1985 Honda 350X Frame Questions

[sweetip2000]

Here are some pics of things I noticed on this 1985 Honda 350X I recently bought. Tell me if you think the frame has been welded.

See the pics.
Does it look like the fork is too far at the end of the axle ?

When I went to loosen the the 4 nuts that hold the axle I noticed one of the studs is broken. When I slid the fork off the studs
I felt the fork pop out toward me.

[Dirtcrasher]

To me it does appear welded.

[RapidRick]

Ditto, that's not typical

[dustrunner]

just take the fork and twist it till it is ligned back-up with the axle... = the forks are tweaked a bit....

[sweetip2000]

It looks funky up at the neck of the frame. God knows what happened. Looks like a head on wreck.

[sweetip2000]

here are some more pics

It was a choice between a 1986 200X or 1985 350X
Both bikes were 1200

[dustrunner]

nice looking trike.. i think its factory weld... the paint is still intact and the rest of it has been taken care of... but thats me...

[sweetip2000]

Never saw a factory weld at the neck like that and that's whats weird your right it is the original paint on top of that weld at the neck, but then again I am not an expert.
Some minor fixins and she should be good to go.

Whats baffling about the deal was most of the bike was well taken care of so how come the frame took such a blow where it needs to be welded ? Very odd. If these trikes could talk I bet we would have amazing stories.


The frame is JH3TE 0809 FM016477
Motor is TE08E-5016600

[fabiodriven]

just take the fork and twist it till it is ligned back-up with the axle... = the forks are tweaked a bit....

This is the second time I've seen you tell somebody to turn the fork until it lines up and I corrected you last time. If you want to hack on your own junk on your time, that's fine. Please refrain from spreading bad advise in these forums though. The fork is bent, plain and simple. You can sit there and spin it until your little heart's content, but it's still going to be bent.

Sweetip, I can tell just from the last pic in post #6 that your forks are bent, or at least one of them is. You have two choices. You can get it straightened or you can replace it. If you want to take the hack's advise you can spin it so the bend is in a different place but guess what? It will still be bent.

[Dirtcrasher]

I've posted this before.

Lift up the trike so the tire is off the ground an inch.

Loosen all 8-12mm bolts (u can leave them in there)

Try to rotate a tube, if it does not, gently place some tool of your choice to SLIGHTLY spread the 4 pinch points.

Now, it will spin. Spin each upper tube with your hand and watch down below. You will see the front end moving around.

Andy, you know I don't mind helping you but you seem to like "change" :lol:

I built and rebuilt a 350X after you drove 5 hours to get here, attack it in one day and rebuilt it the next. I enjoyed helping you and having you stay but no way I can do that again; Far too busy.

Those were 2 LONG days and you left my yard with a pretty well (everything rebuilt or repaired) 350X; And then you sold that perfectly running 350X.

So now you buy another 350X that probably needs quite a bit of work and those frames don't break there unless bolts are missing. There is a 100 lb motor in there.

[Flossyb20]

No way those welds are factory, not to mention your rear end doesn't appear to be tracking right either...find yourself a good frame if you can...should run you 100 or so, well worth it...the 86 frames are a little more stout if you can find them, but you'll also need the 86 motor mounts (bolts are larger), and then gusset up the weak points. Your forks are indeed bent...it'll be cheaper to take them to a reputable shop and have them straightened. Buy some new seals and rebuild them while you're at it, chances are they'll need it if they've been bent like that.

[sweetip2000]

Well thanks for the advice. I will get the forks straightened out and just ride the bike as is.
I am not looking to jump or do any really hard riding. I just wanted to get your feedback because I wasn't quite sure. I will keep an eye out for another frame. And hey Steve no hard feelings. I paid you for your time and appreciate all the work you did on the previous 350X.

[Dirtcrasher]

Andy, That front axle is sunk in too far. You may have a collar issue or when those forks were (reinstalled) the bent went outwards and thats why it's buried.

None of my 350X's have that issue. #1 post, pics 3 and 4.

[RodKnockRacing]

i dont know if i would ride it with that axle like that even if you dont plan on any hard riding it doesnt seem safe just my opinion

[sweetip2000]

Hey Steve,

I am going to have the front end checked out and see how much the labor cost is to repair the damage (if it can be repaired). Then compare that to the cost of a rebuilt front end. Also have them take a look at that axle collar as well. And that other guy who mentioned about the rear tracking is right. I noticed the same thing. Oddly enough these paddle tires are made for sand and mud depending on how they are mounted.


I am going to a local Yamaha dealer and I do trust the work they do but the labor rates are insane at 90 per hour. I might be better off buying a complete different set of front forks and different axle collar. That is pretty much the extent of anything major I saw besides the front brakes and frame. I will do this a little bit at a time until its worthy to ride. I just want to make sure the bike is safe to ride before I hammer down on the throttle. BTW thanks for the heads up from Aldo and everyone else. Much appreciated !!

[yaegerb]

I would just buy some used and straight forks. You can have them swapped out and the bike ready to go in a couple hours.

If you want to go nuts and get the bike completely fixed, because I agree, that frame has been wrecked at some point then I would take the bike down to the frame and send the frame to Mike over at HRE. He will fix the damage and you can have him gusset the frame while he's in there. That's what I would do, but I am pretty anal. :)

[fabiodriven]

I wouldn't do anything with that frame aside from using it for scrap. If the rear is that far out of whack (assuming the problem doesn't lie in the swing arm bearings or something) then it'll never truly be straight again. Compound that with the break up front and I'd say frame=junk.

[sweetip2000]

I was thinking the same exact thing. Hanging on the very edge of that axle like that with only 3 studs holding it in place.

[sweetip2000]

I think that's what I will eventually have to do. The labor will most likely be more than what the parts are worth at 90 per hour. As far as the frame goes..... most likely will look around for an 86 frame. I just hate the idea of having to bastardize a bike after 28 years of being all original. The shipping costs are insane too. Probably at least 100 to ship.

[fabiodriven]

You could easily use an 85 frame as long as you have it gusseted.

[sweetip2000]

I will keep an eye out for a frame. Thanks

[Dirtcrasher]

You could easily use an 85 frame as long as you have it gusseted.

Another frame and some gusetting the whole area would That front crack on the upper is not good.

How many 85 350X's's are out there 50K?

Who knows...

[jays375]

Yamaha dealer?At $90 a hour!.You will have a bill higher than what you paid for the trike.There is a few members here that can straighten your forks.Get a manual,easy to disassemble.More than likely any used forks will be bent also.