Who here flips trikes?

[daddy420big]

MRC i have seen a few had tecates 350x's 250r's the only a few that i never got is a tri z u.s 90, and like the rare ones. but i dont sell all of them eather guys that know me from facebook bust my balls about keeping one . i think they bet one how long i keep them.lol. as of right now i have a zinger and atc 70 that are for my boys my wife trike is a 200es and i am building a full suspended 185s right now . and idk if i will keep the r i just got or the 86 200x . eather one of them will be sold off . oh and i gave my dad a 200es bc he wanted one . so i gave him four parts bikes and he made one out of them all.

[kb0nly]

I used to flip a few here and there, but now they are at the post flip prices to get a junker here. I used to be able to find them for a few hundred bucks, but in the last couple years they have steadily climbed in price. The cheapest i know of for sale around me right now, listed on FB Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay, or just by word of mouth, is $900 asking price, i tried talking them down since the fenders are mostly gone and it doesn't run, but they won't budge. Its an otherwise complete 200, but i think its a compilation of two different trikes because the paint is faded differently on the parts, like one was sitting out in the sun and the other was buried in a shed somewhere.

If it runs its $1k here now, no joke... I have seen $1500-$2500 for trikes now, all the listings call them vintage or rare, and people think they have the holy grail in their barn. I haven't been able to buy a cheap one in years.

Now if i drive a little farther, say 5-6 hours drive, i can find sub $500 junkers that would require buying a half dozen of them to part together one complete. They are harder to find both worth buying and affordable now for me. I have been looking for the last year for another 185 or 200 for my wife, she loves my 200ES but all i have currently is the 200ES and my ATC90 i did a ground up rebuild on. She rides the 90 a lot too, but hates the pull start and wants electric start, and the 90 has always been a bit ornery to get started, i think i need to replace the points and condenser on it again and go through everything, i can get it to run fine, but she can't pull it over fast enough to get it to fire.

After a year of searching i am not any closer to finding one for her.

[MrConcdid]

KbOnly- I would have to disagree Sir. First I think your not fishing correctly. Place an add saying "wanted" honda big red or 200es atc 3 wheeler, yes you will get a lot of crazy people calling and texting you, but you will find a couple of big reds to pick from, I bet you could have one in a month or two. then take down the add. Let the fish come to you, don't buy a bike that's for sale (posted) you want to buy a bike that the owner doesn't know he wants to sell, until he reads your add.

I just started flipping atc January of this year 2020 (I have flipped, cars and 4x4 atv prior) you can see in this thread most of my flips, not all. I think the higher prices make it great time to flip, when else can a nice 350x pull $3500 and a 250r get $5,000up. I have a strategy that seems to be working for me, I wont bore you with it, but I classify all the atc bikes, it helps with establishing value and desirability.

Specialty bikes (collectors)
70, 90, 200x, 250es, 350x, 250r these bring the most money

Horizontal engines
110, 125m 185 these bring the least money and are the least desirable

Vertical engines
185, 185s, 200 (s,m,e,no letter,es) are my bread and butter great resale, very desirable, very affordable

Big Cubes
250sx - Odd duck, doesn't sell well, not very desirable ( but I love mine)

Stick to the bread and butter, If you want to be a high roller, play in the collector category, but be careful.
Stay away from the horizontal engines unless you get them really cheap and they already look good or run.
3 things kill a flip; rusted gas tank, missing seat and broken plastics (fenders) that is where the money is for resale, miss anyone of those and you better think long about not buying it or buy it as a parts bike (cheap). I specialize in the bread and butter bike category, I have a few parts bike that are also in this category. This offsets buying parts retail and working mostly in one category my parts bikes are more interchangeable.

I'm sure Daddy420 has some insight (10) years dealing with tecates and 250r's neither of which I am ready for. May be next year. Id like a 250r, just to have one in my collection, but not a necessity for me. I dare say I would ride it enough to justify it. I will admit that there is not much that looks sexier than a flat tracked 86 tecate. They are reasonably priced around $3500 now, personally I think that is a great price, for the limited numbers of them that still exists.

Some will say those of us flipping have ruined it, and drove the prices to high, I stand firm that I bring them back from the dead (this thread proves it) and invest 40 plus hours in most bikes plus parts, that's barely $10 an hour. Those who complain wont work this hard for that amount of money. So I say its a great thing prices are up and its something I can do at home in my free time. Plus look how many have been saved from the scrapyard.

Good Luck on your search KbOnly and Daddy420 welcome to the thread, would love to see some tecates and 250r's
MrC.

[patriot1]

Any new projects MrC?

[MrConcdid]

New projects no, just finishing up these two (final exams tomorrow)

"Montana" is almost ready, She is finely off the lift and back on the ground, I am really considering all new plastics for it. I think it will bring a very good payday with them versa old busted up plastics. The tank is on its second soak in metal rescue, it looks so much better, no pin holes just rusty, I have a new petcock and screen and filter for it, it should be fine.

