Was Yamaha going to make a trike to compete with the 350x??

[swampthang]

I always sit and wonder about what trikes would have been made if they wasn't banned. Most of the time the big 4 make trikes that compete agains each other in certain classes example 225dr/250sx,and the 250 2-strokes, all the utility machines. So do you guys think Yamaha was going to make a big bore 4-stroke sport trike to go after the 350x?? There was a few likley engines they could have been used like the warrior or the bw350 engines. Both of these engine would have had to be built up to equal the power of the 350x though. Whats your guys thoughts?

[Tri-Z Pilot]

I would have to think if they did it would be the Warrior, poduction started in 87 and their model number is YFM350X Coincidence? Who knows

[brd812]

i'd say it would of been a warrior in a tri z frame . I have a sparks 425 sitting in the shed I'd love to throw in a trike. never could bring myself to even think about putting a yamaha in a honda frame. Some things are not just right. Not enough tri z out there to even consider dissing one.

[pantera1975]

to bad the banshee or the lt 500 never got the 3 wheeler treatment

[hillbilly 200x]

^^^ that would be killer the lt 500 are a beast of an atv.

[Matt85'350x]

to bad the banshee or the lt 500 never got the 3 wheeler treatment
Actually there is a banshee trike. I believe it's a guy from .org. I've seen it before but don't have a link to it.

[Dirtcrasher]

Yamaha never made a competitor for the 350X and anyone who rode a warrior knows hoe much of a dog they are. I honestly couldn't believe how slow it was......

[Lord Letto 20]

imagine a Quadzilla Trike...

[Matt85'350x]

to bad the banshee or the lt 500 never got the 3 wheeler treatment

Here's a link to some banshee trikes: http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php?121102-Banshee-trike-builds

[Vealmonkey]

I don't know why people keep asking such questions. Quads were already in the showrooms. Quads were the future. That's the only reason why the big 3 quit selling trikes, it gave them an excuse for a clean cut. The only problem they faced was where to dump the left overs? They dumped them overseas and they cut up their profits in the US. Yamaha had to play catch up again, unless you consider the 4 zinger!

[gomer202]

imagine a Quadzilla Trike...

TRI-ZILLA!! or TRIKEZILLA

[Vealmonkey]

Nice try, but I think suzuki already had that one wrapped up! LOL

[Toledo_Tommy]

imagine a Quadzilla Trike...
Yea. Just Imagine it , it would be impossible to start and break down all the time just like the quad. lol Not to mention the vibration of that motor on a even smaller frame. Have any of you guys owned a lt500 ? Not the best of the 2 stroke big bore motors , the kx500 and cr500 2 stroke motors are way more reliable. Just my thoughts tho , I will never ever consider even looking at or riding or even going with someone else to look at a lt500 even if they are buying it. I'm sure everyone has that bike ( their horror story ) that they will never own again and have nothing nice to say about it . Dont get me wrong i have owned the lt500's little brother , lt250R and it was an awesome / fun little machine.

[Toledo_Tommy]

I got a couple of great running motors for sale on the bikes still if anyone wants to get that mean atc project going , pm me. 98 kx500 and a built 87 Banshee. I might even trade the kx for a nice Big red 250 .


http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee117/unpure_photo/k5.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee117/unpure_photo/87banshee1.jpg

[SWIGIN]

I don't know why people keep asking such questions. Quads were already in the showrooms. Quads were the future. That's the only reason why the big 3 quit selling trikes, it gave them an excuse for a clean cut. The only problem they faced was where to dump the left overs? They dumped them overseas and they cut up their profits in the US. Yamaha had to play catch up again, unless you consider the 4 zinger!

This is 100% correct.

Quads were the new thing to own and trikes were on the way out.

[swampthang]

I don't know why people keep asking such questions. Quads were already in the showrooms. Quads were the future. That's the only reason why the big 3 quit selling trikes, it gave them an excuse for a clean cut. The only problem they faced was where to dump the left overs? They dumped them overseas and they cut up their profits in the US. Yamaha had to play catch up again, unless you consider the 4 zinger!

IDK if I fully agree, I can't help but think the only reason trikes went away was because of the bad publicity they was getting. I do agree that quads was the wave of the future and the big 4 was totaly going to jump on that band wagon. I just think that they would have continued producing certain models of trikes in smaller numbers if they was still aloud to racing in AMA events and didnt get all the scared mother from the 80s in a uproar about saftey. I think I may have opened a can of worms on this subject!:rolleyes:

[Vealmonkey]

No, I don't think you opened a can of worms as this has been talked about before. But if you look at the quads before 85 and after, totally different. I think the decree forced the big 3 to go all out on quad design,

[Aregistereduser]

yeah i agree with vealmonkey its all about what you want, no one wanted three wheelers at the time, and you cant sell a product that no one wants

[Kfx-xc-racer88]

A friend of mine had an Lt 500 trike with blue and white plastics he's been trying to find a pic for me! He sold it to a collector a few years ago..

[ctbale]

yeah i agree with vealmonkey its all about what you want, no one wanted three wheelers at the time, and you cant sell a product that no one wants

very true, but kinda sad, I read the year before the decree, sales were 80% quads and 20% trikes so it was heading that way.

[brd812]

It was a ugly time for anyone with alot of money in trikes. My tecate was worthless by 88, 3 years old and had about 4 to 5 grand in it and ended up selling for about 1500 still in her prime. There wasn't even a class to run any trikes by 89 even at the local flatracks. Thats the bike I should of kept. oh well it hell to get old. I've learned from my mistakes and I think I've not sold a toy since. lol