YT175 (practical) or a Tecate (just plain fun)

[200XMichigan]

I am not at all familiar with the YT175 trike, I mean I know its a 2 stroke O/I, air cooled, front suspension, no rear...and all its specs....but I never hear people talk about them much.

What do you like about them? Do they handle decent. They are pretty light.

Also I have seen a trailer hitch made for them. Can they tow that much? Like a trailer full of firewood or something? I have a large area of woods I would like to clear and if the YT175 can tow much it would be more useful.

I know the Tecate is wicked fast and that sounds awesome. But the trails around me are really tight and I would only get to open the Tecate up on some dirt roads and 2 tracks. But we do have Silver Lake sand dunes down state, and dune riding on a high power trike looks incredible.

The Tecate is missing the front brake, has new plastics and a clutch. He is asking $800, but I wouldn't pay more than $600.

The YT175 is in great shape. It doesn't need anything. I am really leaning towards it. Since my 200X will be getting rebuilt I really want something that is going to not need anything major until the 200X is done. The Tecate runs good but you can tell it has had a harder life than the YT175.

So anyone that owns either of these tell me what you like, don't like. I know the machines are completely different. But what would you guys do, get the practical YT175, thats really clean, good for trails and working around the yard and doesn't need anything, or get the Tecate that is just going to haul ass, and leave almost anything else in the dust.

If I could only get both.

[atcrider1]

my brother had a tri moto 175, it was ok, not the fastest thing.

but the first time i rode my uncles 85 tecate i fell in love with it, i would love to find a good deal on one

id go with the tecate

[Sparkplugkid]

do you want to use either trike for utility, then definetly get the YT. I have pulled my yamaha phazer fx on a sled trailer behind it down the gravel road no problem.

[200XMichigan]

That's good to know. I really could use a utility trike. But I really want something scary fast. Tough decision.

[Vealmonkey]

I think of 4 strokes as more utility trikes than 2 strokes. That's why yamaha had the ytm200. Tecate was a performance trike more so than the yt, but the yt has lots of potential. There are rear suspension kits for the yt if you can find them. You can do any 2 stroke mod to the yt that you can do to a regular 2 stroke engine. There are other parts that you can swap onto the yt to really pep it up. You can even swap some parts out and make your yt a manual shift 5 speed with kick or pull start if you want to take the time. It all depends on what you want.

[OZQUAD44]

YT175 is a pretty rare thing, might be OK now but getting spares for those things is going to get harder and harder. At least with the Tecate there are a few around and they have a bit of a cult following, so spares and remanufactured parts are always going to be far easier to get than the YT175.

I remember riding a newish low hour YT175 in the eighties. It had far too much power for the chassis, but not enough really to be a contender, a bit of a miss match in my opinion. Really hurt it having no rear suspension, and it wasn't the most stable of the three wheelers, took some getting used to. But having said all that, If you want a bit of fun, and some towing ability. It might just be perfect for you!

As for the TECATE. If it was me I would be going for the TECATE no contest at all. But you would have to expect a higher maintenance liability, and power delivery more at home in wider spaces. But there are people who trail ride tecates with no problems. Its all in the clutch control, doesn't mean you have to get around at warp factor nine every where you go, It will just feel more at home at those speeds. There would be no towing going on with the tecate, or at least there is no way you should tow anything with one, but in almost every other department a Tecate would slaughter a YT175.

[200XMichigan]

Yeah, I am leaning more toward the Tecate. The raw power and handling would be awesome. I have seen a torque spacer that goes between the reed cage to space it further from the intake to make it more powerful at lower RPM's. I figure if I get the Tecate I should be able to use my old Bolens garden tractor to do my utility stuff. It would just be a lot cooler to have a utility trike.

[cox]

Im a big fan of my yt175 and for your app thats what i would go with. Thats my 2 cents....

[200XMichigan]

I know the YT would be more useful. Its a tough decision.