What is a racing trike worth???

[MorganHonda200!]

What would be a reasonable price to pay for a racing trike? Im intested in buying one in the future and want to know how much I should pay. Would not matter if it is a 200, 250 350, unless you guys suggest which one in better.

[Dirtcrasher]

A "racing trike" I consider to be an 85/86 liquid cooled ATC 250R. In the USA, for 1200$, you can have a nice trike of any given type, at least in this economy :D It will be tougher to find and may cost you more in Canada.

A 350X is fast, tons of torque, amble suspension but has a much heavier feel and less of the throttle snap of a 250R. They are great track and trail machines....... But not nearly the same suspension.

Any 200X thats modified can also be considered a "racing trike". It's all in whats been done to it but they can be fairy light and nimble.

You've asked a very general question. It depends on your individual needs and abilities so thats the best I can do without much more specific information.

[keister]

I've seen people start on a 200X then graduate up to 350 and/or air cooled R - then liquid R.
This seems to be a good way to gain the skills on a smaller machine - as you get faster - get the next trike up the ladder.
If that sounds like an option for you, then you can get into the sport for under $1000.

Of course, some people have the natural ability to start with the very fastest trike. $1500 - $2000 US was my budget when searching for an 85-85 250R. $2K should get a you a serviceable, solid machine, even in Canada, I would think.

[MorganHonda200!]

Thanks, I would think a 250 will be my start.

[SWIGIN]

So you don't mean an ex raced trike?

Need to be more clear next time.

[dirtbiken]

Any 250 is a racing trike. but it if it was me I would buy a tecate, there so awesome

[SWIGIN]

Any 250 is a racing trike. but it if it was me I would buy a tecate, there so awesome

Hardly.......

250 bigred
250sx

way too open to say any 250. I have raced and I don't consider a stock 250R, tri-z, or tecate a ''racing'' trike....or any stock machine for that matter.

But I guess the OP ment just that so the 3 I just posted would be the most race ready of them all. This question is like asking how blue the sky is....

[southtexas250r]

it all mostly depends on what kind of experience you have... have you ever riddin a 2 stroke???? if not i would start with a air cooled atc250r i have one comepletley stock nice smooth bike.. mine is a 1983 83,s and 84,s were air cooled but they had the better suspension... if you only want to buy one racing trike and not keep having to upgrade with your skill level id get a 85 0r 86 atc 250r or a TRI-Z 250.... i used to have a 85 atc250r and it was fast and the suspension was great but this 85 tri-z 250 i have now will wax its ass all day long.... yamaha and honda were pretty much the most reliable brands you could ever own and you see alot of old yamaha's and hondas still around.. all i can say is be careful cause they will come out from underneath you... i paid 800 for my 83 atc 250r i got it cheap because it wouldnt start all it needed was a spark plg and i found my tri z on craigslist got it for aout 950... soo good luck to you...

[brapp]

i have owned all 3 cant beat a 2nd gen 250r if your on a budget but its wellworth the little more for a liquid r.

[oldskool83]

I got a 85 250r for 680, normaly you never see them that low in decent shape that run good but deals are out there. im a smaller rider but i do feel like i have more room on this then my 1st gen 200x.

i wanted a 250r because of all the after markeret support there was out there still, but im still changing stuff up.

and to answer you question on worth, every trike labeled as a race trike can differer from the real race trikes. a stock 250r is going to be one price, a moded out oldschool racer will be another price. a tiger race trike will be totaly dif price.

if what your really trying to ask if what is a tri-z, tecate3, or 250r worth in general, i would say the norm price is $1200-2000 in good shape depending on different areas.

I will agree with swigin, no stock labled to be racing bike is a true race bike. ive seen his and road his 1st hand to really get an idea of whats all involved with a true race bike and about the only thing they share is they look the same as a labeled model.

does that help?

[Tecate 50]

Depends on what type of racing you are talking about.....mx or drag racing! If you plan on airing it out, then a modified "Not Stock" liquid 250R would would probably be your best bet, just ask Kintore! But your basic run of the mill racing on average tracks on dirt or ice....the first gen Tecate in my opinion is the best bet. Small, light, and out handles them all in my opinion. The Tecate isnt getting to much credit here as they can easily make huge power with the right combination.....so I will tell you this, if you wanna go fast.....get a Tecate! Us Indiana boys run Tecate's, so if there is any dought about them, just ask around. And as far a quickness goes.......I say this quote "I have never been beat by any other liquid bike to date in a 300 foot drag race". The Tecate crew will be at trikefest for any challengers with other makes and models........so if you plan on bringing home the drag race trophies as the Indiana Tecate's do every year........get ready now! Doom will be waiting......

