has anyone tested floating three wheelers

[Johnhawk308]

a friend of mine who used to ride three wheelers said if you fill your tires to the max that your 3 wheeler will float, is he full of crap or has anyone tested this

[TheOlderFox]

I would say it depends on the machine. I had a ATC110 that tried to float on me in a stream crossing. I don't know if my YTM225 has enough floatation from the tires though. They are a heavy machine.

[atcmatt]

Yep i used to float my 200es. Once i went ito a water pit that was about 1.5m deep, and i thought the bike would just go under but it dident, it just rolled over tipped me off and floated...It was hell mad! The back end doesnt float real well but the front does real good. It is handy when you are doing mudding cause it keeps the front end outta the mud and it just ploughs through. My 250es wont float though, its alot heavier than the 200 and the tires just wont keep it up...

But like said before it really depends on the machine and rider weight.

Matt

[MTS]

kool didnt know you could do that...once i get bigger wheeles for my atc90 again ill have to try that out on the river lol

[trikerider2oo7]

if you have big balloon tires, the smaller bikes (125 and under) will float

[edog]

Kool'floating trikes what will they think of next.

[hondawilly]

my 125 would have floated but it stalled when i go in to deep of water mabey it sucked in water or somthing but i had over 20pounds of air in each tire

[hondawilly]

my 125m would have floated but it stalled when i go in to deep of water mabey it sucked in water or somthing but i had over 20pounds of air in each tire

[ATC crazy]

YES!!

They sure will float. My brother floated my old 250SX across my grandparents pond about 3 months after he got it.

[TECATE CRAZE]

Back in the day there was a sand pit we use to ride at and in the middle of it was collected rain water or a so called pond and all the guys use to "hydroplane"(as they would call it ) across the entire pond which was a pretty good size pond and a good couple or more feet deep when asked their technique they said too go as fast as you could hitting the pond in 5th gear never shifting into 6th gear and leaning back and sitting on the back of the seat all they guys I seen accomplishing this were all riding 1985/86 250r ATC .

[hotroddal]

yes trikes do float ive had my 1985 250es big red floating many times, the back end floats and the rear end floats,I cant even control the machine sometimes because it just floats so high that it sometime goes sideways in the hole,plus i got some priity big mudding tires on it also.

[hotroddal]

oops i ment the front end floats and the rear end floats*****

[TECATE CRAZE]

at that same pond I owned a 1970 Atc 90 with those same tires on it that just went for $2,425.00 on ebay it was able to float in the water it was hard because you needed to keep the atc balanced which was next to impossible but it could have been done I think if you where the right weight and keep it balanced

[AirManCam]

Yes they will float. Hell, my 350x even floats when I step off of it. I might add my Rancher floats quite well too

[83185s]

yes 200 big reds are good for that..my friend had one and the tires didnt even have to be full they could be like half and it would pop up..u think trailprotrailpro doin a wheelie but really its trailprotrailpro front tire floatin..really hard to balance to untill u get used to it..but yea it works he aint full of crap

[marshallfester^australia]

My 250es (nicked named PIG IN THE BUSH) was my dads and he was a professional fisherman who used the 250 to run up and down the beach as a spotter to bring in the net boats for where the fish where schooling. On this one occasion he was too busy watching the fish and got caught buy a wave that dumped him off old PIG, he was rolling around on the beach in the surf while old PIG floated on its side, then upside down, and then upright in the back wash!! So yeh they do float................No wonder poor old pigs full of rust, but she still is used every day on our farm. Regards Fester :beer

[83200e]

Yep i used to float my 200es. Once i went ito a water pit that was about 1.5m deep, and i thought the bike would just go under but it dident, it just rolled over tipped me off and floated...It was hell mad! The back end doesnt float real well but the front does real good. It is handy when you are doing mudding cause it keeps the front end outta the mud and it just ploughs through. My 250es wont float though, its alot heavier than the 200 and the tires just wont keep it up...

But like said before it really depends on the machine and rider weight.

Matt
I did the roll over manuever too.Happened so fast I was still hanging to the bars upside down.My 200e will float but the heavier I get the lower she sits.I've never tried the 250es or any of my yamahas.

[400ccHomemade]

I wanna see some pictures!

[surf-n-sand]

i guess it depends on how much you weigh also?

[400ccHomemade]

I know for a fact mine won't float. For one, it weighs like 400 lbs. For 2, look at that front wheel.

[Tri-ZNate]

My babys do. well at least my 2 250sx's. The 350x i havent tested. Anyone know what will happen if you put paddle tires on one and go through deep water with it?

[atcmatt]

Anyone know what will happen if you put paddle tires on one and go through deep water with it?

Probably become a paddle steamin' 350x! Hmmm that would be kinda interesting, has anyone tried paddles in the mud before? You would be unstopable with some decent paddles on the back of a bigred...

