85 T3 project updated w/pics and info 4-19

[i58829]

*I will continue to update this thread in my latest posts as this build moves forward*


Ok i know it has been said that the banshee shocks will fit on a T3 but i've seen a few posts from people who weren't sure, so here it goes.

This is my pink ebay find it was only 30.00 shipped so i took a chance, but it looked red in the auction. I was told its from an early 90's banshee. I figured i'd try to stick it on there this evening, well it went on so easily i'm worried i did something wrong. The only thing i dont have on it right now are the lower bushings. The T3 doesn't use them, and the banshee lower bolt (actually top stock) is smaller in diameter than the T3 bolt. So i'll bore them out at work in the morning and be ready to roll. It ended up being about .750 inches shorter than my T3 shock (which was adjusted to the max and felt like a sponge when you got on/off the bike) So there is very little rear height difference but nothing to be worried about. This thing feels 10X better than it did before it has great rebound, and the shock must still have a good charge because the adjuster works as well. There aren't any clearance issues, i think you could even do this setup with a stock airbox, it might be tight during installation but that'd be about it.

As a little side note, dont mind my messy garage, TC...

[ccdhowell]

I like it, very nice mod. Add another shock to the list that will work on the rear of a gen 1 T3.


On another note, I found one that is too long...a 87-90 Quadracer, won't go on, linkage pivot moves up into frame cross brace and shock is still too high up to get bolt in.

Chris

[i58829]

And just to make some of you guys scratch your head this evening, here's a couple shots of whats to come next. No details yet i need to make sure it will all come together, and make a few mounts/spacers. Those of you with a good eye will be able to figure out this isn't your typical T3 front end...

[Paule]

Air cooled 250R forks?

[i58829]

Ok liquid R forks, with sleeves in the 86 T3 triples to make up for the .080 difference, R brakes, and the part i'm not sure about is the wheel/hub.

I'm gonna either use a 350X setup if the axle will thread into the forks, or i have an R setup already but i'd need the longer axle from the 350X. Anyone know if an X axle will work in an R hub?

It will need a spacer on the right side of the hub to make up about 1/2-3/4 of an inch, and i think i can keep the rotor where its at using either the R or X hub. It should give this thing a cleaner look and with the later triple tree and such i will be shedding at least 5 maybe even 10 lbs from the front end. The stock 85 trips are boat anchors, TC...

[oldsking86]

Man it's coming together slowly but surely haha Looking awesome TC!

[i58829]

Man it's coming together slowly but surely haha Looking awesome TC!

I gotta do something with it. The stock tecate stuff doesn't cut it, and this thing was just plain tired...

[Dirtcrasher]

NICE!!!!

More guys need to "verify" all these swaps!!

[i58829]

Ok so here's the front end with all honda parts aside from the triple tree. I will be making a 1/2" spacer for the right side, although the wheel will be offset by that much, i'd prefer to keep the stock honda rotor mount/position. The 86 T3 triples are about an inch wider than the 250R so thats why i will be using a spacer, just to make sure i have over 75% of the bolt being clamped on the non threaded side.

I have the R's front brakes i gotta check them over, and instal the stainless braided lines i got for the front and rear. I'm thinking about keeping the rear end stock tecate but trying to find an aluminum 86 swinger set up and have the extended 85 stuff in the garage as a spare. The banshee shock was a great and cheap mod that changed the whole feel.

The narrow front and the new shock makes sitting on this thing a lot more comfortable, but before i ride it i'm pretty sure its gonna get torn down and cleaned up/painted.

The near future should bring a green 250R front fender, semi-polished triple/forks, I'm leaning towards a bright metallic blue paint for the frame, hopefully a silver front wheel, stainless front and rear brake lines, new clutch/throttle cables that i have laying around, new bars/clutch/brake levers, K&N open filter, cover for the rear shock, and some homegrown rad mounting brackets...

[scooterroo]

yamhonsaki! or kawihamnda! or honamasaki!

[i58829]

If the shoe fits then why not? Its all about using what i have available i'm not looking to put the kind of money i have in my R or X into this thing. So whatever is in the garage or dirt cheap is fair game...

[scooterroo]

whatelse you have planned? is the rear swinger a stock extended or an aftermarket? the 86 swinger with bolt right up but you need to shim the dogbone, and while at it use an 86 dogbone or kx cuz they are adjustable.

[cr480r]

would the honda tripples work with a stem swap?

[i58829]

The rear swinger that is on it is a stock extended 7" but i'm not really interested in keeping it that long (but right now i'll leave well enough alone). I have another idea brewing there is supposed to be a 200X complete rear end coming from Key Largo Fl. that the guy said was mailed weds. but i haven't seen it yet. Anyway i'm thinking about cutting up a stock 85 swinger and making something out of the stuff. If that doesn't work i can say i tried.

I'd love to have an 86 complete rear end to stick under it but i just need to wait for one to present itself.

The triples are very different, did you mean the stem on the triple tree itelf, or welding a new stem tube onto the frame? Either one of those may work, i think the T3 stem is a little larger at the lower bearing but i didn't take off either one to verify this. I was thinking about how to make the honda one work and what i came up with was using a lower bearing seat from a honda, welded into the frame and cutting out nearly an inch from the lower end (dropping the front accordingly), in order to use the R setup. This was a good idea in some aspects but bad in others, so i didn't try to take it on. The lower T3 bearing is atleast an 1/8 inch larger than the 250R, the top is the same size, but the stem tubes are different in OAL by about an inch (the T3 is taller). So this setup made the most sense and simplicity is always a plus because i plan to keep the bike in a state that it can be taken back to stock without a ton of work.

Did that answer your questions? if not let me know i can try to explain a little better.

As far as what's planned for the future: green 250R front fender, semi-polished triple/forks, I'm leaning towards a bright metallic blue paint for the frame, hopefully a silver front wheel, stainless front and rear brake lines, new clutch/throttle cables that i have laying around, new bars/clutch/brake levers, K&N open filter, cover for the rear shock, and some homegrown rad mounting brackets, TC...

[cr480r]

The triples are very different, did you mean the stem on the triple tree itelf, or welding a new stem tube onto the frame?

I mean putting a kawasaki stem in the honda tripples... I have been thinking about something like this... I am thinking about using a complete honda front end with an aluminum KX stem machined and pressed into the lower clamp.


Did that answer your questions? if not let me know i can try to explain a little better.

I was mainly curious about the potential rake and wheelbase changes and also the location of the stops... I was also curious if you are gonna run the honda fork tubes with a leading or trailing axle?

[ccdhowell]

As for me, I really dig the centered silencer. Now that's a mod mod.

[i58829]

CR i'm gonna run it trailing, with the stock 250r setup, i dont think it changed the angle a ton. The wheel base may be a little shorter which i guess would lift the front up some, but it's fine with me because of the extended swinger. This bike was akward and felt like the nose was too low, so this swap corrected that feel.

I was thinking about the stem swap, i also thought about welding a sleeve w/threads in/onto the stock honda tree but i wasn't sure about getting a lower bearing that would work in the T3 frame. So like i said for what i want and the time/money i want to invest until i can prove this set up wont work i'm keeping it this way.

I love the center silencer, not my mod but it looks/sounds good when you ride it...