[Tecate 50]

Depends on what type of racing you are talking about.....mx or drag racing! If you plan on airing it out, then a modified "Not Stock" liquid 250R would would probably be your best bet, just ask Kintore! But your basic run of the mill racing on average tracks on dirt or ice....the first gen Tecate in my opinion is the best bet. Small, light, and out handles them all in my opinion. The Tecate isnt getting to much credit here as they can easily make huge power with the right combination.....so I will tell you this, if you wanna go fast.....get a Tecate! Us Indiana boys run Tecate's, so if there is any dought about them, just ask around. And as far a quickness goes.......I say this quote "I have never been beat by any other liquid bike to date in a 300 foot drag race". The Tecate crew will be at trikefest for any challengers with other makes and models........so if you plan on bringing home the drag race trophies as the Indiana Tecate's do every year........get ready now! Doom will be waiting......

I got excited and off track.......its worth what you are willing to pay! Cost money and know how to go fast!

[Brianw]

No love for the 350x?

Its a great trike makes gobs of torque and handles fairly well. plus its a 4 stroke so if your just looking for a fast reliable ride its a good choice. i had a 250r sold it bought a 350x and havent regretted it for one second. smoother power delivery to me makes it easier to ride fast, my $0.02

[SWIGIN]

No love for the 350x?

Its a great trike makes gobs of torque and handles fairly well. plus its a 4 stroke so if your just looking for a fast reliable ride its a good choice. i had a 250r sold it bought a 350x and havent regretted it for one second. smoother power delivery to me makes it easier to ride fast, my $0.02

The 350x is a sport trike....he said racing trike......whatever that is....lol

IMO, anything sold with a head light is not a race machine. At least not out of the box.

[jadleybray]

Depends on what type of racing you are talking about.....mx or drag racing! If you plan on airing it out, then a modified "Not Stock" liquid 250R would would probably be your best bet, just ask Kintore! But your basic run of the mill racing on average tracks on dirt or ice....the first gen Tecate in my opinion is the best bet. Small, light, and out handles them all in my opinion. The Tecate isnt getting to much credit here as they can easily make huge power with the right combination.....so I will tell you this, if you wanna go fast.....get a Tecate! Us Indiana boys run Tecate's, so if there is any dought about them, just ask around. And as far a quickness goes.......I say this quote "I have never been beat by any other liquid bike to date in a 300 foot drag race". The Tecate crew will be at trikefest for any challengers with other makes and models........so if you plan on bringing home the drag race trophies as the Indiana Tecate's do every year........get ready now! Doom will be waiting......

Is there a build thread on this "unbeaten tecate"? I'd like to see it and the setup

[leviblue]

A $1500 race ready 250R ???? where???? A stock 85-86 250R is fine for trail/fun riding....now to race one NO WAY!!!!!! sure you can run it but to use it as a deadicated race bike no way no how for under $2000. My motor has more than 2 grand in it, my rear shock/carrier/axle is more than $2000....So come on guys and teel him the truth a RACE READY TRIKE will cost you. Go to a race and offer someone $1500 for their R and you'll get laughed at. Heck I think Josh could get $1000 for his plastics alone.......It's all what your willing to spend....kinda like racing stock cars at the local dirt track....you start off with a 4cly Pinto and move up to the big block mods.....There's allways the TPC 450 it's NEW, RACEREADY, and will run you around $8000 or so.......and after you spend the cash on it can you ride it ??? A true MXer will cost ya

[MorganHonda200!]

Thanks for the advice. Im gonna look more into the Tecate.

[Tecate 50]

Is there a build thread on this "unbeaten tecate"? I'd like to see it and the setup

No pics of the build.......I will answer any questions to the best of my ability in reference to my set up!

[DixiePlowboy]

A $1500 race ready 250R ???? where???? A stock 85-86 250R is fine for trail/fun riding....now to race one NO WAY!!!!!! sure you can run it but to use it as a dedicated race bike no way no how for under $2000. My motor has more than 2 grand in it, my rear shock/carrier/axle is more than $2000....

Kinda depends on what you're doing with it and whether or not you spend smart money or throw gobs at it. Considering the $750 I gave for my '85 R and having a clear realistic plan to reach my goal, I can easily see having less than $2K in mine......race ready.

[Kintore]

Race ready R's can be had for around 2-4g. Problem they are few and far between that are truly race built, and do not come up for sale often. You need to take a ride on a R, Z, 350x and a Tec to what you like the best. Its all about your riding style and what you want.

I have my inverts set HARD as a rock, some people HATE it, but that is the way I want it to feel for 80+ tripples. Keep in mind, if you do buy a race ready trike. Almost guarenteed you will not like something on it, wether it be motor, suspension, handling. My pink/yellow R is built to me and only me.

