are 3 wheelers just not popular anymore?

[Jim mac]

craigslist ad had 2 125m projects for $30. I guess I was the only fool to call on it a week after it was listed. 1 thank has some rust inside the other is rusted inside but might clean up. 2 frames with motors electronics carbs, 1 exhaust, 4 wheels and junk tires. I set of plastics, bad seat pan. I think there's enough to build 1 trike maybe part the rest.
and the old timers probably remember my pics of the 3 wheelers I would drag home in the back of my 68 el camino. well the el camino was sold and on it's way to Sweden. i bought the 66 as a roller and got it back on the road 2 months later. jim

[dustrunner]

3 WHEELERS in my area are far and few in between any more, Seems like the younger generations would rather play video games than enjoy the outdoors. plus many landowner's have posted their property. just my thought 's.

[Jim mac]

it just surprised me that it was still on craigslist for so long. years ago I needed a 110 pull start and the quickest a d fastest one I found local was $50.
I went out and pulled the ground wire from the ignition switch, grounded a spark plug and it sparked right up. jim

[christph]

Oh, they are very popular, especially the high performance 250's. Nice 250R's, Tecates, and Tri-Z's are going anywhere from $3500 to $7000. A lot of these machines are getting locked up in collections. Once you buy one and restore it, you don't want to sell it.

[Legns]

up in NY here there're everywhere I cant go on CL or Facebook marketplace without seeing 1 or two for sale from a mint machine to part bike usually 110 and up not a lot of 70 or 90 floating around hear though

[oldskool83]

I finally got a lead on a 250r again local after 10 years from selling my 85. I bought it in prices. Not restoring cuz I'm missing so much but I'm redoing. I'll ride it and keep it along with my other toys that will be sought after one day. 3 wheeler puts a smile on alot of people's faces however they don't do everything great they are fun.

[coolpool]

There's a market alright, albeit a smaller one than for quads or s/s's. The one thing to remember is that they are only worth so much no matter what you've done to them. The only caveat to that is if they are all original and in exceptionally good shape. If you're lucky enough to have machines that you bought for cheap 5-10 years ago you'll probably make a bit of money when you sell. If you bought in the past couple of years you probably paid all that the machine is worth. And it's always cheaper to pay for a complete, running machine than to fix from scratch.

[Jim mac]

I've been really lucky finding cheap trikes, usually yard sale type deals. I know around here the most a 110-200 hard tail is only going to bring 250 to 300 bucks in running condition so I make sure I'm into these for well under that amount. jim

[Rob Canadian]

I see a couple for sale from time to time around me. Mainly Honda. Tons of ads looking for Honda 70, 200X, 250R and 350X.

Most others will go for around $900-1100 in running fair condition. Again. Honda. This would be Canadian dollars.

[efhondakid]

Oh, they are very popular, especially the high performance 250's. Nice 250R's, Tecates, and Tri-Z's are going anywhere from $3500 to $7000. A lot of these machines are getting locked up in collections. Once you buy one and restore it, you don't want to sell it.

This. People are becoming much more aware of the collectibility of them and aren't letting them go. In my area 4-5 years ago an ATC70 could be had all day for $200-300. Now, if you can find one they are easily $600 plus.

[El Camexican]

They're popular, just not plentiful as the hoarders are, well, hoarding and the people that loved these things back in the day are at an age when kids are finishing collage, mortgages are being paid off and cash is now available for toys and such. 40 to 50 year old guys don't need fast cash for cheap rings and a shotgun weddings like they did 10 and 20 year ago and they have garages that fit multiple toys. The economy has been strong as well, that's a major factor. From 2008 to 2010 there were 1920's thru 1990's collector bikes on eBay that had been in storage for decades that were sold off because some real-estate speculators and investors needed fast cash. It'll happen again one day, so start saving now.

Trikes will still be available for many years, but as those of us who have refurbished a few of them are well aware there is no way you can completely go though a trike PROPERLY for under $3,000 and usually its more like $5,or $6K if bling and upgrades are added, so why should we part with them for $3,000?

What's caught my eye recently is how many fewer parts they are on eBay for trikes, at least in the case of the Tri-Z. I haven't seen a good clutch cover, or kick lever for a while and when I do the prices are obscene. Still shake my head when I think back to buying my Tri-Z in 2011 for $1,200 bucks complete, rust free and running. Any I've seen in similar condition are over $3,000 now.

I'd love to do a factory restauration of a yellow one some day, but I don't think the investment would be worth the return given what decent stuff costs now.

[ironchop]

My area is filled with quite a few members here, so the competition is fierce.

ATC70s are extremely popular around here and runners in KY/Nashville area start at six hundred and go up from there

On top of that, the part-out crowd is snatching up quite a few as well

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[Jim mac]

just spent some time with 1, sprayed some gas in the carb and it started. motor shifted sitting still but now it won't. I think the rear brake is dragging. motor is missing a few mount bolts, might swap motors from the 1 with the cracked frame and see is it runs or just swap the recoil. needs 3 used tire, cables, fuel line, sponge and wrap the rusty seat frame. jim

[jb2wheels]

I love your El Camino.
30 years ago I had a 64. y best friend and I would put 2 185s's in the back and run to Glamis from Cathedral City where we grew up.
I have a great picture somewhere of it the day I bought my 300R. I need to find it and scan it.
I should track down another...

[6bt]

Things are alive and well here in upstate NY. Recently saw a 86 250r posted for $5k. Lots of wanted ads for X's, R's.

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[oldskool83]

Alive and well is under statement. HRE is building 5 new 3rd gen r frame right now plus the otheres over there getting gusseted up. Tecate is next after a frame is scored.

I see him build more trike parts then atv in last 10 years.

[christph]

Alive and well is under statement. HRE is building 5 new 3rd gen r frame right now plus the otheres over there getting gusseted up. Tecate is next after a frame is scored.

I see him build more trike parts then atv in last 10 years.

Looking forward to seeing some pictures.

[Jim mac]

did a little parts swapping, cleaned the carb installed new petcock a d fuel lines and it runs! originally the trikes rear wouldn't turn, found the chain was rusted and broke so I installed the chain from the parts trike.
I've got 2 good tires in the shed, just need to order a pair of innertubes. need to also dig up some brake cables. threw it on craigslist for a few bucks to see if I can get rid of it before I spend more money ey on it. if it doesn't sell, I'll be ordering parts next week. jim

[rdlsz24]

Mostly 110s and 125m's that show up on CL around here. Rarely any 250Rs and if they do they are foolers.

Rob

[Husky250]

There was a Honda 125 on C list here in Ashtabula that lasted about 30 minutes. The Wife was peeved we didn't get it.