tri-z or tecate

[ATCeeya]

Im going to buy an 86 tri-z or 86 tecate next. Here are 2 possible candidates.

The tri z is $1500 and I pick it up. The tecate is $1500 + shipping (500+).

http://images.craigslist.org/3n73kd3p45Tf5Qe5Pf99qd225a302fd031f71.jpg

6-speed Transmission, with low low hours on the low end and top end. I put $1200 into the motor 2 years ago and have put about 3 hours on it since, all in short rides. last time I checked it was pushin 180lbs of compression. It has a brand new full DG exhaust. Motor has brand new bearings, seals, rod, crank pin, stator, piston and rings, new bore job .020 over, new water pump impeller shaft. Brand new chain and K&N filter. Front shocks need rebuilding, I have the fork oil already. This trike will do 70 and is for experienced riders.


or


http://i.ebayimg.com/19/!BbYTr1!BWk~$(KGrHgoOKjwEjlLmVD,kBKv0+Vq5mQ~~_12.J PG


1986 Kawasaki Tecate 3 250. As you know these are the hardest to come by in both parts and wheeeler availabilty. I bought it to finish restoring, but have lost all interest and want to move on with other projects. All the parts are here including airbox, procircuit pipe, etc. This bike has all new plastic outside of the gas tank, which to my knowledge is untouchable. All this needs is a throttle cable and off you go. I am looking to buy perfect showroom bikes, this isnt, but the price also reflects the difference.

---he also told me the carb is in pieces, and i would need a new one probably, and doesnt have coolant bottle--

[Coaltrain]

I would get the tecate, I just think they look badarse.

[rdlsz24]

Is the Tecate missing the top end??

Rob

[posty2100]

Is the Tecate missing the top end??

Rob

top end looks to be there, missing exhaust, carb, coolant jug, and airbox. That makes that good size empty space behind motor. The head pipe of exhaust is what really stands out to me. Very nice tecate tho!

[ATCeeya]

well hes got all the parts. just got to finish putting it together. he said all it needs is a cable and off you go. so im assuming its not far from being a rider.

[i58829]

I'd say the tecate is going to cost a lot more to get it going, and although you see a lot of tri-z's not very many are 6 Speed. They are both equally as rare, but you CAN get parts for the tri-z. I have an 86 T3 roller that i simply can't find the parts for that i need to get it running without swapping a kx motor into it...

[ovhonda1]

I have an 86 tecate and I love it, but as stated before, the parts are a pain to find and the expense will add up if you do find them. If you want to ride without a wait, I would go for the Tri-Z. I have an 86 Z with a 6 speed and it is a great ride. Just my .02.

[Tri-Z 250]

The 86' decision....tuff one. I go T3 but only as a semi rider...the parts are tuff to get...I wouldn't want to mess it up or burn the electrical in some freak melt down. I love my 86-Z and would never sell it so my opion is a bit bias(cause I have one). You want a rider and solid all around easier to get parts for machine no doubt Z...it's funny some parts are available now that never were before for the Z. $1500 well I want proof at pick up...A shop would charge around a grand on a top to bottom build through Yamaha so $500 for the rest looks fare. Ask about the water pump? If he rebuilt it without replacement parts, it's leaking( thats why it blew in the frist place). I'd drain some oil out of the case...before you even pull $ out TRUST ME...You can always add some it's just 10w-30. Look for milky oil....blown head gasket due to waterpump failure...READ up on it, common Z problem easy to fix. People get cheap in the rebuild and never replace the gasket and rubber seals with the impleller it's like an extra $220. Good Luck...If oil is milky...depending on run time cylinder may not be scorched to bad...other wise the top end was a waste of his $ 750-1000

[ScottZJ]

Tecate....nuff said. Team Green is the way to go. I never been a fan of the Yammer but wont bash them, they have my respect. But I am just a tecate fan.

[dcreel]

Tecate.. I have an 84, and an 85. My next trike will be an 86 or 87 Tecate.

[tri-z987]

id go with a tecate, thats what i hope to get next....

[boosted96cobra]

Tecate...hands down. yeah the kawi has had stator problems, eaisily fixed with a ricky fly and oem stator or better pvl or kx250 ignition (if you can live without the lights).

I really like the look and the feel of the Z, but out of the 15 or so I have seen, two of them ran, and one was actually ridden. The ridden one did not run very long.

[code200k]

i am a yamaha guy all day but the tecate looks more bad azz i think but if you are looking for a good rider that parts are eazery to find i would go with the z..although you could get the t3 and drive it for awhile and then sell and trade it for a couple other trikes..

[Bryan Raffa]

I would go with the Zs in holly for 2,200

[Mosh]

$2000 For a trike that doesnt run is off the hook.
It better damn well run at least for that price.
I mean you can get a pretty decent 250R that runs for that kind of money.

I would get the Z.And I bet you can talk him down to about 1300$
At least it is turn key,and parts are easier to find and cheaper.

I would only consider the T-3 to look at it..
Just too Damn hard to find nice parts for.

