CudaChick's Dirt Bike Thread -- '90 Honda XR200

[CudaChick1968]

At the request of nothingbutdarts Kim and ramcharger Joe, I'm starting a thread to document the rebirth of a 1990 Honda XR200 dirt bike.

Billy traded a PowerGlide tranny for it on February 17, 2011. It smoked but ran ... well enough to pull his 6'5"-ness around on the back tire! Before I could get off the phone with my customer and grab the camera for some decent "before" pictures, he had already started taking it down.








The next night he already had a bunch of the smaller parts blasted.

[oldkimmer]

...........Well Leanna it certainly looks like it will b in a million pieces.....good luck with the build.........i would guess ur talents will b needed here alot.....kim.........

[CudaChick1968]

A few more "before" pictures ... the swingarm gets a cat scan





Yeah, I know, it's a mess! Hey, that's HIS work table, not mine. Mine actually has wood showing. LOL









The frame in all its well-beaten glory ...

[CudaChick1968]

Originally Posted by oldkimmer

...........Well Leanna it certainly looks like it will b in a million pieces.....good luck with the build.........i would guess ur talents will b needed here alot.....kim.........

Hang in there for a few minutes Kim. I'm uploading pictures and will be adding to this for awhile yet.

But you're right. LOTS of job security here!!!

[CudaChick1968]

By February 23, I was coating parts after business hours when supper, the dishes and rest of the daily domestic BS was done.

Silver Glaze, a very popular argent, and Silk Satin Black:

[CudaChick1968]

The weather finally broke a little bit on March 19 to where I could blast the frame outside (too big for my cabinet) and get it powder coated too.

It's Blue Odyssey, a candy translucent, over Super Chrome. These pics in the music room do it no justice ...

[CudaChick1968]

While some S10 parts were curing, I followed him around yesterday taking pictures as he started mocking it up for reassembly. I was amazed how quickly and easily it all went back together.

These are in order ...


I'll leave out the picture of Billy enhancing his physique with the new fork boots.

As if there's any question around here already that he's nuts LOL ...











Some of that hardware you saw earlier, now Silk Satin Black, Super Chrome, or Blue Odyssey over Super Chrome

[CudaChick1968]

And more mock up ...








Then it was time to move it to the high tech bike stand we have here at PSC ...







Look! I get to help.



And yes, since you were wondering, that big azz crescent wrench is powder coated in Silk Satin Black. Been that way for years now.





Oooh, pretty ...

[CudaChick1968]

Been sitting here uploading pics so long my butt's asleep. I need a break. Be right back with the final progress of the day.

[pettybludart]

Some nice work and fancy colors there Leanna.

[CudaChick1968]

Starting to look like a dirt bike again!

Silent Bob, this time with an involuntary close inspection (he was crawling all over it the whole time) ...



A couple close ups of the Blue Odyssey over Super Chrome





ID plate reattached ...



Mocked up the repaired / repainted rear fender ...





Electrical ...





These bars are bent. Since I coated them, he found another pair of Tag-5s on ebay for like $20. They should be here in a few days at most, and they'll get coated too.

But he went ahead and put the levers on to see how it'd look anyway.





That's about where it stands now. It needs a few odds and ends but has come a very long way in a short time on a very small budget.

And I learned something new about my job as a result of this project which can only benefit my bike customers: That pic up there that's headed by "Electrical ..." -- well, this is the first dirt bike frame I've coated, though I've done a few choppers. That photo I took for me as a reminder to use a little silicone dot where the ground wire goes to keep the powder off of it. Never too experienced to learn something!! I don't want my guys to have to grind on ANYthing when they get my work home and if you do, I want to be the first one to hear about it.

I'll be adding more pics to this thread as work continues, but this little Honda XR200 has already undergone a total rebirth since its arrival a few weeks ago.

Please feel free to add comments! I'd love to hear them. Thanks for taking the time to check it out.

[clhyer]

WOW
C

[340sFastback]

Nice job on that plating. I bet you don't have many mice around there.

[64X2]

Looks fantastic..........wish you where closer, I have 4 steel wheel I would love to blast and coat, cost of shipping them is not cost effective. Who built your coating oven, what kind of coating gun do you use and what brand of color do you use? I have exfriend, long story, who powder coats and I have always found the science behind it fascinating....

[dustermaniac]

Looks awesome!!

[memike]

That XR200 is a very popular bike here in Arkansas for scouting for Deere runs and coyote kills Bob C. has two of them "I think one is a 125,and you can not hear them coming with the muffler he put on them Light and fast enough to get you from point A to point B on his privet property, his is all camo'ed up with gun scabers on them, he has 2 one man pass through gates on his property to keep 4 wheeler off his property "half pasture land half thick wooded area" he is a big rancher here where you see me fishing in another thread or two.
Know your is going to catch allot of eye's Leanna That bike is Beautiful and Billy has it going on, Just keep him off of it If you can I would have to make a XL 200 out of it and put lights on it for a ride to friends and to the country store.
You sure found yourself a cool machine indeed

I like the CAT SCAN !! I lamo when I read that

[metallidart]

That looks great! I love that color, and the attention to detail is awesome. I can't wait to be able to send some work your way!!!

