kx500 powered Tecate, with ATC250R rear suspension

[Red Rider]

Hondawasaki, it's coming along nicely. It looks like you're running a slightly longer than stock swingarm, so I think the stinkbug look is kind of inevitable, but not bad at all. In fact, the stance of your bike looks a lot like the stance of the bike in your inspirational photo.

As for your frame color, I vote for Kawasaki lime green. In my opinion, you can't have enough of that green!

[Billy Golightly]

That looks really cool....I like the innovation in using part of the ATC Frame. How stiff is the shock with it at that angle?

[BigGreenMachine]

That inspirational Tecate is JBKX's. He has another 86 KX500 powered T3 as well. Hasn't posted here in a long time but does post every once in a while over on www.kxriders.com forums.

If your using the ATC 250R suspension and linkages then you could just buy a lowering link/strut right?

Oh and your Tecate looks great! Great job!

[hondawasaki]

Hondawasaki, it's coming along nicely. It looks like you're running a slightly longer than stock swingarm, so I think the stinkbug look is kind of inevitable, but not bad at all. In fact, the stance of your bike looks a lot like the stance of the bike in your inspirational photo.

As for your frame color, I vote for Kawasaki lime green. In my opinion, you can't have enough of that green!

Thanks For the nice comments! The swinger is a +4, this is the only '86 I have ever seen, so its hard for me to tell how stinkbugish they were. I agree that it looks close to the pic, but I can't help but be critical.

Kawi green was my first choice for the frame, but I was kinda liking the honda red. That is a ways off though.

Hondawasaki

[hondawasaki]

That looks really cool....I like the innovation in using part of the ATC Frame. How stiff is the shock with it at that angle?

The shock is in the same frame location as the ATC, and it is using all the factory linkage below the swingarm. It feels just like a stock 250R.


hondawasaki

[hondawasaki]

That inspirational Tecate is JBKX's. He has another 86 KX500 powered T3 as well. Hasn't posted here in a long time but does post every once in a while over on www.kxriders.com forums.

If your using the ATC 250R suspension and linkages then you could just buy a lowering link/strut right?

Oh and your Tecate looks great! Great job!

Well I can finally say who owns the trike in the pic I've been toting around LOL!!

I didn't know I could get a lowering link, are they easy to find? I was considering a custom made link, but I was curious to ride it first to see how she rode the way it is. The suspension is where it is supposed to be, it's the subframe that may be too high, so I i'm not sure if a lowering link will kill the ride quality or not. Any one running one here?

Hondawasaki

[BigGreenMachine]

Durablue makes the lowering link.

[hondawasaki]

The Tecate5 is moving along nicely, didn't have much time this week to work on it, but I spent all day saturday tinkering.

I got all the gas tank mounts finalized, lowered the rear end by 1 inch via a lowering link, and raised the engine mounts up about 1/8th of an inch.

I ended up using the '86 tecate link for a lowering link, it fits perfectly. I had to make some shims for the sides, it is narrower than the honda link, but its is about 3/4 of an inch longer when wound all the way in. I like the lower stance, and that I have some tuneability for ride height too.

Here is some pics, although they don't look much different, there is about 8 hrs worth of disassembly, cutting, measuring, and welding.

I'm ready now to get a pipe made, what silencer do you all suggest I run? I originally bought a brand new FMF for a 250R because I was using the subrame, now that I'm back to the Tecate, it really doesn't fit. Do you think I should get a KX500?

One more thing, 39mm PWK, or 44mm Lectron? I have both, the PWK came with the KX motor, and the lectron was given to me from a buddy, BTW the lectron is brand new.

[money89tractors]

It looks MUCH better with the slightly lower stance. Nice work.

-Phil

[BigGreenMachine]

Cool find/info about the lowering link.

Use the KX500 pipe. I should fit the frame very nicely without much work compared to the frame mods you have already completed.

Lectron is a much nicer carb but its size is overkill on a stock motor. If your motor is ported then heck yeah, go with the Lectron. The 500 makes so much bottom end you won't miss any with the huge carb.

Great work man, definately the most original Tecate on this forum thus far IMO.

[hondawasaki]

It looks MUCH better with the slightly lower stance. Nice work.

-Phil

Thanks Phil! I like it too. Its getting close I can't wait to ride it.

Hondawasaki

[hondawasaki]

Cool find/info about the lowering link.

Use the KX500 pipe. I should fit the frame very nicely without much work compared to the frame mods you have already completed.

Lectron is a much nicer carb but its size is overkill on a stock motor. If your motor is ported then heck yeah, go with the Lectron. The 500 makes so much bottom end you won't miss any with the huge carb.

Great work man, definately the most original Tecate on this forum thus far IMO.

Ok I ordered a FMF KX500 silencer from rocky mountain, and as soon as it gets here it's off to CPI Racing to have a pipe made.

I wasn't planning on porting to start out, but eventually wanted to send the cyl to Max Power/RPM's to get porting and piston fitting/nikasil done.

Maybe I'll start out with the PWK, and after the initial test rides, then get some porting done and switch to the Lectron.

Thanks a ton for the nice comments, you have really made the build good for me!!I

f it doesn't work out I'll have lots of NOS and performance parts for sale on Ebay LOL!!

[oldsking86]

Looks good buddy! I know that same picture because it is what I had for the longest time and always would want my kawi to look like if I had an 86, which ONE DAY I will find one

Keep up the good work!

[scooterroo]

well at least your doing right, kawi in the front honda in the back, hahahahahha. sorry had to. thing looks sweet so far, cant wait to see it finished!

[scooterroo]

The main reason, is that is all I had. There is still time, I have a 250R carrier, but no axle, hubs, sproket carrier, or brakes. This is the least expensive way I could come up with finishing this project. Stranger, the hubs are '84 tecate too, the '86 I bought had champion swinger, with an '84 rear axle.....kinda weird.

...Hondawasaki

yeah the 84/85 carrier can be swapped around with the 86/87. i have done it on my t3 just to see if it would work, and they do, bolt right up!! still have the champion swinger by any chance?