Writing honda motor co. Who's with me?

[honda200x1987]

I have wrote a letter to Honda Motor Co.. I have asked to reproduce the 1985-86 ATC350X ,ATC250R &1987 ATC200X fenders and what we can do to convince them to do so. I have also asked to bring back the 80's retro look such as the legendary 1986 TRX250R and 1987 ATC200X and make a new 4 wheel sport model ATV. I have wrote a full page report and I am mailing it off in the morning,,who's with me?? here is the mailing address: http://powersports.honda.com/contact.aspx

[3wheelmecca]

tack on my CPSC Report if ya want, I made that report to bring them back. It's on the front page in the articles.

[TDS]

With a crap economy its all wishfully thinking sadly. isnt production halted right now on some powersports from honda?

[honda200x1987]

Good idea, i will do that since I have also asked if there are any future plans to reproduce the ATC again. I will print out your report and mail it in with my letter. That was a superb report..
tack on my CPSC Report if ya want, I made that report to bring them back. It's on the front page in the articles.

[3wheelmecca]

not really, the Big Red is rolling off like crazy by what I've seen. I wish honda did not recycle their names. An Odyssey is NOT a minivan! And a Big Red is a three wheeler, not a SxS.

[honda200x1987]

The economy is not as bad as you might think, I beleive it is making a comback. It would not hurt to try, everyone needs to stand together if we are ever going to see any of this happen.

[3wheelmecca]

Thanks! I am glad my report can make a difference, we all can (insert inpirational song here).

Good idea, i will do that since I have also asked if there are any future plans to reproduce the ATC again. I will print out your report and mail it in with my letter. That was a superb report..

[oldskool83]

i think asking to repoduce some oem plastics would be a nice thing. it may never happen but might get light shed on the subject if you start like a petition style signature request sheet. i'd glay sign my name asking for oem plastics at least.

[haggard 2hundie]

honda is a business and they have to know there is a huge demand to bring the trikes back , it just doesnt make sence not too , especially right now while " retro " is all the rage . the eighties are back everywhere, from hair to music to clothing trends , all we need now is the trikes we all should send some kind of e petition ill ride wit ya !

[honda200x1987]

i think asking to repoduce some oem plastics would be a nice thing. it may never happen but might get light shed on the subject if you start like a petition style signature request sheet. i'd glay sign my name asking for oem plastics at least.

I think everyone should write their own letter to AMERICAN HONDA ,it will make a difference,we all need to do this! spread the word to every site and everyone you know!!

[TDS]

well the difference is between fans and buyers. who do you think honda would cater to.
i would be a huge fan of reproducing the ATC. but i would not be a buyer of one. its just not in a financial position for that.

granted retro looks are quite the popular thing for cars.

the economy is sorta turning its self around for certain areas. around where i live we are mainly a service industry oriented (food/hospitailty, repair, service) but are lacking production. this is causing our money to just keep changing hands back and forth and very little is coming in for gain. so basically we are only maintaining our financial responsibilities. everything is cut throat around here as well, contractors are taking jobs at minimal profit just to keep employees busy, or to pay bills

i am by no means trying to rain on anyone's parade. i just dont think they would go for it.

[honda200x1987]

well the difference is between fans and buyers. who do you think honda would cater to.
i would be a huge fan of reproducing the ATC. but i would not be a buyer of one. its just not in a financial position for that.

granted retro looks are quite the popular thing for cars.

the economy is sorta turning its self around for certain areas. around where i live we are mainly a service industry oriented (food/hospitailty, repair, service) but are lacking production. this is causing our money to just keep changing hands back and forth and very little is coming in for gain. so basically we are only maintaining our financial responsibilities. everything is cut throat around here as well, contractors are taking jobs at minimal profit just to keep employees busy, or to pay bills

i am by no means trying to rain on anyone's parade. i just dont think they would go for it.

Like i said if you ever want to see any of this happen, just write a letter, it only takes a few minutes of your time and a postage stamp. Beleive it or not with enough letters Honda could come up with something.

[Xfile]

I agree, it can't hurt to try...but honda is a huge corporation and the bottom line, no matter how much a company says "we listen to our customers" is profit...no profit=no build.

[83ATC185S]

do they even have the molds for repro fenders? these things are 25 years old,and older. who is to say they kept them around?

