surprised at Big Red's fun level

[jd2210]

I do a fair amount of ATV riding, mostly on a 650 Cat. I wouldn't say I'm harcore but I know a fair amount about the sport. Anyway, two weeks ago my wife's grandfather had his retirement auction, and I bought his 1985 250 Honda Big Red (ATC250ES) for keeping up at the cabin. There isn't a body panel left on it that hasn't been destroyed, the healight is missing and the handlebars are badly bent.

But, man is that thing ever a blast. I know they are "dangerous" and all but hokey smokes can a guy waste a day having fun on that thing. We live in a very marshy/boggy area where 4x4' ATV's never get switched to 2wd, and I can't believe where all I can take this thing and not get it stuck. Even when it does get bogged down, I can just lift it out. I went through a beaver pond with only the seat not submerged and the sucker made it. Neat unit.

When I got it, it had no battery so I've been using the kickstart. First kick every time (when I've remembered to put it into neutral)

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

we used to float them in the ponds and bayous . they realy never get stuck . when the mud got to thick and the water got to high the three wheeler would just pop up like a cork in the water and we would just give it a little gas and the tires would act like paddles.

 

[darkday]

Honda knows how to make a darn good engine. I just pulled my 60" mower that I pull behind my gator. I has something like a 12hp honda engine in it that has an electric start and a pull start for backup. Sure enough my battery was toast after the winter so I prepared myself to pull for the next few minutes to try and start it. to my amazement after all that time in storage one pull did it! :O It wasn't even a hard pull either. I have a JD generator that is very hard to turn over and even harder to start. It is a must to have a working battery for it to get started. I'm sold on honda's quality.

 

[Tractors4u]

I had a 200 Big Red and if I could find a deal on a nice 250 Big Red I would buy it in a heart beat. They are only as dangerous as the one driving it. They are especially good in dense woods. They are more manueverable in tight places than a 4 wheeler. When I was teenager we had a Honda 110 three wheeler. We would air up the tires over what it was rated and float it, of course I was much lighter back then.

 

[JESSE1]

If you want a really good 3 wheeler try to find a Honda 250SX. It was a little smaller than the Big Red but it had shaft drive and reverse. Faster than a Big Red and very good handling for a 3 wheeler.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I currently have an 85 big red 250 es I'm thinking of selling. Pm me if interested.

Matt T.

 

[ken8400]

we have 3 big reds. the kids are always riding them. just can't kill them. change oil and plugs every spring , good to go. i see them flying around on them , it gets parked.

 

[Tractors4u]

I currently have an 85 big red 250 es I'm thinking of selling. Pm me if interested.

Matt T.

If you weren't so far away I would be tempted.

 

[jd2210]

If you want a really good 3 wheeler try to find a Honda 250SX. It was a little smaller than the Big Red but it had shaft drive and reverse. Faster than a Big Red and very good handling for a 3 wheeler.

Mine has both reverse (on the LH handle bar) and shaft drive. Maybe that's what I have then is the SX. The identifier says its a ATC250ES which my hardcore buddy calims is for the sure a Big Red (the 250 version) but I could stand to be corrected. The reverse has actually been pretty handy in some tight spots.
One of my employees has the 200 Big Red, also an 85 and it is chain drive, pull start backup and no reverse. He has a trap line and takes the old girl on it every time. Great machines.

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

If you weren't so far away I would be tempted.

the 250sx is a tamed down version of the 250r and the 350 . man that 350 was a bad mamba jamba. so was the 250r. i wish they would still make them things.