong enough, or is there a better way?

4. Will I need to add a spring loaded chain tensioner to the drive chain when running a swingarm, or can I keep the chain tensioned correctly by just getting the correct arc in the swingarm geometry?

I realize that this is something a lot of people would not want to waste their time doing, or even probably think it was worth doing in the first place. But, I've already got a lot of the spare parts laying around, I got the tools, and a little free time here and there, so I thought it would be worth a shot doing. I just need to know what will and what won't work with a stock 185/200 frame neck and rear axle.

As always, I appreciate everyone who takes the time to respond to any of my questions, and I mean no disrespect to anyone who replied or will reply, but please try to answer the question that is being asked, and not just always saying to go buy something else instead. If buying something else was any option, I wouldn't waste your time, or mine, with asking these questions.

Thanks again!!