"The General" I hate, really hate two piece wheels, I broke down and bout some new one piece wheels for the rear, they are wider and I gained about 3 inches total width, I think it will be a better handling bike because of it, I did get the same 25 inch tire all round for the general like the Originals. I want to preserve the look as much as possible. I will color match a one piece wheel I have laying around. the rims on the general were rotted through, I have welded up holes before but not missing sections of the rim, I think that's not necessary when I found these wheels new for $40 each free ship on ebay. the offset is 6/3 so they will only work on the rear. Since it is a 1 year color (Daytona Orange) and a 1980 (kinda old) I am going to keep it for awhile. I have said that before and the money always calls to me, That would make 5 personal bikes. we will see. I am going to have to add onto the shop this winter, i guess another 20ft will may have to do.

I found another 84 big red, I hope to get it by the weekend, we will see...

Patriot1-Hows your flips coming? which did you pick to flip first? did you use the formula? How did you do?

MrC.

[patriot1]

I am currently working on 2 1/2 bikes. I am cleaning the plastics on the yamaha 225DR-(Going to be sweet!), she is running but I am also looking for rims for it because they were rusted. She smokes so I might have to work on it more than I wanted to, we'll see.

Also, working on the 110 because it's an easy turn. First there was no fire, then I got fire and with a little blaster down the hole she started and ran the next day!! Carb was dirty so I replaced it and cleaned the tank and now she won't start again.

I have a buddy putting one of the R's together for me. Good deal on that. Hard to find some parts but it's coming together.

Will post pics soon.

[MrConcdid]

That's awesome, I sold 3 bikes in 2 days, that's my personal best. but when you have that much inventory, you start to dout yourself, and the bills come in before the profits. Its a balance. that's why I try to work on just 2 at a time. I may buy a few during those being worked on, but keeps me going, always having another to build in waiting.

A few things, I invest in myself (shop) as money allows, I bought a sand blast cabinet works great for small parts and wheels (no tires) I clean, sandblast and paint, most of my wheels and small parts.
Tools like: a good pressure washer, sandblaster cabinet, press, lift table, compressor, parts washer, tire machine these type tools cost but pay for them selves very quickly, I am on the hunt for a good used tire machine now.

let see some pics Patriot1

MrC.

Check out the butt on the General 185, those offset wheels filled it out nicely. I have a older wheel I will paint to match, a seat cover and a few other odds and ends and she will be done. The hondaline front rack is pretty sweet too. Like I said this will be my time capsule, just maintenance on her mostly.

[patriot1]

So I said pics and I am somewhat embarrassed with MrC having a lift complaining about jack stands and I work off milk crates! lol, No, worries-shop is coming soon! Can't wait.

Introducing "Sexy Black" and "Dueces", both look hopeless but just wait.


Dueces will be ready by this weekend. Just needs a brake lever, and o ring in the petcock.

Sexy Black is a work in progress and is taking too long to try and shine the plastics and waiting for rims.

I have cut it down to only working on two at a time, that's the only way I can get anything finished; however, I did have an interesting day



The Road Goes on Forever and the Party Never Ends

[MrConcdid]

That sx looks great, I like Duece's to.
I really like that headlight guard on the sx, first one I have ever seen, you may want to take it off, keep it for a future personal build (something you will keep) or throw it on ebay, it will bring more sold separately.

MrC.

[patriot1]

The double set of twins (2 200's and 2 SXs) were a new score from over the weekend. They came from Cali and had been stored inside a trailer for the last ten years. Interesting and a lot of potential in both sets.

And...I moved the two sets of twins into the new indoor, climate controlled facility today! I feel like George Jefferson-moving up!



Super Sweet!

[MrConcdid]

Wow, Patriot1, you sure know how to party. I love the shop, Looks like a old auto dealership or military base with the lockers on the wall like that. I will keep my big mouth shut when trying giving you advise in the future. lol.

I dragged home another 84 Big Red, nothing special except the fenders are amazing. long story short, I was dealing with a "guy" on the web, he was young and cocky, until I said I was on my way, then he quit responding. When I arrived, "dad" didn't know the son was selling his 3 wheeler, it was awkward to say the least (to be fair, the dad said he would sell it to the son, off handed, the son took it upon himself to list it for sale) the son ran off, I defused the situation, told "dad" hey, I just drove an hour to look at a 3 wheeler, did I waste a trip?, he paused and said no, right this way. He ended up throwing in a parts bike, I didn't even know about. Funny thing, I got a better price from "Dad". lol I didn't say anything to the boy, he was 16, I hope his dad does.
Overall it was a good trip, I may have made a friend out of "dad", he had several other 4 wheeled bikes, and knew of more 3 wheeler's. I will check back in a few days.
Note to self, ALWAYS TAKE THE TRAILER!

Introducing "Quitman" from Quitman, Ga. another fine 1984 Honda Big Red. Don't know much about it, other than its not locked up, the trans shifts, the tank is very clean, the seat just needs a cover. I wont start on it till the general or Montana are complete But it should make a nice flip. Of course the front end is locked up, and I am all out of 200m front ends.

MrC.

[kb0nly]

Your not finding any fishing around here like that... I had an add on FB, CL, and a few other swap sites here in MN and after six months i had not a single bite around here. I had a few replies to the FB post from Wisconsin, but it would be a long long drive for me!

