Barn find?

[maxdallasfan]

I see a lot of people on here end up with barn finds for super cheap. Where do you all come across these! And how does one like myself end up finding one?

I'm super jealous when I read about a barn find! Why can't I ever find one? What should I be doing?

[Big G]

Barn finds listed in the classifieds are rare. You usually have to spot them at a distance. If you go to someone's property for whatever the reason, always keep your eyes peeled for the diamond in the rough! Then it's just a matter of offering the owner a price for it and you're usually on your way!

[muthey]

Or like me you are friend with the owner of the local honda shop lol and he sends anyone who has three wheelers your way. I got a call from a guy last fall who had 4 90's that he wanted to get rid of, but the winter put a hold on it, I'm going to give him a call here soon and see if he will bring them to town.

[dougspcs]

I don't think there is a secret equation to getting a 'barn find' machine..

Sometimes they just kinda fall in your lap thru a conversation with a random person, sometimes a CL add..

I will occasionally post an add on my local bulletin board asking for old trikes running or not..had pretty good luck with this tactic in the past.

When people contact you it's a more controllable transaction and usually the person has no idea the value..you can toy with them a bit and get a pretty good deal.

[maxdallasfan]

^ grrrrrrrrrrrr

[90guy]

Same thing I have a lot of people out there who know I like wheelers and if they have something they call my dad and he lets me know. My 200e was a bard find! so was my 350x!

[Vealmonkey]

I've never, ever, found a trike while driving around purposely looking for trikes. I have seen several while driving on my way somewhere else, but upon closer inspection, they were never anything I would be interested in. I've never accidentally found an atc90/110 either. The only "barn find" that I happened onto, was when I had one of my suspension 70s over at a friends shop several miles from my house for a little repair and riding. These kids saw me and my buddy riding the 70, and they said that it was only the 2nd 3 wheeler that they had ever seen and that they had one in the horse barn at their house. They said it was broken and would I be interested in buying it. I said I would take a look. Turned out being a Hi Performance ATC suspension frame with a locked up r5 engine in it. It had no tank or fender, sat on 3 flat tires, but all the best stuff was still there, engine, exhaust etc. Needless to say I bought the trike from the big brother for cheap cause I always have a little cash on me. I still cannot for the life of me, figure out how that trike wound up on the outskirts of Baltimore, MD???? I've always wanted to find out that story.

[hatc200x1]

ive gotten 2 barn finds, an 85 110 and 85 125. my neighbor has an old 82 250r sitting in his barn, gunna buy it once can get into the shed, snow is covering the door, buying an 83 250r thats in a barn from a friend, buying another 2 barn finds on sunday. And my local dealer has 3 185's a few 110s 125s and 200's. The best place to look is just ask friends, normally when people know that you like them they will come to you. Ask your neighbors, they will come

[kormos_93]

Put a want ad on kijiji for a project trike *any condition* for cheap. That's how I pick up cheap trikes ($200 or less)

[maxdallasfan]

I'll prob try the Craigslist thing again.

That's a good idea about letting local shops know. I'll have to take mine in for service and chat it up a bit.

Thanks all!

[3Queen]

I just got a running blue 110 for $175 with many now parts off a friend down the road, it was in the barn for years.. He pulled it out got all the parts for it.. LOL then sold it to me... I would say it is luck...

[oldtime3wheeler]

I have found one or two over the years. Mostly luck to finding them.

[Worden18]

I found my 84 Yam 200EL through my neighbor. She's in her 60s; came over one day to ask for help moving something and seen my Honda 185s in the garage. She then proceeded to tell me how her sons had an "old yellow 3 wheeler" in the late 80s; they're long grown up, and they left it for dead in her son in law's barn. 1 mile from my house. Been in there for a decade. I immediately went out there to see if the motor was stuck. It was not, so I offered the sons (through her) $50. They took it. I got it running a couple days later, actually runs really good, doesn't smoke. Needs a few things, but hey for $50...