I dont think there is enough of a market for another atc,they have been down that road,they dont want to deal with the lawsuits and headaches associated with the three wheeler name

[honda200x1987]

do they even have the molds for repro fenders? these things are 25 years old,and older. who is to say they kept them around?

I dont think there is enough of a market for another atc,they have been down that road,they dont want to deal with the lawsuits and headaches associated with the three wheeler name

Ok, once again, I did not only ask to reproduce the ATC and plastics,, I also asked to bring back that 80's look of the 1986 TRX250R ,etc on a new sport ATV lineup, write them on that subject if you want. If Honda would take just one of these ideas I would be happy. You must have a positive outlook on this. This is 3WW, we are all here because we love our trikes, so atleast put your 2 cents in to Honda please.

[portland250r]

I think everyone should write their own letter to AMERICAN HONDA ,it will make a difference,we all need to do this! spread the word to every site and everyone you know!!
that is a great idea
im going to send a letter about this.
the word needs to be spread.
what we should do is get a bunch of paper and have everyone you know and as much people as possible sign it then we mail it to handa200x1987 and we send it in.
we should call them after a while and see if they have gone through it.

[200XMichigan]

I think it should be one focus at a time: start making the discontinued parts for ATC, not just the fenders but everything. And make a new model of ATC. Really the thing to do would be to send one to Kawi, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Honda. Not to mention companies like KTM. Maybe there's a company that wants to give it a shot. I'd be happy if any one of them made trikes again. There is also the company that bought Cannondale, I forget their name, but they are in Utah. Seems like making parts, would be the first step to getting them to consider making a new ATC. But yeah I still don't know how many would sell. Unfortunately I am pretty sure the general population is at least 50% retarded and most of them belong on quads. I wonder how many people would buy a new ATC if they made one. I would really bet not many, seems most people who love trikes already own a few. Not trying to be negative but I think for a company as large as Honda the numbers of new ATC's sold wouldn't be high enough for them. But parts on the other hand, they just need to bring them back. But who knows maybe there is enough demand for them to bring back the ATC.

But its a good idea and at least if they bring the parts back then someone if they really wanted could build a new one themselves.

[honda200x1987]

I just mailed in my letter this morning. We will see what they say..

[oldskool83]

can we see a copy of it

[inv3ctiv3]

Hahaha I don't know how many times this has been discussed but they will not be making a trike again, point in case if you want a new trike buy one of Bill's TPC trikes. It is pretty much exactly what Honda would make today and costs about what it would cost to buy a new trike. How many people here do you think would really drop 7-8k on a trike? Not many I can guarantee you that, hell the TRX450r isn't even selling...They had to stop production on them to sell all the quads sitting at dealerships and you think a trike which has about the most negative connotation possible with any Offroad vehicle is going to sell better? You have to understand we are a niche market not part of the mass market, they would see no return on investment on producing a trike again. And I hate to be the negative guy here but I am being realistic, it's nice to think "If we are all positive and do this and that it will happen" but it won't.

[rdlsz24]

I agree we will never see a mass produced trike again, but it would be cool if they would start up making some of the discontinued parts. I won't hold my breath though.

Rob

[Jeepermc]

I agree...the big ones will never produce a trike again.... I think some people here forget that we are a very, very small percentage of the general populace and and even smaller percentage of us would even buy a "new" trike. Parts availability however...would be nice....says the Tecate owner...lol

[BIGREDGUY]

not really, the Big Red is rolling off like crazy by what I've seen. I wish honda did not recycle their names. An Odyssey is NOT a minivan! And a Big Red is a three wheeler, not a SxS.

Ya, That kind of gets to me too.

[haggard 2hundie]

dont forget the pilot , and i also like the idea for the 80's quad look , new quad look like ...... well i think the newer fender looks is well FUBAR , hella ugly too pointy they look like cartoons , when i think quad i think suzuki quadracer or late 80's 250r quads , thats what they should like not these new fugly things.

[crashcbr900rr]

I hate to say it but I have to agree with inv3ctiv3 on this. The production of 3 wheelers has to be looked at as an investment for a company (a business decision). After all, the only reason anything is produced is to make money. If the money is not there, either is the product. As much as I hate to say it, the reality is that trikes will not be re-produced and I hardly think that any discontinued parts will be brought back. They were discontinued for a reason and I'm sure that reason still stands. People like us that love three wheelers have a hard time believing that others are not enthusiastic about trikes. However, most people that I talk to about three wheelers or my three wheeler collection don't even know what a three wheeler is anymore. We are a niche market and have to realize that. Just because my world revolves around three wheelers does not mean that they guy next door gives two craps about them. Unfortunately, I think there are more of the guys next door then there are of me.

