Whats better, 83-85 200x or 86-87 200x?

**Matrix** · 11-21-2011, 07:27 PM

Last night i traded a Tv and cash for a 86' 200x and it was dark out (and I was really excited) so I didnt really think about what I was getting. The trike needs only some minor things but I really should have gotten it for cheaper.

Anyhow, what is better overall?

And im curious, could I simply swap this motor with a 400ex? Stupid I know but wouldnt that be cool?

**fabiodriven** · 11-21-2011, 07:30 PM

Simply swap the motor with a 400EX? Ya, um, no.

The second gen is far superior to the first in my opinion.

**Matrix** · 11-21-2011, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by fabiodriven

Simply swap the motor with a 400EX? Ya, um, no.

The second gen is far superior to the first in my opinion.

I didnt think it would work, more like, "I wish!!"

I'll trust you Mr. Layhee

**ezmoney1979** · 11-21-2011, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by Matrix

Stupid I know but wouldnt that be cool?

What? If it is stupid, how would it be cool

? Every day there is a thread (or ten) about completely over-powering the poor little 200X. And frankly, Im sick of it lol.

**yamaha driver** · 11-21-2011, 08:49 PM

2nd gen all the way. 1 more gear, they have a better kickstarting mech. my 2 cents

**Motorious** · 11-22-2011, 04:24 AM

Mickey Dunlap liked the 1st Gen 200X's better, saying they had a better head than the 2nd Gens:http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...o-types)/page7

**350xx** · 11-22-2011, 04:36 AM

2nd gen is better hands down.
There is no competition between the two gens.
i loved my 86.

**jb2wheels** · 11-22-2011, 12:55 PM

Define "better" ... sorry, it's the engineer in me.

Best thing about 1st gens: price and availability of trikes and parts because Honda sold tons of 'em. That makes them better for me.

As an added bonus, there are a couple of nice bolt in Chinese engines that work great.

On the other hand, the 2nd gen is prettier, faster, handles better, better frame, better suspension...

**350xx** · 11-22-2011, 04:43 PM

Well lets see... To start, 83 200x has very weak swinger compared to newer. 84 and 85 have good swinger and are same except color schemes.
1st gen: 192cc, 5 speed, smaller tank, not as wide due to the hubs, weighs 12.2 lbs more dry, and they really dont look that great either.
2nd gen: 199cc, new head, 6 speed, larger tank, wider, 12.2 lbs less, look amazing. Upgrades on many things. They are much faster and much more well built.

I guess it depends on the person though.
I have owned an 83, 84, 85, and 86 200x. I have tore into all of them so i know how they go.

**fabiodriven** · 11-22-2011, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by 350xx

new head

It's not just the head. The entire motor is different. As far as I know there aren't any interchangeable, or at least very few, components between the two motors.

**Matrix** · 11-22-2011, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by ezmoney1979

What? If it is stupid, how would it be cool

? Every day there is a thread (or ten) about completely over-powering the poor little 200X. And frankly, Im sick of it lol.

I dont mean to offend anyone here, sorry.

**Motorious** · 11-23-2011, 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by 350xx

Well lets see... To start, 83 200x has very weak swinger compared to newer. 84 and 85 have good swinger and are same except color schemes.
1st gen: 192cc, 5 speed, smaller tank, not as wide due to the hubs, weighs 12.2 lbs more dry, and they really dont look that great either.
2nd gen: 199cc, new head, 6 speed, larger tank, wider, 12.2 lbs less, look amazing. Upgrades on many things. They are much faster and much more well built.

I guess it depends on the person though.
I have owned an 83, 84, 85, and 86 200x. I have tore into all of them so i know how they go.

A quick comparison of specs between the '83 and '86 200X (available on 3ww here:http://www.3wheelerworld.com/Brochur...83atc200x.html and here:http://www.3wheelerworld.com/Brochur...86atc200x.html reveals that the '83 model is in fact only 4.4 LBs heavier than the '86 (282.2 LBs vs. 277.8 LBs dry respectively), the '86 is 1.2 inches wider at the rear than the '83 (42.5" wide vs. 41.3"), and gas tanks hold nearly the same volume (2.7 gallon cap. with .4 gallon reserve for the '86, 2.6 gallon cap./.4 gallon reserve for the '83). The '86 has .3" more fork travel than the '83 (7.6" vs. 7.3"); the '86 has .5" more rear shock travel than the '83 (7.2" vs.6.7")

Also, the overall dimensions of the trike from 1st generation to 2nd generation really didn't change much.

Can't say I've read any threads complaining about the inherent weakness of the 1st gen 200X swinger (although I don't race them and concede this may/may not be an issue if you plan on doing so). At any rate, if you decide to race your 200X chances are you will be ditching the stock swinger anyway. For your average play riding, I'd think it would do just fine.

I've never felt the need for an extra (6th) gear on my 200X (at least from a top end standpoint); I'm a big guy (200+LB), ride at 5200'-7500' altitude on steep, rough, rocky/sandy high desert terrain, and due to the nature of my riding conditions I rarely get the trike into 5th gear. Having a lower ratio 1st gear would be a benefit though, as the stock gearing is much too high for the steep, rutty, treacherous, off-camber descents I have to deal with in my area (which makes for some pretty exciting downhill action-yes indeed!)

2nd gen frame, swinger, look beefier, sexier with their box-rail construction, and the overall styling is much prettier than it's predecessor as well.

While there's no doubt the 2nd gen 200X's are better, more refined machines than the 1st gens (and if I had my way, I'd prefer to own a 2nd gen myself, definitely a better looking trike), what strikes me most about the 200X is that the changes made to them thru the years seemed relatively minor in comparison to the radical changes the 250R went thru in it's metamorphosis between the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation designs.

I've never ridden a 2nd gen 200X and compared it to my 1st gen '83, so I'll defer my opinion to those that have ridden both, but I find it interesting that Mickey Dunlap-one of the most successful men to have ever raced a 200X back in the day, and a legendary tuner and mechanic in his own right- when asked what was his favorite year 200X replied:

I like the first 3 years. The 86'/87's didn't have a very good head (flow wise),but they did have a 6 speed.

That resonates with me for some reason.

And no, not just because I own a 1st gen...

**RIDE-RED 250r** · 11-23-2011, 12:30 AM

I would happily rescue your 86 200x from the prospective 400ex transplant..... Heck, I wouldn't even charge ya!

Leave it alone! Don't hack it up. Don't transplant some other engine into it. Just fix her up and enjoy it for what it is. And that's a legendary trike that IMHO is one of the best all-round, most fun wheeler ever made...bar none!

**Team ATC** · 11-23-2011, 12:36 AM

im a big fan of my 85s i like how they look with some offset wheels and some holeshots but def love the 87 with 200x on the tank looks B A they are a fun trail rider with below avg suspension in my mind i had an 86 def handled better and much easier to start

**Aka_am** · 11-23-2011, 04:51 PM

My 86 200x has stock head on it now. but I did have a p&p head on there. It makes a big differnce although the headpipe bolt holes need repair so I took off the P&p.

An accident... I was riding at night with my brother has a pinion. Tall green grass, up to the front fender. I was in 4th just cruising, then bam I hit some farm machine. It had hooks and they went in between my fork tubes and wheel. Hooks wraped around the footpegs almost taking my feet with them. Besides taking forever to fix in the dark, no damage to my bike what so ever

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Whats better, 83-85 200x or 86-87 200x?