1985 ATC250ES 'Big Red'

[TobyBigRed]

Any other Big Red riders have any luck or experience with front fork extenders? I'm wanting a little lift, and I hear it's the only way to accomplish this on the front. I can fab a bracket for the back or just go up a size or two on tires. Another question, what jet/pipe combo do any of you know works well with this machine? Any of you experience any difference in switching to a K&N air filter? Sorry for the fast questions folks, I'm a new member and haven't been or worked on a trike since my Suzuki ALT50 days @ age 8. Thanks for any help and info!

[1grindking]

i think on the 250r & 350x there using moto cross down tubes off motorcycles? but not sure if thats gona wrk on the br

[skypilot]

hey toby big red, been lookin at the same thing for my 85 250es. do a search on mondex, a member here on the site. He has a radical 250es lifted and 'lawed! Let me know what u come up with, wanting to do a 2'' lift on mine!

[Thorpe]

Easiest way to lift the front end on a ES is to put a SX front end on it... Mondex's lift was extending the triple, and still using stock ES front forks... Zero travel benefit...

[matt86200x]

I had a 350x carb on my 250 with a cobra pipe, uni airfilter. On one of my 250sx's i have a trx300 carb completely stock, stock exhaust feels like it has a little more git up and go with the 300 carb i like it so far.

[MudBug]

This is the lift I done on my BR. I cut triple clamps off another scrapped bike and welded them underneath mine. Made a big difference!

http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/brandonploughman/lift001.jpg

http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/brandonploughman/lift004.jpg

http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/brandonploughman/lift007.jpg

[TobyBigRed]

Thanks for all the info guys, this helps a ton! @ Matt, I have a working carb off of an old FourTrax 300 (those things are so bulletproof), is this the carb you were talking about? If so, I might give it a shot! Also, with moving to the bigger carb, will it still need to be jetted for an aftermarket pipe?

[Mondexbrute]

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy78/crazyquadrider83/SDC10717.jpg

Rear bracket lift
http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy78/crazyquadrider83/SDC10570.jpg

[Mondexbrute]

I run a full Cobra exhaust with a stock jetted carb, I have a FO 14 muffler (for a Ford Tractor) that I ned to weld on.

[matt86200x]

I run the 300trx carb with the stock exhaust. Works great so far without changing any carb setting at all at this point.


Thanks for all the info guys, this helps a ton! @ Matt, I have a working carb off of an old FourTrax 300 (those things are so bulletproof), is this the carb you were talking about? If so, I might give it a shot! Also, with moving to the bigger carb, will it still need to be jetted for an aftermarket pipe?

[TobyBigRed]

Thanks for the extra info! Any of you guys have a suggestion as to where to look for custom aftermarket trike wheels? I'm having horrible luck.

[skypilot]

Wow, this thread is great, I like all the pics, tryin to get my 85 BR lifted! Took it to a custom shop and they wouldn't touch it, said they were afraid i would sue if the forks broke! LOl! Mondex, who done yours? I think i may try a machine shop next! A winter project fo sho! I run a stock carb, and uni filter, and a full cobra exhaust, thinkin of takin the cobra off though, to loud and trike seems to run too lean! Not sure.

[TobyBigRed]

Has anybody tried HMF/FMF fatties on a BR?

[TheRealFatShady]

Any of you guys with lifted front/rear ends, any tipping problems on trails/hills?

Also, for the guys running a TRX300 carb, any issues common with those? Choke plunger or some other choke/cold weather piece? Apparently that's why I got my trx300 parts, they didn't want to buy an $80 carb piece.

It would have been done....but an old 'friend' sabotaged the engine and broke the inner crank case.

[mtsnieg]

I've been thinkin about lifting mine like Mondexbrute's. In his build thread he says he's runnin 2.5" wheel spacers in the back so I think it'd be pretty stable. I've been wantin some spacers for the rear anyways, and 2 more inches of ground clearance with the lift would be priceless. I'm always bottoming out in the mud.

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php?109054-Honda-Big-Camo-250es-project&highlight=lifted+big+red

[mtsnieg]

Hey Thorpe, How does the sx front end bolt up? Front wheel size the same? I like my big red light and rack, would that bolt up too?

[atc350xer]

Hey Thorpe, How does the sx front end bolt up? Front wheel size the same? I like my big red light and rack, would that bolt up too?

SX - 8"x22", ES - 9"x25" tires/wheels. The BR stuff won't work on the sx front end, but you could use a 350x light on it! lol

[TobyBigRed]

Mondex, did you fab that bracket out of regular flat bar? That thing looks awesome bud. I really need to find a metal tank, and some aftermarket wheels. Having trouble with both.

