3-Wheelers Increasing in Value - Investments? Why are you into 3-Wheelers?

[oldiron1]

I thought this could turn into an interesting thread......

12-15 years ago, when I was a teenager, I bought all of the cheap 3 wheelers I could find and afford at the time to work on/fix up, ride, beat the snot out of, ect because that's what I could afford. There certainly were Quads, however the cheapest Quad I could find was always way out of my price range while people at the time were basically giving their 3 wheelers away. It seems like there were alot of abandoned three wheelers and an abundance of people who were just plain scared of them.

I think a lot of the above still holds true today. There are still folks scared of them and there are a few abandoned projects here and there, although not nearly as many as there were years ago.

The biggest change that I've noticed, is that the price of nice 3 wheelers continue to go up, that Quads that I used to drool over 15 years ago are now that much older and the prices on them are continuing to go down. You can buy a Yamaha Blaster, even a Yamaha Warrior, Suzuki Quad Sport, Honda 250X, 300Ex and I've seen a few 400Ex's even that have price tags less than I've seen nice ATC 200X's going for.

For me, I love the history and nostalgia behind most anything old/vintage (Cars, 3-wheelers, etc) . (I like the racing historical significance behind the ATC 250R for example.) To me, my 3-Wheelers just have a "Cool Factor" that can't be replaced by most newer quads that you see everywhere.

Do you see 3-Wheelers continuing to increase in demand and value as time goes on? Are there certain 3 Wheelers that you would project to become more popular/"Collectible" than others?

I'm anxious to hear other's input/feedback and opinions.

[tapage]

i would like for them to start jumpin up in value, that would make me feel like ive made good investments at a young age and seemed to make some of my worries disapear, me and my dad collect classic mopars, late 60's early 70's thats are family father son thing. i have a 69 roadrunner and he has a 69 r/t charger

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Well, I have a couple of examples that reinforces your inference...

Back in 1991, I was 13 years old and my parents bought an '86 Quadsport for the family. It was our first ATV other than my grandparents and uncles having them.. A single income household with 4 kids doesn't leave much spending money for toys like that. But, I digress...

So, my parents paid $1,000 for that Quadsport. It was in very good shape, mechanically sound and so on. But it had been ridden a bit. Aftermarket rear tires and original front tires that were quite worn down. I must admit, my parents were a little leary of trikes back at that time, but it wasn't too long after that my younger brother got the family's first trike... a 1981 YT125. They soon figured out that trikes weren't the demon possessed death machines that alot of people thought they were at that time.

So, I told that little story to tell you this one. Same year, 1991 my best friend (a farmer) saved up his meager pay that he earned working the farm as a boy of 13 and bought a FACTORY MINT '86 200x. The trike had original 90% tires on it, full DG exhaust, twist throttle and came with an extra set of rear tires on rims.. 18" Turf Tamers if I recall. It also came with a Honda service manual. Get this, he paid $425 for it! That trike had all original plastic with no cracks, not a single dent in the tank, not so much as a single stitch wrong with the seat. Other than the 2 aftermarket add-ons this trike was perfect.

I find it funny that a mint Quadsport nowadays could only realistically fetch about 7-800 while a nice 2nd gen 200x can easily fetch $1500! Now that's what I call turning the tables!

Now, fast forward to 1995.... At 17 I bought an '85 250r. (the one that is next for resto-mod, but that's another story) It had all original plastic that did have a couple of cracks, RPS silencer, FMF Ram valve reeds. Downside was it needed an axle carrier. Ran perfectly. My dad was a machinist for years and he brought home his calipers on day and took some measurements of the swingarm and axle. Mind you, we didn't even have the old carrier to reference.... A couple weeks later after working on it here and there he brought me home a custom axle carrier. Cool huh! Anyway, the price I paid for that R was $200. Yep you read right.. $200.

