Can I get some honest opinions/criticism for my Tecate please?

[Hoosier_Daddy]

OK, I understand that the way a bike looks is a complete matter of opinion. I love my Tecates. My 85 looks good to me but the 86/87 Tecates look like heaven to me. Since I have an 85, I decided to try to make it a hybrid 85-86 so I can have the ease of maintenance and better parts availabilty of the 85 T3 but still have the looks somewhat of the 86. Some of you have seen pics of my mach up of what it looks like currently. Granted, I'm still at the beginning of restoring and rebuilding it. It still needs to be cleaned up and painted, the gas tank needs restored etc. when it's done It will look nice and clean.

I am using the 86 front end and rear swinger and plastics as you can see in the picture. I'd like to have you guys chime in and tell me if you think I'm making a mistake? Will it be a pain in the butt to deal with if I make this hybrid? Do you guys think I'd be better off to mount the radiator back on the trees and go with the 85 T3 gas tank? I was thinking about just using the 85 rad and tank but using the 86 front end, swinger and fenders?

What do you guys think? Any ideas, or comments that will guide me in the right direction? I want it to look good but i also want it to be functional.

[brapp]

i think you shoudl sellme that tank and shrouds for my klemm research kawie restore!!!!!!!

[Hoosier_Daddy]

i think you shoudl sellme that tank and shrouds for my klemm research kawie restore!!!!!!!Haha. I got lucky with those shrouds. They're factory OEM. I'm not ready to sell them just yet, but I might in the near future. It depends on what I decide to do with my 86 T3 project.

[cr480r]

I think you should either put the '85 radiator and tank back on, or sell your engine and buy a newer engine for the '86 frame... Judging by your posts I dont think you will be satified until you have an '86...

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I think you should either put the '85 radiator and tank back on, or sell your engine and buy a newer engine for the '86 frame... Judging by your posts I dont think you will be satified until you have an '86...
Yeah, that is somewhat, my problem. The 86-87 T3 is my holy grail. I will be happy with my 85, don't get me wrong, but even when you have a great ride, if it isn't your all time dream ride, you will always be reaching for it.

[250rulzes]

I would keep the rear swinger and fender. Put the 85 Front end back on and the 86 front fender. Lose the 86 tank, shrouds and radiators. Get the 85 radiator back up front and cover it with a vented number plate.

Continue to scavange parts for your 86 until you have what you need to build the bike you want...

[ScottZJ]

Well I have an 86 frame that I might think about selling, after I finish my project. Dont ever estimate the power of hard work and patience. As I have been working on a ground up build for my 87 tecate and its been hard but getting closer to be finished. It was a frame and motor when I started. Still working on getting a front end but if you really want an 86 then go for it and you can make it happen. There are some parts hard to come by but you can fab things to work. For example:
overflow bottle: use the 250r overflow and works fine with fabbed bracket. Then get the cover from Hagen to hide it if you dont like the looks.

air box: eliminate the air box and use the KX250 intake as its angled and do a straight filter.

headlight frame: use the acerbis complete headlight system (until you can get a stock one)

You can get the shrouds from hornetmotorsports and get the tank bra from Ceet, so if you have your heart for an 86-87 tecate, then make what you want not some cheap knock off hehe.

Here is my project post
http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=93506

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I appreciate the insight guys. I hope to hear a lot of opinions here.

Scott, I just checked the thread with your 86 build. Very nice, indeed.

[2quicktecate]

put it back to stock now!!!

[Hoosier_Daddy]

put it back to stock now!!!
I know you aren't alone on that. lol

I think I'll end up going back to the stock tank, and radiator on the triples. But i will use the 86 front end because it is worlds better then the stock front end, and a ton lighter. Also, i will keep the 86 swinger on there because it is so much lighter and 2 inches extended. But doing the extra fabrication to make the 86 tank and rads work is making it hard on myself for no reason. I think I'm going to skip that.


In fact, I think I'll take a little time this evening and put the stock tank on there and temporarily fit the rad to the triples and take a new pic and post it to see what you guys think then.

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Here is a couple pics with the stock tank sitting on there and the radiator too. If I go this route, I'll buy one of those number plates for over the radiator.

[cr480r]

Thats sweet!!! I would run it just like that.. besides maybe a 250r front fender.....
What is the dirtbike in the background?

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Thats sweet!!! I would run it just like that.. besides maybe a 250r front fender.....
What is the dirtbike in the background?
Yeah, I kinda like it too. I want to get a number plate for the front thenI'll be happy with it. The dirt bike is a 1984 KX125.

[Brad200X]

I didn't know that the front and rear 86 bolted up to the 1st gens. Be a good upgrade to get rid of that heavy old steel swinger on my '84. BTW how do you like the '84 KX125? I have an 85, and it has a weird top-heavy feeling to it. Its nothing like my Bro's '88 which feels really tiny, or my '96 which is perfect, not too high, not too low.