[TheRealFatShady]

If you guys want, you can put SX forks in the Big Red triples.....only thing is the driveshaft angle may be an issue. The guy who did this extended his driveshaft/swingarm by 4" and did a 4" lift in the rear.

Not sure this is a good idea, but I have seen it done.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/videogamer2005/Big%20Red%20Project/5.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/videogamer2005/Big%20Red%20Project/6.jpg

[MudBug]

wow! Never seen somebody actually extend the swingarm on a shafty! But holy bent forks!

[Thorpe]

Stretching a swinger wouldnt scare me, (if it didnt look like pictured above when done!) I have a spare swing and shaft for a ES, and had stretching it in mind...

[BIGREDFREAKE250]

Mondexbrute ..nice 250es what size rims and tires..

[skypilot]

Good thread, good tips, go big red ! Someone outta take advantage of all the interest in lifted BR's and make a kit for them! I think Mondex should sell kits for this! His RED is one of the cleanest and safest lookin ones i've seen!

[Mondexbrute]

front rim is 12x7, with a 27x10x12 ITP Mudlight, rear rims are Highlifter XL2's 12x7, with 28x10x12 Gorrilla Silverbacks.

If I could get at least 5 people to buy lifts I would consider building them...only thing is I would need your triple trees, or I guess I could just buy them off ebay. I will talk to my welder friend & see what he says.

I buy the way I ride the piss outta my Big Red, I have had the lift on it for about 10 months now & everything works great.

[Mondexbrute]

Here's how I ride my Big Red... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhwt-EEVzP0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtsHY3u-rys&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kya0zKt5J7M&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyquadrider83?feature=mhum#p/u/3/eiLm5rcSsh0
sick rooster spray at 1:19...... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPofoL98908&NR=1

[skypilot]

Whoa, i'm interested there mondex, find out what you would charge, i might be even interested in shipped my triples to ya, if the price was right! Maybe put the ol tax return to good use!LOL! Try to convince the wife this is a good idea!

[Mondexbrute]

Ok Ill talk to my buddy tomorrow, and I will yet ya know.

[TobyBigRed]

Awesome thread guys, let's keep this going! Would love to lift mine as well. Where are you guys buying aftermarket wheels (front specifically)? I'm having trouble finding some.

[skypilot]

I've been told that some of the BR guys run a foreman rear wheel on the front, it will be off center though, if you don't run a spacer on one side. You might also try highlifter.com and go to the forums. Search Big Red Honda 250 and you will find some good comments and builds there! I agree, keep this thread goin, BR's are often overlooked because they aren't race trikes. I've thought about running stock 12 honda rims on mine, can't decide. The biggest thing i think that you will run into is not so much the wheel spacing, that can be corrected, its the size of tire, you will be limited without a lift. It looks like a larger tire will rub!

[skypilot]

Hey, what happened to the interest in this post? MY 85 250es is a likely candidate for a lift! Will probably take place this winter!

[Thorpe]

Awesome thread guys, let's keep this going! Would love to lift mine as well. Where are you guys buying aftermarket wheels (front specifically)? I'm having trouble finding some.

Custom spacer on the front... Mine needed .200" to center it between the forks.

[rbaral233]

i deff would buy one of those kits mondex if you would build it. i have a spare set of forks i could send you to have you do the whole job and wouldnt even have to tear the BR apart to do it. let me know what your friend said, if you are interested in helping me out and i have no problem shipping em to and from you

[Mondexbrute]

Sorry guys have been extremely busy with work & my new house! I will get a hold of the welder friend soon!

[skypilot]

Sounds good, count me in, i'll try to find a spare set of triples so i dont have to tear my trike apart! Mondex, let me know if you have any!

[Fink]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum, so I've been spending time looking at old threads. I've got a 85 BR 250es and I'm interested In lifting it like mondex and others have done, I guess I am wonderin if I could get some input on how to do it, I know how to weld just don't know exactly the right direction to go in, thanks guys

[1985CrazzyRider]

Just lifted my 1985 Honda 250es Big Red. Has a 2-3 inch lift in the rear, custom chrome harley exhaust, uni air filter, jetted carb, 26x10x12 inch itp mud lite XL tires on 12x7 inch 600 grizzly wheels in the rear but could easily fit 28-30 inch tires, custom airbox snorkel...
would post pics but i'm new to this and can't figure out how to