Back tires are about 95%. Needs a good cleaning, etc. Now that it's warming up around here I'm going to work on it. I bought a new petcock for it. I'll re-clean the carb (soak the jets in cleaner, etc.), put in a new plug and air filter.

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n601/gorfmaster/3%20wheelers/Yamahaulerleftfordeadinbarn8_zpse3b31bf7.jpg
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n601/gorfmaster/3%20wheelers/Yamahaulerleftfordeadinbarn7_zps07fdb204.jpg
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n601/gorfmaster/3%20wheelers/Yamahaulerleftfordeadinbarn4_zps5461a5fd.jpg
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n601/gorfmaster/3%20wheelers/Yamahaulerleftfordeadinbarn3_zps4d0208a2.jpg

[captainweezy]

Finding barn finds are just like anything else in life. You put into it what you want out of it. You have to think outside the box sometimes. The box is craigslist! I will be doing my yearly thinking outside the box soon.

[3Queen]

And I got a very nice 86 350X off facebook!!!!! :lol: YES FACEBOOK!!! A guy was looking for a 200E (and I had one) And I was looking for a 350X.. No $$$$ just trike for trike...

[honda4h]

i seem to find lots of barn finds mostly 250es big reds 7 in total all barn. 6 with broken or skipped timing chain or one way bearing death to the gears and stator 200-600 bucks. a ruff 110 ran 75 bucks a yamaha 200e 100 bucks. the best score at the same barn. 1 plain 200, 2-125m 1 200s and a real nice 250 big red all for $1400. but i'm in the home repair business. and when i'm on a farm working i all ways get talking and i make a point of 3 wheeler's in the conversation and i have scored lots. and older 4 wheeler's too

[muthey]

yeah but you guys had put a decent amount into that 200e, that it was a fair trade, I know I sold your old man a bunch of parts for it lol

[dougspcs]

And I got a very nice 86 350X off facebook!!!!! :lol: YES FACEBOOK!!! A guy was looking for a 200E (and I had one) And I was looking for a 350X.. No $$$$ just trike for trike...

Either your 350x was a wreck and his 200e was mint

Or that guy had a brain injury!!

That's like trading a Corvette straight up on a Chevette!

[3Queen]

Both the 200e and the 350X were mint... I sold the 350X for $2100 so it was that nice..

[dougspcs]

Both the 200e and the 350X were mint... I sold the 350X for $2100 so it was that nice..

Every one says they're machines are 'mint'..that word doesn't hold much value anymore!

It's mint when it leaves the dealer, then you ride it and its not anymore..

Also I'd be kind of suspicious of someone offering to trade his $2000 machine for my $700 machine..there is a piece to this story that is odd. No one is that dumb!!

[3Queen]

Every one says they're machines are 'mint'..that word doesn't hold much value anymore!

It's mint when it leaves the dealer, then you ride it and its not anymore..

Also I'd be kind of suspicious of someone offering to trade his $2000 machine for my $700 machine..there is a piece to this story that is odd. No one is that dumb!! lol Some of the guys from New York know him that is were he lives, If you got the Ladies of trikefest 2013 calandar my 350X was in there 3 times it is the May trike.. And the 200E is in my profile look in my random album, I can not get the pics. up..

[muthey]

I remember hearing about that trade douspcs, and there are some people who trade a 2000$ machine for a 700$ one if they really want it, plus it had quite a few new parts for it as well.

[3Queen]

That 200E was very nice all OEM, LOL after I got the 350X I misses the electric start..

[donwon]

my mom asked me to help a friend of hers move some furniture for them. i just happen to see a dusty 185s under a makeshift roof and asked how long it had been sitting there. they said to long and asked me if i wanted it. when i said yeah i'll take it off your hands they said if you take it you have to take the other one in the barn. it was an 83' blue 110. i'm glad they gave them to me.

[RubberSalt]

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/151189-Barn-find!-Case-split-pictures-on-page-3!?highlight=barn+find Craigslist for me on my tecate :)