87-88 trikes?

[TriMotoMan]

so i was on 3ww main page and i read the two articles on the 87 and 88 trikes, so whats the deal no one ever found an 87 250r?

[ATC-Eric]

Nope, doesent exist. Do a search, you'll find 20 threads on it.

[Twilight]

A man my GF talked to swore he had a 87 250r, but im guessing its just a 86 with white.

[TriMotoMan]

what a bummer, they should keep making tricks they ride so much better then quads

[NINJA]

what a bummer, they should keep making tricks they ride so much better then quads

That's what she said!
Oh, you meant trikes?

[TriMotoMan]

lol lmao :D

[SYKO]

did someone say tricks? where? how much?

[TrailerRider]

Well far as 87 250r goes this guy claims to have one. Has pics too. I attached them just in case it really is.. Doubtfull though.. looks liek 86.

His add: http://sacramento.craigslist.org/mcy/927285090.html

[topless]

The local dealer is a longtime friend and he used to race trikes. The few '87's he got were taken back by the factory (both Kawi's and Honda's) and destroyed. He said a handful got sold before that happened, but not many. The one that he sold had a deposit waiting for it, and it left unpacked in it's crate, ( he let it go after he was told not to, but it was a friend). The factory tried everything to buy it back, the buyer just laughed at them. They even threatened to sue, he moved the trike to a remote location out of state. As far as he knows, it's still in it's crate somewhere in Nebraska.

[oscarmayer]

bring it on out! lets fire that badboy up! Hell i'll find a bottle of don peroin (sp?) to break over the nose if he does.

[cybrman]

The local dealer is a longtime friend and he used to race trikes. The few '87's he got were taken back by the factory (both Kawi's and Honda's) and destroyed. He said a handful got sold before that happened, but not many. The one that he sold had a deposit waiting for it, and it left unpacked in it's crate, ( he let it go after he was told not to, but it was a friend). The factory tried everything to buy it back, the buyer just laughed at them. They even threatened to sue, he moved the trike to a remote location out of state. As far as he knows, it's still in it's crate somewhere in Nebraska.

No offense and I have no way to prove this statement is inaccurate...but it sure don't add up!
Why would the machines be destroyed?

[Tri-Z 250]

No offense and I have no way to prove this statement is inaccurate...but it sure don't add up!
Why would the machines be destroyed?

LAWYERS....you've never seen GM, FORD crush proto type cars? Alot of the development race cars back in the day were crushed...Perfect example the Chevy Corvette Cobra eatter...ALL ALUMINIUM frame, motor/trans big block 1964-? Rummor had it the car was faster lighter better braking ect, 6 were made 2 crashed and became parts and the others Crushed...Are they out there in a garage? Who knows...Lots of stuff in old barns across America.

[DixiePlowboy]

LAWYERS.....


You better believe it! Lawyers and liability.

In the waning days of the 3-wheeled era, there weren't as many people sentimentally attached to 3-wheelers as many of us on this board are today. There were many people who cursed the CPSC and the ban...no doubt(myself included), but most people in 1987 didn't think much on what would be desireable and collectable in the year 2008.

If they had been, the remaining machines and discontinued parts would have been bought up before 3WW came into existance.


I'm sure the manufacturers did away with their liability exposure as much as they could, as quick as they could.

Could there be a few machines tucked away in their crates? Yes, but I wouldn't expect to ever see one in person. I'd love to see one(again), and have the money it would bring.......but I would just use that money to buy riders. I'm no collector.

[Yamada]

Each time I read a thread like this I want to go to my local Honda dealer and ask them it they sold 3 wheeler in the 80's. Probably the sales person will laugh at me but It would be fun to talk to the owner. The rumor said that the 87 R were sold in Canada.
But I can tell you that it is impossible to order part for a 87 R, even in Canada. The dealer command part from the catalog of an importer. If it not sold in the USA, they won't have it.

[Twilight]

Okay im putting a end to all this now.

