1984 200S question.

[mcdonl]

Hi there... I am new to the forum. I am also new to ATC's.... I like the old Honda Big Red's, but I found a very good deal on a 1984 200S, runs awesome... looks good.

I want to use this bike to go up and down tote roads to and from my vehicle to various shooting spots. This ATC has a rack on the back, and a gun rack on the front so it is perfect. It is also a good price.

The question I have is about my size. I am not very tall... I say 5'10"... my wife says more like 5'8 or 5'9... but there is no question I weight 250 +/-....

Will the 200S move me? I am not a speed guy, or a serious trail rider. I just want a fun toy in my price range that will last.

Thanks for your feedback.

Leroy

[fabiodriven]

:welcome: I can't beleive how many new members there are these days. Wow.

Yes, an ATC 200S will move you just fine. I think you'll be surprised what happens when you hit that go button.

[mcdonl]

That's awesome man! Hey, not too far from me. Do you ever ride up here in Maine? I am heading to Cape Cod in the morning for a Highland Games competition.

A lot of new members? That's cool. I am a member of a lot of boards, I am an avid shooter and hunter too.

Well, I look forward to getting a LOT of questions answered here, and maybe even contribute someday!

Leroy

[fabiodriven]

I haven't ridden in Maine yet, but there is a rather large group of us new englanders that get together fairly regularly for rides. Keep your eyes peeled in the local riding section and maybe you could hook up with us sometime. Here are a couple of our old rides so you can see what we do-

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=98073

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=93834

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=88821

[keister]

First off, welcome to 3WW!
Second, yes, a 200S has more than enough power to do what you are talking about. I highly recommend that model (have had the same one since 1984). They are fairly indestructible and I know for a fact that it will haul me (200 lbs), passenger, tent, 2 sleeping bags, chainsaw, axe, and beer down a rough trail to a campsite.

[mcdonl]

That is good news! I have always been a Honda motorcycle guy, so I trust the reliability. I am looking forward to riding. I have tons of trails, sand pits and dirt roads accessible from my house.

[coop]

I have a 1984 Honda 200S and I'm 6'3" and 200 pounds and it rips me around, up steep hills, and everywhere with no problem. Like fabiodriven said you'll be surprised what happens when you hit that throttle!:beer

[mcdonl]

I got it!! For the most part it is great, but I have some questions that I am having a hard time finding answers to. I did get to go around the block a time or two, and with one minor adjustment I got the maching idling nice.

So, on the case and in the manual it is indicated that neutral is all the way down, and 5 is all the way up. So, to compare to my motorcycle I go from the bottom up 1-N-2-3-4-5.... the manual indicates the 200S should be N-1-2-3-4-5.... the thing is... Neutral on my bike is all the way up, and the gears are (Top to bottom....) N-1-2-3-4-5... One more time... I get on the wheeler... shift up as many times as I can and I get to neutral.... I shift down one, to 1st, 2nd... etc....

The other question is about the recoil started. Is there a proper procedure to repair the cord (That I broke 2 time already.....)? I cannot seem to get it on the "pulley" with the spring loaded properly....

I will post pics tomorrow. I am pretty happy!

Leroy

[oscarmayer]

it's all the way up then down for each gear. so 5-4-3-2-1-n you start in N. i think all 200cc honda bikces are that way that are semi-auto clutch. (200x is manual clutch and is different)

[MonroeMike]

The other question is about the recoil started. Is there a proper procedure to repair the cord (That I broke 2 time already.....)? I cannot seem to get it on the "pulley" with the spring loaded properly....

http://www.3wheeler.org/vb/showthread.php?t=29209

[1984ATC200S]

it's all the way up then down for each gear. so 5-4-3-2-1-n you start in N. i think all 200cc honda bikces are that way that are semi-auto clutch. (200x is manual clutch and is different)

that's right but it could be a newer engine, i got a bike that was a mess of parts from different machines, but the engine shifts up to go up a gear, supposedly from a 90's something 200 Honda four wheeler. so that could be the case with this biek

[mcdonl]

Ok... so the shifting seems right then... all the way up is N, and then down to 1, 2, 3... etc....

So, I also used the link above and did get the recoil spring nice and tight and the recoil rope extracts nicely into the spool but the compression is fierce. I am a 250 pound man who competes in heavy athletics and it is VERY HARD to pull this engine over.

I will remove the spark plug tonight to relieve some compression as the decompression lever does not seem to do much.

