1987 HONDA 200X Neat Story

[Merge_88]

Here's the way it went........ About 6 years ago, a local guy gave me a title to a 1987 200X. A friend of his owned the trike around 1999/2000 and had sold it but he couldn't find the title at the time. The interesting thing about the title is that my uncle had purchased the trike brand new and his name was still on the title. I tucked the title away with some others and hadn't given it much thought since.

Fast forward to two weeks ago. I saw an ad for a 200X for sale in Missouri that had some pretty bad pictures, but I could tell it was a rough 2nd generation 200X. I forwarded the ad to my brother who lived a lot closer to the seller. To my surprise, my brother went and bought that bike for a helluva price. Later that weekend, he dropped the 200X off at my place to check out and work on. I really didn't think just too much of it UNTIL I saw the key switch! I thought maybe it was a fluke and someone added it or something. Later that day though, I couldn't believe my eyes when I dug out that old title and the VIN matched the bike that was sitting in front of me! Sure enough, my uncle's old bike that he sold off in 1990 had found its way to me!

So, what I would like to do is restore the trike enough to make it a nice looking rider. I have no intentions of sitting it away on a shelf to just look at. If it was an all original 1987 in pristine shape then I would, but it's seen a fair share of use and abuse over the years. I'd like to know what parts you guys see that are not original to the trike. It's obvious that the rear shock is from something else and poorly modified to fit. I'm also thinking that the front end is off of a 1st generation 200X or something else possibly. The trike is also missing the complete rear brake system besides the disc. Do the wheels look to be the originals, obviously the tires are not. The trike actually runs pretty strong, but smokes pretty heavy. According to ebay prices, I'm looking at somewhere around $1000 bucks for new fenders, used rear shock, used front forks, brake system. Plus it needs seat work which I do upholstery, but it will also need new tires along with new levers. Anyone on here have the parts I'd need and could buy in one whole deal instead of piecing it back together off of ebay? I almost think I'd be better off to find a clean 86 and buy it for parts but Id hate to part out another good bike. I'm only considering that since mine is an 87 model. What do you guys think? Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed the story and pics!

[Dirtcrasher]

The triples are wrong for 87. 86 forks were .75 shorter and have an aluminum cap. 85 and under has a steel fork cap but they are really not an issue unless they are pitted.

Are they 33mm tubes??

Plastic, paint tank, recover set, tear it down and powdercoat the 87 swinger red and do the frame while your at it.

A good used shock can be rebuilt if it's inexpensive. Contact Onformula1 for suspension....

Bill007 can get you nice air shrouds, not sure what colors he has. Hmmm, I could use a white set.

I love the 87 tank decals buried in clear!!

The headlight would be on the expensive side. A 350X is less rare but they run 200 to 350$ on EBAY but you have trike friends here.

I can't tell in the picture, if the rear axle has 5 bolts then it's not 86 or 87.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the rims, just get 3 new tires mounted on thick rims if your gonna be in the rocks; Otherwise medium thickness is good.

If you have the book, adjust the valves, it takes 4 minutes. If it's low on compression, bore it and put in a 10.25:1 piston.

If you get into the clutch side, clean out that oil filter rotor.

87 has a fatter kicker shaft than 86.

Motion pro makes cables.

Lots of other calipers fit, such as a CR80 on the rear disc brake.

Anyone can get the key switch on 86 or 87 but a silver swingarm screams 1986.....

You've got 2 so you should be able to put together one nice one.

[3wheelrider]

Very cool story!-circumstances seem so unlikely that could have happen that way-so glad for you. Truly awesome! Must be a great feeling.

[Merge_88]

Thanks for the response Dirt Crasher. I checked on the axle and it has 4 bolts. I can see the red swing arm showing through rock chips, but it looks like it was painted silver about ten times on top of the original red. Ill have to check on the fork measurement.

[Jmoozy27]

Looks like your uncles '87 had a one night stand with a 1st gen 200x and that was the outcome. A delinquent hooligan.

Love the story though!!!

[350for350]

You say that you don't want to have a museum quality show piece, so I say that as long as it looks close, go with it. I think that it's more important that you fix up your uncle's trike and ride it. I think that would make him happy.

[86125m]

I can't say for sure but you rear fenders look like they are fiberglass if so i would repair any spots and repaint them.

[Merge_88]

I really like the look of this, except I'd go with a red frame, swinger, seat and basically anything else that is blue would be red. Really like the look of that 85R light.

[DohcBikes]

Looks like your uncles '87 had a one night stand with a 1st gen 200x
There appear to be zero 83-85 200x parts on that bike.


I can't say for sure but you rear fenders look like they are fiberglass if so i would repair any spots and repaint them.The fenders are stock, plastic.



The entire front end is from an 83-84 250r which is an upgrade for any 200x.



The bike came to you through the universe. You should properly restore it over time.

[DohcBikes]

Post a pic of the shock reservoir.

[Merge_88]

There is no reservoir on the shock, just the hose. The shock appears to be about 2" shorter than stock and was bolted to a piece if square stock to compensate the length. I included some more pics of the front end for reference. Is there any direct bolt in rear shocks that would be an upgrade? I weigh 230. Thanks!

[DohcBikes]

No need for more discussion on the front end, I already told you what it was.

No, there will not be a bolt in shock for your clumsily modified rear lashup. The BEST option is to find a stock rear shock and have it rebuilt and revalved for your weight and the type of riding you plan to do, or rebuild it yourself.

[Merge_88]

Thanks for the verification of the front end. I didn't mean to make it sound like I wanted a direct bolt in for the rigged together rear shock setup. I was just curious if there was something more common that swapped in place of a stock shock. Thanks for the advice, I will be on the lookout for a stocker.

[DohcBikes]

Ok, now that I know you have the ability to listen i'll tell you how i determine the front ends.

Always look at the axle boss. It is almost always different on every honda trike. That is undoubtedly a 2nd gen 250r axle boss.

As far as the triples, one could argue that they are 1st gen 200x triples, but they would be wrong, because the flat oval shaped bosses on the underside of the top triple are tapped for bolts on the X. They are not tapped for bolts on the 83-84 250r. Yours are not tapped in the area I am speaking of. Add to that the confirmation of 'R' forks, and a fairly clear indication of an 'R' hub, and you have a complete 250r frontend.

[bad to the bone]

Wow! I wish I could find my dad's old 1985 honda atc350x 3 wheeler he sold back in the 1990s to a guy at work in madison, nebraska. My dad cant remember who he sold it to. I have the vin # to it but ive had no luck finding it.

[Merge_88]

So I hadn't touched this project in quite some time. Actually I had posted it in the classifieds and some other sites thinking about trading or selling it off. I originally bought it site unseen ans wanting a daily rider second generation 200X. I had some interest in it but while looking on one of the sell sites I ran across an 86' daily rider that was very close to home. I worked out a deal and brought it home. It's a neat trike because it has one of the "Northcoast" extended swingers with a 300ex axle adapted to it. The 86' also has some OEM parts that I plan to use now for my restoration of the 87'. I got motivated and put the top end back together on the 87' and am happy to say it runs strong again.

Now I plan to buy some other necessary parts to make the 87' rideable so I can work out mechanical bugs before I take it completely apart for a full restoration. Here's a few pics of both trikes.

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[Merge_88]

I made some good progress this weekend. My rider 86' has a lot of the OEM parts that I need for the 87' so I swapped over the complete front suspension, bars, controls, etc. I actually really like the 84' 250R forks on the 86' now, really made a difference in handling as the OEM are pretty soft. Slowly but surely I'm going to get this 87 together, then I'll take it all back apart for powder coat, paint, etc.

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