200X/SX front end swap

[mad_max]

Heres what it looks like, finished it today... more or less. :beer
http://www.boomspeed.com/madmax66/LF34_2.jpg

You can flip the headlight straps around (to the inside) and the SX headlight can be retained.

http://www.boomspeed.com/madmax66/headlight.jpg

http://www.boomspeed.com/madmax66/strap.jpg

Thanks to dads and dirtcrasher for the guidance.

I'm probably going to have some SX front end stuff for sale in the near future (including my narrow tire/wheel setup).

[Dammit!]

Throw an '86 R headlight and front fender on there and you'd really have people's heads spinning.

Nice work.

[smokinp]

great job!have you had it out for a test ride??

[atczack]

Looks really good man. I like it.

[asc180]

I am going to do that!! That looks great. Any special thing needed.

Adam

[mad_max]

great job!have you had it out for a test ride??

Thanks. Yeah, took it out on my friends trail today. It seems to handle a bit better than my old setup (narrow front tire on SX forks). I ran it through a set of rolling doubles repeatedly and it seems to soak up the small jumps better.
It doesnt have quite the travel I was hoping for (seems to compress more than I think it should when I get on it....maybe it needs new springs) Also I'd say it has more rake (caster) than the old setup as the straight line stability is better at high speed.
As far as special things needed, you need a 83-85 200x front end, need to cut the SX steering stop off the frame, need to weld a 200x stop on the frame. Other than that its not too bad except for putting the freakin ball bearings back in the steering head (use lots of really thick grease to hold them in place. :naughty: )

[conig]

max so you don't feel the handling is that much better? the reason I ask is Is I always felt the better handling came from the skinnier tire and thats something you already had before. You probable would have felt more if you had a 11 inch front rim on there.

[Blown 331]

Do you want to sell he old SX front end? My buddy has a 250SX with a 4-wheeler conversion and he is looking for the 3-wheeler front end.

[mad_max]

max so you don't feel the handling is that much better? the reason I ask is Is I always felt the better handling came from the skinnier tire and thats something you already had before. You probable would have felt more if you had a 11 inch front rim on there.

Conig, you're correct. I think the fact that I had the skinny front tire before I did the swap makes the difference less noticeable.

Blown331, I sent you a PM

[conig]

I meant 11 inch tire sorry. I want to move to a similiar setup as you had on my big red.

[mad_max]

Been using some Christmas vacation to finish up a few things.
Got the fender shined up and installed as well as the brake mc/caliper. Man it took alot of bleeding to get the air out of it but it works pretty well. Found out that when I put the M/C on my old "ape hanger" handlebars that the brake hose was too short so I scrounged a low rise bar from a friend till I can get a proper one. One thing I noticed is that when I get on the front will compress about and inch and a half (I weigh 155lbs) and it will stay that way after I get off. So I'm playing with spacers in the fork tubes (cant afford Progressive Springs right now).

Heres a pic with the front end uncompressed.
http://www.terraworld.net/mikemax/new%20RF34_full.jpg

Heres a pic with the front end compressed.
http://www.terraworld.net/mikemax/new%20RF34_comp.jpg

Painted the caliper red (got the idea from a Z06 Vette) looks cool but doubt it will last very long.
http://www.terraworld.net/mikemax/caliper.jpg

Heres what I'm using for steering stops (more like steering pads) till I can get the stops welded on.
http://www.terraworld.net/mikemax/foam%20stops.jpg

Heres a couple of front end shots
http://www.terraworld.net/mikemax/new%20front%20close.jpg
http://www.terraworld.net/mikemax/new%20front.jpg