Matt

[AZ250R]

Most of you aren't old enough, but in the mid 80s DirtWheels did these tests in a diving pool (regular but 10ft deep swiming pool). & every time they submirged the trike into the pool it rolled over and the rider could never ballance it! They had plenty of pictures of it too. I think they tried a 200, balloned tired something, and a 250R & they all had the same type tip'n problem. I think they had determined that a quad might ballance but would be so submirged it would hydrolock if running. So YAH, most of the m will Float, but UPSIDE DOWN!?!?!? Lot of good that does ya, hope your diving maks & snorkle fits over your helmet! :cool:

[ClayW]

I rode my old 110 across a creek back in the day. Its a chore to balance though. It can be done.

Clay

[jmsmilin]

well im not going to try my 250sx anytime soon, but would imagine those old 90s with the 3 balloons on them would

[BigGreenMachine]

Back in the day there was a sand pit we use to ride at and in the middle of it was collected rain water or a so called pond and all the guys use to "hydroplane"(as they would call it ) across the entire pond which was a pretty good size pond and a good couple or more feet deep when asked their technique they said too go as fast as you could hitting the pond in 5th gear never shifting into 6th gear and leaning back and sitting on the back of the seat all they guys I seen accomplishing this were all riding 1985/86 250r ATC .


I've seen video of 250 motocross bikes hydroplane over a 3 foot deep pond for about 50 feet or more. Also there was a German made off road buggy that I saw video of, 4 wheel drive, 1000plus hp and paddle tires that they use for hillclimbing. After the hill climb they would hydroplane across open water, shore to shore from almost a dead stop, wild to say the least.

Back to the topic, my bro in law flipped his BIG RED after it floated on him while crossing a river mid winter. Said it surprised the heck out of him. lol

[Shady-YTM225DXL]

My 225dx will float, I found that out the hard way, I was following my friend on a Honda Fourtrax, He told me to follow him through this really swampy area, So I did and didnt think too much about it since my 225 does so well in stuff like that, Everything was going fine until I happened to hit a really deep spot where a truck had got stuck, The next thing I knew, I was floating and turning sideways and starting to head the wrong way, So I figured Id head for the high sand trail about 15 feet in front of me since I couldnt turn it &
get back on the mud trail....I got about halfway there and, then the thing turned over on me in the water... I didnt know it but I was in the middle of a swamp hidden canal between the trail and the muddy trail where people ride., That damn canal was soo deep, I had swim the thing to the side dragging it behind me floating upside down,,,, After I finally pulled it out of the canal, It was soo flooded with water, It wouldnt start up again, I had to be towed for miles to get back home so I could clean all the water out of everything.... It did float really nice for a little bit until it flipped over on me, You could definately tell it was floating.....,The problem with trying to float them is you dont have any control over them.....

[Dammit!]

I remember that dirtwheels issue. It was a 1985 200x with paddle tires. It floated with the front end completely submerged and pointing straight down with just the a little bit of the back end sticking out of the water. They didn't try it with a smaller trike with balloon tires though.

[TTribaLL]

Yeah, if you have the right bike with the right tires it will float. My cousin had a 110 with huge balloon tires and it would float, but don't expect a 250r to float.

[Yamada]

I want to see pics of that amazing subject. Too cool.

[eh_tee_see]

i always liked the idea of tying bouyes on in key places for extra floatation and some balance... i like floating my 110, its a lot of fun...

[Lots_Of_Nothing]

my 250r didn't float. heh.

[BigGreenMachine]

my 250r didn't float. heh.


LOL, yeah neither did my 400cc golf cart.

[ATC crazy]

4 wheel drive, 1000plus hp and paddle tires that they use for hillclimbing. After the hill climb they would hydroplane across open water, shore to shore from almost a dead stop, wild to say the least.


Yea...I saw the same show. It was after the hillclimbs and just for fun. They would start off 20 feet or so from the water's edge, and be up to 50-60MPH by the time they completly entered the water and would skim right across the surface like it were asphalt :twisted:

[83185s]

im gong to try and get my 185s to do it here soon when i can get back on it and ride..paretns kicked me off for a couple weeks ;-(

[thefox]

A "former member" did once prove that a Honda 110 will float, the said person included pictures with the post. :rolleyes:

[foster]

Someone once posted these pics here of him floating his trike, I think it was a 185 but not sure. Sorry they aren't in the right order, but you'll get the drift of what's going on here.
http://img49.exs.cx/img49/9176/f86f436f.jpg

[foster]

The motor is still running in the photo above. Here's more:
http://img2.exs.cx/img2/7907/f86f4375.jpg

http://img2.exs.cx/img2/3179/f86f4379.jpg


http://img2.exs.cx/img2/6701/f86f437e.jpg

http://img2.exs.cx/img2/8411/f86f4387.jpg

Again, these ain't in the right order, but there you go. JUdge for yourselves.
Cheers

[thefox]

LOL, I guess someone saved his pictures. I think that is a modded 110, peformance cam, pipe, front end, and a few other things.

