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1987 Foreman 350D mods?

30K views 44 replies 10 participants last post by  Ruffhauser  
#1 ·
Gent, as the Foreman has been around for so long, I thought there might be some nice mods to make it more durable.

My goal is durability. I don't go fast. But I am curious by nature and that can put me on rough terrain. =)

I'm specifically looking for the following (Absolutely open to suggestions on others)

Brakes... are there bigger/stronger out there I can bolt on?

Axles and suspension... not sure what to ask for but I'd like some ideas. Especially if it's bolt on or an easy mod.

Lift kit?

Wheels and tires. I'm running stock.
 
#2 ·
These quads were fairly 'bullet proof' right from the factory ... a well designed workhorse. Durable if cared for ....
Some folks add a winch, manual override for the fan.

The brakes are fairly good, as is the driveline. It's best to stick with the OEM sized tires if durability is what you want.

These are old quads now, but 30 years ago were 'cutting edge' machines.
The common mistake folks make with their '86 - ('89) '93 Honda 350D 4Trax is to add big rubber/big offset rims. This will affect driveline durability.

Post some pics of your machine if possible ..... there's a thread here specifically for the enjoyment of these stone-age quads.

Other connoisseur's of these machines will give you some good tips ....
Welcome to the forum ....:)
 
#4 ·
these bikes are durable as is. if your wanting tires go for bear claws if you are riding on hardish terrain (fields, hard trails, trees, hills,) and they are pretty good in snow and mud, as long as you ain't going to bury the thing. Also they are pretty cheap so if you trash one beyond repair it isn't going to cost you an arm and a leg so to speak. just my two cents.
 
#9 ·
Thanks for the feedback. That makes me feel a lot better about my purchase.

these tires?

Amazon.com: Kenda BEARCLAW (082991191C1): Automotive

Pic uploaded. I'm doing the wheel bearings so she's on a stand.
Things may have changed now .....
I put 24x9x11 'Bear Claws' on my '90 350 4Trax some years ago. They weren't 24" new. Half worn, they were just too small. Replaced them with Carlisle 'Trail Wolf' 24x9x11 ...... these are a similar tread pattern to the OEM's but rated 4ply .... good for what I use them for.
Put the new Bear Claw EVO's on the 450, they were the advertised height. Quite happy with them.
 
#6 ·
Ruff: The fact that the 350's and the 300's have lasted SO long speaks for the durability that was/is built into them. If you modify and mess with it, you'll more likely do more harm than good. Honestly, that goes for all Honda years and models. :) Keeping it 'stock' is the best thing you can do for it. And, it costs the least amount of money!!
 
#10 ·
keep it stock !..don't lift it, don't toss gawdly tires at it...don't even whisper your gonna do stuff to her as far as after market ??!!. lmfao. really bro, want it to last as long as you ?, if not longer ?!..then keep good oil in it, change/replace the brake shoes when they need it, keep the carb clean, replace the air filter when needed, and I promise ya, that atv will be around awhile !..lol. my best advice I can tell you ?..make sure to keep an eye ( or ear ? ..lol ) on the cam chain !!!.
 
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#11 ·
that's weird man, i got mine about 6-7 years ag and they are 24's true an true. and it all depends on your riding style.
 
#12 ·
I agree with the rest of the guys on here… Try to keep it as close to bone stock as possible… That's what I've done with mine and have had no problems. They were designed very well by Honda!
 
#14 ·
Pats right. these bikes are TOUGH. unless you try being all showey offey then well your gonna be in the shop repairing everything including yourself.
 
#17 ·
Well, if it was MINE, I'd 4-link it front and rear probably run about 4" of lift, run some 31" Outlaws on it, 69% GR, 95mm XR500 Big Bore sleeve and piston with an 8mm stroker crank(should be in the 500+cc range), P&P the head with larger valves, good low end camshaft, 400EX carb, lock the front diff, and maybe some hand warmers.....

Sorry, I heard enough of the keep it stock nonsense. I had no choice lol.
 
#18 ·
welllllllllllll bro, for one ?.you can't lift these atvs very much at all !. the reason being ?, is because of the swing arms !!. you can't put much angle on them, or the u-joints inside will smack the swing arm inside there. which brings up the 31'' tires ?, really ?...lol. if ya can't lift it, how you expect 31'' tires to NOT rub the fenders ??????????. now..you did say, it's not YOURS ?..LOL. soo..yeah..lets see you do one of these the way you say here ^^^^..i'd loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee to see this thing in action when you get it all together like you pointed out here ^^^^^..lol. then tell me I was wrong.
 
#21 ·
It's not mine, guy in the southern US somewhere. There is a lot done to the motor, I'm sure there is quite a bit of money in it.

But keep in mind your talking to guy that's over 6k deep in a $500 Honda 300 lol.

