Should I pick up a chain drive Big Red? pros and cons

[sledcrazyinCT]

So I see a decent looking Big Red near me and contact the seller to find out is an 82 so no reverse and a chain drive.

I can say owning an 85 SX that reverse is a very nice feature. Am I going to be disappointed picking up this machine since I am spoiled with a shaft drive reverse set up?

How desirable are these machines and how did the first big reds hold up compared to the later shaft drive machines. Is no reverse a deal breaker? How much $ to pay and still get a good deal on it?

Thing is if it was an 84 machine 200ES big red I would already be posting pics of it in my yard, but I am on the fence about adding another to the fleet if it will not be enjoyed or used rarely. I own a few 110s and I know how I feel after riding hardtails....


I think worst case I could flip it but do I want to take time and resources to go through the machine, or just forget about it and do a top end on the 350X, 250R, 300R? So looking for advice whether I need to feed the addiction of chasing another ATC, or spend my money on fixing up the sport trikes I already own.

[Pryme]

Look down the first page a little to my post on my 82 big red. It has a chain drive and has held up great. It's a tough machine for sure. I posted a video on it. First year for big red seems like a good trike to have for collector purposes.

[hublake]

I have an 83 BR with no reverse and chain drive. Not a problem. It has a high/low range transmission. It is my primary work machine for hauling firewood. Just make sure you don't get in a situation where you have to back up. I also have a 85 BR but keep that for trail riding.

[sledcrazyinCT]

Like that train of thought a lot Pryme!

My wife asked me to find out if your married or single and suggesting this? LOL

[Pryme]

Married but I had my big red before my wife sooooo. Haha

[MRSOUND]

All depends on how you want to utilize it. Great as a work horse and on flat mild trails. If you plan on riding on rougher terrain at a quicker pace take a kidney belt along. My main ride last year at trikefest ended up being my KLT185 (no rear suspension) because my BR needed a carb cleaning and wouldn't stay running. They had had the rough rain stint before we got there and most of the trails were rutted and bumpy. I was fine as long as I was putting along but if I tried to keep up with a group of riders on "sport" trikes it was like trying to stay on a pogo stick. At one point I just got frustrated (they would wait for me and I felt like I was holding everyone back) and just went back to camp and got the BW200. That being said I had an 83 BR I sold to Bandito90 which was he ride at TF last year. But again I believe after TF13 he now wants something with front and rear suspension for this year. Probably the most sound mechanical trike I owned and it had some get up and go. Pulled saplings out (low range was great for this) and did lots of yard work with it until I got the KLT185.....with reverse. Rear fenders if destroyed are only found at a premium price for decent ones. Front and rear racks are a plus. It's all a matter of each individual person needs or wants. Wouldn't choose it personally for a sole trail machine but is a definite work horse. My .02.

[bandito90]

I really like my 83 Big Red. It usually starts on the first pull and has not let me down yet. But it was pretty hard on the rear at TF13.

[350xorbust]

No suspension would be the deal breaker for me. I had an 83 minty BR and honestly other than when I was pulling a trailer, I never missed reverse. The chain wear was kept to a minimum due to it being sealed up, and the high low replaced the need for a 250. The rear suspension was the difference between having it be a dual purpose, or strictly a utility bike. At the time I didnt have my 350x so I needed it to be both...nope!!!

[86125m]

As for me the only shaft drive 3-wheeler I've ever ridden is an 85 sx and I really did not see that much difference between shaft and chain drive besides especially if you have a did O-ring chain. Now as for reverse I do have it on my main trike my 86 125m and it does come in handy. Now as for rear suspension none of my trikes have it so I just run a really low tire pressure.