[portland250r]

the big ones will never produce a trike again....
never say never cause if the economy does get back to normal and they start selling real well then they might try.
someone could buy honda and happen to be a trike lover.
im not saying theres a good chance that it will happen but theres always that little bit that can make it happen.

i think we and others could get them to make 2 strokes again if theres a way to get past the emmission laws.

[DeePa]

wasting your time.

[honda200x1987]

How many times do i have to type this guys??????????? You DO NOT HAVE TO write a letter asking Honda to make trikes again BUT YOU SHOULD. YES I would pay 4-7 grand for a new trike and that would be their price depending on the model and engine size. You would be buying a Honda not a knock off ATC. you get what you pay for and many would finance. THE TRUE real idea that might work is to ask them to bring back the OLD SCHOOL LOOK to a new model year like the LEGENDARY 1986 TRX250R ATV, also ask them to reproduce some parts, like fenders for the 86 ATC250R 350X 200X ETC. That's what I am getting at, Now let's not have any more negative comments on this subject. We are here to keep the ATC alive, yes I am aware they might not reproduce the ATC again but it does not hurt to ask. I gurantee you if there was a new copy of the 1987 ATC200X or a 86 TRX250R on the showroom floors they would have no problem selling them.

[honda200x1987]

Hahaha I don't know how many times this has been discussed but they will not be making a trike again, point in case if you want a new trike buy one of Bill's TPC trikes. It is pretty much exactly what Honda would make today and costs about what it would cost to buy a new trike. How many people here do you think would really drop 7-8k on a trike? Not many I can guarantee you that, hell the TRX450r isn't even selling...They had to stop production on them to sell all the quads sitting at dealerships and you think a trike which has about the most negative connotation possible with any Offroad vehicle is going to sell better? You have to understand we are a niche market not part of the mass market, they would see no return on investment on producing a trike again. And I hate to be the negative guy here but I am being realistic, it's nice to think "If we are all positive and do this and that it will happen" but it won't.

Yes they would because it's a Honda and it's something new,"people go nuts over a new product" , many have never seen a ATC before, ANYWAYS "THIS THREAD IS TO ASK THEM TO MAKE SOME PARTS/FENDERS AGAIN". It has been 23 years since the Bann, alot has changed and it's an anything goes world we live in now.As for the TRX450R having low sales,and do you really want to know why? Because it does not look kewl, it's all about the look. I don't know who is designing the Honda's ATV's today but they have no clue on what looks appealling to the buyer anymore. I can walk up to a dealership and look at every atv they have to offer, not one will make me go,,awww i got to have that. This is one reason why i wrote to the industry, maybe they will atleast take a look and get an idea.

[haggard 2hundie]

keep the faith man i believe it will happen , the trikes will come back what is there like 15000 members here ? if everyone wrote in how could any corp. ignore that big of a response

[honda200x1987]

keep the faith man i believe it will happen , the trikes will come back what is there like 15000 members here ? if everyone wrote in how could any corp. ignore that big of a response Finally some justice. we are in 3WW , RIGHT 15000 members and just think of all the people who love the ATC that do not know about this site not to mention there are 4 billion people on the planet now.

[Dirtcrasher]

Imagine if they did make some fenders up, the poor sukers that paid 1500$ for a rear and 500$ for a front would be hanging there head pretty low :lol:

I agree, we will NEVER see trikes made again. Maybe some parts though, money is money and hundreds of buyers may get some attention esp. if there is still a mold. If the mold is gone, you can forget it.

We can't even get 10 guys to buy a 10" rim or a set of silicone hoses. So much for the economy and the "3wheeler community!!"

We have guys (including me) making updated and equal to or better than NOS and no one wants them.

I think most trike owners are the cheapest people on the planet - go get a quad fellas!

[haggard 2hundie]

a quad ? ouch man ouch. anyway i need a rear fender ? 86 200x

[200XMichigan]

never say never cause if the economy does get back to normal and they start selling real well then they might try.
someone could buy honda and happen to be a trike lover.
im not saying theres a good chance that it will happen but theres always that little bit that can make it happen.

i think we and others could get them to make 2 strokes again if theres a way to get past the emmission laws.