The 87's here in the USA, were not just destroyed, but thrown into scrap heaps. There was a bin full of plastics and one of metal, and one for glass sitting there at the Honda main warehouse in the dumpsters. The machines that sold, they were sold and that was the end of it, nobody coming after you or threatening you.

If you brought it back, you got some sort of discount or payback in a way.

The ones that didnt send the machines back had them on the floor until they were sold, and thats THAT.

Same thing with my Honda Pilot, theres a dealer in Illionois and one in Missouri that still have Honda Pilot's sitting there on the showroom floor. They didnt send them back for credit, so they just kept them.

[TriMotoMan]

So there are people who own 87 250rs then

[Twilight]

Few most likely, but if any made it out of the dealership, theres hope.

Just like the Super Reds back home, 1988 Big Red, sat at dealers until 1994, lol

[carscomefirst]

If the 87R's were destroyed, then why sell the SX's, X's, and M's? If Liability was such an issue, then why not destroy all of them? Just wondering.

[Brad200X]

Do you guys know if they saved any parts from the '87R's? Surely they didn't scrap everything. My brother got an engine from a guy who said it came directly from the assembly line. He said that it was never actually in a trike. It's brand new, too: never even had a lever or kicker on it. He also gave us a brand new carb that was for that engine too. I don't really think that it's an '87, but what are the odds of an '86 that has never been run, and the trike that it belonged to was destroyed?

[TriMotoMan]

It could be how does its vin numbers compare to an 86s?

[WaimakRydah]

There was an 88 Big Red on trademe while back he even posted a picture of the frame sticker which says its an 88. Are there sightings of any other 1988 models? Ive only seen Big Reds.

[petesatc]

Yes there are 88 big reds i have one.... i also have a few 87R parts.
check out my thread from a few years back.
http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=44933

[TriMotoMan]

wow thats awesome i just read the hole thing, its a shame u only dound a few parts, hope more turn up. so has anyone found anything about an 87 350X?

[petesatc]

Yeh i got a OEM parts books for the 87 350x as well but never found any parts....

[Buster Brown]

Any differences in the parts book, other than cosmetic for '87 model 350X? Thanks!

[petesatc]

Any differences in the parts book, other than cosmetic for '87 model 350X? Thanks!

can't remember off the top of my head will check when i get home ....

[Orangecnty250r]

Pete what ever happened to that bike in Japan...No interest in Nice offers for the plastics??

[petesatc]

Nah Bill the guy went quitet on me .....one day i'll make a trip to Japan and check out the dealer he got them off myself....

[Dirtcrasher]

Do you guys know if they saved any parts from the '87R's? Surely they didn't scrap everything. My brother got an engine from a guy who said it came directly from the assembly line. He said that it was never actually in a trike. It's brand new, too: never even had a lever or kicker on it. He also gave us a brand new carb that was for that engine too. I don't really think that it's an '87, but what are the odds of an '86 that has never been run, and the trike that it belonged to was destroyed?


I've seen at least a hundred 85 250R, 85 and 86 350X brand new crate motors, never run with kickers, carbs and sometimes cut wires.

I've never seen a 200X crate motor though......

I've got a few myself :D

Of course we all want to find an 87 250R or 350X but sadly, not much was changed anyhow.... Imagine if the 87 250R was totally redone, with upside down forks, different geometry and a removable aluminum subframe? or the 87 350X had the same upgrades that the 86/87 200X motor received? Now THAT would really make us want to get our filthy paws on one of them!! :D

[Brad200X]

It could be how does its vin numbers compare to an 86s?

I have no experience with any of the 250R's, but the number on the plate is 2426296. I think it says 248CC on the cylinder. Also I was wrong about it never being in a trike, because it has a clipped clutch cable and stator wire.

BTW happy turkey day!

[petesatc]

Any differences in the parts book, other than cosmetic for '87 model 350X? Thanks!

OK i had a good look through the parts manual these are the parts with a 770 number which is 87
cylinder head
all the gears have a 770 number
arm set link in the carb
throttle lever
key ignition
front wheel (made by enkei)
rear wheel (again by enkei)
fuel tank (different decals)
tank shrouds
rear shock
seat
rear fender garnish
wire harness
frame
engine mounting brackets
tool set
and the decals

that's about it .......

