I have an older Kawasaki tecate 250 need help...

[proraptor]

Hi I wanted to know if I could update the thing to look like the newer model....My radiator is mounted up on the front forks and I wanted to make it like the newer modes with the nice plastic in the fron and the radiator moved back...Also is it easy to find parts for these things? Its my uncles bike and the motor is in great shape (its all hopped up by trinity since weve known harry for a long long time! he used to live across the street!) So I need to find a place that sells new plastics and maybe some other parts but I would really love to update the bike if I can to the newer style plastics....Thank you for reading my rant and helping me...

[Wickedfinger]

Well, I have to say it .... why?. Take the machine for the kick ass ride that it is and be happy with it. If you want an '86, buy an '86 and sell me that one for cheap. It sounds like you have a great motor in there as well if its a Trinity mill.

[proraptor]

Im going to go and pick it up tonight and start restoring it....I just want to know if the 86 plastics will fit on it?

[Yamaha_Rules69]

I also have a 84' Tecate that im fixing up of my own. I bought it from a guy who just totally trashed it. I got it running, and its just a blast to say the least. It is absolutely my favorite machine that I currently own. As far as the plastics go, I dont think the 86' plastics would fit on it. If i'm not mistaken, they mount on totally diffrent. I guess there is always the option to cut the factory plastic to make it look better. There is also a way to mount the radiator in a diffrent place other than the front. A few guys on the site have done it. I think it mounts somewhere by the side, but im not sure. I'm sure someone can help you out.. ?

[sean8231]

Both front and rear fenders from an 86 will fit, you need to modify the rears slightly, but nothing major. I have 86 plastic on mine..
I think the 85 plastic looks good though, the only reason I went with the 86 is because, I hate the look of the maier low profiles for the 84-85's...

[proraptor]

Cool guys! Thank you! Ok this is my first 2 stroke bike so I need to go down to the shop tomarrow and buy a carb rebuild and a manifold and a couple gaskets one for the reeds and stuff....My question is do reeds go bad at all? they all look like they are in awesome condition.....

I also need to know if its going to be hard to find replacement parts for this thing? I know the motor was totally redone by Harry at trinity racing back in the day......I also know there is a bigger carb on it...the thing is HUGE! I think Ill just take everything down with me when I go....Thank you for your help again....

Oh also I talked to my uncle and he said it has an aftermarket trinity swingarm thats like 2-4 inches longer than stock and a wider aftermarket axle that is around 4 inches wider than stock!

[Jeb]

Please post pics, especially of the swingarm.

86 front fender is a little bit too narrow for the mount holes on the stock 84/85 Lower Triple Clamp. It can be made to work though. The guys you see with 86 front fenders are usually running the entire 86 front, which has giant forks and is a bit narrower. The rear fender sets fine on the frame. you will need to cut slots for the seat latch. And I think there's enough clearance on the pipe side to allow access to the airbox lid without removing the rear fender, which is a big plus. As far as shape goes, the 84/85 stock rear fender looks as good as the 86/87 in my opinion.

You can get new aftermarket plastic from Maier. It comes shiny now too. For the 84/85 you can only get the low profile rear fender, which I agree doesn't look that great. You could get the 84/85 front and "race-cut" it. which means to trim about 6 inches off the back of it. It looks allot better in my opinion.

I've thought about moving the radiator on my 84 as I rebuild it. I have an 83 KX125 radiator laying around. trouble is, the kx125 radiator is on the same side as the pipe on the Tecate. so i cant make the shroud work. I haven't compared the surface area of the KX125 radiator compared to the KXT stock radiator either. It's just an idea of mine.

I've also thought of buying a cheap set of 84 KX250 radiators, tank, & shrouds and see how well that all could be me made to fit.

I aslo agree with Wicked, leave it alone, clean it up good and love it for what it is. a bad-@$$ racing 3 wheeler. Or buy an 86/87 model if you want the "looks".

[250rmanfmf]

I know there is a relocation kit to move the radiator from the triple tree to the bottom of the front of the frame, I dont know where you get it but I know there is a couple of guys who have it on here

Tyler

[sean8231]

After a few months, and many e-mails, I just recieved the only relocation kit I have ever seen.. I'll get some pics up, probably later today..

[proraptor]

Yeah guys My uncle just told me it also has a custom exhaust on it that harry made for him at trinity! He also said harry worked his magic on the engine and the thing is scary fast....My digi cam just broke (one of the pins broke that hooks into the card) So as soon as I get ahold of a new camera Ill take several pics of all the aftermarket stuff....

I want to convert the front-end to disc brake also....Can you please tell me what I need? Should I just get the 86 style forks? Cause the forks on there now are rusted badly at the tops...I would also need a new front wheel and tire im sure....which I also wanted to get anyways

I have another question (thanks for bearing with me) the pipe seems kind of rusty I have a bead blasting cabinet would it be ok to bead blast it? Then could I paint it? If so what kind of paint? Thank you once again!

[250rmanfmf]

bead blasting the pipes are fine, I sand blast mine, then you can either have it powdercoated (probably the best but not cheapest) or you can get some of the new Dupli-Color High Temp 1200 degree paint. of coarse use a primer first. But stay away from the 500 degree paint, I have learned from experience that even though in 500 degree paint you can get gloss black but it will burn off where the pipe meets the motor faster than you can say "what the............." . even though you can only get flat black for 1200 degree paint but it wont burn off as easy, it comes in black, silver, white and another color I cant remember. Or if you powdercoat it you can choose anycolor.

my opinion, someone may think differently

Tyler
PS-Lets see some pics when you get a camera,
also you might as well get the whole front assembly off a 86 if you are going to switch to a 86 forks.