stretched 200x its too low now, what to do?

[OldNo437]

trying to find a solution to my frankenstien trike, basically the frame was stretched 6" to fit a 650 4 cylinder in it. but the backbone angle was kept the same, so as a result the gooseneck is about 3" higher up than it used to be, making the front end sit super low. now there's 2 solutions as i see it. the first solution, (the better idea i think) is to drop the gooseneck back down, change the backbone angle, and weld everything back up. but this is an extremely labor intensive option. the 2nd is use longer forks. which if i had the clamps bored out, would be easy. the first option is 350x forks which would add about 3" which might not be enough, also what I see is a bunch of bent 350x forks, so that tells me that 35mm forks might not be strong enough for this pig (it tips the scales at over 500 lbs) so then theres the 39mm fork option. which would mean either boring out 350x clamps to 39mm or boring the 200x clamps to accept 39mm forks. going the 39mm fork route, was thinking that I might want to see if cr / xl / xr forks might work as they might be longer as dirt bike wheels are taller, or take 85-87 R fork bodies, with tubes from a CR or otherwise for the extra length. so oh wise trikers, what would you do?

[fabiodriven]

I'd salvage whatever parts are still good from it and toss that frame in the scrap pile.

[DohcBikes]

Fabio is 100% correct, but i'll humor myself and assess your options anyway.

You're not gonna bore a 200x triple to accept 39mm forks dude.

Adding dirt bike forks might get it higher, but also increases travel. You're still gonna bottom that pig out.

Your bike is over 200lbs heavier than a stock 200x. Do you think more cutting and welding is going to fix that issue?

The ONLY reason to keep that motor in an ATC chassis is for drag racing. If you plan to do anything else with it, you're wasting your time and heading towards a major disaster and possibly death.

You want a 650cc ATC to work correctly, but you don't want any mods to be labor intensive. Where do you buy your crack?

[OldNo437]

frankly I don't know why I even bother wasting my time here.. as I have yet to actually gain any useful tech specs. ok so lets review, why a 650.. why not? if I thought 39mm forks were possible in a 200x tree for sure, I wouldn't have asked. bottoming out.. they make these things called aftermarket fork springs, that are, (stay with me here i know its hard) matched to the total weight of the doohicky their in, and at 35, or 39mm plenty of options, especially in bikes.thus adding more options to build a balanced chassis that actually works well. I won't even bother trying to gain some info on rear shock link angles and lengths as i think that would be a waste too.. so finally, does anyone actually have any info on fork lengths and diameters? lets say now with a gen 3 r tree or 350?

[DohcBikes]

frankly I don't know why I even bother wasting my time here.. Good, good. Let the butthurt flow through you.


as I have yet to actually gain any useful tech specs. Actually not long ago you asked what your gas cap went to originally and I told you. If that's not premium info I just don't know what is.


ok so lets review, why a 650.. why not? Nobody asked that question.


if I thought 39mm forks were possible in a 200x tree for sure, I wouldn't have asked. And if you hadn't asked, I wouldn't have answered. Now you know.


bottoming out.. they make these things called aftermarket fork springs, that are, (stay with me here i know its hard) Condescention, classy and effective when asking for advice.


matched to the total weight of the doohicky their in, and at 35, or 39mm plenty of options, especially in bikes.thus adding more options to build a balanced chassis that actually works well. If you want to wrap your 650/4 in balanced chassis that actually works well, don't start with a cobblefawked 200x frame. End of story.


I won't even bother trying to gain some info on rear shock link angles and lengths as i think that would be a waste too..I agree.


so finally, does anyone actually have any info on fork lengths and diameters?Yep a lot of us do. We arent too keen on offering specs for frankenbikes. It takes patience, tact, and skill to properly outfit a bike as custom as your beast. Stop being so fuggin arrogant and you might have better luck.

Here's a bone. Let's see how you handle this. http://www.ebay.com/itm/G-HONDA-VTX-1800-C-2003-OEM-TRIPLE-TREE-/112080662737?hash=item1a188730d1:g:BAkAAOSwARZXoOZ b&vxp=mtr

The answers given thus far are real advice, and helpful at that. Just because it isn't what you wanted to hear, doesn't mean it's a waste.

[oldskool83]

83-84 250r forks are 35mm. put the 200x stem in the 250R triples and use a 250R front end. Boring raked Honda triples is not easy and normally costs more then you can pick up a used set of 2nd gen R triples. Either way your gonna need heaver springs and fork oil for what motor is in it. Main thing is this seems like a cheap home grown machine and to give you ground clearance your gonna need a different rear shock. I know what works and want does not. But these mods already cost $200 alone for parts. You need to tell me if you have $200 to do this to a home grown machine.

You come here because this is about the only site on the WWW that has information. People are going to shoot down other peoples ideas and builds. That's what they do now days. Unless your showing up here and trying to out build the next buy building a 450R conversion or restoring one for the 500th thread yeah people do not care. Is what it is. But you may have find some decent deals on parts hard to find.

It's your choice to piss people off or piss yourself off. I've done my share of both.

[fabiodriven]

so oh wise trikers, what would you do?

