R-tifacts 87 atc 250r build (Tons of pictures)

[R-tifacts]

This is my story of how a 1987 Honda ATC 250R replica came to exist. Back in July of 2010 I worked a deal with a guy to buy and install a set of struts in his wife’s car in exchange for a mutt, multi-year liquid R in a box. She was rough, but mostly all there.[/ATTACH]
I caught this damned 3wheeler disease from fellow member and close friend “Cave Rider”. As much as I love his 85, and 86R I wanted to do something different, so I set out to build me an 87 250R. It was built with the utmost attention to detail with the limited information I could find. Most of the info for this build was available right here on 3ww under the “missing in action” posting. The very first step was breaking the bike down as far as it could be every nut, bolt, washer and seal. The frame was then sent out for low pressure sand blasting.
I work at a garage with an auto body shop so I went through the 1987 motorcycle paint chip book and matched an original OEM Honda part still in a bag (Chain roller mounting bracket). The body shop then laid 3mills of Honda red and 4mills of clear on the frame.
Shortly After getting the frame back from paint I was involved in a truck vs. motorcycle accident and being on the motorcycle I did not fair too well.
I was laid up for about 2 months before I could get back to the R. In that time Cave Rider did a complete overhaul on the motor/trans for me. Even put Honda bolts washers and seals in her for me. What a guy!(note: motor sidecover has been changed to 86 style with embossed gear pattern)
While I was trying to grow bones back together the R just hung out under the T.V. in Cave Riders shop patiently awaiting my return.
When I finally got back at it I had the swing arm sand blasted by fellow member BigRedRidr who does all my blasting (yet another great guy to have on the team). Then matching the paint on the still available pro-link sticker I had the swing arm painted and cleared.
All useable parts were either sand blasted or chemically striped, then primed, painted and cleared. Two coats of primer, three of color and then two of clear. I used dupli-color 500 degree engine enamel with ceramic primer, paint and clear on all hard parts with great results. I would highly recommend this paint it is very durable, gas and brake fluid resistant, available in many colors, sprays nice, it just plain works. The stuff is like $6 a can and I spent in the neighborhood of $100 or more in paint but this is one area that can make or break a restoration. Get the good stuff
ok at this point it wont let me add anymore pictures to this post so it looks like im going to have to do a part 2

[bkm]

Looking very good. Keep up the pic's.

[R-tifacts]

We rebuilt the front forks new bushings, oil and seals. I polished the forks to get the dings and scratches out, installed red boots with a slightly different design but its all I could find in red.The rear suspension was all rebuilt as well
Cave Riders shop is where this whole 10 month restoration took place. Most of the work done in the shop is on trikes with a quad and bike thrown in once in a while. Many trike enthusiasts pass through the shop, and upon seeing the level of attention we were putting into this R a guy donated his near flawless motor and swing arm skid plate to the project.
Next we got wind of a local man who is somewhat of a “mad scientist” doing electro plating and zinc plating in old fish tanks in his living room. I quickly got a box of goodies together for him to plate. The results were great and the pricing more than fair.
Next problem was the headlight shell, as many of you are aware Maier does not make an 86/87 shell so it’s not available in white, I was forced to sand a new old stock shell and have it painted white. The paint shop used a flex agent used for painting plastic bumper covers and matched the Maier shrouds I bought.Attachment 129147
The 86 R and presumably 87 came with a non cooling fin (smooth) front brake caliper, this was made possible thanks to 3ww member seadoo650 selling me the missing caliper bracket I needed. I also got the joy of digging through member 350xboy’s collection for some brackets, mounts and other miscellaneous items I needed.
The correct stickers were a combined effort of a generic 86 sticker kit from ebay and two former 3ww members. A fellow by the name of John Dexter had done the leg work and had a set of shroud, front and rear fender stickers made for his replica 87 he plans on building, I found him through 3ww (what a great site!). I contacted him via e mail sending a few pictures of my build and asked for a set of stickers. The next day he sent them out priority mail saying he was still in the parts gathering stage and I needed them more than he did. He would order more out of Europe which is where mine originally came from! You have got to love the character and passion us true three-wheeler enthusiasts have, I know I sure do. How ever I was still missing the large R decals for the rear fender.
The trike then spent the winter in my living room, while I hunted down the real hard to find parts. Finally one day a keyed ignition came up on ebay with a “buy it now” (this never happens). Only seeing two come up for auction in the past 10 months and loosing both of them, I jumped on the buy it now button so fast I almost lost my boots.
Ok so I am at the 20 picture per post limit again so look for part 3

[R-tifacts]

So there I am bike 98% complete and out of the blue an 87 tribute bike shows up on ebay and a 3ww link to it. The seller is a Frank Destra and he has the large R decals I need. We shoot a few E-mails back and forth turns out we were bidding against each other on the 87 200x keyed ignition auctions. Frank sends me out the decals along with an 87 vin decal and even offers to re-cover and stencil my seat. Another great trike guy Frank is, and now has been a huge help on my 86 tecate build. I just recently got the correct flat slide carb and the OEM grab bar, I have yet to install them but I figured it was about time to write this up.

Well that pretty much wraps up the bike and my story I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I would like to give thanks to everyone that helped in the build. Here is a quick before and after....

FOREVER THREE WHEELS ~R-tifacts

[rdlsz24]

Awesome build man, the best 87 replica that I have seen!

Rob

[bigworm626]

The best! Simply the best kid. Awesome work. You should be really proud of yourself.

[Buster Brown]

Nice! X2 on the above mention!

[bigredridr]

the trike is seriously in his living room lol. it is really a site to see its like seeing a brand new trike.

[Cave Rider]

One of the more interesting builds we have done for sure. Cant wait to wrap-up the ATC 500R coversion as well as the tecate. It will be a fun winter in the shop to say the least

[gomer202]

I'm in love with this thing!

[max]

Thanks for sharing your story. It was a great read. Awesome work/craftsmanship!!!!!

[oldskool83]

very nice, least it looks like the only photo ive ever see on a 87 R. should build more lol!

[k00leo]

The best looking 250r i have seen so far!

[Fungo Wizard]

Very nice work! That thing is awesome!!!!

[R-tifacts]

Thanks for all the comments guys it truly was a labor of love for all involved. I am lucky to have good friends to lend a helping hand and a very understanding ole lady! There were weeks where I spent more time with the R than her.