View Poll Results: What Size 4 Stroke motor for my 200x build?

Voters
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  • 250x

    1 4.35%
  • 300ex

    1 4.35%
  • 400ex

    5 21.74%
  • xr500

    1 4.35%
  • xr600

    9 39.13%
  • 2 Stroke

    6 26.09%
Multiple Choice Poll.
Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: 1985 honda 200x/cb550 Trike project

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Huntersville, NC
    --
    106

    1985 honda 200x/cb550 Trike project

    Well here I go again. I have a decent 1985 honda 200x chasis with +2 arm and +4 axle.

    ok shape maier plastics and a good seat. I have been trolling the local internet and found a low miles cb550 motor electrics carbs and some exhaust and the frame.

    I dont know yet if I want to extend the 200x frame or weld in the 550 engine cradle area or weld on the 200x top tube and head tube to the 550 frame.

    Any suggestions would be apprieciated. Thanks and I will post the whole build.
    Last edited by mcgyver331; 12-31-2009 at 08:31 PM.
    10 Buy it
    20 Beat it
    30 Break it <----- Sometimes this is the end of the routine
    40 Fix it
    50 Sell it
    60 Goto 10

    Current
    1985 @TC 350x, 1986 @TC 600x <---need to make a 250r into a 500r next.

    Past
    81 KLT 200 ,82 ATC 185S Restored, 84 Tri Moto 125,
    84 200es Big Red, 85 250es Big Red
    85 1/2 TRI-Z 250 Fully Restored 2nd place in competition @ Metrolina bike show March 2011
    85 350x, 86 350x
    86 250r Restored ,87 250es Big Red, 87 200x Restored

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    southern oregon
    --
    2,338
    IMO that motor is way too heavy for a trike.. there has got to be a single cylinder engine available that would be easier to swap, have just as much power, and be light enough to handle decent..
    2-stroke lover

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Huntersville, NC
    --
    106
    I have been tossing up the idea of a xr600 motor. The cb550 was frozen and I wouldnt buy it. I also see that the bbase of the motor is too long front to back. I had the opportunity of a dt 360 motor too and it is also deep. ideal is 250x 300ex 400ex xr 500 xr 600 xr 650. those are what I'm searching out now.
    10 Buy it
    20 Beat it
    30 Break it <----- Sometimes this is the end of the routine
    40 Fix it
    50 Sell it
    60 Goto 10

    Current
    1985 @TC 350x, 1986 @TC 600x <---need to make a 250r into a 500r next.

    Past
    81 KLT 200 ,82 ATC 185S Restored, 84 Tri Moto 125,
    84 200es Big Red, 85 250es Big Red
    85 1/2 TRI-Z 250 Fully Restored 2nd place in competition @ Metrolina bike show March 2011
    85 350x, 86 350x
    86 250r Restored ,87 250es Big Red, 87 200x Restored

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    southern oregon
    --
    2,338
    what is the planned primary use of this machine? it sounds like you are wanting a four stroke engine. but most of those you mentioned woud basically be recreating the 350x... and the frame would end up very butchered if you used the Xr5 or xr600... if you arent against using a two stroke I would suggest an early air-cooled kdx200 engine... decent output, cheap, reliable, lightweight, and very easy to come across...Your frame already has a single downtube in front of the engine so the exhaust routing would be fairly simple... and of course you wouldnt have to bother with any radiators, custom engine cradles, frame grafting, stretching, etc... the single dowtube really limits your options unless you want to modify the frame... i dont know, maybe you have something larger in mind, but I 've always thought a lightweight air cooled 200cc kdx powered trike would be a fun lil machine.
    2-stroke lover

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Willamstown PA
    --
    5,824
    back in 2007 when i build my 200x i wanted to use a 250X motor but it was as big as a 350x motor, the chassis is just to small and the sprockets will not line up unless you offset the motor to the right hand side. i know this because i had a custom 300ex style swingarm made and it was a PITA to get right.

