200s project: to hybridize or not to hybridize? That is the question

[Sxb3646]

Hello fellow trike enthusiasts! I have a dilemma. I have a stock 200s. It's in great shape. 1985. So I wanted to put gold 250r rims on it. But I am running into problems getting that rim to work on the front. Mostly due to the brakes. What I decided I would do is just upgrade my brakes to a 200x disk brake because that would be the hub that I would have to use to fit the 250r gold rim. Then the question arises, what will that skinny tire and wheel look like on 200s forks? Hmmm well the picture my mind drew up is not all that pretty. And pretty is what I am looking for. So I am the type that is all or nothing. Hot or cold black or white. So I thought well I hear a lot about people using 200x forks on these 200s bikes and how much they love the way the machine handles. So I am considering 200x forks on the 200s. Well my bike is no longer the fine condition original 200s machine anymore if I do that. But I'm not too concerned with all that collector original stuff. I just like my ride to stick to a theme. All or nothing. Original or hybrid badass? Well it's looking like I will be replacing the stock forks with 200x forks and running the disk brake in the front and then ofcourse I will get to use my gold rims that I am so partial to. Well now I have a 200s with 200x forks and I think, sticking to the theme of the ride, what other parts from a 200x are interchangeable with the 200s? Well the top end!!! And honestly I am not impressed by the 200s power. It's decent, but could be much better. So if I were to replace the stock top end with a 200x top end, what are some problems that I could cause? At the end of my project, I want a Honda reliable trike. My concern is the transmission, specifically the clutches. Now I am not one to dog my bike. I promise you she will not run wide open more than a few times just to see how my project turned out. But still like I said I want a reliable bike. If the clutches potentially cannot withstand the increase in horsepower, can I also replace the stock clutches with 200x clutches? Or other Honda clutches that can withstand the output of the 200x motor? I was born after threewheelers were outlawed! I don't know all these things, so please if you have some knowledge of these machines, help a brother out. Tell me what you know. I love these atcs! They are such well made machines. I have owned 3 and I have owned 4 quads and my trikes were all clearly much better made. I have no intention of tearing these machines up because I appreciate them. So please keep that in mind and help me out. Thanks.

[86125m]

Ok man the only problem that I know of when you swap the stock for the 200x top end is the higher compression can make the recoil starter brake. I don't think more power will hurt the clutch in any way. But while you have it apart you could go ahead and replace the clutch disks. Now as for the 200x front end I prefer the look of the 200s triple trees but the disk brake would be a big upgrade and would look better with the skinnier tire.

[Sxb3646]

Man thank you so much for your advice and opinion! I really appreciate it! I like the look of the 200s for too. Just someone I was talking with sort of put that in my head that maybe the skinny tire on that fork would look odd. Thanks again bro! Now I can have plans for baby girl. Check her out203978

[86125m]

Man also getting that trail pro off and putting a knobbie tire on the front would help in the looks and the ride department as well. I like the dura knobbies I think rocky mountain atv still has them for around 50 dollars a tire. I think right now the dura knbbies are as close as you can get to the originals. I personally haven't had any problems with my split rims. So really just painting your rims gold would maby give you the desired look.

[Jmoozy27]

That thing is clean I wouldn't change a thing. I have a 85 big red that came with 200x front. I am building around it but the big tire up front looks the best. You will have a better ride with the sporty front but on a utility machine it's kind of overkill. Where did you get you find that? How much did you pay?203985

[Sxb3646]

Yes I know that front tire I have there is quite unattractive. Lol. Thanks for the compliment. I have not had problems with these rims. But I haven't had the bike very long either. Bought it in June. I have had problems with a split rim on my 125m however. I since replaced those with some 8" NOS ITP I found on eBay. 203987here is the 125m on golds.
The story on how I got this 200s is kind of a funny one. I live in south louisiana in Lafayette. I was supposed to meet this guy to look at and possibly purchase a 200s in Arkansas about halfway up the state. Well I leave my house at 6am and get to the guys house a little after noon. I waited on this guy until after 1:30 called his phone and knocked on the door with no reply. I couldn't believe I had driven that far and this guy won't answer his phone now. So I said to myself I left home to buy a 200s and I'm not coming back without one. So I started looking on Craigslist for a 200s in nice condition. Made phone calls for about an hour. Then I found this one a little above Nashville TN. Guy said he just knew I would love this bike and want it if I saw it. So I drove up there got to his house about 730 or 8 sun was going down. I started it rode it around his yard. All seemed well. I gave 800$ for it. Drove all night back to lafayette louisiana and made it back to my house at about 6 am. 24 hour round trip haha. I really like the bike. Has a lot of low end power but I had a big red 250es before and I was thinking it might be somewhere in the ballpark of that bike but it just doesn't put out power the way that big red did. But it's a solid bike. Rides really well. My dad had a 200s when I was a young child and I can remember riding it so I always wanted to get one.