84 atc250r or 85 tecate 250

[gunney10]

Hi everyone. I am new to the trike seen. I am in Amarillo, TX. I am looking at buying a fixer upper. I have a choice between a 84 Honda atc250r and an 85 kxt250. They are both complete and run. They are also the same price. Any help would be appreciated.
Gunney

[MonroeMike]

Welcome aboard.

Do you have pics of these machines?

[gunney10]

I do not have pics of the atc yet. Here is a pic of the tecate.

[Side Wayz]

If they are they way you say I would go 84 R I think its easier to get parts but there both great toys I would go honda myself, good luck.

[fabiodriven]

Tecate all the way baby!!!!!!!!

[litebulblsc]

Get 'em both

[OZQUAD44]

Look I'm clearly bias considering I own an 87 Tecate, but I think for the same money I would got for the Tecate without hesitation. The example you put up is a very nice example, in fact, they don't often come along as nice as that. The rarity of the Tecate means it will always have some intrinsic value over the more common 84 250R. I agree that the 84 R will be easier to get parts for, but the 85 Tecate is much easier to source parts for than an 87 Tecate, so I can't see the drama personally. The fuel tank and the rear fender both look in great condition and thats half the battle with the Tecate's.

If your a petrol head, then You'll be please to know that in a drag race (stock for stock) the Tecate will smash an 84 250R, and the steering on the Tecate is sharp as a tack and was always one of its strong points. Admittedly the 250R will probably be the more reliable of the two, and dare I say it a better trail machine. But even saying that, the Tecate isn't overly complicated. Make sure the stator, flywheel and coil are all in good working order and you shouldn't have too many dramas with the old girl.

From My point of view, I would give my left nut for a Tecate in that condition. The 85 was the second Tecate that Kawasaki made, and is an improvement on their first attempt (which was the 84). The Tecate was the reason the 85 ATC250R was such a good machine. It woke honda up, as the Tecate was a real demon on the race track, they could no longer spit out rehash designs for their flagship machine that were conceived in the late seventies.

I look at the 84R as the last of the Hondas that were designed without the strong competition of Kawasaki or Yamaha. To that end they are reliable, they go well, and they're comfortable. Unfortunately they will always be considered the poor cousin to the impressive 85 and 86 250R's in my opinion. I suspect that others would share this view.

[fabiodriven]

^^^What he said^^^

[dcreel]

That is definitely a nice Tecate. I would pick that up ina heartbeat over an air cooled 250R for the same price. If you aren't going to pick up that tecate why don't you pm me the info on it. Where is it, how much do they want for it. That tecate looks better everythime I look at the picture. Somebody gave the frame a paint job. The tecate does seem to be an 84 though. 84 footpegs, 84 Tecate rear wheels, and the front brake, fork, and hub is 84 Tecate with the front drum brake. I'd take an 84 Tecate over an 84 250R too though. Good luck on your purchase.

However I'm not diggin the zip tie holding the carb in the intake boot. :-)

Hell, I'd still buy it. Somebody even stripped the paint off of the front fork lowers. Somebody took great care with that.

[Tecate 50]

Team Green all the way.....

[leviblue]

take the T3......there's alot of 84Rs around

[nd4speed]

Tecate is liquid cooled and may be better for hot Texas and I thought was considered to be better performer than the 1984 Honda back in 1984. That Tecate is in great shape in the picture.

I would buy that Tecate but I am biased also.

If it was liquid cooled 1985 Honda 250R i would buy Honda

[aldochina]

i agree that tecate looks real nice. Now if the 250r is not as nice its clearly an easy decision. Hopefully the R is not pristine, or you will want both for those prices!!

[audioworks04]

Exactly what ozquad said. That tecate looks very clean so you shouldnt have to worry too much about parts other than general wear and tear items that can somewhat easily be found.

[beets442]

Hands down 84' R in a minute.:drool:

[code200k]

being a yamaha man myself i would say go with the t3. may i ask what the prices are??

[gunney10]

They are $500 a piece by the way. I did not want the price of trikes to sway peoples opinions. Any more input. I am kind of leaning toward the Tecate.

[Dammit!]

I'm a Honda guy but that's a nice looking T3. Is the Honda in similar condition?

The real deciding factor should be based on a couple things though. What kind of riding are you going to be doing, what kind of rider are YOU and, is this going to be your ONLY 3 wheeler?

If you're going to trail ride it, maybe some "for fun" type racing with buddies and/or consider yourself a casual rider, I'd say the '84 R would be a solid choice. The '84 R has a little edge in the suspension department too.

If you're main interest is racing or you're just a white knuckle type of rider, I'd go for the T3. Stock for stock, the T3 will kill the air cooled R in a drag race. Top speed is similar but the Tecates come off the line like little green rocket ships.

If this is NOT going to be your only 3 wheeler, a nice T3 like that is more rare than a R. Take that into consideration. Around here, air cooled R's are pretty much a dime a dozen.

[fabiodriven]

Dude, $500?!?! That is an absolute steal for that Tecate! GRAB IT BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE DOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jeepermc]

For reference I paid $400 for this 85 Tecate......

[T3 LOPES]

id buy them both for that price.

[yammer hammer]

I would get the tecate, If it was me.

[RoscoW]

id buy them both for that price.

X2 on that