So, as to the original question, yes, to a degree I believe trikes will continue to gain in value. At some point they will top out and I think we may be near that peak. I could be wrong, but I would have to think that they will stop gaining in value at about 2/3 the cost of a new 450. Yes there are some avid collectors out there that would pay outlandish prices for prime OEM specimens but the general market is the main player. I just don't see the general market supporting trike prices getting too close to the price of a brand new 450. I just think that 98% of the buyers in the market would be unwilling to pay that.

But yes, it has been fun to sit and think back at what we could buy for about $500 20 years ago... If only I knew then what I know now and had the resources to do something about it... But alas....

[JasonB]

investment, hmmmm, probably not so much. I mean if you dont ride it ya. But for most of us these bikes are built from parts that have a limited lifespan and each time we ride they wear and eventually need replaced. Face it, to an extent they are like baseball cards. That crated 250R this last year brought a nice price compared to that of a mint condition 250r. BIG PRICE DIFFERENCE.


that said, I think my machines are worth more than when I and my gf acquired them BUT we have also spent more money to 'restore/mod' them. Everyone likes three wheelers for their own reasons. I just like em!

[gomer202]

I love the looks i get when i ride around on my trike. i hate to sell the trikes though because i feel that after i sell them they will get beaten to the ground. so that why i have 9 hha. i will always make money on every trike i own thoigh because i have the less common trikes around my area as well as i get good deals or even free trikes i got 5 free in 2011 alone. i made quite a chunck of change off some free bikes. pretty sweet to make a big profit off sell bikes when you are only 16

[4x4van]

I own and ride my 3-wheeler(s) simply because I love to ride them, and they are the best vehicle for the terrain that I ride! Quads are boring, and since I'm into the sand, the 3-wheeler works much better than a motorcycle (which I grew up riding and racing in the desert in the 70s & 80s).

When it comes to 3 vs 4, I have a saying: Those who can ride, ride (2 or 3 wheels)...those who can't, drive! (4 wheels)!

As for an investment...I don't know about that, but I love the fact that my '85 250R is still in excellent shape (I bought it new in 1984), as is my wife's '85 250R (got it from my dad, who also bought it new in 1984, and who finally stopped riding 2 years ago at age 77 when he lost an eye to cancer).

As they get rarer and rarer, clean ones will obviously fetch higher & higher prices, especially the high performance models.

[jb2wheels]

I own mine because I'm re-living the glory of my youth. I've never ridden a quad but I admit a 450R is tempting. Time for a TPC?

Investments? HAHAHAHAHAHA - I'd be happy to break even on either of my 200x's. No chance. I didn't even bother keeping track of the $$ spent on my 350x project. I don't want to know. I want to ride it in the sand!

I just picked up another 350X project. A complete except mud flap and grab bar 86 that spent too much time outside. I paid $350 for it. I would be happy have it in the sand without spending another $1k on it. I bet I'd have a hard time getting $1400 out of it then. But I'll ride the piss out of it instead.

The only one I own that was nice when I got it is my 85 R and I paid too much for it.

However, it is BIG fun parking at a riding spot and pulling 3 ATCs out of my van. Yes 3 full size ATCs fit in my van and it's not even the extended model. I could probably get the 70 in there at the same time. I probably could not get 2 quads in it but I'll never know. Anyway, every 35+ year old there with their quad or side by side stops what they're doing to check them out - especially the 3rd gen R!

On a side note, why are side by sides so damn popular? They're grossly expensive and a decent VW rail can be had for $5k or less and seems like a much better option.

[Swinger]

As far as an invesment, I think it depends on what you are getting and the price you get it for. If you got a mint 2nd gen Tecate or 3rd gen 250R or anything from 86-87 for that fact off of someone who didnt know what they had for a great price... then hell yes I would call that an investment. If you planned on selling it in the future! I love trikes because I feel comfortable on one and enjoy working on them as well as finding parts. I think the prices will continue to go up just like muscle cars. Inflation my friends. I have a side by side that I spent way to much cash on and always complain saying I could get 4 more trikes in the garage if I didnt have it. But it serves its purpose during fishing season I guess. Gotta haul 2 kids, spare clothes lots of gear and an airator system for restocking fish. Still love the trikes more though.