My Z's always ran good with minimal to no problems.

[Bryan Raffa]

$2000 For a trike that doesnt run is off the hook.
It better damn well run at least for that price.
I mean you can get a pretty decent 250R that runs for that kind of money.

I would get the Z.And I bet you can talk him down to about 1300$
At least it is turn key,and parts are easier to find and cheaper.

I would only consider the T-3 to look at it..
Just too Damn hard to find nice parts for.

My Z's always ran good with minimal to no problems.

the guys add said 2 tri z running and another in parts for 2,200 and that was at 12:00 today ... :shiftyeyes:

[Dirtcrasher]

Not that any of this helps but I'll share my thoughts:

I love GREEN trikes, I always loved Kawi green and I've seen 1st hand how fast a very simple looking older one can be. Maybe tougher to find parts for, but not miles away in terms of design from a HONDA.

The Tri-Z: It has some inherent design flaws, but all VERY fixable and such a unique machine. I don't care for the fuel pump and such, but it does keep a lower center of gravity with the fuel tank being where it is. The nice thing about the Z is the roominess, you feel like your on a king sized bed with 3 chicks and STILL have room for the remote control :D

Footpeg, case covers, fuel pump, impeller etc etc can all be dealt with so don't let them stop you!

Just always think about plastics and other seemingly silly small items that can be near impossible to find with SOME brands, keep it in mind and do some research before you completely restore one and then scratch your head looking for something you really need to complete the project....

In the end, it's personal preference, all the big 3 are nasty trikes and very capable :w00t:

Don't mind me, I'm just rambling after 100hrs of rebuilding my truck that is near completion :D

[ATCeeya]

http://rochester.craigslist.org/rvs/1393096872.html

Here is a 1986 Tri-Z 250, 6-speed Transmission, ---- It also comes with enough parts to build a second Tri-Z and still have a lot of parts left over. I will separate trike and parts, trike is $1500 FIRM. This trike will do 70 and is for experienced riders. Please email me for any info. Thanks. $2200 BO

Only 1 running Z. from what I gathered. just enough parts to build a second one, and then spare parts.

I want to check out the Z. because atleast I can drive to it. Thanks for suggestions everybody. My plan over time is to have an 86 tri z, 86 tecate, along with my 86 R and 86 X. justa big happy family of 86's.

[laidout2times]

Howd you get in tough with that ebay seller with the tecate? I had no luck.

[fabiodriven]

I'd say either one. I like the Tecates better, but the Z is cheaper and more complete so it seems to even out. $2000 does seem like alot for a non-running trike, but looking at that Tecate I would say it's definitely worth that money.

[ScottZJ]

You know I just dont get it about the parts for tecate.......they are not as hard to find as everyone thinks it is. I built an 87 tecate from ground up with basically nothing. You can still get front and rear fenders, you can get repro shrouds and headlight plastics, you can get tank bras or entire covers for them. The fender bracket and headlight bracket is the hard parts but not impossible to find or reproduce. The air box isnt needed, just put a KX intake boot on with K&N filter, the over flow bottle isnt necessary unless you are running it really hard (but a 250r bottle will work fine, just need to make a bracket for it. So really tecates are not any harder to find parts than say the Z or other trikes.

[lndy650]

^agreed parts are fairly easy to find. ive owned both and both are great machines. its user preferance really. they both have flaws. id say look for a 250r...

[BigHenault]

Get the tri-z because the tecate is Nh and bidding on it on Ebay haha

[Dirtcrasher]

All I meant about the parts is you can find 6 pages of 250R stuff and plenty in our classifieds section. You can find parts from worthless to awesome and pick from that based on your budget.

With the Tecate, you may only have a page or two and will have to do some restoration work on that particular part. And a few odds and ends may just take longer to find, thats all I meant by the parts comment.

Realistically, we can get parts on EBAY and here and get a 250R done in less than a month and done very well. If it were a Tecate, it may just take a little longer to get everything nailed down 100%.

ScottZJ has VERY nice machines, and I'm willing to bet that they are built up over a period of time. Not to mention that some people also have a good base of friends at both boards that you can trade and buy parts from.

Guys like me and Fabio that run are trap don't always get the same "parts availability" as some of you other guys.... :lol: I think sometimes too much tone is interpreted from text :)

Anyhow, the heck with it, buy them both :D

[ATCeeya]

guy with tri-z told me through email he will go 1250.

Laidout --- I emailed the guy with tecate through ebay. hes gotten back to me both times right away.

[code200k]

ATCeeya some guy just emailed me about a mint tri z he has near me he wants around 1900 for it let me know if your interrested. i dont know where it is because i didnt reply but i can find out if you want

[ATCeeya]

i think im guna check this one out in holley this week if nobody else here or elsewhere snatches it up first. it wouldnt bother me if it sells really. but if it so happens i buy it then thats cool too. i just dont want some lemon thats going to be a nighmare so im doing some much needed reading up on them as we speak. price seems to be good actually from what else i been finding.

[scooterroo]

you would be let down if you bought the z, t3 all the way!!!