    stuff a small 2 stroke in there. a 125 motor will rip it up!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Huntersville, NC
    --
    106
    UPDATE!!!! I just picked up a rebuilt 1983 honda xr 350r needing just a kick start spring. I am going to check tonight if I can put the front end of the 200x on the xl frame and also the swing arm on the xl frame. keep those ideas comming. Thank you for you input so far. I wanted to get a blaster 240 motor but I cant spend too much on this build.
    10 Buy it
    20 Beat it
    30 Break it <----- Sometimes this is the end of the routine
    40 Fix it
    50 Sell it
    60 Goto 10

    Current
    1985 @TC 350x, 1986 @TC 600x <---need to make a 250r into a 500r next.

    Past
    81 KLT 200 ,82 ATC 185S Restored, 84 Tri Moto 125,
    84 200es Big Red, 85 250es Big Red
    85 1/2 TRI-Z 250 Fully Restored 2nd place in competition @ Metrolina bike show March 2011
    85 350x, 86 350x
    86 250r Restored ,87 250es Big Red, 87 200x Restored

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    South Lyon, Michigan
    --
    19
    I like the Blaster motor idea actually. Glad you gave up on the CB550 idea I think it would have been a big let down. I had a CB750 and I guess on paper you'd think "4 cylinder, 750, should rock" But I think the bikes of yore didn't crank nearly as hard as modern crotch rockets, more like good for going long distances at a casual pace or something unless you get one of those CycleXchange.net builds done and were just sand dragging it woulda been heavy and lame like the other guy said

  8. #8
    audioworks04's Avatar
    audioworks04 is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerAt the back of the pack
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Kansas City, KS
    --
    332
    To me a 200x frame seems a little small for most of these motor options. I think the blaster motor would be the best fit or maybe a cr125 motor. But if you are looking for a four stroke then an nn250 motor would be great, but rare to find and liquid cooled. The xr350 motor that you said you just got could be a good fit, but may need more suspension and but the +2 swinger may be necessary. Lets see some pics when you get to the mock up stage.

    2005 CRF450R Alum Frame build done, switching to inverts.
    86 trx250r fmf fatty fmf q k&n v force reeds gold valve rear shock with eibach spring.
    86 atc250r stock sand only
    88 NX250 mint rainy day
    85 kawi js550 stand up basicly stock
    87 kawi js550 scary fast for a stand up

  9. #9
    300rman's Avatar
    300rman is offline My other user 3WW ID was Nitebiker07. Teaching quads a lesson
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    toledo
    --
    2,667
    a CR 125 pushes double the HP of a blaster motor. a bigbore worked over blaster might compare to the 125 for power....

  10. #10
    taz is offline First Time Rider Arm chair racerNew to the board
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    nackawic nb canada
    --
    147
    i have a xr 500 frame with a r250r front end and a modified swing arm using 250r rear end so the xr 350 and 200x should be kinda compatable

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    kingman, az
    --
    30
    Quote Originally Posted by cr480r View Post
    IMO that motor is way too heavy for a trike.. there has got to be a single cylinder engine available that would be easier to swap, have just as much power, and be light enough to handle decent..
    Hmmm! Whatcha think about making a Hondaha or is it a Yamonda?! NEWay, I have 2 Yamaha XT/TT 500 singles that are THE torqiest things I've encountered. Hmm!! Good Lord, I'm nuts to even think about that monster ina trike frame. OHH Yeah! Hmmm!

  12. #12
    HaggLE is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerAt the back of the pack
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Newcastle, Australia
    --
    330
    A stock 125 GP road race bike has 38hp (capable of 50 odd hp), I think a stock CR125 is 35 hp.
    Stock 200x is about 18hp...
    So double the power and half the engine weight, I think CR125 is the go and you can pick them up anywhere plus theres heaps of go-fast parts all over the net.
    The downside of a CR125 is you have to make a 2 stroke exhaust chamber fit without too many mods or it wont work and you also have to find a place for a radiator

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