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I didn't know that the front and rear 86 bolted up to the 1st gens. Be a good upgrade to get rid of that heavy old steel swinger on my '84. BTW how do you like the '84 KX125? I have an 85, and it has a weird top-heavy feeling to it. Its nothing like my Bro's '88 which feels really tiny, or my '96 which is perfect, not too high, not too low.I haven't gone out and rode it too much yet, but it does seem a bit tall. Once I'm going it seems pretty good though. I'm surprised how fast it is for just being a 125.

As far as the rear fenders bolting up, you'll have to make a couple holes to line them up but it's pretty easy to get them to work. The front fender won't work with the stock 85 triples unless you make a bracket for the fender. The 85 triples are too wide and the bolt holes are wider then the 86 fender.

[ScottZJ]

Well I knew the front ends would interchange as I had 2 86-87 frames with 85 front ends on them. They actually change the front ends out to the fat tire ones for flat track racing. They would use the cart type tires on the front for the flat racing.

[fabiodriven]

I think I'll end up going back to the stock tank, and radiator on the triples. But i will use the 86 front end because it is worlds better then the stock front end, and a ton lighter..
Hope I don't sound harsh, Hoosier. Just wanna give my honest opion.

First things first- extend the swinger. It don't look right with 18's on a stock swinger. I extended mine the day after I got my first set of 18's because I couldn't stand how it looked.

I don't see how it will be possible to run the narrower 86 front end with the 85 radiator, unless you've got something up your sleeve. If you use the 85 triples, the forks probably won't fit. Even if they did and you put the 86 front tire in, there would be like a 3 or 4 inch gap on either side of the skinny 86 front tire.

Personally, I'm an 85 fan all the way. Kawasaki took the time to engineer a fast, simple two stroke that always gets comments. The newer ones to me seem a little more fragile in a way with the rads and shrouds hanging off the sides. It's not a huge deal, I just like the simplicity of the 85.

To be honest, Hoosier, I must say for sure that your project looks alot better than I thought it was going to. I'm tempted to get rid of my 86. I like the 85 so much better, but I just HAD to have the 86. I can't get rid of it now because I have retarded money into it and it's pretty much a pile of bolts right now.

All in all, I'd just put the 85 stuff back on and call it a day. Then save up for your 86.

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Hope I don't sound harsh, Hoosier. Just wanna give my honest opion.

First things first- extend the swinger. It don't look right with 18's on a stock swinger. I extended mine the day after I got my first set of 18's because I couldn't stand how it looked.

I don't see how it will be possible to run the narrower 86 front end with the 85 radiator, unless you've got something up your sleeve. If you use the 85 triples, the forks probably won't fit. Even if they did and you put the 86 front tire in, there would be like a 3 or 4 inch gap on either side of the skinny 86 front tire.

Personally, I'm an 85 fan all the way. Kawasaki took the time to engineer a fast, simple two stroke that always gets comments. The newer ones to me seem a little more fragile in a way with the rads and shrouds hanging off the sides. It's not a huge deal, I just like the simplicity of the 85.

To be honest, Hoosier, I must say for sure that your project looks alot better than I thought it was going to. I'm tempted to get rid of my 86. I like the 85 so much better, but I just HAD to have the 86. I can't get rid of it now because I have retarded money into it and it's pretty much a pile of bolts right now.

All in all, I'd just put the 85 stuff back on and call it a day. Then save up for your 86.
Not harsh at all. That's the reason I made the thread though. I want honest opinions with no worries of hurting my feelings. Criticism or opinions is what I'm after. I appreciate your honesty too.

Just to let you know where I'm at on it, the 86 front end is a lot lighter and the forks are much better then the 85. I weigh about 250# right now. I'm working on that though. But the 86 front end on there feels great. As far as the radiator goes, I will have to fabricate a bracket for it to bolt on. I'll be able to use the existing bolts from the headlight assembly from the 86 triples so it will be an easy job for that part.

The 86 swinger gives me 2 inches of extension over the stock 85. I'm afraid to go much more because I don't want to give up handling. I'll be riding in open trails for the most part but I need to be able to turn.

So when it's all said and done, I'll only be using the 86 front end, swinger and fenders. Everything else will be stock 85 stuff except any performance stuff I am able to put into the engine. Hope that answers any questions.

p.s. I have to admit, with the 86 swinger and the 86 front end, it feels really nice sitting on it. Riding, will have to be determined later.:naughty:

[brapp]

pretty much if you want an 86 then hold out and find one. thier out ther ei have owned 4 of them in the past 8 years. but if it wer emine i owudl make it back to an 85 and sell me the tanka d shrouds.

[Hoosier_Daddy]

pretty much if you want an 86 then hold out and find one. thier out ther ei have owned 4 of them in the past 8 years. but if it wer emine i owudl make it back to an 85 and sell me the tanka d shrouds.
Do you have an 86/87 T3 you're restoring?

[brapp]

her eis a link to the start of my build.



http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=93753

[firefirefire90]

change it back to an 85 dude. It's an 85 for a reason. It's like putting a ferrari body kit on a fiero.. in the end it is still a fiero. I mean... not the best comparison, but you know what I mean? I'd hold out for the 86/7 just because you will get the entire package deal and won't alter any of the fun things that make the 85 an 85 and not some hybrid shpeal.

just my .02centzzz