replacing plastics.

[Jim mac]

my new to me 350x has a rear fender missing chunks. So I need to order a new one. So my question, is it worth the extra cost to just order the front, rear fender and scoops?
I'm thinking it all matches. There's a new seat cover coming tomorrow.
I'm probably going to just order it, but thought I'd see what others do when ordering plastics. jim

[ATC King]

It seems you've got one of your dream machines. Wouldn't you feel better if it's all fresh and matches?

[Yamaha Tri-Moto]

If I'm spending the money for new plastics I always replace everything. If I don't I always regret it and end up having to pay for shipping twice. I replaced the plastic and tank on my 350x and never looked back.

[Jim mac]

I'm taking it out Saturday and see how my knee handles starting it. if it works out, I'll just buy the kit less headlight shell. jim

[BarnBoy]

Jim if you end up deciding your knee can't handle the 350X, I will trade you a couple 185s and 200 projects and bikes, plus maybe some cash on my end for it. Lol

Maybe it's time someone repopped the Goki kit....

[patriot1]

Get the whole set! It's a 350x!! If you have a super model you don't mind buying her a new dress! lol

[Jim mac]

thanks, but I've got 3 running 185s trikes. funny thing, I was originally hoping to find someone looking to unload a 200x I wanted to build a auto x. If the kick start messes my knee too bad, I'll try to trade it for a car or truck project, who knows, another chevelle or tri 5 chevy truck body? jim.

[JOEY11]

Keep it and if you can’t kick it just have a couple people push start for you. When I had my tri-z 250 I had to roll it down the slope in my yard when I wanted to ride it because the clutch didn’t work for a couple weeks and then when the kick starter broke I did the same thing. That thing was fun but always something wrong with it. 2 morons stole it from my shed one night and didn’t realize I had the head off while fixing the head studs and pushed it into an irrigation ditch when they realized it wouldn’t start and left it there about 200yds from my house and a cop found it that morning lol.

[Arky-X]

I kept my eye out on Maier's website and ebay to find a closeout or blems. Finally a set of front/rear fenders popped up that were blems so I bought those. Didn't save a ton of $$ but it was cheaper than normal price.
Can't be as picky on colors doing it this way though.

[Jim mac]

400 bucks isn't too bad, buy it once and be done with it. I could trim the cracked fender back but it just looks so horrible. jim

[Jim mac]

forgot, I still need the hi flite seat kit for my 185s. jim

[ATC King]

I kept my eye out on Maier's website and ebay to find a closeout or blems.

Great advice!

[jasong_10]

Another vote for replacing the whole set. In addition to difference in condition and color fade, it also helps prevent color mis-match, Maier red being different than Honda red for example.

[Jim mac]

hardest part is deciding on a color, ended up ordering the white fenders with the decal kit. Seat cover is blue, going to leave the stock scoops for now. jim

[patriot1]

Maier had a good deal on a set of whites for a 350x today.

[jasong_10]

That's usually a safe bet, most often white is white is white . . .

[Yamaha Tri-Moto]

Here's my 350 with Maiers and a Clarke tank. 266694

[Jim mac]

I got the rear fender off ebay flr 226 shipped. front was 75 shipped. jim

[Jim mac]

seat cover and rear fender installed. front fender and decals will be here next week.
On the rear fender, the factory had nubs where the middle brace goes. the Maier doesn't have the nubs. I installed the brace but it doesn't do anything. is that correct? jim

[Jim mac]

picture of the new parts. jim

[patriot1]

Looks awesome Jim!!!

[jasong_10]

seat cover and rear fender installed. front fender and decals will be here next week.
On the rear fender, the factory had nubs where the middle brace goes. the Maier doesn't have the nubs. I installed the brace but it doesn't do anything. is that correct? jim

Might depend on the seller, but both sets of Maier rear plastics that I've bought came with bolts/nuts/brackets to install on the fenders (drilling through the front side of the fender and leaving an exposed machine screw head) so you can use the factory brace. I didn't put them in the R fenders an have no intentions of putting them in the X fenders either. It would be nice to have the brace but their method of keeping it is just too clunky looking for me . . .

[Jim mac]

the fender has holes for the middle brace, im thinking of getting a rubber snubbed and bolting it to the brace so it just touches under the fender. jim

[jasong_10]

That could work, I hadn't thought of that . . .

I just knew I wasn't willing to do it their way, lol.

[wild200x]

Trike is looking good with white. IDK about the 350X middle brace, but I leave them completely off the 250R's. Not needed IMHO.

[BOB MARLIN]

The aftermarket plastic seem to match the '86 white. The white is different from '85 to '86 on the 350x gas tanks.

[jasong_10]

the fender has holes for the middle brace, im thinking of getting a rubber snubbed and bolting it to the brace so it just touches under the fender. jim

I haven't got out to the garage to verify yet but I'm not sure if that would work . . .

At least on the 200x and 250r plastic the brace "clips into" the inside of the plastic on each end and is anchored in the center by a couple half moon brackets. I would think that without the anchor on each end there wouldn't be anything to stop the brace from swiveling/swinging back and forth in those half moon brackets?

[Jim mac]

on the 350x there's a nub on each side of the plastic where the brace basically holds the end of the fender up. the brace is bolted in the middle. sort of like a 185s. jim

[jasong_10]

Yeah, I think we're talking about the same thing. The nub on each side of the factory fender kind of "hooks" onto each end of the brace, which allows the brace to to hold up each side of the fender, but also seems like it keeps the brace from pivoting/swinging (front to back) in those center brackets/hold downs? Not that they would swing free all the time but it seems like they could be jarred away from the fender when riding on anything but perfectly smooth terrain. Like I said though, I haven't gotten out to the garage yet to take a closer look, but it just seems like without any nubs to catch each end of the brace on the Maier fender, it might not stay in position and provide any support after hitting the first bump . . .

[Jim mac]

maybe bolting on a piece of 1x4 or 5 inch long piece of metal, put a rubber snubber on the ends, bend it so the bumper hits the fender in 2 places per side. Basically like a capitol T laying on its side. jim

[jasong_10]

maybe bolting on a piece of 1x4 or 5 inch long piece of metal, put a rubber snubber on the ends, bend it so the bumper hits the fender in 2 places per side. Basically like a capitol T laying on its side. jim

Pretty sure I can picture what you're describing, just not how it would work, I am intrigued though. Just make sure to take/post some pics if/when you start fabricating. I'd be interested as it would be nice to use the factory brace without having to drill the new fender. I'll try to get out to the garage tomorrow and take another look at my fenders and possibly offer some input that is actually useful, lol.

[Jim mac]

haven't had a chance to mess with the trike, but stickers and front fender showed up tonight. hopefully this weekend it'll look fresh again. and the front fenders came drilled. jim

[Jim mac]

next up, clean the fork boots and tires. jim

[jasong_10]

Looks great. I didn't get out to the garage either, might have time tomorrow.

[Jim mac]

see where the fuel line is sitting on top of the brace? replace the fuel line with a 1x4 inch piece of strap steel, bolt it to the brace, install small rubber bumpers on the ends. it would keep from wanting to turn.

on another note. replacement decals for the sides of the rear fender (tire info on the right, chain info on the left ) doesn't fit the contours of the maier plastics. jim

[patriot1]

Looks awesome Jim!

[jasong_10]

see where the fuel line is sitting on top of the brace? replace the fuel line with a 1x4 inch piece of strap steel, bolt it to the brace, install small rubber bumpers on the ends. it would keep from wanting to turn.

on another note. replacement decals for the sides of the rear fender (tire info on the right, chain info on the left ) doesn't fit the contours of the maier plastics. jim

Okay, that setup should work for you. The layout must be different on the 350x than the 200x and 250r because I don't have that bracket on either of mine.

[Jim mac]

I think my 185s has a similar bracket