Who's going to buy Honda?

[inv3ctiv3]

Finally some justice. we are in 3WW , RIGHT 15000 members and just think of all the people who love the ATC that do not know about this site not to mention there are 4 billion people on the planet now.

And out of those 15,000 how many of those do you think still actively post here? I mean come on man, if you think there is such a market for new ATC's why do you think there has only been like 4 TPC 450r's built? 99.9% of the people today think trikes are death traps and won't go near them and like I said before, honda stopped production on their 450r quads because they couldn't move the 2008 and 2009 models....I really hate to be negative because I'd love to see them made again but know they won't. If they would remake parts I'd be ecstatic and that's something I could get behind, but I can't get behind some pipe dream. And not to mention a lot of people buy trikes because they can be had for $100 in running condition and $1500 for near perfect condition, no one is going to buy a $7-9,000 trike.

[Dirtcrasher]

Everyone likes the Craigslist specials :lol:

[honda200x1987]

And out of those 15,000 how many of those do you think still actively post here? I mean come on man, if you think there is such a market for new ATC's why do you think there has only been like 4 TPC 450r's built? 99.9% of the people today think trikes are death traps and won't go near them and like I said before, honda stopped production on their 450r quads because they couldn't move the 2008 and 2009 models....I really hate to be negative because I'd love to see them made again but know they won't. If they would remake parts I'd be ecstatic and that's something I could get behind, but I can't get behind some pipe dream. And not to mention a lot of people buy trikes because they can be had for $100 in running condition and $1500 for near perfect condition, no one is going to buy a $7-9,000 trike. Write to Honda motors and ask them to reproduce the 350X fenders etc, we need as many of us as we can.

[UlsterATCFan]

You may as well write to Santa Claus. Honda will never EVER EVER manufacture ATCs again. This might sound harsh but its true so all we can do is enjoy and preserve the ATCs that we have

[honda200x1987]

Just write a letter to the MOTORCYLCE DIVISION AMERICAN HONDA, ask them to reproduce oen or some ATC fenders lke the 350x 250r 200x etc.

[jonathandexter]

Hi:
I live in Hawaii. I almost married a Girl from Japan, studied the language etc. I have been very very interested in the dynamics of Japanese culture. And how Business is done there. It is only my opinion, but I beleive that the only way, one could get through to them.
Is for some one really powerful, and Financially enormouse like Pfleuger Honda Hawaii. The Pfleuger Son, and current President. Has raced and won the Baja 1000. and is a dynamic part of Honda Sales here.

Someone like that would need to make an appointment with the big wheels at Honda In Japan. And would be able to provide facts of all the activity on these bikes, after market parts, Ebay sales, on parts and used bikes, and other interests in dollars. In addition a current real time survey of the market interest on these potential new reproduction trikes. From the average joes' to the honda bike dealers. It's likely that the only way it would be vialble for them at HONDA, is to actually bring back the exact, and most popular bikes. Thus making it worth while to fire up the plastics forms, and parts list. Or make all new ones as I have heard they were destroying all the old forms etc.
They might even raise a huge Eyebrow if thousands of buyers had committed to buy those bikes. Like may have been done in the early days of the automotive industry. (SHOW OF GOOD FAITH) ; ) FYI I am currently building a (1987 250R ATC visually accurate build) and many many items that could have been had, direct from Honda, have been Phased out over the past 2 years.
That being said, there is one huge challenge that many people who are not familiar Japanese culture are unaware of. And that is, that Japan is a huge throw a way culture. And once something is old to them, its gone and done with.
Sayonara Forever. = Good bye forever.

Just my thoughts, I hope it may help people with Ideas, and wants for a original 1987 direct from Honda like me.

Jonathan

[petesatc]

Never going to happen.......why does honda want to promote bikes from 20 years ago???? they don't!!! all they want to do is to MAKE money only way is to promote the new quads/parts.....the vintage CR guys tried this 10 years ago honda never made a rerun of parts and they made nearly twice as many CR's as ATC's not to mention CR parts being alot cheaper to make......also honda are pretty much a design and screw driver company alot of the parts were made by 3rd party companys (stanley made the lights etc,etc) well some of these companys just aren't there anymore so not sure how you would get the parts made without retooling, no chance there.........
good luck to you with the letter but don't hold your breath and be ready for a corprate fob off when you get a responce.....