You asked the question and we are many of us pros whether you'd like to admit that or not. I'm throwing you a bone even commenting on this waste of time. I just built a machine that's half the weight of your turd with probably the same amount of reliable, well suited, and period correct horsepower. What you have is a side show, not worth taking seriously. Even for drag racing you'd be out gunned! Someone was bored and had a welder kicking around so for a hoot they grafted two unfortunate machines. The problem here is you're taking it seriously. In its current trim this bike will always be a waste of time and not particularly good at anything other than making people scratch their heads. We can't help you not because of our lack of expertise, but because that machine is beyond help and not worth the time. Good luck with the turd kid.

Leave it to Oldstool to rip into people's legit threads and good questions yet he can relate to this cobbled mess.

[RubberSalt]

I may not be the king of cobble, but I've taken an arc welder to sheet metal to get things done. Without picture's i've got a hard time visualizing how incorrectly it is sitting.

The first thing that comes to mind is this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A0U7jakUY8

If i didn't have another machine to focus on, but i had a saw and a welder.. I'd get to chopping. But if i did have other frames or options, I'd follow suit and mess with something else. Big engines are fun and all, but if you can't enjoy them, then whats the point?

I imagine that re positioning the rear shock can help quite a bit on height. Bringing the bottom mount closer to the engine should fix the height, but leave you more prone to bottoming out. you'll need a new rear shock.
The something like the VTX forks would be a place to start on the front.

When the money has been spent, it may have been wiser to invest into a new frame. You can find all kinds of stuff on craigslist.

Picked up a couple rollers the other week. One would probably suit your set up well. Yamaha Warrior. It's sturdy. The other will collapse with anything more than atmospheric pressure. It's Chinese (I was obligated to take it).

[OldNo437]

I have yet to spend anywhere near top dollar on anything I own, I can't, and won't for that reason, when it all ends up in the trash, or for sale, at worst i break even. the time ill never get back, for sure. but thats why I put up with the horse crap, is its a hobby to occupy time. The 200x swinger is going bye bye in favor of a lt450r swinger and axle as it was dirt cheap, wide and long. and will fill in the gap that will be created by fixing the x frame to meet up with the lower CB frame in a not so cobbled manner... when that happens, I will be playing with shock placement, and linkage lengths to get the rear height right. and all the rest of ya, tell me to throw it in the trash and that im smoking crack, whadiya expect? my 81r is within 2 mph of 70mph and stable so I would like to think I'm at least halfway decent at this. and I'm sure that everyone will love the fact that a turbocharger has been bounced around as well... because this thing just isn't ridiculous enough...

[DohcBikes]

If you have access to the cb frame you should use the whole thing.

Did you even see my triple tree link, or are you having too much fun talking?

[fabiodriven]

[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] Please start a build thread. This will definitely be seen through to completion!

[AK47KID]

[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] Please start a build thread. This will definitely be seen through to completion!
Yes do!

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[OldNo437]

lol.. I really have nothing to prove to anyone but me. I've scrapped my projects than I can remember its either going to get done, or not.. I'm definitely not going to build it because some dork(s) on a forum are daring me to do so. I saw the tree link dohc, I can assume that the vtx has either 35 or 39mm forks, and that might fit, but at $162 thats not going to work for me.. and not worth digging through the fork mm charts to confirm. thanks I suppose.. sofar heres what ive got. 85-86r tree 200x goose-neck converted to roller bearings, while I have it apart, add some grease zirks to the stem/gooseneck with passages be able to lube the stem bearings without disassembly (we'll see on that one) xl600r forks (28.75 inner tube length if anyone cares) if the forks turn out to be too long, hopefully take off some material off the bottom to shorten, if not chop the top, cut some new threads on the lathe and hunt down a new spring thats hopefully progressive, with the right free length and spring rate, which then takes care of ride height, which then brings the question of what to do with the handlebars, that are 6" further away from the seat then they used to be.. possibly bend up a new set thats taller, and lean them way down. which honestly I'm not sure I like that answer.. but we'll see now to go take my lazy behiind over to the shop to take some measurements of my junk. thanks to the folks that actually provided some useful info..

[Hurley250R]

Can we see some pictures? That would be helpful

[Mr. Clean]

Can we see some pictures? That would be helpful

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/180265-Ive-got-a-monster-now-what-200x-w-650-4cyl

In my humble opinion, just like digital underground said "do what you like".

[Hurley250R]

Oh nice. Looks like something Boss Hog would ride! How did I miss that?

[RubberSalt]

After seeing what I've seen, I've got unconventional ideas of repair. A leading link fork set up can be a cheap way to fix the front. Like the klt200C.

For the rear - I'd just relocate the rear shock. Either raise the bottom mount, or lower the top mount. Lowering the top will probably be best. This can get you the much needed room in the rear.

The leading link suspension looks simple enough to make. A couple of small shocks and some tubes?

This will get you clearance :)

[OldNo437]

I like the leading links idea, that might be fun, and piss off yet some more folks on the interweb.. going to see how the 85-86 clamps xl600 fork setup works out. and go from there.. winters sneaking up.. time to get in gear.. and not share any progress, just to piss off flabio... lol ok onward and downward lol....

[redsox]

you're a genius. please keep posting so we can all learn. your 6053x is sweet. fix it up nice.