Nicholson 250R... yes, NICHOLSON 250R

[manbearpig]

Sweet! Is that a westcoast swinger or the stock Nicholson?

westcoast swinger. i originally thought it was PK, until i saw it in person.

i have what i think is a nicholson swingarm on the other 82 pictured

[manbearpig]

Good find Paul. If you ever look to sell that frame, PM me. My guess is race entrys on the tally marks

very, very cool.

does anyone know of any racers that did things like this? was this common?

[whipit]

automotive mudflaps as low profile fenders, brilliant!! why didn't I think of that? That appears to be an early LT250R rear wheel and tire mounted on the front

[Vealmonkey]

Very cool and very interesting. Most of the 250r parts look circa 1982. Did you check the engine number for the year. What I noticed on the frame, is the right side footpeg. Alot of Nicholson frames have the right side footpeg with small reinforcement triangle. Yours doesn't have that. I'm wondering when Mr Nicholson started putting those on alot of frames. I would think it would help to reinforce the right footpeg for some close order confrontations with other trikes. It would be interesting to find out a couple little detail questions like that.

[partsmaster]

Love that bike!

[Marty]

Paul really good find, and I really love those paddles hope to meet up soon!

[manbearpig]

Very cool and very interesting. Most of the 250r parts look circa 1982. Did you check the engine number for the year. What I noticed on the frame, is the right side footpeg. Alot of Nicholson frames have the right side footpeg with small reinforcement triangle. Yours doesn't have that. I'm wondering when Mr Nicholson started putting those on alot of frames. I would think it would help to reinforce the right footpeg for some close order confrontations with other trikes. It would be interesting to find out a couple little detail questions like that.

havent checked the motor numbers yet. had to snap those photos and tuck everything in for the rains tonight. i know that the bike has spent at least the last 6 months worth of rainy (and sunny) days outside, but ill be damned if it sees one more day of sitting in the elements

the motor looks to be 83/84R. i say that not just because its black, but it looks to have the 83/84R shifter shaft, with some modified (not 250R) shifter thats been welded on.

id think that right side foot peg should have the reinforcing gusset, as its the peg that you come down on when kickstarting... but doesnt look like its there. didnt see one on my nick 185S either. this frame is definitely an 82 frame though, its got the mount on the frame for the rear brake master cylinder, which was 82 only. what i dont see though, is the rear subframe reinforcing tubes like here...



maybe this frame is earlier than the one in this ad? hopefully someone can comment as to what month/year/magazine that ad came from.

[shortline10]

Great score and awesome piece of history ._

[atc007]

Priceless,,sitting at a great home too. Very nice find.

[Big Mike]

What a great looking piece of early 3 wheeler racing history! I cant wait to read more about this machine and its history, provenance, and ensuing restoration.

What is going on in the background of this pic? Seems like a giant dog is trying to eat a human!

[manbearpig]

What a great looking piece of early 3 wheeler racing history! I cant wait to read more about this machine and its history, provenance, and ensuing restoration.






What is going on in the background of this pic? Seems like a giant dog is trying to eat a human!

Thanks!!! I think it looks a lil better with some decent fenders and a solid tank :-)

I'm trying to locate a picture of another tank painted like the one I pulled off... I've seen one before... Don't know the story or if the two are related...


Theres 2 dobermans playing. One black one red one big one small haha

[Vealmonkey]

The early honda xr tanks were sort of painted like the one you pulled off. Black stripe through the top middle, but no black around the rest of the tank. And I took a look at the Nick 185 and the Nick 500, reinforcement piece on the 500, not on the 185. I hate to say, I would almost have to edog that frame white. LOL

[Big Mike]

Haha ok, The angles of the picture and eveything else it just looked funny to me.

I like the way the tank that came off looked, just a cool, simplistic, custom look. What a great find. Good luck with it.

[Rigaman]

Sweet trike! I am a little jealous. Have you started it up?

[El Camexican]

PURELY SPECULATION... but what do you guys suppose these marks in the headset are? win tally's?

Are they stamped, or scratched? Assuming the steering head is 4130 you’d think making scratches that similar would be pretty hard to do by hand. Do you think they could be from multiple clamping’s in vise jaws? Maybe a stainless steel braided line, or something else that was fastened tightly? I’ve seen lines leave pretty deep marks in aluminum, but not so distinctly. Those marks might be the key to getting some history on your awesome trike.