1983/1985 Kawasaki 3 to 4 wheel Frame Conversion

[Darley04]

Not sure where to land this question so i thought that i will start here.
I have recently purchased a Kawasaki 250 2-stroke quad, yes a 4 wheeler.
In an effort to identify the exact year and model i have searched every website known to man along with the Kawasaki.com website to look at parts pictures yet i can't find the machine.
The main points that i have is that the front end is fitted with four (4) shocks, one pair fitted side by side on each lower control arm. The rear suspension is the same as a 84/85 KX motocrosser and the Kawasaki 3 wheeler, ie: it has a large single up right link with a rocker system.

So after many weeks of searching i've come to the conclusion that the machine is a niche manafactured frame with the running gear and rear suspension from a Kawasaki 3 wheeler. I will post some pics as soon as i get the bike back to my place and get what numbers i can from the frame and engine, but i was hoping that someone may have a bit of info that might shed some light.

Rod

[SYKO]

I beleive there were only 2 companies that did the quad conversion kits ASTRO and 3X4 were the companies, Astro seemed to commonly use what appeared to be a LT250 front plastic (of course made for the modification per machine) and 3x4 did a seperate front end, but Ive only seen one 3x4 kit on a larger trike and it was a 350x. Dont think ive ever seen a tecate done yet though.

[Ironbnder]

A friend of mine here in La has a 84 Tecate trike that has a Suzuki Quad racer front end on it. It is a one-off fabbed in a backyard. To the common person, you would not know it was a frankenquad.

[MonroeMike]

Welcome to the site.

Astro Kit catalog.

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/oldsite...s/AstroKit.PDF

3x4 ad.

[dcreel]

Post up some pictures, I'd love to see it.

[Darley04]

Here's the photos.

[Thorpe]

That looks like a conversion to me....

[RacerRichie]

change it back............

[Darley04]

I understand that it is a conversion, but to what?
The fabrication and welding etc on the front end is as good if not better than what is on the original frame.
The MAIER plastics are a perfect fit and look "factory" although i know that it isn't. Someone has gone to a lot of effort to do the work. Even the front calipers are Kawasaki 4 wheeler parts and every thing is very well done and put together. What i am trying to understand is who is the manafacturer of the kit. Is it a USA kit or from soemwhere else in the world?

[Jerm1179]

no its not strange....if ya read the link for the astro kit above....all those kits came with maier plastics...my money is on the astro kit

[Eric250R]

That is an 86 Tecate, KXT250B1. That is an astro kit, thou the first I've seen with dual shocks up front. There is another member here who also has the astro kit on a 86 model. I can't recall at the moment who has it.

[MonroeMike]

FrankenWheeler's

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...e-pics-on-pg.2

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...-wheels...Help!

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...-Un-Conversion

[Eric250R]

FrankenWheeler's

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...e-pics-on-pg.2

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...-wheels...Help!

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...-Un-Conversion

Good example. Frankenwheelers is an 85. Someone here ( within the last year ) scored a 86 with the kit on it.....my laptop won't bring up anything in search so I can't really help much.

[hang&rattle]

I really like it. I like the conversions, I think because deep down you know the heart of it is a trike. It's actually neat to see the technology and schematics that go into em'.

[Slingblade]

I have an 87 T-3 with an Astro conversion. That front plastic is definitely an Astro piece. Looks like someones modded the front suspension,never seen one with double shocks. I'll snap some pics of mine tommorow and post them so you can compare. My front fenders are race cut, and not in the best shape, But just like yours, the welds look factory, if not better. I'm a 3 wheeler guy at heart, and when I bought this thing I had plans of converting it back (and still might) but Those front ends are actually some good parts, mine has fox racing shocks up front and it rides and handles pretty good.