[200XMichigan]

Maybe the thing to do would be to contact some of the specialty auto companies and persuade them to make ATC parts. You can buy almost every part for a 1969 Camaro, even the body, brand new, just not from GM. These companies specialize in the small niche markets. They also are experts at reproducing discontinued parts. That is the direction we should probably be looking at to get parts made.

[inv3ctiv3]

Hi:
I live in Hawaii. I almost married a Girl from Japan, studied the language etc. I have been very very interested in the dynamics of Japanese culture. And how Business is done there. It is only my opinion, but I beleive that the only way, one could get through to them.
Is for some one really powerful, and Financially enormouse like Pfleuger Honda Hawaii. The Pfleuger Son, and current President. Has raced and won the Baja 1000. and is a dynamic part of Honda Sales here.

Someone like that would need to make an appointment with the big wheels at Honda In Japan. And would be able to provide facts of all the activity on these bikes, after market parts, Ebay sales, on parts and used bikes, and other interests in dollars. In addition a current real time survey of the market interest on these potential new reproduction trikes. From the average joes' to the honda bike dealers. It's likely that the only way it would be vialble for them at HONDA, is to actually bring back the exact, and most popular bikes. Thus making it worth while to fire up the plastics forms, and parts list. Or make all new ones as I have heard they were destroying all the old forms etc.
They might even raise a huge Eyebrow if thousands of buyers had committed to buy those bikes. Like may have been done in the early days of the automotive industry. (SHOW OF GOOD FAITH) ; ) FYI I am currently building a (1987 250R ATC visually accurate build) and many many items that could have been had, direct from Honda, have been Phased out over the past 2 years.
That being said, there is one huge challenge that many people who are not familiar Japanese culture are unaware of. And that is, that Japan is a huge throw a way culture. And once something is old to them, its gone and done with.
Sayonara Forever. = Good bye forever.

Just my thoughts, I hope it may help people with Ideas, and wants for a original 1987 direct from Honda like me.

Jonathan

I too studied Japanese and have been to Japan very many times, up until last year I was going to Japan once or twice a year. Out of all my time there I never once saw ATC's or ATC parts although they do still ride them there and on the street.

[xxx]

I'm behind you all the way.

[DixiePlowboy]

? I mean come on man, if you think there is such a market for new ATC's why do you think there has only been like 4 TPC 450r's built? And not to mention a lot of people buy trikes because they can be had for $100 in running condition and $1500 for near perfect condition, no one is going to buy a $7-9,000 trike.

(The below is not a knock on the TPC conversion specifically..it looks cool......just my biased opinion against new 4-strokes, etc...)


In my opinion, the 3-wheeler allure is (1)price(which is starting to get ridiculous), (2)nostalgia, and (3)machine performance.

The TPC 450Rs don't benefit from either of the first two anymore than a newly factory produced machine would. The cost of playing with "new" technology has gotten stupid.


Unless some miracle occurs ....2-strokes are revived and prices go wayyy down....I wouldn't buy a new one anyway. I have no love for the 4-stroke "revolution".

I'm with the original poster on this. Bring back affordable and easy to locate parts for what we have. Then we can build more easily, ride more without fear of breaking something we can't find easily or afford to replace because somebody bought the "last one" and wants five-figures for it.

[ceaserthethird]

Best Thing to do is WIN the Lottery, Take the 298 million and say i want to invest in your company only if you produce a ATC line up of 3 wheelers

250R ~ 300R , 350X ~ 450R , 200x ~ 300x ... Hand them the Check and walk away !

[portland250r]

Who's going to buy Honda?

theres little to no chance that will happen but theres that .1 percent.

[Frankencelery]

I'm probably repeating what others have said, but the economy of the situation just isn't viable. Someone talked about there being 15000 3WW members. While that would be a significant number to have at a barbeque at my house, for Honda it wouldn't be worth a production run any given part. Add to that the fact that .1% of the members here would actually be likely to buy a 350x fender, for example, and you've got a massive order of 15. I think that's a realistic number. I think if you came to them with an actual order of 10000 units of enter-your-favorite-part-here, it might get someone's attention, but that's not a feasible number. Sad and frustrating as it is, I'm afraid we're stuck with the ever diminishing parts that still exist.

[TeamGeek6]

Sadly a few hundred 3W fans dont constitute a market to bring them back.. aint gonn ahappen, bikes or parts.

[haggard 2hundie]

nay sayers !