[leviblue]

Kinda depends on what you're doing with it and whether or not you spend smart money or throw gobs at it. Considering the $750 I gave for my '85 R and having a clear realistic plan to reach my goal, I can easily see having less than $2K in mine......race ready.
Lets say you have a stock 250R and wanna run it....great...but then after the abuse on stock 20yr plus bike you start noticing the rear isn't wide enough so you get a new axle....but you need a new carrier and choose spacers to save $$$, you can't cheap out on the carrier and stock doesn't cut it...so we're looking at $400-800 now....next that old Showa is gonna go so theres another $400-???.....and the forks what about new springs in the tubes???? your gonna need those...forget inverts they'll cost ya..won't even mention a new 2-4 swinger...So now your up to around $1750 and haven't touched the motor yet or even thought about tires. Just the pipe and silencer is $300-500 and any other mod work( cool head, etc). It costs some $$$ to build a MXer and it's worth it to do it right as you can and don't cheap out on old used parts otherwise you'll be spending more.....And buying one thats cheap only means your gonna do some work to get it setup for you. Like Josh said racebikes are built for the rider and his/her riding style and will need some tweeking to fit you, people don't seem to understand that. To be competitive outdoors your gonna pay for it. But indoors at Summit it's anyones game and Carl proved it on a stock 200X a few years back. I'm not saying it can't be done, I know of a few who race what they brung and thats cool cuz their out there too and just wanna have fun. I guess thats what it is all about....Good luck on getting that racer and Dixie don't cheap out on it build it BULIT PROOF it's cheaper in the long run and you'll be happier in the end............Hope to see and run with you on the track one day

[DixiePlowboy]

Well....this is how I'll do it.

Gave $750 for the R.

-used Dura Blue +4" from another member already in it.....$65 :)
-Billet bearing carrier.....came with it...$0 ( Where'd that $400-$800 go...lol.)

That old Showa will work just fine for TT and flattrack racing.....rebuilt myself-....less than $50
Forks? Sure don't need inverts for what I'm going to do.....wouldn't have to have them for MX either.....more $ saved

So I'm up to $965 and I'm not about to spend $300 + for the small difference a different brand pipe/silencer might give me.
Tires/wheels will set me back about $250

Bore/port/head mods/flywheel lightening/piston kit from Flotek.....$405
38 or 39 mm PWK.......$210

I'm up to $1730-ish
Gonna have another $210 in the short track tank and shrouds....up to $1940

Lowering link for the rear suspension built by my fabricating neighbor/drinking buddy-- costs a 6-pack

The Vortex twist throttle kit will put it up to $2K


This R with these parts and this setup will do fine at what I aim to do.....and will be a "race" machine as far as I'm concerned. No necessary expense spared, no corners cut.....just not a lot of fluff and $bling. To me, racing's business, not a spending contest.

[Tecate 50]

Well....this is how I'll do it.

Gave $750 for the R.

-used Dura Blue +4" from another member already in it.....$65 :)
-Billet bearing carrier.....came with it...$0 ( Where'd that $400-$800 go...lol.)

That old Showa will work just fine for TT and flattrack racing.....rebuilt myself-....less than $50
Forks? Sure don't need inverts for what I'm going to do.....wouldn't have to have them for MX either.....more $ saved

So I'm up to $965 and I'm not about to spend $300 + for the small difference a different brand pipe/silencer might give me.
Tires/wheels will set me back about $250

Bore/port/head mods/flywheel lightening/piston kit from Flotek.....$405
38 or 39 mm PWK.......$210

I'm up to $1730-ish
Gonna have another $210 in the short track tank and shrouds....up to $1940

Lowering link for the rear suspension built by my fabricating neighbor/drinking buddy-- costs a 6-pack

The Vortex twist throttle kit will put it up to $2K


This R with these parts and this setup will do fine at what I aim to do.....and will be a "race" machine as far as I'm concerned. No necessary expense spared, no corners cut.....just not a lot of fluff and $bling. To me, racing's business, not a spending contest.


That should do it.....just gotta work smarter not harder!

[Jason Hall]

The Tecate crew will be at trikefest for any challengers with other makes and models........so if you plan on bringing home the drag race trophies as the Indiana Tecate's do every year........get ready now! Doom will be waiting......

Hey now tecate 50, Call the Cops :lol: I think a liquid cooled R with a little Farm kid on It brought down the Indiana tecate's last year at TF! And We Will be ready again this year :w00t:

[Tecate 50]

Hey now tecate 50, Call the Cops :lol: I think a liquid cooled R with a little Farm kid on It brought down the Indiana tecate's last year at TF! And We Will be ready again this year :w00t:

You know what you are correct....I apologize, your boy did get 1st place by taking out Tecat-z in the final round! Im calling a technicality, I wasnt there.....lol!

