1985 xl200r motor upgrade

[mike cook]

Hi there, My good ol xl is getting a bit tired and i wondered if anyone knew if it can be repowered by another motor pref a honda motor eg xr200, xl250 without great difficulty. Thanks for your help

[AIRWOLF]

I think the 250 lump would need some frame mods, . . . . a rebuild of your own engine would give a good improvement, . . . you could go for an xr camshaft and maybe a higher comp piston. Should'nt cost too much and you will know the motor is good.

Oh, . . .and welcome to the forum.

[hondaxrnut]

hi, the real difference in performance is the carb on the xr200, i would rebuild yours, maybe a rebore.
is your a 194cc or 199cc?

[mike cook]

Hi Guys,
Thanks Airwolf
Motor is 195cc, I wondered about just throwing in an xr 200 motor as there is heaps of them around, but i'm told I lose the neutral light but gain an extra gear.
It is getting abit hard to get new parts for the old girl in NZ.
I'm on the look out for a speedo as the odometer has stopped working, but one with kms on it.
It seems that as they got older people turned them into strictly offroad and threw all the extra pieces away, like indicators, etc.

[hondaxrnut]

i have all of the xl/xr 125/185/200 bikes of the small honda range and there are quite a few parts the same, and a whole load that is different.
if you can get an xr200 engine then yes i would get one, they are a bit rarer over here.
yes you would loose the nuetral light, but is that a real problem, i have never found it so, just need to be carfull when you think you have nuetral and let the clutch out slowly.
the xr200r were 6 speed, and there is no rev counter either.
as for a speedo you may need to get an xl125 one as they should be the same as the wheels are the same size.
good luck

[stretchy]

Sure there's loads you can do but the inprovement will not be great.

Get a bigger bike, I did, an XR400 with 'leecy start but love my ol' XL200R.

Chug Chug!

Is your's an MD06?

Stretchy.

[Bill Badger]

My 1002 XLR200 is from the far Eastern market. Do you have them in NZ? It may need some changes to the wiring, but it shouldn't be too much trouble to put one of these engines in. You don't get the extra gear though, but you do get CDI and electric start.

[mike cook]

Hi guys,
Yes it is the MD06 and in pretty good condition. Electric start wow that would be luxury. I have thought of going for the bigger dual purpose bike, but i enjoy the ride on the 200 even though it is abit underpowered, and i get great comments from people about the condition it is in. I have owned cruisers before but as I am tall the ride was horrible. Thanks for your advice, this is a great site.

[stretchy]

Nice on Mike, just keep looking the MD06 'leccy start are Italian so not sure if they'll get out to you but seem to pop up on EBlag quite often in the UK.
Same as the ParisDakar thing too, ALL the Xl's and XR's are very similar, Honda made a packet out of very little redesign!
Please don't spend a fortune on it, I know you can put a GPZ piston in to get 220cc (?) but that's as far as I'd go.