[Twilight]

PetesATC, Im pretty sure your the user on Pilot Odyssey, correct? I have been wondering. Have you tried calling the main Honda Warehouse on parts? I know that for my Honda Gyro restoration I wasnt able to get any parts, but I called the warehouse and he gave me the number for the Japan parts ordering service. Few days of translating e-mails and I got my NOS plastics and seat.

This is the same with the Honda Pilot I am working on, site says disco, but after a few calls and some nice employees, they find the parts sometimes (remember the whole blue seat cover fiasco, where they were just sitting in a bin?)

Could be worth a shot.

[Buster Brown]

Cool! Very interesting. Thanks for the info.

[petesatc]

PetesATC, Im pretty sure your the user on Pilot Odyssey, correct? I have been wondering. Have you tried calling the main Honda Warehouse on parts? I know that for my Honda Gyro restoration I wasnt able to get any parts, but I called the warehouse and he gave me the number for the Japan parts ordering service. Few days of translating e-mails and I got my NOS plastics and seat.

This is the same with the Honda Pilot I am working on, site says disco, but after a few calls and some nice employees, they find the parts sometimes (remember the whole blue seat cover fiasco, where they were just sitting in a bin?)

Could be worth a shot.
Yes that's me on the pilot forums....yes i have tried the honda Japan number too..i have found some funky parts that way.... have a buddy who is a honda dealer he told me about the honda buy backs and when to check disco parts , i know honda just done one for parts up 1993 so i'm hoping some of the disco pilots are coming up :D

[BigRed_Ryno]

Just read the whole threads, some veeerrrry interesting stuff there. Its like you're the trike detective Pete. Give us a shout when your out for a ride next, i'll bring the 200X up :)

[hondared]

A couple years back, I came across a "for sale ad" for a 1987 ATC250R in northern Canada. I called the guy to verify that it was infact an 87 and he claimed the vin tag on the frame said so. I was all excited and ready to make the 17 hour drive there, but he goes on to say the motor had been swapped out (by previous owner, not him) for some kind of 900 cc street bike engine! I lost interest (probably shouldn't have) and asked him if he realized how rare a bike he had. He said he knew the 87 R's were like unicorn's, hence why he bought it, even with the motor swap. I imagine there would have been major frame mods to make that motor fit?? I tell myself that so I feel better about passing it up.

[Orangecnty250r]

Theres something out there...somewhere....only a matter of time, Some of the stuff in car collector world is found 40 -50 years later

[Brad200X]

OK i had a good look through the parts manual these are the parts with a 770 number which is 87
cylinder head
all the gears have a 770 number
arm set link in the carb
throttle lever
key ignition
front wheel (made by enkei)
rear wheel (again by enkei)
fuel tank (different decals)
tank shrouds
rear shock
seat
rear fender garnish
wire harness
frame
engine mounting brackets
tool set
and the decals

that's about it .......

Alright, I just took another look at the motor, and on the cylinder head, exhaust side,
it looks like it says HF-1 53187. Does this mean anything to anybody? To me, it looks like a date: 5/31/87, but then that would mean it's an '88. Now I'm more confused!
Anyways, if this IS an '87 engine, are there enough parts out there to BUILD an '87?! Judging by Pete's post it doesn't seem like it would be that hard. You could start with an '86, and then add the specific to '87 parts listed above to make it an '87!

[Twilight]

Hardest part would be the frame. Everything else could be gathered.

[smvorndran]

I have no experience with any of the 250R's, but the number on the plate is 2426296. I think it says 248CC on the cylinder. Also I was wrong about it never being in a trike, because it has a clipped clutch cable and stator wire.

BTW happy turkey day!

That looks to be an 85 engine. 85 was TB06E-2400001~, 86 was TB06E-2500001~, so it'd be safe to assume the 87 would have been 2600001~.

smvorndran

[Brad200X]

I thought '85's are gunmetal? This motor is black.

[DixiePlowboy]

'85 motors were black, the '86 was Dark Shot Silver.