OZ ATV :: The Australian ATV Forum

[ylwgtr]

hi guys..... does anyone know if these trike were delivered by kawasaki dealers in australia?reason i ask is id like to know the origin of my machine plus my friend bought one brand new from cosway kawasaki back in 88 but ive asked many dealers and they say no,but they also told me that the engine is similar to a kx250 but not the same (diff cylinder and generator for lights ect)
Any tecate guru's around?

Last edited by ylwgtr on Tue May 29, 2012 12:25 pm; edited 2 times in total

[ylwgtr]

another thing is that the vin on my trike has been stuffed by the cable running up and down on it over the years....it was rusted so ive run over it with some wd40 and scotchbrite and its very very faint(unreadable)These vins are not stamped very deep at all i might add.....In fact,the first 3 numbers are still there,the frame is silver and the numbers are black and they appear to be printed or etched on (maybe by machine?) so i found the emissions decal on the frame down tube and thought i was on a winner....BUT,the sticker is aged and slightly peeled up and scratched toward the end( so i have managed to get all but the last two numbers) i can see the top half of the second last number which appears to be a 2 or 3 so im almost there...so its one 1 of 20 machines.....id really like to know the correct number of my trike!im not sure on how id go about finding that out

[ylwgtr]

ive managed to bring it down to 2 vehicles now using the "check number" calculating system.....i did not know about this until talking to a friend....its an interesting system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_Identification_Number

[greenhuman]

Paint a little bit of crack testing acid on it. I can't think right now what its called. They do use it at Tafe to check weld faults as well.

[ylwgtr]

yes i have some of that.....it doesnt work.....i think they are laser etched....they are very very faint to begin with (and black in colour leading me to beleive they are "burnt" into the frame)

[ozquad44]

86 ad 87 kawasaki tecates were grey imports. Kawasaki Australia imported the 84, and possibly the 85. But not the 86 or 87. Don't bother with Kawasaki AU for parts for the 86/7. They won't have a clue, or give a chit for that matter.

The 84/5 (KXT250A1, and KXT250A2) Tecates have a big fat front tyre mounted to a 10" rim. The Radiator is mounted in front of the head stock where the headlight normally sits. The 84 has a front drum brake and poxy 13 spline rear hubs. The 85 has disks all round and 24ish spline rear hubs, (same as some Hondas) and different stickers.

The 86/7 (KXT250B1, and KXT250B2) Tecates are a bit more advanced than the first Generation Tecate's. They have the radiators mounted low in front and both sides of the fuel tank like most motocross bikes. They have nicasil plated bores, KIPS (Kawasaki Inter-grated Power-valve System), and an 11" front rim. The 86 is almost identical to the 87. The 87 has a key ignition and different stickers. I think thats about it.

The 86/87 tecates were the last word in factory performance trikes. The Hondas were much better built and have stood the test of time. But in comparison the Tecates were lighter, had better suspension, better handling, and were way quicker out of the box. But they vibrate like no-ones business, they have dodgy ignition systems, and are a pain to maintain, especially once the nicasil plating wears off. Clearly owning one (ahem.... two) is a labour of love, for which there is no cure.



But I wouldn't turn my nose up at any trike that survives
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State governments give us REC rego + area to ride ATVs legaly! State Status: VIC-No (Nazi's) QLD-Yes(no place to ride tho) NT-? NSW-Yes, Stockton. TAS-Yes, Areas for ATVs + ATV rego, Go Tazzie . WA-Yes, 2 top places within 1hr of Perth. ACT-? SA-No