Any thoughts?

[TrailerRider]

I have one on my 84, Spring decompression lever, and it never did anything either. I broke ropes some many times. Later found out the hole the rope goes through on the recoil housing inside was knicked very slightly. So everytime I pulled it the rope would fray and after a few pulls it would snap. I would use some pretty high strength rope in replacement. The 200s is a strong machine! Last time I took it muddin I had my brother 230 and me 230ish and it tore down the road with no issues.

[topless]

We have an '84 and an '85 200s, the shift pattern is opposite. The '84 is N at the top, 5 down, the '85 is N at the bottom, 5 up.
We have 200x piston in one and a Wiseco 11:1 in the other. Since the stock 200s compression releases are almost non-exisitant, no repair parts and expensive used. You can use the lever on the cylinder head manually and it returns as soon as you pull the starter.

[mcdonl]

Topless, it sounds like I may have an 84 motor.

So, I got the recoil starter fixed and can start with 1 or 2 pulls. Forgive me... I am NOT mechanically inclined, and I got this wheeler partially for that reason....

So, after messing with the recoil starter I noticed that I had fuel leaking out of the nipple at the bottom of the carb... I shut the petcock off, and it went away.

Also... should I have the choke UP or DOWN for normal riding conditions?

And... one more...

When I first enter any gear, it rides smooth... when I start to max out in any gear it gets sluggish... thoughts?

Thanks!

Leroy

[oscarmayer]

choke down = choke off, choke up = choke on. so down is off. that means the float needle valve is stickign open or it's dirty and needs rebuild. I woudl consider a cheap rebuild kit on ebay for under $20 shipepd to your door. it'll take you 1-2 hours to rebuild the carb including cleaning time and it'll run much better! there's only liek 10 parts in the kit so it's not a biggie.

[mcdonl]

Man, I would love to try to do that but I fear I will mess it up. I will order the kit and look at it first. Are there a lot of different carbs for this motor?

Also, I noticed an on/off "switch" on the top of my tank. I have never seen this on a motorcycle. When I turned it to on, I heard the air rushing in/out... could this have been my problem with the enging bogging down as there was no air coming in through the tank vent?

[oscarmayer]

nope jsut 1 type. it fits all the 200s except the 200x.
200,200s,200e,200es and 200m are the same carb. the 185s is thew same carb but smaller jet size.

[mcdonl]

Thanks oscar... i will get one ASAP. I will try loosening the gas cap tonight.

[topless]

If your tank vent is closed, fuel doesn't flow near as fast into the carb. Eventually it will be slow enough to starve the motor and it will just stop running.

[mcdonl]

Ok... so that helped too... Now the thing is running JUST ABOUT PERFECT! It just seems to mis-fire when at the top end of a gear. This is tested on a long straight stretch, NOT what I would be normally riding.

Pretty awesome. I am hoping to get out to the trails this weekend.

[oscarmayer]

sounds liek you need a plug and a jet change (1 step up richer) and your set.

[fabiodriven]

Before you start messing around with jetting, rebuild the carb back to stock. You may not want to mess with jetting just yet anyways based on the fact that you stated you are not too mechanically inclined, not to mention it may run perfect of the carb is rebuilt. You start messing around with jetting on a dirty carb and you'll end up getting lost.

[mcdonl]

Thats good advice. I will probably just change the plug, and ride it this way for a while. I will order the carb kit, but will wait until I have something else break or I get my fill of riding in.

Thanks all.

Leroy

[mcdonl]

Sorry about the grainy camera pics....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/mcdonl/august/IMG00342.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/mcdonl/august/IMG00345.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/mcdonl/august/IMG00347.jpg

[lndy650]

thats in nice shape! not often i see a set of 200s rear fenders still intact:drool:

[MonroeMike]

Looks good. You need to get it out in the light and get some more pics.

[mcdonl]

Finally got out for a ride. It was AWESOME. Started first pull everytime, the machine performed great.

I on the other hand am sore, and I struggled with a couple of steep spots with ruts made by ATV's. What is the best way to handle this condition going up AND down.

The machine definatly out performed me.

When I got back to the truck, and loaded the wheeler into the back I discovered my phone and tools bounced out of the "trunk" behind the seat. So, I unloaded and started back tracking. I came across two women walking about 6 dogs and they had found my phone and tools!

It was a great day getting muddy and having a good workout! I took pics in the sun and will upload them later.