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Thread: 1985 Honda Big Red 250?

  1. #1
    kzr800's Avatar
    kzr800 is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerFirst time rider
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    Aug 2011
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    Question 1985 Honda Big Red 250?

    Please take it easy on me….Can you guys break down the pros and cons of the Honda Big Red 250 for me? I have the opportunity to pick up a very nice 1985 Honda Big Red, but I don’t know much about them. I have always been a racer fan, but now I’m getting old and it seems like the Big Red would be a great trail machine. Please tell what i need to know. Are parts hard to get?

    Thanks!
    2008 Arctic Cat - Z120
    2005 Kawasaki - KFX 700
    2005 Kawasaki - KFX 80
    2004 Arctic Cat - Firecat F-7 EFI Nightfire
    2001 Arctic Cat - ZR800
    1999 Arctic Cat - ZL 600 EFI
    1993 Arctic Cat - Thundercat 900
    1991 Arctic Cat - El' Tigre EXT 530 (2)
    1986 Arctic Cat - Kitty Cat
    1985 Honda - 250R ATC
    1985 Honda - ATC 70
    1985 Yamaha - YT60 Tri-Zinger
    1983 Yamaha - V-Max 540
    1981 Yamaha - SRV 540
    1981 Scorpion - Sidewinder 440
    1973 Arctic Cat - Kitty Cat

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Hampshire U.K.
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    The 85 can be difficult to start when cold, but I think there's a carb mod that can fix it, other than that I don't think you can really go wrong. I believe the 250SX is lighter and quicker, but it's all down to preference.
    ATC 70, ATC 250es, 1/32 ATC 250R
    1 person in 10 understands binary, the other one doesn't.

    Trikefest UK '08 survivor!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Minneapolis mn
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    4,067
    No cons to a BR 250es!!
    No trikes. Too old, too crippled. Unless I find one I can't live without!
    "You cant fix stupid" ~ Ron White
    My feeback link: http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ack-for-Thorpe

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Hampton, Virginia, C.S.A.
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    2,664
    250es big red are bullet proof machines. i use mine for trail riding and love it
    current rides
    82' ATC110
    85' ATC310R
    85' ATC250R
    85' ATC250ES
    16' brute force 750

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
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    3,415
    I agree with Thorpe..can't think for the life of me one CON to owning a 250ES.

    It's the best trike ever made..durable, dependable, goes places where even the 4x4s struggle, parts are easy to find and so is the advice!

    If you are waiting here for us to respond instead of going to get it you're crazy..

    Change the oil, differential fluid, clean the carb and tank out, check all the major mechanicals..for god sake tighten the 10mm bolt that secures the shifter pedal to the shaft. If I have to read one more thread about that debacle I'll burst..such a senseless failure!

    Anyway then ride the crap out of it and repeat the process listed in the previous line as needed..

    If you do this machine will last until you and the machine are 50!!
    Current toys..
    1986 Honda 350X..trail bomb!
    1985 Honda 250SX..my main mudder
    1985 Honda 250ES..Back in Black Trike
    Current non-trike toys:
    1990 Honda TRX300FW
    1995 Seadoo GTX
    1998 Polaris Indy Lite 340(Nearly new looking)
    1998 Polaris Touring 500
    1998 Club Car (electric)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Michigan
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    1,144
    I agree with all the above posts. I have had mine since new and you can't beat it.
    85 Big Red
    83 Big Red
    84 125m
    85 TRX 125
    73 ATC 70

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Broome county, NY.
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    120
    Awesome awesome awesome machine! Good on the trails and they will work work work, just take care of the things mentioned above and it will last forever. I love mine.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    NEPA
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    Hands down THE best All Terrain Vehicle EVER manufactured. Any questions? lol.. Weak points,needs cold start mod in carb ,simple. Rear diffs are junk if neglected. Lifetime guaranteed with clean correct fluid. As with all above, I strongly suggest buying it .. I 'm buying one tomorrow for $200,,,but it looks like that also ! Still runs!
    Please help those who cannot help themselves.

    ALWAYS buying Museum quality machines,3 and 4 wheels. And any and ALL ,NOS parts,EVERY brand.

    I am turning my PM's Off,my Email is billsracing@hotmail.com,put 3WW in the subject. Thanx!

    Gun laws do not stop criminals. BULLETS do.