[riverrat]

I define "racing trike" as one that has been modified from the original. Having said that, then we need to know which one. You can make a racing trike out of anything, depending on what class you want to race (or imagine to race in). My 85 250R could be considered a racing trike. So far with the cost of the trike included, I think I have close to $3000 or more into it. Mine is set-up for ice racing. I know guys that have close to $10,000 in theirs.
Some people slap a few aftermarket parts on it, and call it a race trike. That's just not true. The right combination is what you are looking for based on what kind of racing you want to do.
The problem is, some people sell junk, that once you get it, you find out almost everything needs to be replaced. Racing trikes get raced. Racing wears out your trike. Just how much it is worn can vary greatly. The same holds true for one that was not built for racing. Someone could advertise it as "being totally restored" but once you get it, and start working on it, you can discover several things wrong with it, that can cost thousands to repair.
Some things you could discover on both racing trikes, and stock trikes could be, worn bearings, broken cases, leaking seals on the water pump, chipped water pump impeller, broken counter balance holder, worn piston and rings (on their last bore even), crap swing arm bearings, bent frame, worn clutches, and on and on.
All these things can add up. Be very careful when shopping for a "race trike" (or a stock one).

[MorganHonda200!]

What is inverts???:crazy:

[DixiePlowboy]

I define "racing trike" as one that has been modified from the original. Having said that, then we need to know which one. You can make a racing trike out of anything, depending on what class you want to race (or imagine to race in). My 85 250R could be considered a racing trike. So far with the cost of the trike included, I think I have close to $3000 or more into it. Mine is set-up for ice racing. I know guys that have close to $10,000 in theirs.

.

If yours is competing, it's a race 'trike". Don't matter what anyone else's standard of "race trike" is.

I've seen old school and cheap whup the hell out of new tech and modern $$ before.....sure I'll see it again.

It's got more more to do with the loose nut that connects the foot pegs and the handlebars than any other part of the machine.

[riverrat]

If yours is competing, it's a race 'trike". Don't matter what anyone else's standard of "race trike" is.

I've seen old school and cheap whup the hell out of new tech and modern $$ before.....sure I'll see it again.

It's got more more to do with the loose nut that connects the foot pegs and the handlebars than any other part of the machine.


You are contradicting yourself plowboy. If it has more to do with the loose nut than the trike, then the trike has nothing to do with it. Your defining the term "race trike" by the rider that is on it? Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Take that same rider that was on a POS and won, give him a better trike, and he will be faster. We are talking about trike's, not riders.
A good example, is the ice racing we do. Your not going to come out with a POS trike, and beat us. It just ain't happening, cause most of the guys I ride with, are very good racers also. If your not set up for racing on the ice, you won't even come close.
The "R" in 250R means racing. So technically the 250R is a race trike already. That being said, it is still a stock trike. To me, a racing trike is one with work done to it to make it faster than stock. Also work done to it, to suit a certain type of racing. I'm not taking my ice bike to the woods, unless I change a bunch of stuff on it. And if I was drag racing, I would have to change it yet again.

[riverrat]

What is inverts???:crazy:

Front forks that are mounted "upside down".

[DixiePlowboy]

Okay,

Put a high dollar tricked out machine under a lesser talent rider...no matter how fast he thinks he is, and what have you got?

[riverrat]

I don't disagree that a good rider on a bad machine can sometimes be faster than a crap rider on a great machine.
Let me say this as simple as possible. I don't think this thread is about riders at all.

If a kid puts a wing on a honda civic and drives it 120mph, is it a race car all of a sudden? No, it's a death trap. No matter what, it won't be a race car.

[Mosh]

A race trike is worth just that....What the RIDER makes it worth...

You dont need some hybrid hi-Dollar machine to be fast...All you need is will and desire, and lil talent.

More people would benefit spending money on a practice track for seat time, then throwing Hi-Dollar parts at a machine that has more potential than what is needed.

[DixiePlowboy]

A race trike is worth just that....What the RIDER makes it worth...

You dont need some hybrid hi-Dollar machine to be fast...All you need is will and desire, and lil talent.

More people would benefit spending money on a practice track for seat time, then throwing Hi-Dollar parts at a machine that has more potential than what is needed.


Ding!!! I agree 110%

Fast rider on low dollar machine smoke many inflated egos.
Proud rider with big $$ and no talent waste money.

[Brianw]

........$1

[riverrat]

You guys just don't get it. This thread is not about riders, it's about trikes.

Many of us know that a good rider on a lesser machine can smoke people on a better machine, but given the same rider, he will be faster on a faster machine. And one set up for conditions.
How good the rider is, does not determine if a trike is a racing one or not.

To prove my point, I challenge all of you to come ice racing next winter, if we get ice. Bring your stock machines, or whatever POS you got, and try to keep up. You won't. Then the first thing you will cry about is that our trikes are faster. I couldn't keep up with others, and had to do work to mine to get closer.

To further prove my point, does Jimmey Johnson ride in a POS? Did Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty?

I don't know what the person who started this thread thinks a "racing trike" is, but I know what one is. Even stock racing requires modifications, that bring the performance above the original. Like I said earlier, a stock 250R is a racing trike, but given all things, you won't keep up with another rider with the same ability on a greater trike.

[leviblue]

You guys just don't get it. This thread is not about riders, it's about trikes.

