Picked up an 86 200X yesterday. Couple of questions..

[Birddog85]

First, sorry if these pics are sideways they usually flip if you click on them. I'll try for better pics after I unload it.

So I ran out to Dubuque to pick this bad boy up. It's not as clean as I had hoped but it was a deal I couldn't refuse!
It runs STRONG, brakes are good, bearings are good and it has 3 brand new tires and it has 9" 350X rear wheels. The worst part about the whole machine is that someone welded both rear hubs to the axle! WHY?!?!

Here are my questions.

1. It has Fiberglass Fenders front and rear. There's a Maier sticker on the rear but I can't find info on 1986 Fiberglass parts. Could these be for an R that someone hacked onto the X? I like the Fiberglass idea as I can paint them with better results than Plastics.

2. The rear shock doesn't have a schrader valve on the reservoir. Every 86 I've looked at so far has one. Maybe it's an 85 shock? It needs a rebuild anyway so I'm not too concerned.

Thanks in advance for any info!

On to the pics.

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[86125m]

ok first off about the axle. People are idiots and cheap if they think they can fix everything with a welding machine, jb weld , and bondo. I would personally run the axle as is until the rear wheel bearing wore out then try to find a replacement axle. now as for the fenders people just like to put stickers on there bikes regardless if they have those products on the bikes. They are not r fenders but it looks like they fit nicely so count it as a blessing you can paint them. The schrader valve is under a cap. look at this link it shows the cap and the reservoir separately. you take the cap off with either a pipe wrench or if the shock is off the bike put the little nub on the bottom of the reservoir and the put it in a bench vice. and wiggle the reservoir until it comes off. now if the shock seems to be working fine and is not leaking. I would not mess with it. If you let the nitrogen out of the reservoir you might not be able to find someone to fill it.

[Birddog85]

ok first off about the axle. People are idiots and cheap if they think they can fix everything with a welding machine, jb weld , and bondo. I would personally run the axle as is until the rear wheel bearing wore out then try to find a replacement axle. now as for the fenders people just like to put stickers on there bikes regardless if they have those products on the bikes. They are not r fenders but it looks like they fit nicely so count it as a blessing you can paint them. The schrader valve is under a cap. look at this link it shows the cap and the reservoir separately. you take the cap off with either a pipe wrench or if the shock is off the bike put the little nub on the bottom of the reservoir and the put it in a bench vice. and wiggle the reservoir until it comes off. now if the shock seems to be working fine and is not leaking. I would not mess with it. If you let the nitrogen out of the reservoir you might not be able to find someone to fill it.

No joke on the welder! I've never seen anything like that.

I love the fenders. That I can paint them is a huge bonus as I hate painting plastics.

The rear shock has no damping action left. You push the rear down and it hops right back up quick. But it is good to know about the cap. Thanks!

[nstyle73]

86 axles are kind of hard to find, but you might find out that just the hubs were the issue. As far as the fenders, its your bike and hard to tell in the pics, but they just kind of look like old cracked Maiers to me. The underside should look like fiberglass, either mat or chopped. I have some old plastic fenders that have those same cracking/spidering on top. You obviously have these in front of you, but I know I have jumped to conclusions only to find things not as exciting once I reviewed my initial assessment.

[Dirtcrasher]

83 and 84 250R rear axle fits, you may need 2mm smaller ID oil seal, I forget.

I also have used the 83 to 85 200X axle.

If Oldskool83 sees this, I believe you can use the carrier and axle from a TRX300EX; But, I don't want to give bad information.

Protect that headlight with your LIFE!!

[Birddog85]

86 axles are kind of hard to find, but you might find out that just the hubs were the issue. As far as the fenders, its your bike and hard to tell in the pics, but they just kind of look like old cracked Maiers to me. The underside should look like fiberglass, either mat or chopped. I have some old plastic fenders that have those same cracking/spidering on top. You obviously have these in front of you, but I know I have jumped to conclusions only to find things not as exciting once I reviewed my initial assessment.

Yeah, I gotta slow down when I get these things and really analyze them. I get all hopped up like a 13 year old and miss the obvious.

[Birddog85]

83 and 84 250R rear axle fits, you may need 2mm smaller ID oil seal, I forget.

I also have used the 83 to 85 200X axle.

If Oldskool83 sees this, I believe you can use the carrier and axle from a TRX300EX; But, I don't want to give bad information.

Protect that headlight with your LIFE!!

I'm hoping to find the axle/hubs are savable with some careful grinding. The welds don't seem too deep if I'm looking at them right.

No joke on the Headlight! Of all the things to carry a stupid high price tag..

[Dirtcrasher]

I'm hoping to find the axle/hubs are savable with some careful grinding. The welds don't seem too deep if I'm looking at them right.

No joke on the Headlight! Of all the things to carry a stupid high price tag..

I have 21 total HONDA SX 200X and mostly 350X headlights, lol.....

I'd weld them back on in my lathe. Knock the studs out and true up the face and DONE!!

[Birddog85]

I have 21 total HONDA SX 200X and mostly 350X headlights, lol.....

I'd weld them back on in my lathe. Knock the studs out and true up the face and DONE!!


I was thinking something similar. For now I'll leave it be.

Hey, would you be willing to part with a headlight for an 84 200X? I have the glass I need the plastic and the bezel.

[HairyJR]

It runs STRONG, brakes are good, bearings are good and it has 3 brand new tires and it has 9" 350X rear wheels. The worst part about the whole machine is that someone welded both rear hubs to the axle! WHY?!?!



Could it be that the PO also used the 350x wheel hubs? Their splines are different and larger than 200x making them loose on the axle and they fixed it by welding them. You might find after grinding and removing these hubs that the original axle splines are ok and can reuse original correct style hubs. Some people do stupid stuff....

"HJ" 226955 :beer

[ps2fixer]

Could it be that the PO also used the 350x wheel hubs? Their splines are different and larger than 200x making them loose on the axle and they fixed it by welding them. You might find after grinding and removing these hubs that the original axle splines are ok and can reuse original correct style hubs. Some people do stupid stuff....

"HJ" 226955 :beer

If the PO did this, I suspect the OP can remove the axle nut and washer on each side to see the end of the spines and the gap from not being the correct hub. That is... unless it is welded there too.

My advice.... find a replacement axle while you don't need it and bonus if you can get the hubs with it. Get the bearings etc to re-do the rear axle setup and shelf it till either you need it, or the welds bug you too much.

To me in the 2nd photo the bottom side of the fender looks white like normal plastic, of what I have seen fiberglass fenders are not painted on the bottom, and if they are, they are not a smooth finish.

Overall looks like a pretty nice machine to start with, not much work and it will be a great rider, unless you're going for a restore, then good luck with that =).