[oldiron1]

Interesting feedback!

I agree that "investment" really isn't the right word, however I appreciate knowing that if you found a harder to find trike at a good price, that if you take care of it, should always get your money back out of or even make a few bucks on. That's something you can't say about a lot of "toys".

[jon jon]

im into trikes cause not everyone can ride them? people can jump on a quad and ride but the thrill is more on a trike

[philgipson]

i can never afford to restore anything so i buy tore up stuff and at least make a rider out of it.only problem is im running out of room.my wife said we need a bigger shop,what a woman.

[NDS Custom]

Investment no, though they are sought after buy guys like us who had one when we were younger and miss it, last year me and some friends went to Maine to one of their folks cabin, they had an old big bear quad, a 350x and a big red 350, I hadn't rode a trike in years, minutes after riding the big red I needed one, so when I got home I bought one, threw some parts at it and I'm 12 again, I've had several offers, but she aint for sale, I'm sure if I take care of her I'll get what I paid for her years from now, it takes me back, that's the investment, the older I get the more toys I need, boats, snowmobiles, tractors, trikes, whatever, maybe it's a crisis.

[daggett43]

Hey everyone , this is my first post and looked like a good place to start. It started for me in the summer of 1979. A friend of my older brother had bought a brand new 110 at Christmas time in 1978. By the summer he had not really ridden it at all so I bought it with a loan from my parents to be paid back with my paper route money and the price was $500 which if I remember was about half of what he paid. I had a blast on that thing for a few years and finally let her go. At about 19 I bought a really nice 200x and really wanted a 250R but have never owned one. I have owned several 70's for my kids and for the fact that I just think they are so cool. I currently have been bitten by the bug because my son started riding a couple of weeks ago at the age of 4 so I bought an old 90 that is in awesome shape to beat around with the kids on and also have a pretty complete 1980 110 that I want to give tho old racer look too! ( anyone with a set of aluminum rear rims ) Anyways good to be here and hopefully make some friends.

[atcandrewglover]

i been into trike since i was 12. bought a butiful 200x. fell in love with it. own 225dx,225dr,250sx and now im picking up the scrambler

[bkm]

Parts is where the $ is at. I doubt I could break even on my 250r when its done if I tried to sell it whole. Parted out I could probably double it.

[NDS Custom]

I couldn't agree more, parts are where the $$$ are.

[atcandrewglover]

yea parts are where the money at. but then you lose a few more trike to parts out

[3bignugs]

I like it for the nostalgic reasons and their simplicity. Fun as hell to ride too! Just picked up a 87 big red 250es. In the midst of a full frame up restoration.

[CTPATRIOT]

I look at it as an investment in fun...Fun searching,fun fixing and fun riding them!Sure do miss the days when they were just old bikes that you could pick up cheap though :cry:

[mtslesse]

I have to say OldIron, like you said investment, not so much.

But maybe they are. Why? because everytime we jump on our BigRed or 350 they bring out the best in people. It doesn't matter where we go, people want to stop and check out our trikes, and share their story, or share their project that they are still working on or maybe even that project that seeing you just rekindled in their heart (korny i know). I see old guys, like in their 80's stop me to talk for hours, some even get teary. I see kids that may have never even seen one come running just to grab a seat on them so they can tell their parents about it. Or parents asking if they can sit on them while their kids check em out. They are kind of a piece of history made special by the fact that nobody but the media wanted them taken away, and yet they were, so when people see them, I dunno, I guess it's like that girlfriend or boyfriend you weren't ready to let go of. It's pretty cool though.

My whole life I road bikes, whether in the dirt or on the track, but never once did a bike do what these threewheelers do when I head down the road to do something as simple as grab some eggs, or dump a load of leaves in the burn pile. I mean I made friends, and had great and still have great relationships, but truly nothing, nothing like talking to people about the old days like a trike. I don't know what it is, but these trikes are pretty amazing!

Tito, get me some tissue...lol

[kyleb]

Do you think its worth breaking down a 86 in good condition just to sell it?

