What do you think was the most revolutionary trike?

[sx250heath]

I would have to say the US 90 or 1981 ATC 250R (which i just picked up):naughty:

[andrew j hyman]

Yes i would say US 90. What a great idea you could take apart real quick and put in trunk of a car And go!!

[HuffieVA]

Its a toss up between the 81 250R (1'st actual race trike) and the 84 Tecate (1'st production water cooled screamer and pulled the other manufacturers into the racing scene) the US90 was revoloutionary in its own right but aside from the TriCart thare was not much to revoloutionize, just invent. They all have their strong points like the yamaha 225 (rear suspention on a utility/trail trike) or the 200x (rear suspention for the masses)

[Chazz of Blades]

I think its a toss up between the 85 250es big red, or the 84 Tecate.


I was comparing my 84 BR and 85 BR and am just amazed at the difference.

[mymint87]

well, if you say the most revolutionary, you mean that they are already in production....the us90 revolutionized the market over previous diverse machines such as dune cycles, tri sports, etc., AND 6wheeled amphib, totegoats, rokon trailbreakers, etc., and one could have a strong arguement that the 90 killed em all

once the 90 was produced, a rapid genre sprouted as people utilized 90 components and began to build frames to hold bigger engines but still based it on 3 wheels....some even went as far as to stuff a v8 in a home made frame and used whatever 90 components they could, aftermarket parts sprang up in abundance for the 90 and many aftermarket makers made their name at this time.......

but it was the suspension of the 81 250r that spelled the ultimate demise of the aftermarket BIG bore hardtails and aftermarket suspension frames for the big bores...so i would say, the most revolutionary trike has to be....the first race ready production trike....the 81 250R, because it had the BIGGEST IMPACT measured over the span of major manu's production of 3 wheelers

[oldskool83]

81 250r......

[tecat-z]

Yep, 81R. The start of an all new segment in the 3wheeler world. That's not to say the best, but revolutionary.

[HondaRidr]

Have to say 81 250r.

[Bretmd94]

I agree that the 81 250r is the most revolutionary.

But I would also speculate that it was also the most destructive for 3-wheeler kind. The bikes previous didn't go fast enough to kill easily. I think the 81 250r was the start of the end for 3 wheelers. So I am not sure how revolutionary that really is.

[Dirtcrasher]

I agree with the 1st post...........

90, then the 81R. Then the 82/3/4 R having 2 discs and better suspension.

Although the 85/86R are well sought, the old air cooled trikes tore up some tracks............

[Chazz of Blades]

Are, for the most revolutionary history wise, not leap tech wise, I'd agree with the bike that tore up the racing scene, and spawned...really racing as we know it today.


If there wasn't the '81 R, then trike racing wouldnt have taken off like it did, quads wouldnt have sprang up and became so popular so fast, and racing would probably still be mostly motorcycle and car/truck.

They were the epitome of "New Religion", and changed the game forever, sparking off what would later flame into something as massive and bright as the ATV world as we now know it today.

[racer....X]

i think the US90

[skypilot]

85 Big Red all the way baby!

[Dammit!]

I agree with 1981 250R but I'm also gonna give props to the 1983 200x in here. It was the first fully suspended, sport "play" trike and the all time best seller of the sport machines. The only trike model that has sold more is the Big Red.

[sx250heath]

I was i was born before the ban to see and try trikes new at a dealer ship, but there is nothing i can do about that.

[STLTrike]

I'd say the 83 250r/200X.

They set the standards for sport ATV's 3 and 4 wheeled.

[UlsterATCFan]

US90 as it was the Daddy of all ATV's but I'd also like to mention the '84 Big Red - shaft drive & reverse - every Honda utility trike / quad since has had both these features

[Tri-Z 250]

I would agree with all of you, but don't discount the 200x. Just the number of units sold was a statement in itself, maybe it wasn't a game changer like the R's mentioned. Like the BR it was a model that started a trend as a small bore/ racer, and a great woods and trail machine. The BR was much the same in the workhorse/play ATV segment as well.
The US90 certianly gave the market of offroad riders a NEW choice...which did bring on the now greater than dirtbike sales numbers of today. The R was the grand Daddy of racers and brought coolness for speed freaks, that considered the 90 a moon unit. It did force the hands of the other mfg's to jump on board and come up with units of their own. The RM125 was the watercooled leader and claims that trend setting in engine design. SO to me....I'll agree the US90 pretty much got it started so I'll tip my hat to that model.

[ezmoney1979]

The US90 was the most revolutionary IMO- before it anything with more than two wheels you had to sit "in" like a car not ride on like a dirt bike.

[Thorpe]

I agree with the 1st post...........

90, then the 81R. Then the 82/3/4 R having 2 discs and better suspension.

Although the 85/86R are well sought, the old air cooled trikes tore up some tracks............

Well put Steve....

[pantera1975]

Well I'd have to say the 81 250R but the the 86-87 tecate 3 with Power valve exhaust. Snowmobiles didn't use it til the late 90.

[Auto_Demon]

Yes i would say US 90. What a great idea you could take apart real quick and put in trunk of a car And go!!

same with the 1970's chrysler sno runner, they were put together with quick release pins. http://snorunner.com/