If i look right now on FB marketplace and sort to within 100 miles from me i see four posts currently from others that are WANTED, LOOKING FOR, and SEEKING, three wheelers, Honda ATC, etc etc. I know all four of those guys, they keep them up, one of them actually got a reply a few months ago, but the dude wanted $1000 for a clapped out 250 that didn't have any fenders or racks left on it, basically a tank and a seat and the handlebars looked like they were driven over by a truck.

Searching the same for ones for sale, there is a nice 200ES about two hours from me for $1800, i will say its a really nice minty example and honestly its probably worth that being a survivor. And then there is a bunch of 90's, 110's, and a couple 125's. There is a 185 with no fenders and the top half of the motor in pieces in a box, a 200S with no rear end but decent fenders, the rear axle is completely gone along with all the parts, and a 250 that looks like it was in a car crusher but hey it runs! LOL...

I think everything around me has been picked over to no end. Nice to hear there is still places with them available. About ten years ago here i would haul them home a trailer load at a time! No joke, i would stack them on top of one another to get them all home, power wash them, get them running, do the bare minimum on them to get them to run and drive and sell them back off. I even bought one about 8 years ago that was one i previously flipped, and i bought it from a guy that bought it from another guy, that bought it from the guy i sold it to. Seems they change hands quickly. Back in the day when they were abundant i used to sell a lot of them every fall and winter to guys going ice fishing, they didn't want to take an expensive quad out on the ice. I know one that went through the ice, but it was pulled back out the next spring, still running believe it or not, after a lot of cleaning and some work of course.

If i wander over into South Dakota i know a guy down in SE corner of the state that has a small hoard of them, but he sells at crazy high prices. And there is another i know up in Fargo ND, about the same, he generally parts them out rather then sells them whole, and i mean he picks them down to the bone and then the frames eventually get cut up for scrap after he's made his money on the parts. Thats the problem, its guys like him taking them out of circulation as whole trikes that narrows down the population. Other then that there is a guy in St Cloud that deals in them, a lot of guys on here know who that is i won't get into any arguments just mentioning him for completeness.

Every now and then one pops up, but if i showed you a screen grab of what they are going for up here you would want to ship them up here and sell them here instead. I even had a guy offer me $1500 for my 200ES at the gas station one day, i ain't never selling her she's my favorite and was my keeper the day i found it many years ago, because i wanted one like i had in my younger years.

[MrConcdid]

Hey Kb0nly,
Sounds like you have been in this game along time. I sold a 70 to a man who paid me through paypal (cost him the fee ) the payment was secure and once it was deposited he had a shipper that only does atvs show up at my convenience and picked the bike up, I got to talking to the driver, he travels the whole east cost and runs 2 trucks/trailers ( him and his son) I received a message from the buyer, 3 days later, all was well and he was very happy.
Are you a member of Honda Horders on FB? Tons of bikes there, and willing to ship, there are at least 5 shippers on there with very good reputations. Otherwise I would recommend you plan a mini vacation/road trip if you find one at a distance, if the bike doesn't check out at least you made a trip out of it.

I guess, you may have fished your area out 10 years ago, and now you may be right, you need to broaden your area and be willing to travel or have it shipped.
We all know there is a finite number of them out there, I agree, I don't like parting them out (salvageable machines) As my thread shows I try to save them all, its therapy for me.

F.B. is fickle, don't sort marketplace by closet to you, use the "recommended" setting, you will find more bikes and the distance is not correct on FB, I have many items less than 10 miles from me show up "just out of my area". Also, join all the groups atv, atc, honda horders, yamaha boys etc. local market places, yard sales, garage sale and so on. There posting will not show up in general market place listings unless your a member of that group. When searching, search each keyword separately like: search 200es, then search honda etc. I search about 8 words each time I am looking. People list bikes all kinds of ways. 200, 200s, atc, 3-wheeler, honda, atc, trike, Big Red. all of those key words could be used for 1 bike depending on the person posting. So it can be time consuming, the Big Red I just picked up was listed as a 1985 Big Red. that's all the title said. Clearly it isn't a 85 but hey, that's people.

Id say get in the truck, 2 hours for a minty bike, the exact one you want for $1800 is a deal, he may take $1500 or meet you part of the distance. You would be hard pressed to build a mint bike for twice that amount.

My tactics may not work in every area, I am just trying to help you and others out with some of the things I have learned over the years. May be you know all this, and your area is just fished out.
Then your only hope is to pay shipping or travel.
Good Luck, I hope you find one soon.

MrC.

[patriot1]

Good back tires on your 84 too! Crazy story but I hope the boy pulls it together and learns from his experience.

"Dueces" was put off another week, but is 90% there. "Sexy Black" is growing in leaps and bounds. I am ready to get them finished.

[ATC King]

And...I moved the two sets of twins into the new indoor, climate controlled facility today! I feel like George Jefferson-moving up!



Super Sweet!

Is that an old high school shop building? Arkansas has had a lot of school consolidations the past 20+ years, I know many of the old school buildings have been up for sale.