The hard way to find a Big Red....

[CaptainRon]

I'm trying to find a low-hour good-shape '85 to '87 Big Red for sale.
I search CraigsList constantly, have set up Google alerts, am searching Adhuntr.com, etc.
I live near Sioux City, Iowa and will drive up to 500 miles (or more) to buy one.

Raced up to Minneapolis (330 miles one way) a couple days ago to look at a $900 one just listed as "beautiful" and "never ridden by kids" and "owned by old couple".
Looked good in the fuzzy picture.
Get there and it looked like someone had dropped an engine block on the gas tank, plastic broken everywhere, things bent, broken, and missing.
And engine sounded like it had a lot of use over the years.
So I left without it. It still sold the same day it was listed.

Next day, another one pops up, also in Minneapolis, just like it.
It too sold the same day it was listed.

I had CraigsList links to seven different Big Reds I was interested in - they ALL sold this weekend.

I can't get ANYWHERE fast enough to buy a nice one before someone else buys it.
In all my dealings with buying/selling on CraigsList, I've never seen anything so sought-after nor sell as quickly as a nice '85 to '87 Honda Big Red.

I'm now stuck looking at $2000 and up Big Reds.......

Anyone have a nice one for sale or know of a nice one for sale?

[Frankencelery]

I feel your pain. I went through this when trying to buy another 250SX. I have since given up (temporarily) and moved on to other things. But you really need to be patient and willing to drive all over creation to get what you want. Good luck!

I'm trying to find a low-hour good-shape '85 to '87 Big Red for sale.
I search CraigsList constantly, have set up Google alerts, am searching Adhuntr.com, etc.
I live near Sioux City, Iowa and will drive up to 500 miles (or more) to buy one.

Raced up to Minneapolis (330 miles one way) a couple days ago to look at a $900 one just listed as "beautiful" and "never ridden by kids" and "owned by old couple".
Looked good in the fuzzy picture.
Get there and it looked like someone had dropped an engine block on the gas tank, plastic broken everywhere, things bent, broken, and missing.
And engine sounded like it had a lot of use over the years.
So I left without it. It still sold the same day it was listed.

Next day, another one pops up, also in Minneapolis, just like it.
It too sold the same day it was listed.

I had CraigsList links to seven different Big Reds I was interested in - they ALL sold this weekend.

I can't get ANYWHERE fast enough to buy a nice one before someone else buys it.
In all my dealings with buying/selling on CraigsList, I've never seen anything so sought-after nor sell as quickly as a nice '85 to '87 Honda Big Red.

I'm now stuck looking at $2000 and up Big Reds.......

Anyone have a nice one for sale or know of a nice one for sale?

[keister]

It is frustrating, but it takes time and patience.
I had a quest to find a NICE 86-87 125M. It took about 3 years, but I finally found the one I wanted at a great price.
Same deal when searching for an original XR400 dirtbike. A couple years of looking and the right one popped up.

Couple suggestions:
Develop a network of people to keep their eyes open for you (for that, you have come to the right place).
Maybe buy one that is less than ideal. Ride it, fix it and enjoy it while the search continues. Then when the right one comes up, sell it if needed.

You shouldn't be looking at over $2k for a Big Red.
$1000-1200 should score you a very nice one. A $1500 should be very close to perfect.

Good luck in your search!

[Taiser]

Be patient... took me over 8 years to find mine and I called the dude 5 minutes after he posted it at 10pm, went the next morning at 7 am and picked it up... while I was there he got FIVE calls for it!!!! Didn't even haggle over the price, I just scooped it! They are out there, but are getting harder to find!

[captainweezy]

I located one today. I dealt with him personally. It is in the St. Louis area. It's not a super nice one but worth talking to the guy. It won't be $2000 I promise. More like $800. If you want to go further, send me a pm and I will get you his number.

[OKSTATE#1]

I bought my 85 about a year ago off CL, seemed like there were more of them around last year. I have plenty of pics of it in my profile. It's near mint and I paid 1800 for it from a guy in Minnesota. I highly doubt I would find one like it now for that price. You can and will find good deals out there still, but it seems in the last 6 months to a year things have gotten crazy if not downright silly at times. I have heard some CRAZY money being thrown around for big reds in mint to near mint condition. Original tires or NOS tires are out of sight too. I started back into the ATC deal about two years ago, had an 85 BR as a kid and just loved it, always wanted another. Seems like everyone else feels the same way lately. I had absolutely no intention of making money or dealing with parts scrambles and whatnot, but good Lord.

I have learned a lot in two years, and I know that there are still some Big Reds out there that are what would be thought of as "mythical" in their existence...like the 250R in the crate kind of deal. But, they are not for sale, at least the ones that I have been told about. To me that's fine I guess, but these machines were made to rode and enjoyed. If I had the cash and space I guess it would be cool to have a totally new 85-87 sitting in glass, but I would be too tempted to oil it, gas it, and blast down a trail lol.

One more thing....I think with all the perceived or real "planned obsolescence" of many items these days (particularly ATVs and the parts on them), many people are discovering just how well built and fun these older machines really are. With a little care and some basic knowledge, an 85-87 BR can last almost forever and be ridden and enjoyed on pretty much any trail that you would take these modern machines on....and just may out do the 10,000 dollar "bad boys"...ok, that's my 5 am rant lol

[OKSTATE#1]

One more thing, don't be afraid to buy one with scratched up plastics and some rust and whatnot. If it's got Complete plastics but looks like crap, those plastics can be sanded to almost new condition. I bought an 86 from down in Texas a couple months back that ran great and looked like hell. One month of sanding and painting, a few parts swapped out here and there, and it looks like a new machine.

[CaptainRon]

Bought one!
Found a mint 1985 Big Red near Brainerd, Minnesota that had just been posted.
Raced the 400 miles to it and it was the nicest one I've ever seen.
Original owner had it, and had the Manufacturers Statement of Origin too.
No broken nor bent anything, original tires on it, runs like new yet.

I paid $1600 for it.
Owner said it was on sale when he bought it new at the dealership, and had paid $1645.
So he only lost $45 on it after using it 29 years.

He got 12 calls on it while I was driving to it....

Woohoo!

[Frankencelery]

Congratulations! Pics! Pics! Pics!

[MattDragontamer]

Alright now... ...

Seriously though... lets see some

[keister]

SCORE!!! Glad to hear it.

Now change the thread title and upload the pictures of your new treasure.

[OKSTATE#1]

Wow!! What's up with all the sweet big reds in Minnesota? That's where my 85 came from and it's an early 85, built in July of 84. Has date coded 1984 tires on it. I need to go cruising around Paul Bunyans backyard....

[CaptainRon]

So...I did find the Big Red I wanted, but......
The day BEFORE I bought the one I wanted, I went and looked a different one.
It was in fair shape and worked okay, and came with a second Big Red that needed some parts.
So bought and took them home.
Of course, the next day I hear of the low-hour one and...now I have THREE 1985 Big Reds in my garage.
I think I did it wrong.
Pics show all three:

[captainweezy]

Dang that puppy is clean. Glad for ya!

[userj8670]

Them machines are clean! Keep em nice and you won't lose a dime