There was a smell of Kawasaki 2-Stroke in the air today.....

[mdunn]

Sun was finally out in OH today and was a balmy 42 degrees...good day to get the Tecate uncovered, install the overflow bottle with NOS Kawi bolts and hose...and of course fire it up and rip up and down the street a few times. Can't get enough of that 2-stroke smell!
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[ONEBAD350X]

Wow that is nice! Love it!

[Swinger]

The smell is better than a cup of coffee in the morning. That is one thing about races, the smell just over powers you. Love it! Nice T3

[samuraiguys]

I busted out my Tri-Z and shot a video yesterday also, was also a balmy 42 degress here in western PA lol. Cant wait to get my tecate back together and looking at yours makes me want to hurry and and get it done.

[nstyle73]

Nice T3. Is it an 87? I noticed it has the rolled lip on the rear rims but the 86 decals.

[Curtis-Tecate3]

If you ar burning Castrol "R" or Maxima 927 then that is an aroma to remember...

[mdunn]

Nstyle73 - Please educate me! That is the first I heard that the 86 and 87 wheels are different. I thought only the color was different. I am going to go look at the Kawi parts now, but if you have any more info on this, I would love to hear it. That is why I love this site. I spend more time reading and learning than I do posting, but I am always looking to learn something new from you guys. Thank you! I will also have to go check my other set that I have...maybe they are '86 which is what this one actually is as it still has the frame ID tag on it.

[nstyle73]

That is pretty much the extent of what I thought I knew, that the 87's had a rolled lip rim, but I have never checked the part numbers or anything. I know the 86's I have, have rims that look different than those, the traditional lip.

[jeswinehart]

If you have picture(s) on file of the other side of that beautiful machine I for one would sure like to see it (please).
The only detail difference I know about from 86 to 87 is the 87 model had rubber covers on the handle bar clamps (that I make).
87 have a key switch ???

john

[nstyle73]

Yeah, the key, parking brake which made the carrier and rear disc different. I believe there is a thread on here about the differences. I am pretty sure that is where I got the rim thing from.

[nstyle73]

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/120783-Differences-between-tecate-86-and-87-by-pics?highlight=86-87+Tecate+differences

[mdunn]

Thanks for the info. I researched the part numbers today, and indeed the part numbers are different, but the '87 specifically calls out the color of the wheels (SILVER) while the '86 does not. I have brochures for both the '86 and the '87 and I can not tell that they have different wheels on them except the '87 is definitely a brighter silver. I can see what your saying from the above post though. I am going to have to investigate deeper now.

John, here are a few more pictures. I also included one I posted before of what it started out as.
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Thanks for the compliments...as with them all, it's a continuous work in progress....

[christph]

I have a 86 and 87 Tecates and yes the rims on the 87 have a rolled lip and are painted silver whereas the 86 has no rolled lip and is bare aluminum (same wheel as the 85). I think the 86 rims look better. I assume they changed them because the 86 rims were prone to bending, especially with such little sidewall compared to a 9 inch rim. While the 10 inch rims looks cool I don't think it is the best rim size, especially for motocross (the target type of racing for the KXT). With such little sidewall they side well but it makes for a comparatively rough ride. The suspension on a Tecate needs to be set up better than other machines. Another downside is the 156mm hubs that don't accommodate smaller rims.

[Darius1502]

Gotta love taking a mint bike up and down the street. NO clean up....

Gotta love it..esp in the cold weather... ahhhhh.... good times!