Tecates vs.

[tecatecrazy]

I'm sure you guys have beat this subject into the ground many times before but being new to the trike world I know very little about trikes other that the tecate ('84). I got to say that I am very pleased with the power this thing has ( keihin carb, weisco piston, pvl ignition, and a unifilter) but I'm not to happy with the suspension ( at least for jumping purposes). I was just wondering how bad I am missing out, if at all, by owning a tecate over a different sport trike? Just somethin' to talk about.

[Lots_Of_Nothing]

well the tecate is a nice trike, but i have an 84 250R (honda), and out of all the trikes i have owned and drove any of the 250r's prove to be the best, they are fast, good suspension, reliable, and get you through pretty much anything.
in my oppinion the Honda 250R's are the best trikes, they range in years from 1981-1986

[3WheelHouston]

Tecate's and 250r's are like Raptors and 400ex's today. The Tecate and the Raptor are faster and more powerful, but the 250r and the ex handle much better so they come out on top in the twisties. That analogy make sense?

I guess I ll add my two cents worth and get the Kawi/Honda debate going again. In reply to 3wheelhouston comments about comparing tecate 3 vs the atc250r is like comparing the raptor vs the 400ex is partially correct. I feel the raptor has more power mainly because it has 260 cc more than the 400ex . I do agree that the 400ex handles better than the raptor. But to compare the tecate3 vs atc250r and say that the kawi has alot more power is wrong. I have raced my stock 86atc250r vs my stock 87 tecate and have had the atc250r beat the tecate 85% of the time in drag races from 0-100 yds, 0-150 yds, 0-250 yds. The drag races started in frist gear, 2nd gear starts, rolling starts in 1 st and 2nd gear. I have even had other people race them the same way and have had very similar outcomes. The handling difference is very close and the tecate3 edges out the250r in the high speed full throttle slides by abit. But the handling else where is even. I also own a 2001 raptor,2000 400ex,88trx250r and the good old 86atc350x. All of the above bikes are excellent rides. I also can hardly wait for honda's new sport/hi-performance quad to come out if they ever do release one.
This is my past ride evaluation of the above bikes and I also understand that some other riders might have different outcomes with the above bikes.
Have fun riding no matter what your ride is.

[Jeb]

Here's what your missing out on! :-D

Do you really think a guy with a bunch of Honda's is going to praise a Kawasaki Tecate????

Dont judge all Tecates on the 84/85. Though they are awesome and have a top end engine thats phenomenal.

The 86/87 has worlds better suspension than the 84/85. It has the biggest forks ever put on a 3 wheeler (41mm) and it has a bit more lowend thanks to the KIPS (powervalve) motor. It floats low and slides like you wouldn't believe. In the right hands (which are not mine, sadly ) it's unstopable, but don't underestimate the 85/86 250R. You can't bobble or it'll spank ya. I like the 85/86 250R and I'm not putting it down, but stock for stock it absolutely does not out handle the 86 Tecate. It might out handle the 84/85 all right but the 86 Tecate is the best handling trike in tight twisty trails and tracks that I've ever ridden.

[tecatecrazy]

hey Jeb, If you are sill following this post, would '86 triples and the rest of the front end from an '86 fit on an '84 T3? I was considering putting on an '85 front end to upgrade to disc brakes but if an '86 will fit, why not take advantage of the suspension upgrade as well. :Pimp

[Jeb]

yep, the 86 triple tree will bolt right on, allowing you to slip the giant 86 forks in, upgrade to the taller narrower front tire, and the better 86/87 disc brake....except for one problem....what do you do with the radiator? also, i'm not sure about the steering stops, you might have to remove them or something.

well, for the radiator, you can zip-tie it on :shock: , or drill and tap some bolt holes in the clamps. or hunt up one of those old radiator kits to add a single radiator down under the gas tank. It could be done, I saw a pic of an 85 with an 86 front end once. I couldn't tell how they were holding on the radiator.

