Restoring my 200X
This site is AWESOME!!
I have a couple of questions that I am certain some of you experts can answer. I have owned my 1984 200X since it was new (best Christmas gift EVER!). Always filled with Amzoil (back then) or Mobil 1 synthetic. I spent a lot of time on it in 84-86, then my attention switched to girls and my 77' Trans-Am. I always kept the bike in the garage, after being ridden, my Dad always made me thoroughly wash the bike and the dowse in WD-40. (like puttin' oil on our guns after we used them) . Started her up every time I came home to my parents where the bike was stored. My little brother drove it some in the mid-1990's. I brought the bike up to Toledo in 1999 and kept it at a friends/ in-laws house, where his brother-in-law one day decided to take it on an un-authorized ride. The bike had been smoking pretty bad (needed rings). He ended up throwing a piston through the sleeve while I was chasing after him, then he ran into the woods (I never saw him again) and I loaded up my broken bike and took her home. I put a head from a 185 S and new 200X piston, rings and gasket kit. The bike runs great, starts on the 2nd kick, doesn't smoke, but seems to leak oil at the spot where the head meets the top end since the rebuild ~9 years ago. What can/should be done to fix this?? I have the original head w/ a broken sleeve; would it make the bike anymore "valuable" or "original" to have this fixed and replace the head from the 185 S that seems to be working fine (other than the mild oil leak)?? Is it possible that the oil leak is related to the 185 S head and sleeve I put on it?? The guy who sold me the head built and raced motorcycles, told me there was "no difference" in the head I put on the bike, and the OEM 200X piston I put back into it worked without any problems. I recently bought a used OEM headlight on E-Bay ($90 !!!). I started looking at what some of the 200X's were selling for, and it seemed as though the more "original" the bike the more $ it sold for. According to my insurance agent, I need to get this bike insured. The 200X's have been watching on E-Bay have been selling in the range of $500 to $1,700. I called a guy about 200X parts in Indiana, and he told me about this site, and I have enjoyed every minute spent here. I had no Idea there were still people out there who still enjoyed "driving on 3 Wheels!". From what I have been reading on this site I could get back into this three wheeled fever that I seem to have once again caught. I had considered (at the suggestions of my wife) selling the 200X. We don’t have much room in the garage, and I don’t want to put it back in a friends barn where I had been storing the bike since my mom sold her place 2 years ago. My neighbor will let me keep it in his shed if my wife gets too cranky 'bout keeping the bike in the garage. I have been having fun shopping for parts and restoring this 200X. I am going to finally replace the front and rear sprockets & chain because the chain is unable to be tightened with the adjustment on the swing arm (at the end of the threads). I have done some work on the carb, and thanks to the help available on this site, my idle issues have been resolved! (damn pilot screw!) I want to get this bike restored as best as I can, and still not be afraid to take it out and have fun, or sell it to someone for a fair price. That’s my 200x history. QUESTIONS: What should or can be done about the oil leak? What is something like this REALLY worth $?, Where can I get a brake hose (reservoir to pump NOT the one w/ Banjo fitting) that will work with this bike. I recently got a NEW reservoir for the rear brake at Bike Bandit and want to replace the hose, is this possible (they say the hose is no longer made)? Once I get this thing done, where can I connect with other 3 wheeler enthusiasts in mid-NW Ohio area? Thanks in advance for your input! ~Brett~
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Originally Posted by brettsky43
I am considering making the trek to the up coming trike-fest. I dont know anyone around here with an interest in going though. I have read some theads with a guy named "Howdy" who live in Celina, which is not far from Lima. But it would be nice to ride locally with some other guys and get to know some other trike riders before driving all the way out there. Is there a spot on this site to get to know and ride with people in near proximity?? I rode with some guys w/ 3 wheelers when I lived in Toledo at the Maumee state park and other trails, but have not kept in touch with them. I moved back to Lima a few years ago, and have not done much riding. There was an ATV poker run a couple months ago that I went on. Over 200 riders, I was the ONLY one on 3 wheels!! I only saw 1 other bike (2-stroker 4 wheeler) that did not have electric start! Took the old girl out for ~ 40 mile ride, she ran GREAT after sitting for ~ 2 years. I really love this old bike, but I am giving some consideration to selling it.. Just dont ride it enough anymore.. Hope I can get plugged in to some other trike enthusiests in this area and give me reason to keep holdin' on!!
BRETTSKY43