Kawasaki KLT 200’s the miss understood 3 wheelers

[JordanT]

Hello I’m new to this site, but not new to stuff with motors on em.



I was reading Super junkie’s column on some guys 1983 KLT part search. I think he had some issues with the KLT 200 that can be dealt with. So I'm giving the KLT 200 a fair fight.
(Because I happen to own a modified\decked out 1983 KLT200A Duckster.)

Now then, for all the people thinking a KLT is a peace of junk.
Lets look at some pros and cons first!




Cons

1,) It’s motor was electric start only. Nice to know I won’t be buying a new kick start… not so nice to know I won’t be going any ware with a dead battery.

2,) The little known fact that the fuel pump it came with was way too weak for the job to begin with. Also the fuel line it came with would let the presser go where it was hooked up to the pump. Both problems caused the motor to fail sometimes, giving the bike a bad rep and I think if super junky was running his with a stock fuel pump it might explain some of his problems.

3,) They could have done much better with the headlight.

4,) The snowmobile throttle is nice for safety but not so nice to your thumb.

5,) I kinda liked the idea of not tinkering with the points, but I don’t like the idea of playing the game of what’s wrong with the little black box if it ever fails.

6,) It’s well made but made by Kawasaki, so get ready for dim looks by mass Honda fans who may have already jugged it before even seeing it.

7,) The basic klt 200 with no racks and its origin fuel pump. Looked a lot like a vw bug with 3wheels and ran a lot like a huge old ford truck with no box befit!

Ok now that Iv got the bad out of the way……. Lets look at the good!





Pro

Lockable diffs!
Pretty sure it has the largest and toughest hunting racks front and back for a 3 wheeler!
Fishing rack!
Gun rack!
Tow ball at the back
Frame can easily be fitted with thick well mounted under plating giving complete protection of the entire underside of the bike even in the back spot where there was no plating before.
Electronic IGN
12volt system
Came from the factory in 1983 with an o ring chain that was completely protected and sealed from dirt in a metal box that went all way around the back sprocket to the motor (had a rubber plug you could remove to oil the chain)
It came with a auto chain tightener
Electric starting
The 200 cc motor actually had an oil filter in it and is pretty good with fuel usage.
5 speed strait up!
Axel ect ect all the crap at the back is well sealed off un like many other bikes out there.
3.5 gallon gas tank.
IGN control box is located well away from the motor in the safest place on the bike.
Easy CB antenna mounting on the back rack and a CB can be mounted easy on the support plate. (Located between the handle bars where the gun\fishing rack goes)
The snowmobile throttle may not be as fun but keep in mind you won’t kill trailprotrailpro self by accidentally giving it more gas when you start to loose control in a bad spot.

With the right self-done modifications I believe you could be looking at the most reliable and best suited 3weeler for hunting and deep woods camping ever made.



Ps: If anyone needs pics\info on must do modifications for this bike let me know.

[Darius1502]

Just to place things into context....


Here are some of these creations:







I think in later years they had a back up kickstarter.

Also Kawasaki came up with another the KLT200C.... It had front shocks like thier old KLT 250:

So you could choose between the old KLT200B (seen above) or the KLT200C (shown below). The difference....front shocks and a differential. I guess when they made the second model they took the differential from the basic 200 model.

[Darius1502]

A buddy of mine had one of the KLT200C's and it was slow pig that handled like a grand piano on wheels towing a 1000 pound safe.

But it was great a slow speeds and in the woods.

[smokinwrench]

I have owned a KLT200 and to give them the recognition of possibly being one most reliable and best suited 3weeler for hunting and deep woods camping ever made.

You are being way to generous with this machine. I think you should ride a bigred,250sx, or 225DR. Then tell me what you think of the KLT.

[JordanT]

Thanks for posting the pic's Darius1502 I was having troble with my pic. Funny though, the green bike decked out with racks does not have the gun mount on it that im plaining to use as a cb mount on my bike. I would have liked to have up a pick of a decked out duckster witch Is all camo and and has all the full sized rack\other stuff on it. But the only pic I could find was on google under duckster and it's pretty small. Ill get pic's of mine up here as soon as im done putting it back together (2 weeks time) Ill also post up a few how two's on that bike if anyone here own's one and need info.

And ya your right it was not meant for high speed riding at all. It's more of a cross between a jon deer 5 weeler unloader and a trike. But thats what you need when camping and hunting somthing quiet and lower geared to haul stuff with. Iv not tryed a big red yet but iv been on the smaller honda models.

[smokey]

My KLT200 is the most reliable rig I got.

[atckowalski]

So, Is there reverse on those? I need a good plow trike but it needs to have reverse.A friend of mine has a couple of them out in his backyard Maybe it is time to check them out?

[jdog]

I have a 84 klt 200 it is a fun little bike . The best feature is the ability to lock and unlock the diff it can turn on a dime.

[Trikeaholic]

There has never been a real duckster owner here before. That being said, welcome. I have seen some really ratted out ducksters before, but never a running one. Do you also realize that super junky is a joke? Just checking........

I also think that Kawasaki tried the "super utility" concept for thier early ATV's and Im not sure it worked out for them, although my old kawi dealership-since been sold-says he sold a boatload of KLT110's, they were something like $795 out the door or something, but if he sold a boatload, I have NEVER seen one around here, and its not a large area.

[Pistonhead]

There are LOTS of KLT's in Manitoba. Oh yeah welcome to the board, nice to see someone who has a duckster thats not a rat ride, most people only think of the tecate when someone says kawi trike, nice to see klt's once in a while. Whereabouts in BC are you from?

[83185s]

adding my .02 ...it looks better with the racks and camping gear!! and wtf is the gas tank doing in the back by the muffler?? thats about explosive!!! and what happens when trailprotrailpro in the deep woods camping and your battery goes dead overnight..hmm trailprotrailpro f'ed!! id rather have a 200e big red..pull and elec start..no fuel pump problems cause it dont have one so its one less thing to worry about..also it looks fugly without the tank being where its suspose to be!! the only one that looks half decent is the klt 200c..i think that was kawasakis mistake in trikes..the tecate was great but these

[atczack]

Hey Jordan, sweet trike, keep it truckin' on three wheels.........

[350x'inNY]

Hey..... NY KLT'ers....

I got a 200 motor here in the shop I trip over..... it has the kickstarter back up and looks like a manual clutch? I think it came out of a black one with the gas tank above the rear axle like Darius posted. I got the black headlight too, but might rig it up as a spot light on my Yamahauler. Not sure if Dan still has the frame carcass or not.... I know it had that goofy front suspension and the tank under the rear fenders.

$25 and come pick that motor up!

Bruce

[Rex Karz]

If We all owned Hondas, well, still someone would like the funky dunk trikes out there. I like them just because they are funky. Long live the Ford Econoline Pickup!!!

[JordanT]

Ok im now sending a pm to Bruce offering a lot more then $25 for that motor. even though the motor on the duckster had been only used a few times and is not even worn in.......
It's still much nicer to have a motor with a kick start on it, or even just to have as a spare. I just hope I can convince him to ship it to seattle where I could pick it up. Ny is a bit of a drive from the vancover\tricity area in bc.

As to aaakowalski question sadly there is no reverse on them. Though it is lower geared and pretty heavy, so as a plow trike? It might work out if you don't mind pushing it back a bit.

A better trike for that might not even be any of what you see here. I work at a golf couse right now to pay for college they use a 3weeler called a cushman witch is like a small 3 weeled dump truck. I have a lot of respect for them and if you need any info on one ill be happy to help you out as I figure it would be your best bet for that kind of work.