Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 27

Thread: 1983/1985 Kawasaki 3 to 4 wheel Frame Conversion

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Victoria, Australia
    --
    3

    1983/1985 Kawasaki 3 to 4 wheel Frame Conversion

    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

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    United States
    --
    7,765
    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.

  3. #3
    Ironbnder's Avatar
    Ironbnder is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerAt the back of the pack
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Alexandria, La
    --
    363
    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.
    FEEDBACK@ http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...-for-Ironbnder

    86 250R
    86 350X
    87 250sx
    85 200x/cb350 custom
    81 185s/200x/250r custom
    79 atc 70
    Mini-Trail z50, 110cc Pit Bike
    and many multi-wheeled machines

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Monroe MI
    --
    5,787

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    OK
    --
    5,450
    Post up some pictures, I'd love to see it.
    Rides:
    1986 ATC250R (sectional pipe and Klemm Research silencer)
    1986 ATC250R (Desert Bike, WAX-ON seat, Dual Cibie lights, Steering Stabilizer)
    1979 ATC110 (Bandito frame and forks, Turbo wheels, disc braked)
    1982 ATC70 (Lifan manual 125)
    1987 LT80 (piped, widened)


    My feedback thread
    http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ack-for-dcreel

    RIP Trace.. Godspeed.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Victoria, Australia
    --
    3
    Here's the photos.


















  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Minneapolis mn
    --
    4,067
    That looks like a conversion to me....
    No trikes. Too old, too crippled. Unless I find one I can't live without!
    "You cant fix stupid" ~ Ron White
    My feeback link: http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ack-for-Thorpe

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    HARTFORD CT, USA
    --
    478
    change it back............
    'WHEN IN DOUBT.........GAS IT!'
    87 KXT250B2 Tecate
    86 ATC250ES BIG RED
    85 ATC350X
    85 ATC70
    'A FEW IN PARTS'

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Victoria, Australia
    --
    3
    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?

  10. #10
    Jerm1179's Avatar
    Jerm1179 is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerAt the back of the pack
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Clevelandish, Ohio
    --
    387
    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

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Kentucky
    --
    2,294
    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.
    Tionesta Trikes ATC 450R
    86 250R
    86 Tecate-3
    83 ATC 70
    85 Big Red
    81 KLT 200
    85 250SX
    Tricky Dicks Cagiva WMX 200 sold
    Trikefest survivor 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
    My feedback: http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/s...dback+eric250r

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Monroe MI
    --
    5,787

  13. #13
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Kentucky
    --
    2,294
    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.
    Tionesta Trikes ATC 450R
    86 250R
    86 Tecate-3
    83 ATC 70
    85 Big Red
    81 KLT 200
    85 250SX
    Tricky Dicks Cagiva WMX 200 sold
    Trikefest survivor 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
    My feedback: http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/s...dback+eric250r

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    here
    --
    1,336
    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'.
    83' 200x (son's). 85' 200 auto-x & 85' 125m (daughters). 84' Tecate(?). 85' KXT Tecate (mine!, mine!, mine!.)+ some others but don't feel like typing them in.

  15. #15
    Slingblade is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerAt the back of the pack
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Alabama
    --
    258
    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.

//ArrowChat Integreation Code //