So what do you get when you have an 85 XR 200? Do you have a dirt bike as heavy as an XR 250 but not as powerful and torquey? Basically an underpowered XR 250? ...or do you have a slightly lighter XR 250 with a little less power? Is the 4 valve 200 heavier than the 2 valver 200? I see one for sale that has had lots of work and I am just curious.

thanx in advance for any info,

:)

The 4 valve 200 is bit of a problem child. The bike had a lot of work probably because it kept eating valves. They tend to run real hot. They do make more power than the 2 valve model though.

IMO if you want more power, get an XR250 (86 or later). Otherwise go for a 2 valve 200.

In 84 and 85 the XR200R and 250R shared the same chassis. The 86+ 200s use basically that same chassis. I dont think there is a lot of weight difference. The 86+ XR250s are a little heavier, but not really enough to matter.

When I was looking to buy an XR200, I noticed many of the 84-85 years were listed with "new head". I heard the head cracked on occasion. Others with the 84-85 model never have a problem. Also, I believe the XR200 is a sleeved down XR250.

From memory. Close,but not perfect.
82-83 - Open frame on the bottom.
84-85 - 4-valve XR200
86-89 - Long travel (taller seat height)
90-99 - shorter travel and lower, no headlight, tail light.
200? - Became the CRF230F Whole new bike.

Quote

Yeah pretty close....but here's what I think it is:

Open frame on the bottom? I'm not sure what you mean, but they aren't exactly open on the bottom...they come stock with big skid plates. '81-'91 are pretty much the same long travel suspension, except that '81-'83 is slightly less in diameter. '81-'83 and '84-'91 had approximately the same seat height.

It was in '92 that Honda cut the seat height...

The XR200 continued into 2002, which is also the year that the CRF450 came out, I believe. The XR200R did not "become" the 230. I don't know when the 230 came, but in my opinion, the 230 is no XR200, so I hope Honda didn't think they were replacing the XR200 with it....

1984 XR200 RFVC is a different motor than the 1985 RFVC. I also have a 1984 2 valve xr200 with dual lay-down shocks. Talk about confusing when ordering parts!! 1985 they went with a bigger oil sump and dual oil pump. Crank shaft looks totally different too though I would guess would interchange. 1985 they added a center bearing to the camshaft. Both engines run strong, you just gotto keep them moving. Tight single track woods, forget it! Fast open trails it runs great! Found a website that tells you how to add a XR250 oil cooler to one.
Best bet is to buy one 1985 200RFVC with a blown engine cheap, then find a 1986-1996 XR250 motor -rebuild it with a 270-280 bore kit and bolts right in. Add the oil cooler mounts and you have a 215 lb speedster! XR200 frame is totally different than XR250, much lighter and the rake is 3 or 4 degrees less which makes it handle much quicker than the old 250. The 200 turns effortlessly compared to the 250. In 1996 I beleive XR250 dropped rake angle from 28 to 24 degrees to make it steer quicker like the 200. I am building two right now, have a set of 1996 KX250 forks and wheel for one. See my post on the XT250 engine conversion.

Don't be afraid of the RFVC 200s. (True, the '85 is a little better motor.) I have an '84 that I run vintage (and some modern) H/S with and I love it. The problem is that many people bought them thinking they were playbikes, and plonked around many a campground and watched them burn up.

If you jet them a little fat; grind out the header welds; remove the airbox snorkle; and run synthetic oil - you can lose some of the tendencies that plagued the bikes back in the day. True, they do like to run, but mine shines in tight singletrack with no ill effects. An uncorked RFVC 200 will last a long, long time.

Mine weighs 225 lbs. ready-to-race and the tighter the conditions - they better it performs. It's the perfect way to drive guys on modern bikes nuts. :lol:

Yep, fastest production 200 fourstroke made. I just could not keep it from overheating where we ride. Too many hillclimbs and not enough straight runs to cool off. Here is oil cooler link ,Its on this site somwhwere.
http://www.geocities...t/85_xl250r.htm

Quick Draw said:

Prior to 84 the 200 did not have a solid frame cradle like the bigger bikes. The engine cases took part of the frame load like the small bikes (XR80 & 100) do.

The 230 certainly was Honda's replacement for the XR200. It came out in 2003, the year after the 200 was cancelled. Its a shame really, the 230 is such a fat little pig. We just got done looking for a new bike for my mom and I wouldnt even look at the 230. Yea we ended up with a 200
:busted:.

The link with the oil cooler on it is a great idea. I added one to my 250, but used a later model side cover. It was a bit more work than it looks like it took the other guy though.

Interesting. So if I bought one with work done, I could massage it accordingly and run it properly and be ok, especially if I slapped in an oil cooler. Sounds like an XR 270/280 would be a cool XR 200 mod too.

Oil cooler install I beleive would solve any heating problems. You have to weld a small 3/8 wide by .090 inch thick by 3/8 long tab on top of the fork stop tab to support the cooler, Then two small buttons about 1/2 in diameter x 1/4 in long threaded in the middle for 6mm bolt on each side of the sindle housing to mount the cooler to. The case taps, you need to follow the website, never done it but it looks do-able.

Honda made two XR200's.

XR200 = dual-rear shock. (Basically using up the old stock of XL frames.)
XR200R = single-rear shock.

All XR's have been XR200R's, XR250R, XR400R, XR600R, XR650R.
Or dual-sports as XR250L, XR650L.