New here and need some unbiased input

[FastZ28]

Hello all,
New to the boards, just found it. I used to own an 85 200s ATC. Thrashed the crap out of it for 6 yrs. I joined the ARMY came back home and Dad had sold both my ATC's. I had picked up an 83-84 200s off my aunt. Well now I got the itch to ride something again. Not looking to spend alot but want something with more power than the 200s had, and preferrably rear suspension. Well a few weeks ago I saw a 87 TRX 250X for sale pretty ragged, but for $800. I didn't have my truck with and was 1.5 hours from home so I passed on it.
Now I realize its hard to find anything under $1000.
My buddys at work tell me to get a TRX 400EX if I want something thats fun. I never rode a four wheeler so I dunno if I really would need a 400 to have fun.
I told them I was looking at maybe getting another ATC and they just laughed and said it will never keep up or handle aswell as a 4 wheeler. So that sorta makes me wanna get a ATC just to smoke his butt... he has an 05 TRX 450R.

So will an ATC out handle a TRX?
Which is more fun to ride? ATC or TRX?

I found a 84 250R ATC for sale locally : Bored .080, new yellow tires w/ 3" spacers $1200 OBO. Looks like it needs a little work, seat is tore in 2 spots maybe more, ( it was dark)
Didn't really wanna go the 2-stroke route, prefer the torque of a 4-stroke and the sound is easier on the ears.
Found a 200X on craigslist a few hours away: 1986 HONDA ATC 200X IN VERY GOOD ORIGINAL CONDITION WITH TITLE, IT IS RED WHITE AND BLUE FIVE SPEED TRANS TRIKE IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION RUNS AND LOOKS VERY NICE ALL ORIGINAL EXCEPT FOR NEW SPIDER TRAC TIRES $1150 firm.

Any input is appreciated.
Thanks

[bassman]

200x will not keep up nor handle better than a 450. If you want to keep up with him, you only have one choice, and thats to go with a 2 stroke. 350x is the fastest 4 stroke 3 wheeler.

[IrvSLedman]

yeah and the 250r is the only real chance you have.. the 450Rs are badass...I own a 350x and have ridden a 250r and a tecate 250. i prefer my 350x with its all around power. and you cant go wrong with it, but wont keep up. the 250r.. its dicey from what i have seen, but who knows. good luck hope ya find a good trike. ( dont give into the 4 wheelers)

[ATC-Eric]

87 TRX ragged 250r for $800? I say wait until something better comes along. Look into the 250r 3 wheelers, I was never a 2 stroke guy, then I got one, and want more!


Never handle as well as a 4 wheeler ay? Your friends are just scared! If you got a trike you would eat them alive depending. I think you should go to the guy wanting $1200 OBO and have $1000 in cash. I bet he takes it! If not, its still a good deal for $1200 depending. Look at the 250r in the daylight to get a better idea of what it really needs, then get some more advice from the good people of 3wheelerworld.

Good luck.

[bassman]

Its not a 250r, its a 250x lol. I would have gone for it, because they're basically a 300ex, and are fun as hell.

[random-strike]

there are situations where a quad will handle better.

they will kick your butt if you try and race them on trails that already have quad ruts dug into them

[ATC-Eric]

there are situations where a quad will handle better.

they will kick your butt if you try and race them on trails that already have quad ruts dug into them

How long have you been on a trike?

[FastZ28]

Well I used to ride alot for about 6 years on my 200s, but sadly I havn't riden for about 12 years. I used to be pretty good with it, would give my buddy with a Warrior a good run for his money.

[Derrick Adams]

Quads obviously will handle better, they have more points of contact with the ground. But, as far as which is more fun to ride, 3 wheelers are the hands down winner.
Any fool can jump on a quad and ride it. It takes honed skills and finesse to ride a 3 wheeler.
There are very few 3 wheelers that can keep up with a 450R and only in a straight line. You start throwing in turns or jumps and you might as well forget it. Now mud is a whole different story!

[250r'en +TCB]

Quads obviously will handle better, they have more points of contact with the ground.

There are very few 3 wheelers that can keep up with a 450R and only in a straight line. You start throwing in turns or jumps and you might as well forget it. Now mud is a whole different story!

Sorry Derrick but I'm gonna have to disagree with you there......... If you can take a slightly modded 85/6 250R and race a 450 quad on a flat surface you will have the turning capabilities to out maneuver him (if you know how to ride a trike that is ) Hanging off the side of it with just enough of your leg on the inside to touch the foot peg!!!! With my 310 cylinder I scream past modded 450's now, as for the turning department they stand a snowball's chance in hell with me having a short track kit

But as far as qauds just handling all out "better" I disagree. The only situation where the triker stands basically no chance of beating a quad is on rutted trails I've always found that if you know how to ride a 3 wheeler you can go in circles around quads, that was before the ST kit by the way

Oh I almost forgot, ATC's are WAY more fun to ride!!!!

[gravelord]

get a 250R, get as much work done to it as you can , make sure you get a liquid cooled model, then smoke his ass. air cooled ones arent so bad either, since your price range is kind of beat.

[Huffa]

I don't favor one over the other, both 3 and 4 wheelers are fun to ride. Would be nice to have both a 3 and a 4 wheeler in a 2 and 4 stroke version. Depending on your mood on that particular day, one of the 4 will suit you better then the other 3.

A 3 wheeler can keep up with a 4 wheeler in certain situations if your willing to swing the bod around more (body english in other words) to accomplish the same feats that a 4 wheeler is doing.

I feel so good when I concour the same terrain as a 2,3,4,$5000 four wheeler on my $500 trike. Go with what you think will make you happy, either way, 3 or 4 I'm sure you won't be dissapointed.

If I had to make only one choice as to what trike it would be for all around performance the 350X without any hesitation would be my pick and a four wheeler would be the air cooled 400EX. A 250 four stroke in either format is a bit short winded in my opinion and a 450 R is a bit too potent for what I sense you have in mind.

Better to spend more and buy one in real nice shape then to get a cheapie and have it nickel and dime you constantly, unless of course you rip it down and rebuild it from the ground up.

Good luck and let us know what you ended up getting.

Hey, where are you from in PA ??

[tyman]

1986 HONDA ATC 200X IN VERY GOOD ORIGINAL CONDITION WITH TITLE, IT IS RED WHITE AND BLUE FIVE SPEED TRANS TRIKE IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION RUNS AND LOOKS VERY NICE ALL ORIGINAL EXCEPT FOR NEW SPIDER TRAC TIRES $1150 firm.

hmmm.... maybe its just me buuuutttttt...... didn't all 86's have a 6 speed tranny?? mine does and my dad's does... both 86... so i'm doubting its an 86.. maybe just an 85 with white plastics and stuff... or an 86 with a tranny conversion??? which i wouldn't see why anyone wouldn't want an 86 with a 6 speed... just my preference.. but i love the 6 speeds....

if i'm wrong please correct me.. but 86=6 speed....

tyman

[Dammit!]

You're in the wrong place for unbiased input.

Seriously though, wether or not you can keep up with your buddies 450R depends on what kind of riding you'll be doing together. If it's tight stuff where you can't stretch a fast bike out at all, you'd be able to keep up on a simple 200x most likely. In wide open places though, your only bet is one of the 2-stroke sport trikes.

[BigGreenMachine]

Look for a nice Kawasaki Tecate in great shape. They sell for dirt cheap compared to 250R's and with some right mods will be with a TRX top speed wise. Almost everywhere else the TRX will hand any two stroke trike its ass. Sorry guys.