Many of us know that a good rider on a lesser machine can smoke people on a better machine, but given the same rider, he will be faster on a faster machine. And one set up for conditions.
How good the rider is, does not determine if a trike is a racing one or not.

To prove my point, I challenge all of you to come ice racing next winter, if we get ice. Bring your stock machines, or whatever POS you got, and try to keep up. You won't. Then the first thing you will cry about is that our trikes are faster. I couldn't keep up with others, and had to do work to mine to get closer.

To further prove my point, does Jimmey Johnson ride in a POS? Did Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty?

I don't know what the person who started this thread thinks a "racing trike" is, but I know what one is. Even stock racing requires modifications, that bring the performance above the original. Like I said earlier, a stock 250R is a racing trike, but given all things, you won't keep up with another rider with the same ability on a greater trike.

I'd never run my MXer out on the ice aginst you...it's not set for it...just like you'd never yours on a MX track...it's not set for it. I don't think some see it as a single use machine but an all around racer. I don't have the trickest parts on my R but what I have is a bike that won't break during a race no matter how hard it's beat. I don't wanna be out there and have a bearing go and kick my chain on a landing...I don't want anyone to get hurt we're only putting on a show...So am I wrong to want a bike that isn't half assed. I've had other racers give me advice and I allways except it cuz they've had the same problems I've had at one time or another. Now my bike has to be tight cuz I run with the Unlimited quads and those guys will run you over. I don't wanna look like an ass when the bike breaks down on the track cuz I'm the ONLY TRIKE OUT THERE..... You really don't know what you have till you line-up at the gate and you'll see what we're talking about. As for riders the post was never about this but I'm sure if I put a kid like Tim Jr he'd run circles around me and you, the kids got the talent to do it or a guy like Eric Jensen or Kintore. I'd never say I'm the best or anywhere near it but at 40 and a cancer surviver I'm still out thereand have no problem holding my own.
And Riverrat I'll take that offer should have my 500 flattracker restored by then and I'd love to set it up for the ice

[Tecate 50]

You guys just don't get it. This thread is not about riders, it's about trikes.

Many of us know that a good rider on a lesser machine can smoke people on a better machine, but given the same rider, he will be faster on a faster machine. And one set up for conditions.
How good the rider is, does not determine if a trike is a racing one or not.

To prove my point, I challenge all of you to come ice racing next winter, if we get ice. Bring your stock machines, or whatever POS you got, and try to keep up. You won't. Then the first thing you will cry about is that our trikes are faster. I couldn't keep up with others, and had to do work to mine to get closer.

To further prove my point, does Jimmey Johnson ride in a POS? Did Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty?

I don't know what the person who started this thread thinks a "racing trike" is, but I know what one is. Even stock racing requires modifications, that bring the performance above the original. Like I said earlier, a stock 250R is a racing trike, but given all things, you won't keep up with another rider with the same ability on a greater trike.

First off I agree 100% with Mosh......secondly your statement isnt true at all about stock trim trikes! Tecat-z with a bone stock Tecate with a stock little round slide carb spanked those big bad boys up at Raffa's! I was there.....and it was litteraly the second time we have ever been on ice in our lives! Hopefully there will be ice next year because it was a blast.....as we shall return stronger and faster for the 3rd time in our lives on ice!

[riverrat]

First off I agree 100% with Mosh......secondly your statement isnt true at all about stock trim trikes! Tecat-z with a bone stock Tecate with a stock little round slide carb spanked those big bad boys up at Raffa's! I was there.....and it was litteraly the second time we have ever been on ice in our lives! Hopefully there will be ice next year because it was a blast.....as we shall return stronger and faster for the 3rd time in our lives on ice!

Whatever are you talking about? You didn't spank anybody on a modified trike, I was there too. If you raced ChrisD on his bigbore machine, you wouldn't stand a chance. I passed you with completely worn out studs. If my studs were new like yours, you wouldn't have seen nothing but my exhaust.

[Tecate 50]

Whatever are you talking about? You didn't spank anybody on a modified trike, I was there too. If you raced ChrisD on his bigbore machine, you wouldn't stand a chance. I passed you with completely worn out studs. If my studs were new like yours, you wouldn't have seen nothing but my exhaust.

Not sure but you might have me confused here with Tecat-z, and if you read my post again, I never stated that I spanked anyone. My point was again, Tecat-z had a bone stock Tecate and got second place......thats not bad for a first timer on ice. Where did you finish in the final? And absolutely ChrisD is the man on that bigbore.....never seen anything like it, simply an awesome machine with a great rider. The drag strip is my playground anyways as I was trying to ice race with a 4 inch swingarm. Trikefest is around the corner for some fun on the dirt.......

[Tecate 50]

Anyway.....its an open question with tons of answers, all have valid points!

