1st Gen 200x vs. 2nd Gen 200x

[hawaiirider]

Seems like the 86-87 200x is the hot ticket right now as they are going for small fortunes on ebay!

My buds and i used to ride a big pack of 200x's only. From our experience the first gen bike was much tougher and more reliable, plus it could be made faster since there was alot more aftermarket upgrades available.
Our only problems with the 1st gen x's was carrier bearings went out once a yr. since we ride dunes mainly. the kicker was a pain in the rear and the rear brakes seemed to never work (none of us had rear brakes on any of ours) they are super tough and have great stock suspension when dialed in to your style and we all picked ours up for 500$ or less each
The 2nd gen x was a little faster and better looking but we had alot more issues w those. cracked frames, swingarm bolt seizures, kickstart gear problems, clutch problems, broken oil pumps, carrier bearings etc. the guy who bought the 2nd gen x sold it and switched back to first gen.
jumpn jon (far right in pic) switched from a 1st gen x to a 350x and quickly did not like the bike saying it had power but was too heavy to jump big gaps and he broke the frame, now he wants a 1st gen x again despite the power loss. reliability counts more if you ride hard!

Not sure why the 2nd gen x is in demand? is it the short 2yr run? not sayn there bad bikes, either way we'd ride 1st gens anyday over the 2nd gen

[knappyfeet]

Owning both at one time I can say the 2nd Gen was simply a superior ride. I was one of those guys that sold my 2nd generation for a good amount of money just recently but kept my 1st Gen because of an attachment to the past. But that aside......both in stock form and all things equal and you come to the realization that the 2nd generation was simply better. It really felt like a modern machine. If trikes were being manufactured today it would feel like the 2nd gen.

I would completely agree that there are a vast array of aftermarket stuff available for the 1st gen and honestly much cheaper. But like I said....both in completely stock form.......there's no comparison.

[hawaiirider]

Owning both at one time I can say the 2nd Gen was simply a superior ride. I was one of those guys that sold my 2nd generation for a good amount of money just recently but kept my 1st Gen because of an attachment to the past. But that aside......both in stock form and all things equal and you come to the realization that the 2nd generation was simply better. It really felt like a modern machine. If trikes were being manufactured today it would feel like the 2nd gen.

I would completely agree that there are a vast array of aftermarket stuff available for the 1st gen and honestly much cheaper. But like I said....both in completely stock form.......there's no comparison.

agreed, until the 2nd gen breaks and it will!! kept the first gen, dont blame ya

[oldskool83]

didn't we learn this 29 years ago?

[ATCT]

didn't we learn this 29 years ago?

If history has shown anything, people don't learn from past mistakes.

[Jmoozy27]

Seems like the 86-87 200x is the hot ticket right now as they are going for small fortunes on ebay!

My buds and i used to ride a big pack of 200x's only. From our experience the first gen bike was much tougher and more reliable, plus it could be made faster since there was alot more aftermarket upgrades available.
Our only problems with the 1st gen x's was carrier bearings went out once a yr. since we ride dunes mainly. the kicker was a pain in the rear and the rear brakes seemed to never work (none of us had rear brakes on any of ours) they are super tough and have great stock suspension when dialed in to your style and we all picked ours up for 500$ or less each
The 2nd gen x was a little faster and better looking but we had alot more issues w those. cracked frames, swingarm bolt seizures, kickstart gear problems, clutch problems, broken oil pumps, carrier bearings etc. the guy who bought the 2nd gen x sold it and switched back to first gen.
jumpn jon (far right in pic) switched from a 1st gen x to a 350x and quickly did not like the bike saying it had power but was too heavy to jump big gaps and he broke the frame, now he wants a 1st gen x again despite the power loss. reliability counts more if you ride hard!

Not sure why the 2nd gen x is in demand? is it the short 2yr run? not sayn there bad bikes, either way we'd ride 1st gens anyday over the 2nd gen

I couldn't disagree with you more. There is a reason that honda made changes to this model when they did and it wasn't for a sales pitch, it was for reliability issues. '86 suspension is miles ahead '85. I will just assume that you and your friends had a bad batch of machines. The numbers don't lie. You and only a handful of other people have had bad experiences with 2nd gen x. Majority of riders would agree that 86 takes the 85 a shootout.

[hawaiirider]

we had 5 1st gens and 3 2nd gens, the 2nd gens were broke most of the time and hard to get parts for! the 1st gens suspension was top notch, jumpn jon is 200lbs and sailed the hell out of his lil x with no issues, he said all he did was set the comp/reboun/damping for his weight. the 2nd gens frame broke (cracked) on the identical doubles as the 1st gen. we used to all ride real hard and the old x stood up the newer one just flat out didnt, sorry man just telling our experiences. the 86 did have longer susp and handle better it just wasnt a worthy trade off for reliability.
no one will talk us out of the old x's we have the vids of it jumping and new x breaking lol

[Jmoozy27]

we have the vids of it jumping and new x breaking lol

I respect your experience. Mine differ... Maybe post the vid so everyone else can see.

[Dirtcrasher]

I'd love to see the video, I can't break/crack mine.....

[jays375]

You are dealing with 30 year old machines.

[Jmoozy27]

I'd love to see the video, I can't break/crack mine.....

Got a few Q' s for you DC:

Are you a slim fella? 165lbs or less?
Do you jump your 2nd gen?
Do you own a homemade track on your property with mounds of dirt in which you catch air off of?

I may know the answers to these questions but let's act like I don't. 2nd gen 200x all the way!!!

[onformula1]

Maybe this will help?

[badandy]

I was born on an '83 200x.... did they make more?

[hawaiirider]

heres a vid of jumpn jon on his 85 200x, 6ft1 200lbs, stone stock worn out x tapped in 4th, missed the landing rode it out w no breaks to the 85, the 86 frame cracked on the same jump. the square frame just wasnt as tough, neither was the motor
http://www.facebook.com/video/embed?...30215950393397

[Jmoozy27]

So you don't have a vid of the 2nd gen cracking???