What are the differance between 85-86 honda 350x

[ctk]

Outside of the different color plastics, are there any signifant changes between 1985 and 1986 350x?

[Hurricane635]

Well, I'm no expert but I've both. I think there quite a few minor changes but the most significant are the clutch cable routing and the stator/flywheel, and the rear brake. I think they stregthened the frame above the c/s sprocket, but they still will brake there. Oh yeah the wheels are much nicer on the 86 IMO.

[jeswinehart]

Something like 60 over all differences as I recall. from motor internals (yep, they are different) to something as minor as a steering stop cover.
350XinNY done up a very though out posting about it some years back, very thorough detailed report, might want to research his postings

[Hurricane635]

I would be interested in how to find this report. Thanks.

[jeswinehart]

well here is a link to Bruces profile page so if you click all his post and go thru them, you will find.
Might want to skip that the most recent 200 post, it go back several years ago.
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/member.php?1800-350x-inNY

[Billyboy34]

Does anyone know if the carbs are different between the 2 years?

[jeswinehart]

Some info >http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...highlight=gold

[Tyler 54]

Carbs are the same.

I could tell you most of the differences. It would take me 3 months before i remembered every one.

Grab bar, Rear Carrier, Rear sprocket bolts, 85 had different size motor mount bolts, 86 had the steering stop cap, black upper tripple tree on the 86. I also believe that there was some difference in tank shrouds. I think the true 85 shrouds may have hit the front forks so they updated them. The jug and timing tensioner are different, along with the oil pumps and clutch routing. Front brake calipers were different in appearance. The kill switch was different in appearance. 85 tank had different colored honda wings, and warning decals. I'm also thinking the heat shield on the header pipe changed a bit. The rear garnish had different stickers for 85-86. Rear mono shock had a different knob on resovoir in 86. The 85 swing arm was also different to accept the different brake stay.

Also as stated above, clutch cables and routing, actual clutch lever inside the case, frames were a bit different, rear brake caliper Stay and bracket, plastic color, seat lettering and what not.

[jeswinehart]

and some more info as I was looking for Bruces post.
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...50x+difference

[MonroeMike]

More links in this thread.

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ences-85-vs-86

[Hurricane635]

Thanks jeswinehart, interesting read.

[badass350x]

Wheels are different!

[ctk]

Wow thanks for all the links guys. I hope to buy a 350x this spring/summer and wanted to start some research. It looks like Ive got alot of reading.

[atctim]

Here is a list I stole from the linked post - easier to read when all compiled:

1.) 86 White plastics, 85 red plastics
2.) 86 "shorter" tank fins
3.) different front hub (black and notches for rim)
4.) different front and rear rims (86 cast alum centers)
5.) more ribs on the front fork boots (~30ish on 86, ~15 on 85)
6.) different cosmetics on kill/HL switch
7.) front steering stem bearings different
8.) clutch cable routing (86 3 brackets on left side of motor, 85 clip on frame and one backet on right side)
9.) helmet holder and decal on 86 right fork
10.) black top triple on 86, chrome/aluminum on 85
11.) header pipe on 86 has a extra mount for the heat guard
12.) heat guard on 86 has 4 slots while a 85 has 3
13.) the metal part on the shield has extra tab on 86 to go on the header more secure.
14.) clutch cover plate arm pulls F-B on 85, L-R on 86
15.) updated oil pump pickup on the 86... suppose to have a better pick up
16.) 86 head has better oil flow for the cam
17.) decals different (on rear mud flap, no "side" decals on 86
18.) 350X on 85 seat, ATC on 86 seat.
19.) front sprocket cover has longer slots on 86 than the 85
20.) carbs have some different stock jets, definitely the pilot jet. (the 86 carb has a additional "pilot" jet to aid in starting)
21.) kick starter shaft gear ratio changed between 85 and 86
22.) cam chain adjusters different (86 is smaller, not sure if redesigned to assist with the clutch cable routing)
23.) clutch cables themselves different. rubber notch on 86 to go in bracket, metal spring shielding on a 85
24.) bottom triple tree on a 86 has a grey plastic "pinch point" guard over the steering stops.
25.) 85 rear shock has a black adjuster knob on the reservoir... the 86 knob is gold.
26.) 3 generations of frames. The later 86 frames are the best. They have increased gusseting to help keep the frames snapping on the left side above the motor mount.
27.) muffler mounting by grab bar... one bolts direct on, other has a "post" it slides over. Forget which year is which... forgive me?
28.) rear axle bearing carrier is different. 85 has the spanner wrench on, 86 has a place to adjust by plugging wrench in and pulling back with the wrench.
29.) rear sprocket --- cause of the different carrier being wider on the 86, the 86 rear sprocket is bevelled to make the bolt flush with the sprocket
30.) obviously, the sprocket mounting bolts are different too.
31.) rear brake caliper mounting brackets are different. '85 has a multi link system that mounts halfway up the swinger. 86 has like a cam thing that's sandwiches in there.
32.) swinger's are different due to the brake bracket there forementioned. the 86 swingarm has additional gussets in the corners were the rails meet the pivot collar
33.) rear hubs are a little different too... mainly color. Black 86, Grey 85.
34.) lug nuts are tapered on 86 for the center cast rims, regular on 85. BS correction.... 85 lug nuts are same as 86. the 85 rims have steel inserts
35.) 85 tank fins have an extra bracket behind the fins that hold them "out" (86 solved the fin hitting the front forks via #2 change above)
36.) tools... 85 has the spanner wrench for #28
37.) tool boxes are different. 86 is larger and has a flat end. It has a compartment for the owner's manual too.
38.) tool box mounting brackets are different too.
39.) 86 rear plastic has "No Passengers" and "warnings info" molded into the plastic. Not sure if this was on the original shipments of the 86 models, or on later moldings of replacement OEM fenders.
40.) tank warning decals different
41.) red HONDA on 85 tank decals, white HONDA on 86. Seems like the feathers in the wings are different orientation too.
42.) Gas tanks were 2 different shades of white (One Shasta White, can’t remember the name of the other)
43.) Front brake calipers are different. the 86 front caliper is slimmer to help in front wheel removal
44.) Front brake pads are different. The 86 pads must be bought in a “A-B” pair.
45.) Front rotor internal pattern is different. On a 85 front rotor, there are 3 pairs of circles. On a 86, the holes cut make a spiral pattern.
46.)On 85 the motor skid plate had hollowed out rubbers. the 86 had solid.
47.)on the 85 right case there are "fake" allen head looking "bolts" on the 86 they are actually 10mm head bolts that hold on the bracket for the re-routed clutch cable.
48.) the stators are different. the way to tell them apart...85 is bare wire, the 86 is coated. as a result 86 voltage regulators are different. (the first run 86's ran the 85 regulator. light bulbs would blow and Honda changed them at same time as frame upgrade.. since then i believe Honda made a regulator to work with both. However some are still the old style and will blow bulbs if wrong one is used...Black Sheep needs to look up his notes for numbers (stamped on back) to tell difference.
49.) motor mount bolts...the top and forward ones going through the frame are 8mm on 85 and 10mm on 86.

[murfman]

I want to add that the front hub also has a different offset for the rotor mount is ~10 mm further toward the centerline of the wheel on the 86 hub.