87 Kawi???

[350xorbust]

How is it Kawasaki got to put out an 87 trike when Honda didnot? I thought the law forbid "ALL" manufactures to stop production of all 3 wheelers for the 87 year , ending all production in 86??? Did I miss something??:wondering

[corbo1]

Honda soon be 87 200x 250sx and big red in late 86

[trike savior]

87 was last year for everyone. if i remember my history correctly they were given a certain date and any in the country by that date could be sold but that was it. ive got 87 honda 250 sx and lots of other people on here have 87 honda's

[corbo1]

Honda sold

[350xorbust]

Sorry...Honda sold ...what???

[ColtonGG33]

They say that in different country's that there are even newer than that, they say they even got into the eary 90's, also on the main page on 3ww there's an article about the 88 big red and some other 87 Hondas go check it out

[350xorbust]

I'll check it out...thanx!!

[barnett468]

How is it Kawasaki got to put out an 87 trike when Honda didnot? I thought the law forbid "ALL" manufactures to stop production of all 3 wheelers for the 87 year , ending all production in 86??? Did I miss something??:wondering

The following 1 line statement is most likely the only government issued information you will find on the final official ban. I have attached the url to the info below.


"Abstract

In January 1988, sales of new three-wheel all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were banned in the United States because of the high incidence of injury associated with their use, especially by children. Four-wheel ATVs remain on the market."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2780132


I was involved in this to some degree since I was the US R and D project engineer for all kawi atv's sold in the world from 1984 through 1988. My understanding of what this translates to along with my partial knowledge of the situation are the following.

1. The term "NEW" means no more sales of any dealer inventory 3 wheel atv's after DEC 1987 or sometime in JAN 1988 irregardless of model year. It is possible they were allowed to sell remaining inventory as trike saviour suggested in his post above but not ship in any new 87 models. But this part seems to be uncertain.

2. No importation af any 3 wheeled atv's after the date mentioned above. The no importation clause would prevent the mfg's from simply building 87 models and calling them left over 87 inventory for the next 20 years.

3. No forced buy backs of any privately owned atv's whatsoever.

4. Forced buybacks of any left over year, dealer owned, 3 wheel atv's, is unknown but highly probable.

5. Forced private party injury settlements unknown but possibly not since each case must be proved by each individual plaintiff.


It took around 2 years, around a bazillion pages of legal documents and another bazillion dollars to finally come up with the 5 short statements I mentioned above.

It is probable that the courts findings were sealed and not made a matter of public record because the mfg's might have made this part of the agreement. This idea is supported by the fact that after all these years no one has been able to produce a copy of the court/government records at least as far as I know but I certainly don't know as much as some.

It took around 2 years, around a bazillion pages of legal documents and another bazillion dollars to finally come up with the 4 short statements I mentioned above.


Kawi [and probably the other mfg's] assumed 2 years prior to the actual implementation of the ban that it would eventually become law. Kawi did not build any prototype for 88 due to this. Our thinking was if the ban didn't pass and it looked like it never would they would worry about designing a new model at that time and just keep selling all the old models untill then. Again I assume the other mfgs had the same mindset.

I was informed that if the mfg's were forced to buy back remaining dealer inventory that Honda had considered taking any potentially left over models and dumping them in the ocean creating an artificial reef. By doing this they would not only get a tax write off they would also get a subsidy from the government for doing so. Pretty slick huh.

kawi on the other hand asked me to turn the 86 tecate into a 4 wheeler using as many 3 wheeler parts as possible so they could maximize their profits from some of the existing t3 molds and spare parts instead of just throwing them away so that is what i did. that's another story i'll gladly tell if someone wants to know!

Thanks

[350xorbust]

I would love to know...How exactly did the t4 become , from 3 wheeler oparts? Wouldnt a whole new frame need to be made? Didnt this take new molds etc?

[JasonB]

Barnett, your stories from your position probably deserve their own thread in trikesylvania where the rest of the forum can see them! seriously, tell your stories when you get access to the rest of the site if youre still confined to the new section. I would love to read about them!

as for the thread starter and original subject: see signature. I love my 87 honda :D

[350xorbust]

Sorry I dont understand...See signature???

[kevink]

i personally know people who have 87 hondas. Trying to find a 87 250R is another story..

[350xorbust]

Up here in Northwestern ON Canada, finding 3wheelers of any kind is an effort in futility!!. I am looking for my childhood trike, an 85 350x. Had one when I was 14, and havnt seen one round here since. Anyone know of any for sale in Canada? Would rather find one in rough shape, and rebuild it from scratch myself. Ebay is loaded with parts that were unheard of a few years ago. Can almost buy everything for it, just like my 69 Camaro. Seems like a great time to restore one!!!

[HarrisoN*]

honda made a 1988 big red, not sure if it was ever shipped to the usa but theres some in europe and oz

[barnett468]

I would love to know...How exactly did the t4 become , from 3 wheeler oparts? Wouldnt a whole new frame need to be made? Didnt this take new molds etc?



I would love to know...How exactly did the t4 become , from 3 wheeler oparts? Wouldnt a whole new frame need to be made? Didnt this take new molds etc?


Hello 350xorbust

Thanks for your interest in that. I actually don't want to hijack this string so I can refer you to the original post I have that info on. The url is below.

In short you are obviously correct, some new parts would have to be made. The purpose was to determine exactly what it would cost to do this to determine whether it would be cost effective based upon what their plans were. Since I reused the same rear suspension, swing arm, axle, wheels motor, tank, radiators, seat and rear plastic and miscellaneous hardware etc they would save a ton over making a t4 from scratch And since the one I built out handled their prototype version of the high performance t4 and weighed less and could be sold for much less if they wanted they canceled the project so they wouldn't be competing with themselves.

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/152985-kawasaki-factory-r-and-d-engineer-and-rider

[barnett468]

Barnett, your stories from your position probably deserve their own thread in trikesylvania where the rest of the forum can see them! seriously, tell your stories when you get access to the rest of the site if youre still confined to the new section. I would love to read about them!

as for the thread starter and original subject: see signature. I love my 87 honda :D


Hello j450n

Thanks for the interest in my stories and your suggestion. They are just as fun for me to tell as they might be to read. I am stuck here for another month but may take your suggestion when I'm free. I did start a string on the site earlier I attached the url to it below. You can ask me any thing you want there. It already has a few stories now.

PS - I like the look of your bike and love your old school looking pipe. Not into the "stamped" ones. I'd even give up a little hp to have one over a stamped one. It looks like an old Klemm, Bassani or Miller. I don't remember if FMF made any at that time. Please let me know what it is and how you got it if you don't mind.

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/152985-kawasaki-factory-r-and-d-engineer-and-rider

Thanks again

[samuraiguys]

Kawasaki was the last to sell in the us with the ban, you can find newer model in the UK. I know while searching ebay in the UK i came across Tri-z parts up into the 90s