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Thread: are 3 wheelers just not popular anymore?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    az
    --
    2,042

    are 3 wheelers just not popular anymore?

    craigslist ad had 2 125m projects for $30. I guess I was the only fool to call on it a week after it was listed. 1 thank has some rust inside the other is rusted inside but might clean up. 2 frames with motors electronics carbs, 1 exhaust, 4 wheels and junk tires. I set of plastics, bad seat pan. I think there's enough to build 1 trike maybe part the rest.
    and the old timers probably remember my pics of the 3 wheelers I would drag home in the back of my 68 el camino. well the el camino was sold and on it's way to Sweden. i bought the 66 as a roller and got it back on the road 2 months later. jim
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 20180628_160525.jpg  
    81 185s
    82 185s with 85 200s motor
    82 185s
    and a 72 ct70

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    fingerlakesny
    --
    2,834
    3 WHEELERS in my area are far and few in between any more, Seems like the younger generations would rather play video games than enjoy the outdoors. plus many landowner's have posted their property. just my thought 's.
    our original 85 we bought new, 2 - 86 police specials
    250r dust runner
    04 Yamaha kodiaK 450 snowbuster ! Brute Force 750 dust collector .
    Bunch of es stuff I been buying for next builds....
    Gone but lives on in my aching body the mighty 350x collection . A Beat 85 es im gonna rebuild

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    az
    --
    2,042
    it just surprised me that it was still on craigslist for so long. years ago I needed a 110 pull start and the quickest a d fastest one I found local was $50.
    I went out and pulled the ground wire from the ignition switch, grounded a spark plug and it sparked right up. jim
    81 185s
    82 185s with 85 200s motor
    82 185s
    and a 72 ct70

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Arizona
    --
    843
    Oh, they are very popular, especially the high performance 250's. Nice 250R's, Tecates, and Tri-Z's are going anywhere from $3500 to $7000. A lot of these machines are getting locked up in collections. Once you buy one and restore it, you don't want to sell it.

  5. #5
    Legns is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerFirst time rider
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Catskills NY
    --
    156
    up in NY here there're everywhere I cant go on CL or Facebook marketplace without seeing 1 or two for sale from a mint machine to part bike usually 110 and up not a lot of 70 or 90 floating around hear though

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Williamstown PA
    --
    5,825
    I finally got a lead on a 250r again local after 10 years from selling my 85. I bought it in prices. Not restoring cuz I'm missing so much but I'm redoing. I'll ride it and keep it along with my other toys that will be sought after one day. 3 wheeler puts a smile on alot of people's faces however they don't do everything great they are fun.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada
    --
    3,019
    There's a market alright, albeit a smaller one than for quads or s/s's. The one thing to remember is that they are only worth so much no matter what you've done to them. The only caveat to that is if they are all original and in exceptionally good shape. If you're lucky enough to have machines that you bought for cheap 5-10 years ago you'll probably make a bit of money when you sell. If you bought in the past couple of years you probably paid all that the machine is worth. And it's always cheaper to pay for a complete, running machine than to fix from scratch.
    Trikes
    1970/71 US 90 (Aquarius Blue)
    1970/71 US 90 (Future Project)
    1972/73 US 90 Camo Project (110 Big Bore)
    1972/73 US 90 Green
    1982 ATC 70
    1983 ATC 70 (Ladybug)
    1973 ATC 70

    1965 Marketeer 3 Wheel Golf Cart with 1986 Honda 250 drivetrain

    TF 2015

    Other
    1983 Honda Z50

    Feedback http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ck-for-coopool
    http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...k-for-coolpool

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    az
    --
    2,042
    I've been really lucky finding cheap trikes, usually yard sale type deals. I know around here the most a 110-200 hard tail is only going to bring 250 to 300 bucks in running condition so I make sure I'm into these for well under that amount. jim
    81 185s
    82 185s with 85 200s motor
    82 185s
    and a 72 ct70

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    OH Canada
    --
    1,102
    I see a couple for sale from time to time around me. Mainly Honda. Tons of ads looking for Honda 70, 200X, 250R and 350X.

    Most others will go for around $900-1100 in running fair condition. Again. Honda. This would be Canadian dollars.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    '83 200X

    Chicks love guys that ride trikes

  10. #10
    efhondakid's Avatar
    efhondakid is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerFirst time rider
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Canton Ohio
    --
    203
    Quote Originally Posted by christph View Post
    Oh, they are very popular, especially the high performance 250's. Nice 250R's, Tecates, and Tri-Z's are going anywhere from $3500 to $7000. A lot of these machines are getting locked up in collections. Once you buy one and restore it, you don't want to sell it.
    This. People are becoming much more aware of the collectibility of them and aren't letting them go. In my area 4-5 years ago an ATC70 could be had all day for $200-300. Now, if you can find one they are easily $600 plus.
    2 in the back, 1 in the front.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Mexico
    --
    9,019
    They're popular, just not plentiful as the hoarders are, well, hoarding and the people that loved these things back in the day are at an age when kids are finishing collage, mortgages are being paid off and cash is now available for toys and such. 40 to 50 year old guys don't need fast cash for cheap rings and a shotgun weddings like they did 10 and 20 year ago and they have garages that fit multiple toys. The economy has been strong as well, that's a major factor. From 2008 to 2010 there were 1920's thru 1990's collector bikes on eBay that had been in storage for decades that were sold off because some real-estate speculators and investors needed fast cash. It'll happen again one day, so start saving now.

    Trikes will still be available for many years, but as those of us who have refurbished a few of them are well aware there is no way you can completely go though a trike PROPERLY for under $3,000 and usually its more like $5,or $6K if bling and upgrades are added, so why should we part with them for $3,000?

    What's caught my eye recently is how many fewer parts they are on eBay for trikes, at least in the case of the Tri-Z. I haven't seen a good clutch cover, or kick lever for a while and when I do the prices are obscene. Still shake my head when I think back to buying my Tri-Z in 2011 for $1,200 bucks complete, rust free and running. Any I've seen in similar condition are over $3,000 now.

    I'd love to do a factory restauration of a yellow one some day, but I don't think the investment would be worth the return given what decent stuff costs now.
    It sucks to get old

  12. #12
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    The Open Road
    --
    4,736
    My area is filled with quite a few members here, so the competition is fierce.

    ATC70s are extremely popular around here and runners in KY/Nashville area start at six hundred and go up from there

    On top of that, the part-out crowd is snatching up quite a few as well

    Sent from my Z958 using Tapatalk

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    az
    --
    2,042
    just spent some time with 1, sprayed some gas in the carb and it started. motor shifted sitting still but now it won't. I think the rear brake is dragging. motor is missing a few mount bolts, might swap motors from the 1 with the cracked frame and see is it runs or just swap the recoil. needs 3 used tire, cables, fuel line, sponge and wrap the rusty seat frame. jim
    81 185s
    82 185s with 85 200s motor
    82 185s
    and a 72 ct70

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Leander TX
    --
    2,217
    I love your El Camino.
    30 years ago I had a 64. y best friend and I would put 2 185s's in the back and run to Glamis from Cathedral City where we grew up.
    I have a great picture somewhere of it the day I bought my 300R. I need to find it and scan it.
    I should track down another...

  15. #15
    6bt's Avatar
    6bt is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerAt the back of the pack
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    near Syracuse NY
    --
    318
    Things are alive and well here in upstate NY. Recently saw a 86 250r posted for $5k. Lots of wanted ads for X's, R's.

    Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

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