Was Yamaha going to make a trike to compete with the 350x??

**swampthang** · 08-21-2011, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Vealmonkey

I don't know why people keep asking such questions. Quads were already in the showrooms. Quads were the future. That's the only reason why the big 3 quit selling trikes, it gave them an excuse for a clean cut. The only problem they faced was where to dump the left overs? They dumped them overseas and they cut up their profits in the US. Yamaha had to play catch up again, unless you consider the 4 zinger!

IDK if I fully agree, I can't help but think the only reason trikes went away was because of the bad publicity they was getting. I do agree that quads was the wave of the future and the big 4 was totaly going to jump on that band wagon. I just think that they would have continued producing certain models of trikes in smaller numbers if they was still aloud to racing in AMA events and didnt get all the scared mother from the 80s in a uproar about saftey. I think I may have opened a can of worms on this subject!

**Vealmonkey** · 08-21-2011, 11:41 AM

No, I don't think you opened a can of worms as this has been talked about before. But if you look at the quads before 85 and after, totally different. I think the decree forced the big 3 to go all out on quad design,

**Aregistereduser** · 08-21-2011, 03:26 PM

yeah i agree with vealmonkey its all about what you want, no one wanted three wheelers at the time, and you cant sell a product that no one wants

**Kfx-xc-racer88** · 08-23-2011, 03:56 AM

A friend of mine had an Lt 500 trike with blue and white plastics he's been trying to find a pic for me! He sold it to a collector a few years ago..

**ctbale** · 08-23-2011, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by Aregistereduser

yeah i agree with vealmonkey its all about what you want, no one wanted three wheelers at the time, and you cant sell a product that no one wants

very true, but kinda sad, I read the year before the decree, sales were 80% quads and 20% trikes so it was heading that way.

**brd812** · 08-23-2011, 04:58 PM

It was a ugly time for anyone with alot of money in trikes. My tecate was worthless by 88, 3 years old and had about 4 to 5 grand in it and ended up selling for about 1500 still in her prime. There wasn't even a class to run any trikes by 89 even at the local flatracks. Thats the bike I should of kept. oh well it hell to get old. I've learned from my mistakes and I think I've not sold a toy since. lol

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