Our ‘78 CB200 has been sat there for a while, just begging for a project. It’s a cracking little parallel twin, reliable, punchy, and just different enough to stand out. But instead of keeping it in its lane, we thought… why not send it completely off-road? Enter: the CB200 Desert Sled.
To make it happen, we raided an old ‘77 Yamaha DT for parts. Rear wheel, front forks, front wheel with a fresh knobby tire. The first dry fit went almost too smoothly. The DT rear wheel slotted into the CB, the forks swapped straight over. Then we found a front tire lying around, aggressive tread, built for dirt, and ready to make this thing grip like f*ck. Perfect.
With the engine fully refreshed (new gaskets, seals, and a full once-over), it’s back in the frame and ready for the next phase.
Next up, we’re stretching the swingarm a bit to get the stance and handling right for the rough stuff. The rear wheel’s in, but the sprockets need lining up properly. Nothing a bit of measuring and shimming won’t fix. The DT forks are already an upgrade, but a full rebuild with stiffer springs will make them even better. And of course, we’ll dial in the final look. It’s already got the right vibe, just needs a few tweaks to bring it all together.
It’s coming together fast… and honestly, it’s already looking the part. More soon. CB200 WIP.