[codyb93]

Sometimes what something is "worth" in terms of money and sentimental value is totally different. It might be "worth" it to part it out but even if it is, you still may be pretty emotionally bothered that you have to do it. However if you can get your money, do it. You might think one less trike but it's going to maintain another one.

[freedog]

If you bought a 3 wheeler for an investment I would say the next several years are the best time to sell it. I had go-carts and mini-bikes as a tot but grew up seeing only 3 wheelers and dirt bikes in magazines. Christmas of '81 I got a Honda 200 ATC, true old school, no shocks just big balloon knobbies, I was 13. In '87 they outlawed them when I was 18 and at that time there may have been some 12yr olds wanting a 3 wheeler but after that they all wanted atv's (The 1st gen. of atv guys). Who could blame them its all they saw in mags and all that was available to them new. I rode dirt bikes from 17-40 yrs old before I finally had my first kid and decided I could no longer be broken from the dirt bikes but I still wanted to ride. I found a Honda 250sx in great shape and although I'm sure I paid to much for it, my kid and I love trail riding together, so it was worth every penny. My point is, as the last gen. of the 3 wheeler guys, nearly all of us in our 40's now, we are at a point in life where we are willing and able to spend a little extra money on a 3 wheeler in really nice shape rather than buy an atv. However when the 1st gen of atv guys reach this point of their lives they are probably not going to want a classic atv but instead just go buy the latest and greatest atv to replace the one they already have.

[kb0nly]

Trikes are getting hard to find around here, where i live they are few and far inbetween and those who have them don't want to sell them! Took me a while but i finally snagged another Big Red. I had one as a kid, i had a 85 250 BR about five years ago but i had to sell it for a few reasons and regretted it. Finally got an 84 200ES BR, just a few things to fix on it otherwise in great shape and it was a heck of a find. Took almost a half year of searching to find it, took months to find any for sale, and the ones i found at first were basket cases that are barely suitable for parting out and the sellers wanted a small fortune for them in their state.

Just trying to recapture a bit of my youth... Now i feel old... LOL

[matty]

I grew up riding trikes then got into quads about 5 years ago my brother in law got an 81 250r in a package deal with a quad. I took it for one ride and needed to get one for myself. I still ride quads but I love riding trikes because they take way more skill. The new quads out now are getting so big you don’t really need to be a good rider, just point it where you want to go and hit the gas. On a trike you have to pay attention and use your body. Also you get way more attention on a trike.
I don’t see trikes as an investment but it is something that will never go down in value and it’s something you can enjoy. You can defiantly make money buying and selling but that is just like anything else.

[Tri-Z 250]

Am I a purist? In a sence I guess I am...been on a 250-Z since 86' and would rather fixem than part em. I'm sometimes sad to see a relatively restorable machine with a few key parts go to peices. Old vintage racers in one peice are as rare to replicate as they can be to find. I can't blame the guy making a small turn on a part-out...Heck I buy the parts too, so not a purist...Riding, selling, building, collecting, competive racing to gathering and joining sites like 3WW. The true investment is what you get out from what you put in. The joy and thrill I get from racing may just equal the LOT score of 70's to someone else. Value in a collectable factors on a few common things. Number of units made and the length of time out of production, Survivior ratio of the unit based on crash/scrap/barnfind and presently running. You need to base all that on the market/economy and interest of the unit. The age of the collector my have an influence as well. A man in his forties, can afford to get that Tecate he's always wanted. You could always argue value entry level young riders help keep the solid axle market alive. So will there be a time when the value doubles in a few years if demand exceeds the supply, I guess it could(doubtful). I look at it like a breathing growing life of it's own...each aspect needing one another to keep itself alive. The interest to get a cheap ATV turns ATC and a new member is found. The love of trikes is born and grows to swap, ride and gather with others; who my one day say good bye. Leaving with the riches of fond memories of that big score, firiendly sale or ride. I'd say pretty much the whole 3wheeled thing got me years ago and it's kept me ever since...Increased value?...you bet! Thanks 3WW

[freedog]

Well said Tri-Z 250