[riverrat]

Sorry Tecate 50, I got confused, probably cause I was reading it on my phone.
Anyway, he won 2nd place in the stock 250 class. We weren't expecting classes, so our 250 machines were all riding on worn out studs. Which just proves how important setting up a race trike is.
I came in 3rd in the big ore class with a motor I just got running 15min before the race, and completely trashed studs. I am hopefully going to be better prepared next year, cause I hate excuses. We sure had fun, and drag racing with you was a blast!

Here's my question though which gets back to the OP. Some people are talking about riders as what makes a trike more valuable. Tell me, you gonna get more for your bike when you sell it, cause you know how to ride it? Of course not. The rider has nothing to do with how much a race trike is worth. When you are interested in buying one which is what this thread is supposed to be about.

[Dirtcrasher]

You guys ever seen the video of the NUTCASE on the 350X?? Where he lifts the whole trike to his chest then proceeds to rip it around the track??

Maybe it isn't the best example of "skills" :lol: but it shows how someone can take a stock bike and toss it around like a salad.

Some people have mad skills, some have no brains but both can be fast as hell without 7K into the machine there riding...........

Sure motor work, extended swingers/axles and inverts make incredible handling differences, but I have seen some pretty sick riders on relatively stock machines FLYING along a track or up a cliff; Such as JENSEN......

[leviblue]

It seems the person who asked the question settled on a "TANK" of a 200s and nowhere near what any of us would buy. The post of it is here somewhere and the fenders alone scare me. To anwser the org questions... No matter what you'll spend you'll allways end up spending more than what you thought in the end.....thats the con of owning a 25yo machine

[Tecate 50]

Sorry Tecate 50, I got confused, probably cause I was reading it on my phone.
Anyway, he won 2nd place in the stock 250 class. We weren't expecting classes, so our 250 machines were all riding on worn out studs. Which just proves how important setting up a race trike is.
I came in 3rd in the big ore class with a motor I just got running 15min before the race, and completely trashed studs. I am hopefully going to be better prepared next year, cause I hate excuses. We sure had fun, and drag racing with you was a blast!

Here's my question though which gets back to the OP. Some people are talking about riders as what makes a trike more valuable. Tell me, you gonna get more for your bike when you sell it, cause you know how to ride it? Of course not. The rider has nothing to do with how much a race trike is worth. When you are interested in buying one which is what this thread is supposed to be about.

I totally agree.....

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I feel sorry for the original poster after reading this thread. There are a couple of "if you don't dump money into it and change a bunch of crap it's not a racer" people in here that just plain missed the point of the question in my opinion. A terrible way to turn an easily answered question into a soap opera for no reason.

What is a race trike? It's a trike the manufactures built that people could use for racing. A 250R, Tecate 3 and Tri Z are all race trikes. You can say a 350X and probably a 200X are too but built for a different class. If you want a race trike you don't go buy a Big Red and modify it. Hell no. You buy a 250R. Modifications are up to the individual. You don't buy a Honda rebel if you want a street racer do you? No. You buy a Ninja, CBR, or Huyabusa, etc.

This thread got ugly. I'm no psychologist but the simple answer to the original poster would be the answer he's actually looking for. And it goes like this:

If you are looking for a 4 stroke race trike 200X's sell on average of *insert dollar amount* and 350X's sell on average for *insert dollar amount*. If you are looking for a 2 stroke 250R's average ....... and Tecates average......... and Tri Z's average.............

To the original poster, it is impossible to place a solid value on these trikes. They sell for different prices in different regions of the country and they sell differently for different brands. It's all over the place on prices. For instance, you can buy an 84 or 85 Tecate in good shape for less then $1000. You won't find an 86/87 Tecate in good shape for less then $2000 unless you are lucky. You can find a good 250R from $1200 - $2500 depending on where you live or how far you are willing to drive or pay for shipping. I have never priced Tri Z's so i have no info on that. I will say this, if you aren't very experienced with powerful trikes, i recommend you start off on a 350X or something until you get a good hang of it. Move into 2 strokes when you know what your doing and then be prepared for an engine that acts different and you have to relearn the engine but at least you'll understand the handling of the trike. And Tecate 50 is correct, the Tecates were the fastest stock race trikes. A Tecate is a beast that deserves respect. Once people start dumping a bunch of money in them and taking them away from stock, they all basically become the same and the only real difference at that point is rider ability and his knowledge of how to build the trike for the proper situation.

[SWIGIN]

Some of you guys can cry all you want....I have never in all my years of AMA MX racing seen a bone stock ATV win or even come close.

In my eyes a stock ATV or ATC is NOT a race bike.

I have no idea if they still do this but back in the day RACING dirt bikes had ''FOR CLOSED COURES COMPETITION'' right on the frame.......ever see that on a headlight equipped ATV or ATC????

No you have not hence why I say not a race bike.

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Some of you guys can cry all you want....I have never in all my years of AMA MX racing seen a bone stock ATV win or even come close.

In my eyes a stock ATV or ATC is NOT a race bike.

