Honda 3 wheeler 250 project

[tylertown]

I recently purchased a Honda 250 I got a really good deal on it but don't know a lot about them. it has a slight oil leak and is running on no airfilter. it runs great though. all the gears work as they should. no front brakes. it leaks oil from what looks like the cam shaft on some type of timing sensor or vba im not real sure I posted a pic of it paid 200 for it.

the only problem I can see is the forks broke or the shocks disappeared and someone tried to rig it back together and the front wheel is at a slight angle. are these good bikes? I like it a lot but looking to buy a parts bike to get the forks off of and a few minor pieces.

 

[tylertown]

if anyone can tell me the year model I would appreciate it ha. or how to find out..

 

[ferrari99]

Nice! All I know is three wheelers have a very high center of gravity.

 

[nickc]

the id tag is on the neck behind the headlamp. it looks like maybe a 1985-6 big red. had lots of fun on those things, be careful !!

 

[heviduty]

Dad had a Big Red that looked similar to yours back in the early eighties...??? I think. I remember the headlight was detatchable and could be used as a searchlight. It was a very dependable machine. The only problem I remember him having was the gas tank kept springing leaks.

 

[Zebrafive]

I agree, looks like a Big Red. I think you oil leak is a seal on the cam shaft. IIRC three wheeler sales were banned do to their poor handling, you had to really lean and unload one rear wheel to make tight turns. Have fun with it.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Does it have shaft drive or chain drive? If shaft drive my guess is it is a Big Red as mentioned. They were similar in design (drive train and engine) to the Honda 300 four-wheeler of the time. Get it fixed up and it should be bullet proof, they were great machines. They were banned due to the government trying to protect people from themselves :thumbsdown:, just like the Suzuki Samurai, Jeep CJ, etc. They are perfectly safe for anyone with common sense and a little bit of riding ability.

 

[radioman]

It looks like atc200es . I think more likely 84. Maybe 85. I know the 250SX well. The rack is too small on yours, and the tank is wrong color for 250. Seat is smaller too and motor side is different. Ebay is your best best for parts or pick up another one just like it locally for parts.

 

[pycoed]

Model no. & year will be on a sticker on the left hand frame down tube, just below the tank.

 

[kebo]

I agree, looks like a Big Red. I think you oil leak is a seal on the cam shaft. IIRC three wheeler sales were banned do to their poor handling, you had to really lean and unload one rear wheel to make tight turns. Have fun with it.

Yeah, you do have to be careful making turns, and especially going up/down steep hills!! It's worse than doing it on a tractor LOL. On the other hand, with a little practice, you can ride that thing on two wheels (front tire and one rear) for a country mile!!!!

 

[xp190]

My neighbor has one of these, he also has a newer four wheeler and says he will never give up the Big Red, even though his caught on fire and needed all wiring redone.

Good buy, it will run for a long time.

xp

 

[lostcause]

it looks about the same as the one i remember as a teenager. is it chain or shaft drive? does it have high/low only, or does it have reverse? are you sure it is a 250cc engine? i remember ours as an 82 or 83 model big red - electric start, enclosed chain drive, high/low (no reverse). i was also thinking it was only 200cc back then. the later models - 84? had shaft drive & reverse.

 

[nickc]

you can ride it on the two rear tires for a country mile too, it all body English. I miss my 250r. I like my kids to much to get another !

 

[Redbug]

I also think it is a 200 cc model, I had a 185s and a 250sx. Both wonderful machines in their day. Especially the 250sx. I never got hurt and spent days riding on them.

 

[Cpjlube]

I have an 86 200x. It was a fun little machine. Didn't steer so well, so I combined it with an older fourtrax that had a broken motor.







Chuck

 

[like2wheel]

There were 3) 200cc series machines in that era: the Big Red, 200M & 200S. Looks like it has the larger tires (25/12/9) so that rules out the 200s. If it doesn't have a hi/lo gear range its probably a 200M.

 

[Recoveryhill]

They were banned due to the government trying to protect people from themselves :thumbsdown:, just like the Suzuki Samurai, Jeep CJ, etc. They are perfectly safe for anyone with common sense and a little bit of riding ability.

I lost one of my closest friends to a "Big Red" accident when he was 22 years old. The number of injuries and fatalities three wheelers racked up were off the charts. I suppose you also object to seat belts and air bags?

 

[kebo]

I have an 86 200x. It was a fun little machine. Didn't steer so well, so I combined it with an older fourtrax that had a broken motor.

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Chuck

Hey Chuck, that is pretty slick!!! Nice ingenuity. After the 3 wheelers started getting a bad rap, there was a company that actually offered conversion kits that would turn the honda 3 wheelers into 4 wheelers. They were rather pricey though, and factory 4 wheelers pretty much put them out of business.

 

[hogheadCTD]

Id say 83 or 84 200M.

 

[DieselnHooters]

The BigRed 250 had a foot kick starter, yours is a hand pull. Also the 250 had an oïl shock absorber in the rear, I am willing to bet yours does not, so you can rule out the 250