what year did XR200 get downgraded?

[keith500r]

i know it was somewhere in the early 90's, Honda lowered and crapified the suspension even worse than it already was. Does anyone know the exact year they started so I can avoid them?

 

[Okiewan]

Wrong Forum.
Moved.

 

[BigBore]

I believe '91 was the first year of the short travel 200. I think the older 200's had 9.5" of shock travel and 10" of fork travel. The shock also lots it adjustability. You used to be able to adjust the compression and rebound damping, but now you can only set the spring preload.

 

[VintageDirt]

84 and 85 had RFVC, I think. Also, I don't think the current XR200 has changed significantly since 86.

 

[BigBore]

Yup.....Besides suspension changes, and the removal of the headlight, taillight, and speedometer, the current XR200 is the same as the '86. I'm not positive, but I think the 200 still comes with a lighting coil, just no lights.

 

[placelast]

'84 went to four-valved engine; '86 - 2-valved engine; '90 - lost lights, ODO, & tool pouch; '92/3/4 - lost loads of f/r travel, aluminum rear shock body exch. for cheap, non-adjustable steel. Still has lighting coil.

I bought a '96 for my oldest when he was 13 YO; took the forks, shock, kickstand & ODO off of a '84 w/a blown engine. Then I put an XR600 head light, Maiers tail light, Scott's tool pouch & '97 FX XR graphics on it. We wired up the lights & all was well until he outgrew it (2 years), then sold it.

 

[ochster]

placelast is right, It was 92' when they shortchanged the suspension.

 

[keith500r]

thanks guys, Im curious about the years 84-86, it had a four valve motor? was that motor any better?

 

[gator_in_va]

Originally posted by keith500r
thanks guys, Im curious about the years 84-86, it had a four valve motor?

It was only 84 & 85 that were four valve heads, the 86 went back to the 2-valve head.

Originally posted by keith500r
was that motor any better?

Depends on your definition of better. Yes it had more power, but also had more problems. Problems (that I am aware of) are:
- journals more prone to wear
- cracking between the valve seats

Hope this helps.
Gator

 

[rosshh]

I could be wrong but I believe they went to a dual carb on the four valve (or around those years) also, big pia.

 

[roostafish]

The four valve 200 was fine as far as reliability if you ran good oil in it changed frequently. Of course many were over-revved, lot's of teen age kids of the time (I would know) rode the piss out of them. They were heavier, and the twin carb was a bad idea. The weight is the real problem, I'd prefer the 2v.

 

[Highbeam]

Come on now. The double carbs work fine until there's a problem. The same double carb deal was on the 250s, 500s, and 600s of that era. My 500 has them and they work fine.

That being said, it would sure stink if I had to tear into them.

 

[BigBore]

Dual carbs are a minor inconvenience. They aren't that difficult to work on, really. I mean, the secondary carb only has a main jet....no pilot, no fuel screw. The worst part is getting them off the bike.

 

[OnAnySunday]

Originally posted by keith500r :
"thanks guys, Im curious about the years 84-86, it had a four valve motor? was that motor any better? "

I may be wrong , but i believe the 2 valve was built at the same time as the 4 valve RFVC motor.
The 2 valver was designated the XR200.
The 4 valve RFVC was the beginning of the XR200R.
I think they had both models at the same time when they were getting serious about a pro level 200cc enduro.
The 200R was the serious model, the 200 was a playbike.
Why they kept the "R" designation on the newer models is beyond me.

 

[BigBore]

Yup. I know for a fact there were two different 200's in '84, not sure what other years though. The XR200 (no "R") had a two-valve motor, metal tank, dual shocks, and an 18" rear wheel. It also didn't have a "safety seat." Completely different bike, really.

 

[Trail Ryder]

My wife has an ’84 XR200R (RFVC). It has been bored once, has R&D valve springs, and a new head and valve guides (thank God, because I’ve heard that Honda no longer sells the heads, now). From what I hear, it is very important to keep fresh, QUALITY oil in these things.

That being said, this bike rocks. I dare say that it has just as much power as a new XR250. The bike’s only real downside are the drum brakes and parts (OEM and after-market) availability.

If I was in the market for a XR200 though, I’d be looking for a ‘86-’91. It has a decent suspension and there is a ton of after-market hop-ups available for the motor.

 

[OnAnySunday]

Originally posted by OnAnySunday :
"The 4 valve RFVC was the beginning of the XR200R."

Whoops! El wrongo......
To correct myself, after consulting the "official Honda motorcycle i.d. guide".
The XR200R was first built in 1981 -w- the 195cc 2 valve 6 speed engine and pro-link rear suspention.
This setup went unchanged (except for "bold new graphics") till 1984 when it recieved the RFVC engine.
In 1986 they went back to the 2 valver engine.
In 1990 the lighting equip. was optional, and totaly deleted in '91.
It appears the suspention got its "detune" in 1990.

The std. twinshock XR200 was built from 1980 until 1984.

 

[DualSportr]

That being said, this bike rocks. I dare say that it has just as much power as a new XR250.

New XR250 hp on our dyno: 20

New XR200R RFVC 1984 on our dyno (back in '84) 14

New XR200R 1992 on our dyno (in '92) 13

Unfortunately, the power to weight ratio on the RFVC 200 was crummy, so in a drag race, the two valver could win.

There's a multitude of reasons Honda only made this bike for two years.

There are many fans of the RFVC 200, but then again, there's also lots of people who still love Hodakas.

After working on a kazillion of the 200's, and owning a few myself, I've come to the conclusion that the best XR200R that Honda ever built was the '86 - '87. They had all the bells and whistles. Best suspension, more lightweight aluminum parts, headlight, speedo, the works.

 

[placelast]

Originally posted by DualSportr
I've come to the conclusion that the best XR200R that Honda ever built was the '86 - '87. They had all the bells and whistles. Best suspension, more lightweight aluminum parts, headlight, speedo, the works.

U R right - I forgot to mention when I upgraded my son's '96, I took the linkage off of the '84; lightweight aluminum, zerk gittings & all. Also, I noticed the '84 had better quality 3x clamps, swing arm, etc.