I have no idea if they still do this but back in the day RACING dirt bikes had ''FOR CLOSED COURES COMPETITION'' right on the frame.......ever see that on a headlight equipped ATV or ATC????

No you have not hence why I say not a race bike.The manufacturer's made race trikes, sport trikes and utility trikes. You can't just make up your own definition of it and expect everyone to comply to your demands. The only ones I see doing any crying about this at all are those who can't accept that.

And to respond to the quote about you never seeing a stock trike win a race, well, um, yeah. If they have a stock class and require the trikes to be factory stock race trikes, a stock trike would win. Of course when you have an open class and Joe Blow throws an extra 5 grand at a machine to make it better and faster then the factory stock trike, why on earth would anyone enter a stock trike against that? That's just common sense. Nobody is saying that modified race trikes aren't better then stock race trikes. How on earth you came to that conclusion is beyond me. The bottom line is simple, the factories made race trikes. You can either accept that fact, because it is fact, or you can live in your own little world.

[SWIGIN]

I see alot of ''IFs'' and guessing and such in your post.

I'm telling you for a fact in all the years I raced AMA MX I never seen a stock ATV do any good. And no the big 3 did not make racing tirkes....they made some that COULD be use to race but they were FAR from race ready.

For the record I keep saying AMA racing just to show that I'm not talking about the big race at the county fair. I mean real racing, every weekend kind of racing. A stock bike will not do it.

[riverrat]

My 110 owns all your 250's, cause I can ride it better.

[SWIGIN]

Hahahaha true dat!

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I see alot of ''IFs'' and guessing and such in your post.

I'm telling you for a fact in all the years I raced AMA MX I never seen a stock ATV do any good. And no the big 3 did not make racing tirkes....they made some that COULD be use to race but they were FAR from race ready.

For the record I keep saying AMA racing just to show that I'm not talking about the big race at the county fair. I mean real racing, every weekend kind of racing. A stock bike will not do it.I'm not going to argue about something as benign as this. The factories made 2 stroke race trikes. Period. End of story. just because they could be upgraded to handle better and become faster and more powerful doesn't mean they didn't make race trikes. What a ridiculous argument. just because you own, or raced on trikes that had thousands dumped into them to outperform factory stock rides doesn't mean the factory didn't sell race trikes.

What you're saying is equivalent to saying Ford makes 2010 Shelby GT500 Mustangs with V8 engines that produce 500+ horsepower so that means the 6 cylinder Mustangs Ford makes aren't Mustangs at all because, since they found a way to make the Mustang better, the lesser Mustang ceases to be a Mustang and becomes a..............non-Mustang? Gimme a break. Why is this argument even happening?

Just because a stock trike or any stock machine isn't going to outperform a machine that has been custom built by someone, doesn't mean that machine isn't what it is. A 250R, Tri Z and Tecate are all factory race trikes. There is no argument here. The only argument here is definition you are trying to impede upon people. A stock race ATV isn't as fast as your custom ATV. So tell me something new. But don't try to convince people, who know better, that the factories didn't/don't make factory race machines. Because they did and still do.

[SWIGIN]

I'm not going to argue about something as benign as this. The factories made 2 stroke race trikes. Period. End of story. just because they could be upgraded to handle better and become faster and more powerful doesn't mean they didn't make race trikes. What a ridiculous argument. just because you own, or raced on trikes that had thousands dumped into them to outperform factory stock rides doesn't mean the factory didn't sell race trikes.

What you're saying is equivalent to saying Ford makes 2010 Shelby GT500 Mustangs with V8 engines that produce 500+ horsepower so that means the 6 cylinder Mustangs Ford makes aren't Mustangs at all because, since they found a way to make the Mustang better, the lesser Mustang ceases to be a Mustang and becomes a..............non-Mustang? Gimme a break. Why is this argument even happening?

Just because a stock trike or any stock machine isn't going to outperform a machine that has been custom built by someone, doesn't mean that machine isn't what it is. A 250R, Tri Z and Tecate are all factory race trikes. There is no argument here. The only argument here is definition you are trying to impede upon people. A stock race ATV isn't as fast as your custom ATV. So tell me something new. But don't try to convince people, who know better, that the factories didn't/don't make factory race machines. Because they did and still do.

First off, I didn't know we were arguing. But call it what you like.

Secondly, don't assume to much. You seem to think in you last paragraph that I'm comparing my hybrid to a stock ATV? No, that never crossed my mind. That is apples to oranges.

In your second paragraph you say about the mustang....this just proves my point. Ford does not make the Shelby 500 cars, Shelby does. He takes a mustang and makes it into something else. Ford makes a car just like Honda made an ATC R and some other business or racer MAKES it into a new beast. Ford does make a Shelby GT, that is not the same as a shelby 500. A Shelby GT is just a mustang with a sticker and body kit...not the same thing at all. And honda never made an ATV with a sticker kit and different body work to look like a racer so thats a mute point.

