Here We Go Again

"Birddog" (maintmgt) 08/16/2015 at 19:49 • Filed to: None

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I made an impulse buy.

It’s a 1983 Honda ATC 250r. Or what’s left of one really. I’m debating whether to part it out or rebuild it. Its at that point right between being a pile of parts and a good project bike.

The good: It came with a freshly machined Jug and a Forged piston that are worth more than what I paid for it.

The cons: Well.. Look at it.. Plastics are trashed, rear shock is missing its remote resivoir, and the bottom end is locked up.

But it’s a 250R. The only more desirable ATCs are the 85-86 water cooled 250R, the 200x and the 85-86 350x(The ATC holy grail).

I’ll figure it out soon enough.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Birddog 08/16/2015 at 20:00

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3 wheeled awesomeness, they’re so much fun.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Birddog 08/16/2015 at 20:00

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This would be an impulse buy.

Birddog > Clown Shoe Pilot 08/16/2015 at 21:13

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No, that would be buying an Impulse.

Birddog > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 08/17/2015 at 20:16

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For sure! People don’t believe me when I tell them that it’s better than being on a Quad. On tight trails at least. Modern quads are way faster but they’re so damn big you can’t “billy goat” them like a trike.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Birddog 08/17/2015 at 20:24

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I grew up riding an ATC 70 and eventually moved on to quads, a Honda 300EX and a Suzuki LT250R. It’s a shame I don’t get to ride much anymore thanks to college.

Birddog > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 08/17/2015 at 20:40

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You’ll get your free time back. Education and a relatively stable career are more important than toys.

I grew up on dirt bikes. Started with a QA50, worked my way through a couple of Maicos and ended on a YZ490. After a 20 some odd year break I collapsed to peer pressure and got back into offroadables.

Tohru > Birddog 08/20/2015 at 18:26

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I’ve got the rear suspension from an XL600R I’m not using. I bet you could make that shock work.

Birddog > Tohru 08/20/2015 at 18:35

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Ooh! That’s tempting!

I think I’m parting this one out though. I have a line on a basket case ATC 350x for $500. If all the parts are there I’ll be doing unintended fourth gear wheelies in no time flat. I’m heading to Delejuan this weekend to check it out.

Tohru > Birddog 08/20/2015 at 18:51

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If you’re parting it out, what would you have to have for the front fork?

It’d be a helluva improvement over the stock front suspension on the KLT600R project.

To be fair, having rear suspension would also be an improvement.

But I bought the Prairie for $60 with a junk engine.

Birddog > Tohru 08/20/2015 at 19:12

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Damn! That’s old school suspension tech there.

This one has a triple tree similar to the CR250. Would that work on the Kawi?

I hate hard tails. HATE! But for $60 I probably would have bought it too.

I can take some pics tomorrow and maybe make a deal on the whole roller.

Tohru > Birddog 08/20/2015 at 19:19

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I’m going to be working on modifying the Kawi frame to take the XL600R motor. It wouldn’t be a huge stretch to repair the bend in the neck and use the triple tree neck from it instead of the Kawi’s.

Then again, if you’re looking to part with the rolling chassis, it might make a better home for the engine than the Kawi frame. I can deal with bad plastics and ruined wiring - I have the XL’s complete harness.

Birddog > Tohru 08/20/2015 at 19:31

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I saw the first post on the Kawi. I’m intrigued.

You’d have to look at it and get measurements for sure.

Tohru > Birddog 08/20/2015 at 19:38

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Well, let me know.

Birddog > Tohru 08/20/2015 at 19:42

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I will. I want to see your toy come to life.

Birddog > Tohru 08/20/2015 at 19:43

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How many bikes do you have by the way?

Tohru > Birddog 08/20/2015 at 19:46

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I’m working with a welding shop to make sure the frame modifications are solid. I’m confident tacking things together with my flux-core 15A 110V wire feed, but I want to make sure the welds are strong - so I’m leaving that to the pros. I met with them yesterday to discuss where to start cutting the two frames apart, since that’s the next step in the process.

If there’s a possibility of a chassis change, though, I’ll put that on hold for a few days. Don’t want to hack stuff up if I don’t need to.

Tohru > Birddog 08/20/2015 at 19:52

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Right now I just have what’s left of the XL600R and the Kawi trike. I used to have a ‘98 250 Ninja and an ‘81 CB900C (the one with the dual-range transmission).

Birddog > Tohru 08/20/2015 at 20:10

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You’re killing me.

On one hand I want to see it or it’s parts go to another 250R.

On the other hand..

I’ll be at Dads house tomorrow. I’ll pull the tank and get some good pics. I’d be willing to take $100 for the roller if you think it’ll work with less fabrication.

Birddog > Tohru 08/20/2015 at 20:12

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I had a 900c many moons ago. I got it with no title and wound up scrapping it.

Tohru > Birddog 08/20/2015 at 20:14

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Now you’re the one killing me here.

I want to jump on this. But until payday I’ve got like $200 to my name.

Plus while I have a tank for the Kawi, it mounts under the seat. So I couldn’t reuse this for the 250R. The XL’s tank was destroyed in the crash.

Birddog > Tohru 08/20/2015 at 20:26

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I’m not in a hurry.

Under the seat? The tank I have is a modded CR plastic “desert” tank. I’m betting it won’t clear. These tuck under the seat too.

Tohru > Birddog 08/20/2015 at 21:49

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On the Kawi, the filler neck is in the right fender and the tank sits on the rear frame just ahead of the axle. It’s why I’m not able to put the XL600R rear suspension on the Kawi.

Birddog > Tohru 08/20/2015 at 22:14

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That’s odd. I always thought those trikes looked off for some reason.

Tohru > Birddog 08/20/2015 at 22:23

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That yellowish thing visible to the right of the taillight is the gas tank.

The black “tank” is just where the ignition and the neutral light are. You can see the fuel cap just peeking out under the rear rack.