Is any 200x owner happy with....

[samster143]

Is any 200x owner happy with their suspension? Front and rear it just seems to suck. I am planning to get Progressive springs for the forks....but an aftermarket rear shock for like $700.00 NO WAY! The rear travel seems real weak compared to a 250r. I know they are totally different trikes....but I am looking for something better with out breaking the bank. I know someone here had installed 350x rear suspension and I believe they like it better. Any suggestions??

[xd 200x]

do you have red spring or blue

[BigGreenMachine]

Call Progressive and find out if they can get you a stiffer rear spring and maybe a rear shock rebuild is in order?

[crackshot]

Remember if you beef the springs, the frames usually crack too.

[Dammit!]

Remember if you beef the springs, the frames usually crack too.

I don't know where you get that idea from. 200x frames aren't known for cracking like 350x frames are. I beat my old one so hard it was bent in a couple different places but it never cracked.

Anyway, first try the cheap fixes. Tighten the pre-load on the rear shock and see if you can come up with something to use as spacers in the front forks to get some preload on the fork springs. One inch PVC works great for 250R's but it won't fit in a 200x fork so you'll have to see if you can find something that's the right diameter and thickness. Try a couple different sizes (one inch, two inch etc) and see if you can make it more acceptable for you that way. I just put two inch spacers in my R forks and it made a huge difference.

The suspension is definitely the weakest link in the 83-85 200x. The right tweaks can make it a lot better though. Worth a try before you start throwing money at it.

[IrvSLedman]

YA SISSY!! lol jkk but i have no suspension so any would be appercaiated..But i have heard of that 350x shock idea, and i have seen a 200x with 350x forks, looks good and i bet it rides real smooth.

[deathman53]

I have a 350x stem and 84 250r front end on my 86 200x, its much better, I also have a works rear shock. I'm gonna put a terry kt into the 84r forks and rebuild the forks. There is a guy on there that sells a bracket to use a 350x rear shock on 83-85 200x. The 86/87 rear shock bolts directly to the swingarm and the 83-85 200x and 350x use a linkege.

[wanta250r]

The 86/87 rear shock bolts directly to the swingarm and the 83-85 200x and 350x use a linkege.



Actually the 83 200x bolts directly to the swingarm.

[Muddy200x]

Is any 200x owner happy with their suspension?

I am now:cool: And the best part is It didn't didn't break the bank!


There is a guy on there that sells a bracket to use a 350x rear shock on 83-85 200x.

No plans on making any more links though, atleast for now. I'm too buzy at work this time of year and its hard to find the time. The only way I would concider doing one now is if there was a group order of atleast 4. Then it would be worth doing.

[xman23]

is there a difference between the red shock and the blue shock, if so what one is better

[TimSr]

TimJr is happy with his, but he only weighs about 105. When I ride it, the front isnt bad but the rear is way too light for my 180lbs.

Suspension should be set up as light as possible without frequent bottoming out. Its a very common mistake to assume that the heavier suspension, the better. Suggesting spacers in the fork tubes increases preload iof you are too heavy for your existing ones, but questions about rider's weight and riding style should first be answered. Adding spacers to TimJr's would help for me, but make the ride much more miserable for him. Most good suspension mods are aimed at increasing travel instead of making it stiffer. Stiff suspension gives a crappy ride. Progressive springs as softer than stock the first couple inches, and get stiffer the farther they are compressed, hence the name. Its the same idea for dual and triple rate springs for the rear. You have two or three spings butted together of different stiffnesses.

The other big advantage more serious sport models use is the linkage sytem for the rear shock. I had never heard of the kit mentioned here, but that would be the best rear solution. That straight rear shock is still a problem today in the smaller quad racing classes.

[the great gazoo]

Muddy200X- are those thumbs of 200x's before & afters? the lower one is sick! Gotta be a 350x front end on it, right? what about the rear?

[BigGreenMachine]

Thats Muddy's 200X. 350X front and rear suspension. Beautiful rig.

[samster143]

Thanks for the replies folks. I been busy lately, so I am just getting around to reading your responses. I guess I gotta figure out what I want to do here.