  9. #9
    kzr800's Avatar
    kzr800 is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerFirst time rider
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    Thanks guys for the information....I will be going tomorrow after work with cash in hand. If any of you read my other thread.... http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...Me-and-My-Boys! I'm going to be buying the Big Red from the same person I bought my 250R from. It is very nice!
    2008 Arctic Cat - Z120
    2005 Kawasaki - KFX 700
    2005 Kawasaki - KFX 80
    2004 Arctic Cat - Firecat F-7 EFI Nightfire
    2001 Arctic Cat - ZR800
    1999 Arctic Cat - ZL 600 EFI
    1993 Arctic Cat - Thundercat 900
    1991 Arctic Cat - El' Tigre EXT 530 (2)
    1986 Arctic Cat - Kitty Cat
    1985 Honda - 250R ATC
    1985 Honda - ATC 70
    1985 Yamaha - YT60 Tri-Zinger
    1983 Yamaha - V-Max 540
    1981 Yamaha - SRV 540
    1981 Scorpion - Sidewinder 440
    1973 Arctic Cat - Kitty Cat

  10. #10
    kzr800's Avatar
    kzr800 is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerFirst time rider
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    USA
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    167
    Also, what is a fair price for a mint 1985 Big Red 250.
    2008 Arctic Cat - Z120
    2005 Kawasaki - KFX 700
    2005 Kawasaki - KFX 80
    2004 Arctic Cat - Firecat F-7 EFI Nightfire
    2001 Arctic Cat - ZR800
    1999 Arctic Cat - ZL 600 EFI
    1993 Arctic Cat - Thundercat 900
    1991 Arctic Cat - El' Tigre EXT 530 (2)
    1986 Arctic Cat - Kitty Cat
    1985 Honda - 250R ATC
    1985 Honda - ATC 70
    1985 Yamaha - YT60 Tri-Zinger
    1983 Yamaha - V-Max 540
    1981 Yamaha - SRV 540
    1981 Scorpion - Sidewinder 440
    1973 Arctic Cat - Kitty Cat

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Minneapolis mn
    --
    4,067
    1600-1800 in these parts
    No trikes. Too old, too crippled. Unless I find one I can't live without!
    "You cant fix stupid" ~ Ron White
    My feeback link: http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ack-for-Thorpe

  12. #12
    kzr800's Avatar
    kzr800 is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerFirst time rider
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    USA
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    167
    Quote Originally Posted by Thorpe View Post
    1600-1800 in these parts
    That is good to know....I'm just outside of Chicago. I honestly never paid much attention to the Big Reds till now...LOL.
    2008 Arctic Cat - Z120
    2005 Kawasaki - KFX 700
    2005 Kawasaki - KFX 80
    2004 Arctic Cat - Firecat F-7 EFI Nightfire
    2001 Arctic Cat - ZR800
    1999 Arctic Cat - ZL 600 EFI
    1993 Arctic Cat - Thundercat 900
    1991 Arctic Cat - El' Tigre EXT 530 (2)
    1986 Arctic Cat - Kitty Cat
    1985 Honda - 250R ATC
    1985 Honda - ATC 70
    1985 Yamaha - YT60 Tri-Zinger
    1983 Yamaha - V-Max 540
    1981 Yamaha - SRV 540
    1981 Scorpion - Sidewinder 440
    1973 Arctic Cat - Kitty Cat

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Pacific NW
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    4,255
    Quote Originally Posted by atc007 View Post
    Hands down THE best All Terrain Vehicle EVER manufactured. Any questions? lol.. Weak points,needs cold start mod in carb ,simple. Rear diffs are junk if neglected. Lifetime guaranteed with clean correct fluid. As with all above, I strongly suggest buying it .. I 'm buying one tomorrow for $200,,,but it looks like that also ! Still runs!
    Don't you have the trail mileage record on big red 00?
    Few thousand miles? 20k?
    sx / es are both good, I'm just addicted to racks and flatter profile tires.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    NEPA
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    7,051
    Lol,, EASILY 30K plus... A LOT of pastures, fields and woods.. KZR, $1300 +++ Like said above.
    Please help those who cannot help themselves.

    ALWAYS buying Museum quality machines,3 and 4 wheels. And any and ALL ,NOS parts,EVERY brand.

    I am turning my PM's Off,my Email is billsracing@hotmail.com,put 3WW in the subject. Thanx!

    Gun laws do not stop criminals. BULLETS do.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Central Point,OR
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    465
    Yea, I agree with the people above. They are tanks and by far the best all around trike ever made! I had an 87 and my friend had an 85, I paid $700 for mine in really good condition but a friend sold it to me. They usually go for around $1,500 here in Louisiana but there is one on Craigslist right now for $2,500 but it will never sell for that price.
    1985 Honda 250r

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