Air cooled 300r vs liquid 250r

[King Trikester]

Just curious if a done up air cooled 300r would keep up to a stock 85/86 liquid cooled 250r

[briano]

Lots of variables to question first. Engine condition, gearing, tires, terrain, rider ability. A big red could keep up with a 250r in the right conditions.

[King Trikester]

Ok I guess the question is horsepower, how would a 300r compare to a stock liquid r in horse power

[yaegerb]

Stock liquid R is low 30's for HP. 2nd gen 300R motor HP depends on the other mods made to the engine. Range could be anywhere from 35-mid 40's....this is only a guess.

[nicker71]

Some many different variables will effect the outcome. If the 300r is stock with stock carb and exhaust then the Avg 250r would win. When you match the 300 with a larger carb/ aftermarket reeds, exhaust, and most important porting then id say the 300 has a slight edge BUT the LC R will have a higher top speed.
I have beaten a few LC R's in drag races, but a lot more of them have beaten me.

I have two 84's one which is a 300 big bore

[fabiodriven]

Both should be capable of similar numbers in comparative trim. Just because one isn't cooled by water it doesn't mean it's slower.

[DohcBikes]

Stock 1984 air cooled 300r vs. Stock 1986 H20 cooled 250r....Google the numbers till your eyes bleed, then go race.

No matter what, water cooled engines can be built to outperform air cooled engines, cc for cc, every time. Water cooled engines are built to tighter mechanical tolerances and can tolerate the higher combustion chamber temps that more efficient, higher horsepower engines produce.

[slashfan7964]

^That pretty much. There's a reason why most automobile engines are liquid cooled and not air cooled (among other reasons).

[atc300r]

With my 81 250r I have beat stock banshees ,some modded liquid Rs and 400EXs in drag races.My 81 has Dg intake,full exhaust,sunburst head, 34 mill mikuni,boysen dual stage reeds and 10 mill reed spacer 15-39 gearing with 22 inch rear tires.The liquid r is rated 38 hp stock.84 250r I think is 25-28 I read somewhere that a 300 kit added 8 hp.but I dont know if thats true or not.I do know the stock liquid r revs quicker than the air r.A member on here 1upfront has a 83 300r with Flotec head mod and porting with the trx 330 piston in it and he has smoked modded 450s,raptors and banshees.

[250rRoostmaster]

Only one way to settle this... Somebody with a 300r fooler needs to meet me at Florence dunes for a good ol fashion drag race!

[BOB MARLIN]

I had an 81R for a while that was so fast it was almost unrideable. 3 bores oversize, big porting, big carb, milled head and bassani pipe. It was easily faster than a STOCK water cooled 250R. That is until you hit a bump or needed to turn a corner.

[yaegerb]

Only one way to settle this... Somebody with a 300r fooler needs to meet me at Florence dunes for a good ol fashion drag race!

Ha! With your LED motor? Good luck airfoolers.....LOL

[250rRoostmaster]

Ha! With your LED motor? Good luck airfoolers.....LOL

It's stock i swear.. :D

[fabiodriven]

Say what you want, they're just as fast. Slash we're not talking about cars bud.

[King Trikester]

Cool thanks for the info, I really want an r but the liquid cooled ones are slim picking around here, I've seen quite a few 300r's in the area for a decent price. People are crazy in canada, they want 3-5000$ for decent liquid R.


Here's one of many examples:
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-atv/norfolk-county/85-atc-250r-extremely-rare/1026445339?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

Then you have this guy saying these machines are worth more in the states????
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-atv/saskatoon/honda-trike-atc-250r-350x-70atc/1026667640?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

I've been looking across canada 2 to 3 times daily on kijiji and the things I come accross are just nuts

[nicker71]

The quickest Atc 250r I've ever ridden has been air cooled, and it wasn't a big bore.

The first and second gens can ride with the 3rd gen's all day as long as your not wanting to go faster than 65mph, which where I ride you never really go that fast.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

With my 81 250r I have beat stock banshees ,some modded liquid Rs and 400EXs in drag races.My 81 has Dg intake,full exhaust,sunburst head, 34 mill mikuni,boysen dual stage reeds and 10 mill reed spacer 15-39 gearing with 22 inch rear tires.The liquid r is rated 38 hp stock.84 250r I think is 25-28 I read somewhere that a 300 kit added 8 hp.but I dont know if thats true or not.I do know the stock liquid r revs quicker than the air r.A member on here 1upfront has a 83 300r with Flotec head mod and porting with the trx 330 piston in it and he has smoked modded 450s,raptors and banshees.

I would say the higher compression ratio on the water pumper is one of the main reasons for this.


I have 2 liquid R's. Never even ridden an Air Hammer yet! Got a partial basket case 2nd gen..look forward to making her rip again someday!

[atc300r]

I know my 85 250r kicks over harder than my 81 250r and 83 300r.

[Samjp22]

Yeah king I had to pay (in that price range) for my liquid here in Alberta

[hatc200x1]

I would honestly hold out for the liquid cooled 250r... So much more parts available. Aftermarket new and OEM used parts. It has the 6 speed transmission, they won't overheat compared to the air r's. They have worlds better suspension. Not sure why I read low 30's for HP stock on this thread, I have read in the brochures that they are 38+ from the factory. When I first got my air r's, they were impressive at first compared to a 200x. But when I rode my friends 86 liquid cooled r with just an aftermarket pipe and air filter, it surprised the heck out of me, it will hang with his 2013 Raptor 700 with aftermarket exhaust, fuel controller, and intake. My 82 250r has a DG pipe and silencer, DG head, 2nd gen r carb, UNI air filter, no air box lid. And his liquid cooled r will kill my 82r right from the start.

I would just save for a liquid cooled because I have been disappointed with air cooled r's compared to a liquid cooled r.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

I would honestly hold out for the liquid cooled 250r... So much more parts available. Aftermarket new and OEM used parts.

^^^^This right here^^^^ ... is a huge advantage the liquids hold over the 1st and 2nd gens, thanks mainly to the fact the 250r lived on for 3 more model years in the TRX.

Not that this should discourage anyone from building an Air Hammer mind you!

[bigdaddyvw185]

Long live the air foolers!
that being said the part search's for the fooler parts can be a tad bit crazy, some parts really bring in stupid money... let alone if you can find them at all (300 oem parts). Prime example is the swing arm pivot bolt for the 2nd gen foolers.... darn things go for $50++ When they pop up...
I have never had any seat time on a water cooled R but my 300 with mossbarger reeds, bills pipe, dg tip, dg intake, 35mm PWK carb, k&n filter, and some mild port work hauls my 300+ pound self around just fine. but no doubt from the parts search prospective the water cooled R's are much more available in the aftermarket, and OEM / NOS.

[hawaiirider]

there all great bikes, the 3rd gen is the best one, its just more modern period, but nothing beats kicking someones ass on a stoneage 1st gen r, they are great bikes that still work well bone stock in todays age, and they last forever!

[King Trikester]

sold, I'll take two of each please