[CudaChick1968]

Wow, I had no idea a non-Mopar thread would get so much attention!

Where were you all a couple days ago when my Auto Enthusiast magazine article finally came out??? j/k

Originally Posted by pettybludart

Some nice work and fancy colors there Leanna.

Thanks Scott! Truth be told, I was a bit skeptical when he was telling me his color plans but I'm liking the way it looks together.

Originally Posted by clhyer

WOW
C

Originally Posted by 340sFastback

Nice job on that plating. I bet you don't have many mice around there.

Thank you 340s ... That's a big 10-4 on the lack of mice. Or moles, snakes, salamanders, etc. They're good hunters.

Originally Posted by 64X2

Looks fantastic..........wish you where closer, I have 4 steel wheel I would love to blast and coat, cost of shipping them is not cost effective. Who built your coating oven, what kind of coating gun do you use and what brand of color do you use? I have exfriend, long story, who powder coats and I have always found the science behind it fascinating....

Yes, rims ARE expensive to ship.

My 7-footer is a homemade effort. There's a whole separate thread on it from a couple years back. Despite its size, it's actually more efficient to run than the small household oven you might've seen in a few of these pictures.

I probably know your ex-friend. We're a pretty tight-knit profession in the grand scheme of things and there aren't that many p/c forums out there.

I proudly use Prismatic Powders out of Oregon. With over 6,500 colors, textures and finishes, I always find exactly what I need.

Originally Posted by dustermaniac

Looks awesome!!

Thanks Tom!

Originally Posted by memike

That XR200 is a very popular bike here in Arkansas for scouting for Deere runs and coyote kills Bob C. has two of them "I think one is a 125,and you can not hear them coming with the muffler he put on them Light and fast enough to get you from point A to point B on his privet property, his is all camo'ed up with gun scabers on them, he has 2 one man pass through gates on his property to keep 4 wheeler off his property "half pasture land half thick wooded area" he is a big rancher here where you see me fishing in another thread or two.
Know your is going to catch allot of eye's Leanna That bike is Beautiful and Billy has it going on, Just keep him off of it If you can I would have to make a XL 200 out of it and put lights on it for a ride to friends and to the country store.
You sure found yourself a cool machine indeed

I like the CAT SCAN !! I lamo when I read that

Mike, since we share the same weather living close together, you know Saturday was the first NICE DAY since that little teaser of spring we had 3 weeks ago. Our friends James (the guy in the first pictures of this thread standing there puffing near Billy) and Trish came over and he wheeled the bike out into the sun. Wish I'd had the camera then! Woooooooo hoooooooo does that sucker ever pop! Apparently it was so eye-catching that a group of bikers passing on the highway -- 800 feet to the east -- all pulled in for a closer look. And I'm not even open on Saturdays. LOL!!! Took a half hour and a chitload of business cards before they continued along on their ride.

Originally Posted by metallidart

That looks great! I love that color, and the attention to detail is awesome. I can't wait to be able to send some work your way!!!

Justin, after our deal on the valve covers a couple weeks ago I can't wait either. From what I've seen of your metal work, it would be an honor to help you out with anything. There aren't many people I'd recruit to do my blasting buddy but you're definitely one of 'em.

Thank you all for taking the time to check out this little personal project! I really appreciate it.

[66340SEDAN]

Wow, that thing is looking good! Are you gonna ride it when done, it is almost too nice!! I think when its done we need some pics of a certian leggy redhead slinging some mud Nice work!

[sireland67]

Old thumpers are fun to build and the parts are fairly cheap.
You can go over to thumper talk and learn anything you need to know about these bikes.
Looks good.

[memike]

Sounds like a good day and a possibly new customers to be had, yep, It was the first nice day here on the hill Saturday and I stayed out till 2:30 am Friday watching Creed play, got up at 6:30 am and drove Treva in town to pick here car up where I parked it and came home and failed to enjoy the first 3/4ers of the day sleeping.

[nothingbutdarts]

Thank You for posting!!!

It looks like the "Mistress of Metal" at her finest. It looks like a fun little bike when Billy gets it completed.

[CudaChick1968]

Well, thank you for asking Kim. I never really would've imagined anybody would want to check out an old dirt bike project. But I should've known I suppose ... true motorheads aren't particular.

Just dawned on me I didn't add any of the motor yet. I don't know if I'll get them on here tonight or not (it was a very busy day around here) but I will soon. Nothing's coated on it except a few bolts but the machine work is finished and ready to be picked up. Stay tuned!

[LEX]

cool thread!

[nothingbutdarts]

Originally Posted by CudaChick1968

Well, thank you for asking Kim. I never really would've imagined anybody would want to check out an old dirt bike project. But I should've known I suppose ... true motorheads aren't particular.

Just dawned on me I didn't add any of the motor yet. I don't know if I'll get them on here tonight or not (it was a very busy day around here) but I will soon. Nothing's coated on it except a few bolts but the machine work is finished and ready to be picked up. Stay tuned!

I noticed you coated some nuts & bolts. If you do the thread area of them, is it thick enough there would be troubles with the threads binding?