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View Full Version : atc 125m suspension upgrade/swap....... ****pics****


Threes company
10-27-2008, 07:33 PM
Finished up swapping the forks from an 83 185s to my 85 125m tonight. Took it for a quick spin and the difference is amazing..... the front end doesn't jump all around as it did with the rigid forks. Thought you guys would like to see a few pics with it compared to my stock 84 125. Its a very straight forward swap.... the only thing needed to do is grind off the stock steering stop from the 125 frame (ouch:cry: ) and fab up a new stop.... yeah I know, lame welding :rolleyes: .. sorry about the pics....... had to take em inside the garage tonight, not the best.
:pics:
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/tugboatrog/STEVESEBAYPICS180.jpg
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/tugboatrog/STEVESEBAYPICS168.jpg
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/tugboatrog/STEVESEBAYPICS174.jpg
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/tugboatrog/STEVESEBAYPICS175.jpg
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/tugboatrog/STEVESEBAYPICS165.jpg
SeaBass8
10-27-2008, 08:06 PM
Nice upgrade. I like it.
edog
10-27-2008, 08:24 PM
Those forks look bent. No?

I did the 85 200S swap onto my atc 90.
Threes company
10-27-2008, 09:12 PM
hey edog........ yeah, they do look a bit tweaked looking at that pic but they are nice and straight...... the only thing bent is the fender from the 185, almost like it was overheated somehow... for now it'll do the job though. and yeah, i've been following your build and that 90 is looking awful sweet :drool: :beer
edog
10-27-2008, 09:19 PM
Looking good!

What are you using for a headlight?

Hows the turning radius?

Better than before?

Can you get a good side shot of the trikes facing each other? Both trikes in the pic.

I would like to see the difference between the ridged fork and the 83 185S fork.
Threes company
10-28-2008, 04:11 PM
can't really see much of a difference with the turning radius EDog........ I have the new steering stop set so theres about an 1/8th of an inch gap between the legs and tank at full lock... figure for a light I'll use something off a 200s or 185... but man, what a difference front suspension makes! Hey, I'll get those other pics up for you in a few days............
edog
10-28-2008, 04:12 PM
can't really see much of a difference with the turning radius EDog........ I have the new steering stop set so theres about an 1/8th of an inch gap between the legs and tank at full lock... figure for a light I'll use something off a 200s or 185... but man, what a difference front suspension makes! Hey, I'll get those other pics up for you in a few days............

Thanks...that would be great.
rdlsz24
10-28-2008, 05:44 PM
Hey do you have the stock front fender and flap from that 125m still?

Rob
Threes company
11-01-2008, 07:00 PM
Edog.... here are those other pics you were looking for..... thats if you can pull yourself away from your new 350x for a few minutes, lol :beer Hey Rob.... just saw your post, sorry but no, that fender is long gone. Take it easy.......

http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/tugboatrog/STEVESEBAYPICS182.jpg


http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/tugboatrog/STEVESEBAYPICS183.jpg
edog
11-01-2008, 07:06 PM
Hows it turn VS the rigid fork with less rake?
Threes company
11-01-2008, 07:40 PM
yeah, just a bit more. turns fine... if anything it seems to track straighter.... not sure if thats due to the suspension or the slight gain in wheelbase? i tried the 125 headlight on the 185 forks........ just did,'t look right as it was angled too high. didn't want to bother bending the mounting brackets to make it fit... too nice of a headlight for that. Hey... the GPX project is............... gone? :(
edog
11-01-2008, 07:53 PM
Hey... the GPX project is............... gone? :(

Went to a board member.
McDerry
11-02-2008, 01:24 AM
Theres no rake change guys...


... it just has a trailing axle with some offset built into the forks to compensate.

Steering stem is still at the same angle and the axle is still in line with the stem.
oscarmayer
11-02-2008, 09:41 AM
dang! if i knew this ahead of time, I woudl have toss a set of 185/200s front forks on the kid's trike i'm doing. but i sent the stockers off to get redone instead. :( ahh well. it'll still be ok. i have liek 2 or 3 set sof 185/200s forks form a trade i did a got tons of trikes and parts.
Threes company
11-02-2008, 12:40 PM
Theres no rake change guys...

Thanks for the input McDerry...... before I did the swap I measured the distance of the front axle in relation to various fixed points on the frame and engine. After the swap I found an increase of 1 1/4 inches with these measurements along with the same change in wheelbase. I also have the stock 125 for comparisons..... A few years back we did the same swap on my cousins 125 and found the same change. Maybe an increase in "steering axis angle" would be a better way to describe this than an increase in "rake"? :confused: heck, I don't know........ I'll leave the chopper building to Jesse James, all I know is the ride and handling is much better than stock. ;)
firehart
11-02-2008, 12:49 PM
I might do that someday on my 125 .I have a fork set from a suspended 185 but I think it needs rebuilt.
VintageHondaKid
12-31-2011, 12:17 PM
Sorry to bring this thread back up from the dead, but is the 125m front brake hub the same as the 185s hub? Which one did you use?
sledcrazyinCT
12-31-2011, 12:34 PM
what did you end up doing to make the headlight off the 125 fit?
tmhcycle
01-02-2012, 02:52 PM
looks good. check this 185 for sale it has full suspenion frt and rear, the frt looks like its from a 200x or something. if you go to craigslist in CA, inland empire and put in atc it will be there. looked pretty clean from pics
JohnR.
01-02-2012, 08:35 PM
Even with the same head angle on the frame the rake can change. Some triple clamps or in this case uppers have a certain amount of rake built in. With more rake it should track better in a straight line but not like to turn quite as much.
110klt
01-02-2012, 10:42 PM
Totally love the front forks. Just did the same thing to my 110KLT.......... Great job.
Jon Boy
01-02-2012, 11:40 PM
Sorry to bring this thread back up from the dead, but is the 125m front brake hub the same as the 185s hub? Which one did you use?

you'll want the 185 hub. you'll want to use everything on the fork your swapping in. fork, hub, brake assembly, rim and axle basicly. only need to relocate the steering stops this way.
350XJEDI
01-03-2012, 03:51 PM
:Dthis swap is the best upgrade for any solid fork trike , the steering is better imo just use more body english . did same swap on several early 185s,125 , 110, 90 works great less vibration on hands ,wrist plus looks good the headlight mount is easy to mod or run a 185 headlight I prefer the look of the older round 90 headlight:cool: