Looked at a tri-z today

**Honda Lover** · 08-14-2005, 11:23 PM

Went to look at a guys 1985 tri-z today. The guy told me about what had been done with the motor. Said it had been blown up and bored out, then bored out again, and then had a new sleave put in it. It didnt make a lot of sense to me.

It had a few minor problems that he showed me, but didn't seem to bad. I drove it, and it seemed to run ok. Then i realized that it smoked and had oil coming out of the pipe. He thought it was because he had been mixing the gas to rich

He didn't want to much for it, and I didnt know if it would be a good deal to buy it or not, just because IT IS A TRI-Z. What do you guys think?

**Dammit!** · 08-14-2005, 11:31 PM

I don't know. I think I need the guy's address and phone number before I can give you an opinion...

**jsimonh** · 08-14-2005, 11:49 PM

If the engine really has been redone the oil coming out could be due to a heavy oil/fuel ratio for break-in purposes. Can't tell if it is a good deal with out knowing how much he is asking for it

. Let us know how much and I be you get lots of replies.

P.S. It's a 2-stroke so it's going to smoke.

**Honda Lover** · 08-15-2005, 12:04 AM

He was asking 700$ said he would go down to 600$. It does have some parts that are just kinda jimmy rigged, though. The carb has an idle screw from a motorcycle, supposedly, which he says is why it doesnt idle. The pipe had been cut because it got so clogged up with junk while sitting. Needs and exhaust donut?, i think that was what it was? My friend said he saw one of the cables or hoses had glue and stuff on it, so whatever that was would have to be fix. Light controls were disconnected, had a different kick starter on it, rim was supposedlly slightly bent, and maybe some other things that i didnt notice. With all the work the motor has had, it just makes me worry.

**Honda Lover** · 08-15-2005, 12:09 AM

Also, said he mixed the fuel like 40:1 , but didnt know what it really should be. I dont know to much about two strokes, so I wasnt sure either.

**Dammit!** · 08-15-2005, 12:10 AM

Offer him $500. Actually offer him $450 first. Point out all the broken and/or rigged items while you're negotiating. Z's are sweet trikes. Sounds like a project but if you're into doing the restore thing, snatch it up.

If you need bargaining power, I'm picking one up next weekend for $700 that sounds like it's in far better shape. It's ugly as hell but mechanically and structurally it seems to be pretty solid. Trikes in good shape are much more plentiful here in the southwest though. A few hundred for a project Z in the midwest doesn't sound too bad.

Edit: As far as the mixture is concerned, 40:1 would be ok if it's jetted right for it. Sounds like it may not be. What kind of premix oil he's using has a big impact as well. Don't worry about all that unless you buy it. We'll explain it for you then.

**Honda Lover** · 08-15-2005, 12:14 AM

Sounded like he kinda beats on it, when he told me he bent the axle jumping it, and put it in the water trying to water skip it. Also hit some trees with it which caused the bent rim(s).

**Honda Lover** · 08-15-2005, 12:17 AM

Oh, and i'll add one more thing, sorry about all my replies guys. He has a new axle on it after bending the other one, and the rim doesnt seem to bad. Also came with extra back tires, but one of those was bent to and was flat when he showed it to me.

**Dammit!** · 08-15-2005, 12:24 AM

Well, sport trikes do get ridden hard. They're made for it. Check the frame real closely looking for bends and cracks (or welds that look out of place). Check the main engine cases for cracks. Don't worry too much about the outer cases. They're easy enough to replace. See if the forks are straight. Check how badly bent the axle is. Minor bends can be straightened but replacing an axle can be expensive. Check the rear shock. It should NOT be real springy. When you push it down and let go it should rise up kinda slow instead of springing back up instantly.

What I look for in a potential restore project is a good frame, good main engine cases, no weird welds. Straight forks and a good shock are bonuses.

I guess the best advice is, know what you're getting yourself into and answer for yourself if this is the right kind of project for you. Sounds like a lot of work but for many of us here, that's half the fun.

Personally, I'd rather get a trike that needs work than one that's already mint. I'm selling a very clean trike I got only a couple months ago in order to pay for two project trikes instead and I'm way more excited about these two beaters than that super clean trike I found. Maybe I'm weird.

**OldManDM** · 08-15-2005, 12:55 AM

Personally, I'd rather get a trike that needs work than one that's already mint. I'm selling a very clean trike I got only a couple months ago in order to pay for two project trikes instead and I'm way more excited about these two beaters than that super clean trike I found. Maybe I'm weird.

^ya,definitely weird!!!!!

**OldManDM** · 08-15-2005, 01:02 AM

I guess the best advice is, know what you're getting yourself into and answer for yourself if this is the right kind of project for you. Sounds like a lot of work but for many of us here, that's half the fun.

i agree with

completely right here....you said yourself in another thread i just read that you don`t know much about trikes,and there`s not a thing wrong with that...but due to that fact,don`t let yourself get into a situation with a trike that you know very little about,and end up with a project that`s gonna end up being a nightmare that you wouldv`e never purchased had you known more about what you were looking for in the first place!

maybe you can find someone in your area on one of the forums that knows more about trikes who could possibly help you out in looking into the tri z and can better tell you if it`s worth it or not.......it`s virtually impossible for those of us on here who can`t see the trike to tell you whether it`s worth messing with or not....

but best of luck on it if you decide to pick it up!

**chris200x** · 08-15-2005, 02:19 AM

couldn't of said it any better.

so

that's why your intrested in tri z headlights!

Personally I would look elsewhere. Parts for the triz (most of them anyway) are getting hard to find and very expensive.

**Dammit!** · 08-15-2005, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by chrisr200x

Personally I would look elsewhere. Parts for the triz (most of them anyway) are getting hard to find and very expensive.

Depends on who you ask. I'm finding most of the stuff I'm going to need so far. Plastics seem to be the hardest part but we have a board member making some of the discontinued ones now. You can use a lot of parts from other bikes (YZ dirtbikes, banshees, etc).

Of course, I don't actually have the bike in my posession yet so who knows how it will turn out.

**Honda Lover** · 08-15-2005, 11:35 PM

Well, i dont think i'm gonna get it, but if anybody else is interested in it send me a pm and i'll give you the guys number.

Thanks for the help guys

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Looked at a tri-z today