Tell me about the XR200R

[Tyrroneous]

I'm looking for a cheap entry level dirt bike that my wife and I can ride (not at the same time  ).
I think I've found a candidate in a '98 XR200R going for $600.  I haven't found a whole lot of info on the XR200R though.  What I have found is that it is fairly mild mannered, it was in production for a long time and brakes and suspension or rudimentary.

Does anybody know of a dedicated forum for XR's or have first hand experience with these bikes?  

[Atitalongtime]

Owned one 10 years older... the wife rode and raced it and I used it to mark trail because it was much easier to zip around on than my race bike.
It was a stone axe, never did anything other than oil. tires, chain, sprockets and brakes... for 7 years!

A great bike to learn on.

[KenH]

My neighbor rides one for work. I does crop development analysis for the state, so rides all over a bazillion farms measuring plants. He loves it--low maintenance and light enough to pick up and carry out of a mudhole after unpacking all his stuff.

[Tyrroneous]

Well, I found a '98 for sale and managed to talk the seller down from an asking price of 700 to $400.  I got it home late last night. She's a little rough around the edges and doesn't run at the moment. But, I don't think it will take much to get the thing running. Looking on ebay, parts are cheap and plentiful.

[arkansawyer]

Seems like the weak link on these is the cam chain.  I know I'm too late for you, Ty.  Hopefully for $400 you didn't get burned.  If it makes a lot of top end noise after you clean the carb do not ride it until you figure it out.  
I have a 25 year old 200 in dire need of a cam chain.
The 200 is the perfect bike for learning dirt on, plonking on next to a kid on a 50, laying out trail, etc.

[shiney]

I've got a '00 and an '01. Both are very simple and very dependable. Have ridden over 250 miles at Hatfield-McCoy and did nothing but buy gas.

[Tyrroneous]

Thanks for the responses folks.

I spent a few quality hours with a bucket of gas and the XR's crusty old carb.  That thing had some nasty varnish built up.  Once I got the carb back together correctly, the old girl cranked right up!  It doesn't run very cleanly down low but once the revs build she pulls pretty well.  There's no air filter on the bike at the moment which, I'm sure, has some effect on the poor carbueration.  

I'm off to order a UNI air filter, some jets, and a new front tire!

Now...how do I change the oil in this thing?!

[The Corner Lot Resort]

Ty the bike is a great bike and we have had a few of them over the years. You will find a drain plug on the bottem of the down tube of the frame and one one the bottom of the crank case. You will also need an oil filter.

The front forks were the worst part of that bike. The springs were too soft. If you will set the rear sag at 105 mm you will be fine.

I might have a set of tires for it in the barn. I will look and see.

Ada had a 250R and she put a lot of miles on hers.


Mark

[shiney]

On a 200 the drain is on the shifter side. Big plug looking thing. Pay attention, there is a spring and a strainer in there.

[The Corner Lot Resort]

Sorry Ty he is right I was thinking 250.

[Tyrroneous]

Yeah...I got the oil changed last night.  Easiest oil change ever.  I'll be attempting a valve clearance check/adjustment tonight so wish me luck.  

I also found out that a 17" rear wheel is not a common size for dirt bikes.  And guess what a 200R comes stock with?  Yup.  Maxxis does make some intermediate knobbies in a 100/100-17 rear which is the size I need.  Are Maxxis tires any good?  

[Atitalongtime]

They make a handy little feeler gauge with a 45 degree angle bent into the tips of the gauge.
This makes getting into the tight head a much easier process.
Not absolutely necessary but handy and quick.
Just like the oil, it's not hard.
Don't forget the cam chain.

[R.Markus]

Yeah...I got the oil changed last night.  Easiest oil change ever.  I'll be attempting a valve clearance check/adjustment tonight so wish me luck.  

I also found out that a 17" rear wheel is not a common size for dirt bikes.  And guess what a 200R comes stock with?  Yup.  Maxxis does make some intermediate knobbies in a 100/100-17 rear which is the size I need.  Are Maxxis tires any good?  

I have a couple opledr Hondas and hav run across the same odd wheel size problems with them. Maxxis tires are pretty decent, they are rebadged Chen Chin from what I have learned researching tires.

[black hills]

great bike!! have fun!!

[shiney]

I,ve got the 4.60 chengshin 755's on mine. Not great tires, but good ones that last a long time.

[Tyrroneous]

So what do you do when its rainy outside, you have a couple extra days of vacation and you don't want to go to work?  

This morning, the bike looked like this:


And now, she looks like this:




It took me quite a while to get it torn down since I cleaned and cataloged each nut and bolt and part I removed.  

I'm going to adjust the valves and look into replacing the valve guide seals as the bike smokes just a little bit.  Oh, and I've got to inspect the cam chain too.

[1moreroad]

Cool.

We need to figure out when/where to go riding.  A buddy who now lives over in Huntsville wants to take me over to the Bankshead forest, but I don't think I have the tires or the armor for that right now.

[Tyrroneous]

Cool.

We need to figure out when/where to go riding.  A buddy who now lives over in Huntsville wants to take me over to the Bankshead forest, but I don't think I have the tires or the armor for that right now.

Heck yeah.  I go hiking/camping there a few times each year.  I didn't know that there were OHV trails in Bankhead?

Also, I just found out about a place near Starkville called The Wilderness Trails.  Huge system of trails and costs a few bucks for all day.  

Bike is still in pieces.  I'm waiting on a butt load of parts to arrive.

[The Corner Lot Resort]

Meridian has a great trail system and it is mostly sand. It works great during the wet winter months. The membership fees are cheap. Like 40 dollars a year for the family. Thet also have a sand pit area that the kids can ride in!

When you get it running bring it down and I will get my bike out and we make a few laps here as well

Mark

[Tyrroneous]

Success!!!!!











Here's the amazing thing...It actually runs.  I still have to finish the plastics.  But she's rideable!  YEEEHAW!