[atcmatt]

Im pretty sure that was MR ATC. Looks like those 110's float well and looks like he had the balance thing mastered.

Matt

[83185s]

definetaly a 110...u can tell from the front end...and how small it is...cool pics that water looks a few feet deep...o yea and its not 2 hard to balance once u get it down..just dont stand..if u think trailprotrailpro goin in one side lean the other way for a second and it will come back up

[honda200boyatc]

i tried floatin my 200 but didn't do so well idk i heard that if u put a life jacket under it it willl float but im not going to jump at the idea and if i was well id do it wit ha rope tied to me so if it stalled

[foster]

I dunno nothin'.
All's I know is that when my li'l ol' 185s gets in the deep stuff, the front end rises to the top of the water and the rear end wants to come up too, except my scrawny butt is holding it down.
And I have no doubt that IF it floats (and I think it would but haven't had the opportunity to try yet) the big trick would be preventing it from tipping over sideways.

[BIG BAD RED]

yah i usta ride my 200e thru big rivers all the time...but it had 25's on the rear tho

[ryan250r]

I used to have dual wheels on the back of my 125m and it would float with me on it if I leaned toward the back. I took it to Badlands once and it got a lot of looks and laughs. I'll see if I can find a picture of it.

[ATC crazy]

I also thing that was MR. ATC....I was looking for those pics the last time I posted, but couldnt find them

[AZ250R]

Im pretty sure that was MR ATC. Looks like those 110's float well and looks like he had the balance thing mastered.
Balance, Mastered??? Look again, he's off the thing in the last two just trying to keep it going. Then look @ the first one where he's standing, waist deep next to it, and from the looks of it might not even be runn'n!?!?!?! Can you say HYDROLOCK!!! :rolleyes:

[Russell 350X]

I had my 83' 200 floating across a mudhole that was up to my waist, i started to sink so i bailed and waddled it out lol, it stayed up, but i didnt.... lol. It has 22" Wooly Boogers on it.

[AZ250R]

Anybody watch that show MythBusters? This is a perfect thing for them to try, someone hook em up!!! :D

[McDerry]

hate to bring up an old post..


was out in the duck pond pulling up the decoys and i fell off the 200s. Water was over my head...

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/2273000-2273999/2273968_6_full.jpg

[Bryan Raffa]

nathen you never did try to float the us 90 at trike fest.....

[chris200x]

but yes they do float... to a point. :naughty:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e137/chrisr200x/whitehavenriding025.jpg

[chris200x]

this is a pic from the trike rampage in oregon over on 3wheeler.org. :naughty:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e137/chrisr200x/ScubaDale.jpg

[gravelord]

my 200m with 20 inch rear tires, and im not sure what size fronts, i would bring it in a brook/creek that had 3 feet or so of water, and when it would rain it would flood out into a fast moving river paced area.... let me tell you, my 200m would drink water and still run, and YES... IT DID FLOAT. it would run like a motor boat, and let me tell you, you could even manouver it well it was full throttle through the water, felt like you were on a very slow jet ski or something. just make sure your tires are filt. ... oh yeah... ive got my 200m for sale. needs gas tank, carb rebuild, plastics, and break cables, and a new rear break shoes. also i have a 200es parts bike, and a moto-4.... make me offers.

[Earlface]

this must be an old post but i have floated 200es's many times. the first time it happened i was giving it balls out down a hill and my brakes went out and i hit the water. it kinda went like this "OH *Edited**Edited**Edited**Edited*! oh hey, it floats. amazing" if you are driving through water about 3-4 feet deep the front will float and the rears will kind of bob. the trike usually wont die out and you can go right through. if you go in super deep water though, she will probably flip. it all depends on the situation.

[Troll 2]

Balance, Mastered??? Look again, he's off the thing in the last two just trying to keep it going. Then look @ the first one where he's standing, waist deep next to it, and from the looks of it might not even be runn'n!?!?!?! Can you say HYDROLOCK!!! :rolleyes:

Depends on how you look at it I guess. :beer
http://img49.exs.cx/img49/9176/f86f436f.jpg
http://img2.exs.cx/img2/8411/f86f4387.jpg
http://img2.exs.cx/img2/6701/f86f437e.jpg
http://img2.exs.cx/img2/7907/f86f4375.jpg
http://img2.exs.cx/img2/3179/f86f4379.jpg


I always liked cat's crossing; http://www.3wheeler.org/vb/showthread.php?t=544&highlight=crossing

[Earlface]

given you dont have very big tires on there either. us ATC guys are mostly running 25x12's

[Tri-ZNate]

given you dont have very big tires on there either. us ATC guys are mostly running 25x12's


I think you meant "us big red guys" ;)