That's ok if you don't like swamps, 4" lift 4-link and run some sticky rock crawling tires on it? Lol


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#22 ·
I'm with you Mac on this one haha... anything I have doesn't stay stock for long and if it does... usually means I don't have enough money to upgrade. But it's not like I go insanely crazy with mods either.
 
#27 ·
and i'll set you straight again...evey 4x4 Honda I have owned, and still own ?, IS NOT MODIFIED TO THIS DAY !..LOL. we can do this all day long bro ?..but..i'd just be killing time..lmfaoooo.
 
#28 ·
ladies ladies quit arguing. lol just messing with y'all. but from personal experience, stock lasts longer, and is more reliable, but gets stuck easier, and isn't as good off-road, but modded don't last as long. But that's just my 2 cents.
 
#29 · (Edited)
lmao^^^^^..who's arguing ??...lol. mac ?, well..he likes to ruffle my feathers here and there ?, but I know he means no harm. if most guys/gals on here have been working on, repairing atv's as long as I have ?, spend countless hours at the Honda dealership ?, ( I spend a lot of time talking to my bud who works at my local Honda dealership..and he's the head mechanic there ! ), ( and I only wishhhhhhhhhhh I had as many years into atvs and bikes as he has !!!!!!! ), then everyone would know why I am not in favor of doing mod's to atvs. large tires ?, means large repair bills !, engine mod's ?..means large repair bills..this all adds up over time ?, time is which I don't like to waste, not when I got other projects to take care of..for making money..not losing it !..lmfaoooo.
 
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#30 ·
lol i know guys im just giving y'all a hard time. nearest honda dealership is like 3 hrs away and they are very pricey, and our town don't have a off-road mechanic. So 99% of my repairs are done by me.
 
#31 ·
nothing wrong with doing your own repairs !. you save a ton of cash doing your own work !. thing is, is what your doing.. the correct way ?, or..the half azz way ?..lmaooo. I am all for working on my own toys, and I love to see others do the same !. but why take a good machine..and make it hard on it by moding it ?. now..before you ?, or anyone jumps on the band wagon, and say's '' well shadetree...we like to go deep, get higher..and all that other stuff you don't like ?! ''...ok..fine..this is not a problem to me. the problem comes in, when they do this..then something happens to it, they bring it in to me to fix..and have the nerve to ask me..what caused it to do this ?..or do that ?..wellllllllllll..let me think on this a bit !!!!..lmfaooo. and let me say this right now...I KNOW IT'S THIER ATV !!, I ONLY TELL THEM WHAT THE PROBLEM IS ?, they can take my advice for what it's worth ?..or..ignore my know-how, know-what ?, and do as they please :).
 
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#32 ·
my stock 350 can beat a massively modded can am through 99% of terrain, (water being the only thing he gets me at) and he's twisting cv axles off left and right, and i'm over here like "dude really AGAIN!!!!!!!" but i'm neutral in this topic. i agree with a few mods (winches, Racks,bumpers, Brakes, etc)
 
#33 ·
I don't count add-ons as mods. winches, racks..all of these are bolt ons..they do nothing big to make the atv ride any different ?. i'll put a winch on in a heartbeat !..lol. matter of fact, I've got to get a winch for my '03 trx450fm here soon !..lol.
 
#34 ·
lol same by that i mean mild mods, like gear reductions if your pulling or snorkels or exhausts or anything in that range.
 
#37 ·
getting back on topic , OP..there are some atv's that can handle mods ?, models such as yours ?..well..all I am gonna tell you is, it's your machine..do as you wish ?, but please take my advice..don't take a great machine in it's time, and mod it beyond it's boundaries !!. there is a short list as to what you can do to these models ?..and it's not much !!..lol.
 
#40 ·
After doing some reading and researching comment made here I believe I'm going to just keep it stock. I'm going to be shelling out enough cash getting her up to my standards anyway. (Basically mostly restored)

I paid $1300 to my neighbor for the bike. I see myself spending $500 to get mechanically ready and another $350-$500 on plastic repair and replace. I'm just guessing and new tires/wheels weren't accounted for.

I don't know a lot about ATV tires but I have owned a rock crawler and sell vocational trucks. So I get the need for higher ply tires and the right tread for the job. I'm also very diligent on maintenance and "listening" to my machines.

I also put in some LiquiTube for kicks. I put it in my off-road severe service dump trucks as an addon. Why not my bike? =)

Thanks again for all the feedback. I'm glad to be part of a group of enthusiast.
 
#44 ·
I sold a 1986 trx350 fourtrax here awhie back, buyer was happy to give me $ 1,500.00 for her all day long !. never heard back from him ?..but I take it he was happy with his purchase. not uncommon for buyers to want a great looking atv that is still the day it rolled off the show room floor ?. it did have itp mudlites on her ?..but that is what I put on all my atvs.