[KingTecate]

Man now that ive found this web site i feel like a kid in a candy store!! I haven't had my tecate long so i haven't had a chance to race many other people, atleast no quads bigger than a 300. so how would a tecate or any other 250 2 stroke hold up against some of the new 400 + 4stroke quads in a flat out drag race?

ride
84 tecate

[tecatecrazy]

Man I would love to modify my T3 and make it all custom. BTW are any other parts interchangable i.e. motor, swing arm or plastics etc.?

[250rmanfmf]

Both are Great Trikes, my 85' 250R has never lost to a tecate but wouldnt mind having a tecate too.

My opnion, 250R Faster better suspesion, 250R better trike but Tecate not far behind, still very fast great trike.

[Kilborg]

I have to disagree. The late model 250r's were the best handling trikes, period. The later t3's were pretty good, but still no 250r. The t3 makes up for the handling with the extra power.

Personally, I feel the 250r is a faster overall machine with its better handling and suspension. The t3 can outrun it (not by much, either) in the straights. The only gripe I have with my 250r is the forks have just a twitch too much rebound.

As far as tight, twisty stuff goes, i would give that to a 200x or a 350x with the proper rider. 4 strokes are inherently better woods machines, They hook up better, and don't have the instantaneous power surge of a 2 stroke.

[ATC crazy]

I've ridden tecates and ATC250R's for years now and there is no question that the ATC250R is the most powerful, best handling, and all around best performance trike ever made hands down. The tecate is a good trike but the 250R is just better than it. My friend and I have raced them in drag races, on motocross tracks, and tight trails and the 250R always crosses the finish line first no matter who rides them.

[Kilborg]

On the contrary. The 250r and Tecate motors are completely different worlds. Late model tecates make basically all topend, the midrange isnt bad, but the bottom end is flat in comparison.

The 250r, on the other hand, Pulls like a raped ape on the bottom and midrange, and the power tapers off quite early.

In a drag race, If the 250r and Tecate guys are riding their machines proper, the Tecate will not pull a R until about 4th gear. The R hangs right with it til they top out, where the t3 has a touch more speed.

[350Xrider]

I'll have to disagree with the best all around performance trike, that definately has to go to the 350X. It has all the power and speed you'll be needing, without all the loading up and fouling plugs, and it has more lugging around power as well.

HEY Guys
I agree with the guys who are saying that a 86atc250r is all around better than a 87 tecate3. I own 2-87tecate3 that are in complete stock form and a 86atc250r completely stock. The tecate3 handles great with the throttle on full blast the best but the atc250r handles great with the throttle full blast or half throttle or very little throttle. So, from that I would say the honda handles better than the tecate3( in the woods, mx track and fireroads). As for drag racing/races. I have raced the 87 tecate3 vs the 86atc250r in short, medium and long drags and 86atc250r seems to beat the tecate9 out of 10 times. I have started the bikes both with rolling starts in 2nd and 3rd and even1st gear for fairness to both bikes. The honda seems to come out on top 90% of the drags. The other 10% of the drags the honda and the kawi are usually tied or the kawi 3-6 feet ahead. I agree that the kawi has a great midrange and awsome top end pull and not alot on the bottom. And the 86atc250r has an awsome bottom to midrange pull and great topend until you shift into 6th gear. As far as suspension goes the honda wins this battle as well, even though the 87 tecate3 has the larger (41mm vs 39mm) front forks. I know some people will say that I am just another Honda guy singing honda's praises but I am not that way . I own 2-87 tecate3, 86atc250r,96 &97 kx250 and a 02 cfr450r in my stable. When I ride these bikes I go out and perform the same tests on each of them and I don't say honda does this better than a kawi because the name is honda or vice versus because its a kawi. How the bikes perform for me is how I tell other people what the bikes can and can't do. I understand that sometimes you can get a lemon from the factor or the carb isn't adjusted right for your area or riding style. But, I d like to think that the two 87 tecate3 that I have are excellent rides but the 86 atc250r just does things a bit better than the tecates. This my personal experience when comparing the 86atc250r vs 87tecate3 and I am sure other people might have a different type experience when comparing the same two bikes.Have a blast riding out there. 8)