In your first paragraph you say the factory made 2 stroke race trikes......i ask why? Just because people raced them? What about 90s and 110s? Were they built and sold by Honda as ''race trikes''? How about every hard tail atc, were they ''race trikes''?

I guess they were factory built and sold race trikes since people raced them years longer then the 2 stroke ''race trikes''. Just because people race something does not mean that it magically becomes a factory built racer.

Look at people racing lawn tractors, I guess by your logic since they race them that we all have race machines sitting in our sheds? I've seen big rigs and school bus's race, are they built as race machines? These 2 were to get my point across but it is the same thing.

My beloved 350x was never sold as a ''race trike'' but yet thousands were TURNED into race trikes. Just like big rigs, tractors, and any other thing we decide to race.

I have no problem discussing this with you but please don't think I'm arguing or relating my hybrid to 25 year old trikes. This thread went so far off the OPs question it's a shame but I was just asking what he ment by ''race trike'' and I guess I hit a nerve. It also seems to matter what side of the fence you're looking at it from. From my side of the fence as an EX racer I don't see any stock ATV made by the big 3 as a ''race machine'' and I hope you can see where I'm coming from. But when I was on the other side of the fence before I raced I probably would have called an ATC R, Z, or tecate a race trike. But looking back and looking at all the crazy things people race it seems simple minded to me to call all things raced a racing machine when it's in stock form.

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Alright, where to start. First, I say argument because this is an argument. You make an argument for your point of view. there is a disagreement. Thus, it creates argument. Just because you have entered into an argument, doesn't mean we dislike each other or that it has to be a screaming match. It is a disagreement. that is all. Please don't mistake it for any more then that. I'm not out to make enemies and misunderstandings are the fastest way to do that.

Second, my use of the Mustang is not an example for your argument. It is a perfect example of what I'm saying. Listen, just like I said, just because the Shelby GT 500 exists, does that mean a V6 Mustang, is no longer a Mustang? This isn't a question about a race car. It is a question about a Mustang. Shelby improved on the Mustang so much that nobody cares about the bottom of the line car. But, does that mean the bottom of the line car doesn't exist and does it not deserve to still be called a Mustang? The Shelby is still a Mustang all dressed up. It doesn't sell at the Chevy or Dodge dealer. It doesn't sell at some special dealerships. It sells at the Ford dealer and everyone who loves cars knows a Shelby is a dressed up Mustang. And the bottom of the line V6 Mustang is also, a Mustang.

To get this back in perspective, did Jimmy White race on a Kawasaki Tecate? Was he sponsored by Kawasaki? Did Dean Sundahl ride a 250R for his races? Did these machines cease to be called Tecates or 250R's because the teams dropped coin into them to make them better then factory racers? The answer is no. There is no other side of this. I don't know who you are trying to convince. Nobody disagrees with you that a trike or quad that has had thousands of dollars worth of mods is head and shoulders above a stock race trike. It still doesn't take away from the fact that stock race trikes and quads were and are produced.

What it all comes down to is a simple label. Yes, 250R's and Tecates and Tri Z's are labeled as race trikes. They were built by the manufacturer, on purpose, as a racing platform, to be used for racing. Did the factories realize that mods would be done to make them better. I would like to think so, of course. Do you think the factories wouldn't have built them with all the components racers put on them, if it was cost effective and they could sell them and make profits? You bet they would. It still doesn't mean that race trikes aren't race trikes. And yes, i do see people take big rigs, and sport trikes and all kinds of things that never was intended to be raced, and people modify and race those things. Yes. But those things weren't built with racing in mind. Factory race machines are purposely built with racing in mind. I guess we'll have to just agree to disagree on this one.

BTW, your quad is pretty awesome, bro.

[SWIGIN]

Argument is a tad strong, I'd say discustion....lol

I still say the mustang point is mute since ford does not make a Shelby, they just sell them for him. A 6cyl stang, focus, ect would be like a 90-200cc ATV to me and a stang GT would be like a R in my thinking. A 90-200cc ATV is still an ATV just like a 6cyl stang is a stang, focus, ect. A GT would be like an R and the stang is still a stang and the R is still an ATV. Shelby takes a stang and makes it into what it is, just like a person or business would take an R and make it into a race ready machine. I can't really say it any clearer then that.

Dean and Jimmy did in fact have race machines but those are not what you or I could walk into a dealer and buy. Those were purpose built race machines. A Shelby is still called a stang and Deans and Jimmys trikes were called Hondas and kawasakis.

I can tell we are going to have to agree to disagree, which is fine.

[dcreel]

My take on this is that the 250R, Tecate, and Tri-Z were sport trikes, but could be race trikes. If it doesn't come with the necessary items (tether, number plate, etc.) from the factory, to be a race trike; it isn't. Tigers, Franks, and the like came with the parts neccesary to race. I would consider these race trikes. Just my opinion.