Big Red question.

[honda200xguy]

Looking to buy a nice utility trike..never owned a big red and am now really looking into something i can use utility wise around the farm.
Now, what big red year/model is the best? i know there were several years and models.
I'm looking for the biggest engine, and body size there was made.
And best for towing/pulling stuff around and other utility uses.
What was the best year for this? thanks
And is there any other good utility trike? let me know

[Big G]

If you're looking for the biggest engine and body size that was made in the Big Red, then you'd be looking at the 250ES that was manufactured in any of the three years '85, '86, or '87.

However, if you're open to a 'smaller' Big Red, the '84 200ES with shaft drive and reverse, is worthy of mention as well. Some prefer it over the 250ES because of it's dual range transmission which gives you the Lo range gear - essentially allowing you to pull a stump out of the ground

[kb0nly]

If it was my choice...

1984 200ES.. Great utility, gearing is perfect for pulling and work.

The 85 250ES is good to. But to be honest its not as good for hauling or plowing if you ever got to that point. The rear suspension bottoms out with the weight of a small trailer loaded up. And plowing with one, i have a buddy that has a 250ES with a Cycle Country plow on it, it hops and looses traction, where my 200ES with the solid rear end just digs into the ground until you stop it... LOL

You definitely want reverse for utility use, which means 200ES or 250ES, you could even go 250SX which is shaft drive, etc. The 200ES is easier to find up here in MN, you will see some 250's as well but they always seem beat to crap by comparison. The 200ES in low range will make up for the slight engine size advantage of the 250, i can out pull them most of the time.

Edit... Big G beat me to it while i was typing... Yep, in low range the 200ES is a stump pulling monster.

[honda200xguy]

Looks like ill look into the 200es then 2.
Not much on craigslist though

[TheBlueWale]

I think the polaris scrambler 250r/es would put the 250es and 200es out of work. It's a 250 2 stroke(like a 500 4 stroke), with a fully automatic trans, with reverse, It also gets around very well in the snow, and they cost about the same that a 250es or 200es would.

[dougspcs]

The rear suspension bottoms out with the weight of a small trailer loaded up.

Curious, where is your ball receiver mounted..??

Every ES/SX I've ever seen or owned has the receiver mounted on the axle..trailer weight can't cause the suspension to bottom if it's sitting on the axle. The only thing sitting on the suspension is the operator and whatever you load on the rear rack!

I'm 260lbs and hit bumps so hard it's jarred my spine..never had my suspension bottom out..



Personally for me the 1st choice would have to be the 250ES..the 200ES without rear suspension rides like a lumber truck!

[RDH/86200X]

There is a 250es for sale on the Fargo or grand forks craigslist for like 1200. Not sure if the guy still has it but it looked to be in good shape.

[honda200xguy]

There is a 250es for sale on the Fargo or grand forks craigslist for like 1200. Not sure if the guy still has it but it looked to be in good shape.

Fargo is way to far.
Looking for one i can restore myself, not a mint one.

[dougspcs]

Fargo is way to far.
Looking for one i can restore myself, not a mint one.

$1200 for a mint one is a sweet deal..buy it!

You buy a project trike and fix it up you'll be in for much more than that..

In on for nearly $2200 on this one!

[honda200xguy]

$1200 for a mint one is a sweet deal..buy it!

You buy a project trike and fix it up you'll be in for much more than that..

In on for nearly $2200 on this one!

guy said "good condition" haha.
i like doing restorations money isn't a problem!

[kb0nly]

Curious, where is your ball receiver mounted..??

Every ES/SX I've ever seen or owned has the receiver mounted on the axle..trailer weight can't cause the suspension to bottom if it's sitting on the axle. The only thing sitting on the suspension is the operator and whatever you load on the rear rack!

I'm 260lbs and hit bumps so hard it's jarred my spine..never had my suspension bottom out..



Personally for me the 1st choice would have to be the 250ES..the 200ES without rear suspension rides like a lumber truck!

His ball is on the stock hitch on the axle, but think about a trailer... He has a lawn dump trailer, its rear heavy, so the trailer tongue is pulling up, as the rider bounces its bang bang bang listening to the suspension bottom out. Take the trailer off it doesn't do it. Logical or not thats how it works on his! LOL Maybe his shock is shot???? Would have to look into it.

My 200ES certainly don't ride like a lumber truck.. If it does you got WAY too much air in the tires. The tires are the suspension. If they are over filled or too stiff of a tire, then sure it would ride hard, but neither my 200ES or the ATC90 ride hard enough to cause me any pain.

I get a kick out of watching him trying to plow on his 250ES, he has three five gallon buckets full of concrete on the back rack along with a weight box on the hitch and some sand tubes in that. If i add any weight its usually a battery box and deep cycle battery i add in the winter for more power and jump starting the snowblower i also haul around for sidewalk clearing. I have some weights i can add if its really icy, but they don't ride with all winter. His hops while plowing, my 200ES just digs, i have made huge holes in the driveway by accident.. LOL

Don't get me wrong, i love the 250ES just as well as my 200ES! Just stating real world experience with them.

[kb0nly]

guy said "good condition" haha.
i like doing restorations money isn't a problem!

There was a 200ES listed up in Pine County, i think it was Hinckley area on CL. It was $700 or best offer, not sure if it sold or not i would have to search and see if the ad is still listed on CL. That one looked good plastic wise, exhaust was rotted out and it needed new tires but was otherwise all there.