350x astro kit? So ugly yet so cool

[AJZ_200X]

That's right we are talking about that goofy looking 4 wheel kit again :Bounce

Call it "weird" or a "complete disgrace" to the 3 wheelers, the astro kit / 3x4 kit had a major impact on the 3 wheeler community whether good or bad. So I figured it may be worth talking about. Although I would much rather be on 3 wheels, I recently stumbled upon an astro kit and figured it may be worth a good ol' conversation. FIrst off, who has a 4 wheel kit on 3WW (installed, that is). I would imagine most kits were destroyed or scrapped due to their unpopular style and design. Secondly, whats the value of these kits? (assuming new old stock) :rolleyes: Post your pictures if you dare too

[350xtrike.rider]

They never worked right and they sure don't look right. I vote disgrace to the 3 wheeler. Especially the weld on kits. But I can appreciate the beauty of a NOS kit... I saw a 350x with a kit on eBay last year, it went for like $2500 I want to say. It was a decent machine, nothing to fancy. People were better off selling there trike to a 3wheeler enthusiast and buying a trx250r lol.

[SSLS1]

Dont get the cool part but definitely get the UGLY part. Saw this on Craigslist a few weeks ago for sale. Quite frankly I think it looks like a disgusting morphing of two machines and a total shame the original frame was modified for this kit since the rest of the trike looks to be in nice shape.
So sad... :cry:

229715

[Mr. Clean]

I had an air cooled 250r that was converted. It handled very poorly, luckily it was a bolt on kit and I converted it back to three wheels.

I sold it on craigslist for $250 or something like that.

[AJZ_200X]

Understandable. The astro kit may have been ugly or handled poorly. The 80's didnt have a lot to offer at the time so I assume :beer

Lets see if we can correlate a similar comparison. The Dutch car maker Studebaker introduced a market breaking sport car called the Darrin Roadster in 1953 beating the Corvette to market by 2-3 months. This car was quicker, lighter, and offered more features than the Corvette at the time. This unique designed sport car, however, never took off due to its body design and its rarity at which point the Corvette gained momentum and the rest is history. Now, the Darrin was considered to be historically significant although it was "ugly" and not an American design. So my point continues....

The astro kit may have been ugly or did not look right, but the design was considered to be historically significant to the 3 wheeler history and should be recognized for what it is. The astro kit was unique and different no matter how ugly it was (and yes it was a goofy looking contraption)

Too many people are willing to scrap these kits for a 3 wheeler. 25+ years down the road this kit may be a major rarity, let alone now.

[350xtrike.rider]

But studebaker didn't take the corvettes and cut their frames and put there own engine and body and axels on it. That's just kinda my pet peave about the convertions. They take an already rarish, hard-to-find, X, R, or Z (I've yet to see a T3 thankfully) and completely ruin the frame. But I do agree with you that they probably saved several bikes from the scrapyard..

[AK47KID]

I saw the first pic and thought that's clean looking...THEN I saw the bottom pic and instantly threw up...[emoji44] [emoji33]

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[knappyfeet]

It's a nice little piece of history......the conversion kits. Kinda rare now.

[HairyJR]

I converted my 350x with a 420cc motor back in '91 for the then girlfriend, Hi Performance ATV installed the weld on kit. Looked OK but had several items which didn't work well. The steering used automotive tie-rod ends, very stiff to turn resulting in arm pump and uncomfortable to ride. Added weight and didn't wheele along with very poor shocks. Only rode it a couple times then parked it for a dozen years before cutting off and reinstalling original front end, was glad I kept it. Another piece of ATC history.

229748 229749 229750

"HJ" 229751 :beer

[sittinguy]

Back in the day, when we all had ATCs one of my buddies tried the (kit) and went to 4 wheels on his 350X.
It SUCKED! I rode it.
It was rough, sloppy, and cheap feeling. He rode it just a few times and sold it.
Ruined a 350X.

[SSLS1]

Well, that didn't last too long! The ASTRO kit photo I posted above on the '86 350x is already cut back off the 3 wheeler and is now for sale locally. Thank God that great condition 350x is going back to stock and getting rid of that horrible graft of a quad chassis. Glad the new owner is taking on the task of preserving a classic trike.

The ASTRO kit must not be worth much either as it's for sale for only $125 including the fenders and TRX250R wheels and tires too.

230324
230325
230326
230327

[AJZ_200X]

you guys have too much time on your hands. No reason to be on the site other than to talk BS and start trailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro. So many 3 wheeler owners have left this site for this very reason. 1% of the 3 wheeling community on one site is trying to be all "cool" on the internet. Enough said im off my soapbox

[Jd110]

232009

I saw this on c/l a couple weeks ago for I think $3500. I'd take it for sure.

[dman10]

Are they ugly? Yes, do they ruin a good ATC? Yes. Should they all be trashed? No. Just like our trikes they're a piece of history. Idk why so much hate, they're kinda cool

[Mr. Clean]

Should this thread be in quad central? :D

[Jd110]

Should this thread be in quad central? :D

I don't know. It started life as a 3-wheeler.

Should Bruce Jenner use the boys bathroom? Jk

[Mr. Clean]

Very good comparison!! Astro kit is like Bruce Jenner... Hahahahahahhah!!!

[Jd110]

They were good at first...now they SUCK! So I here.

[JesseA420]

Lets see if we can correlate a similar comparison. The Dutch car maker Studebaker introduced a market breaking sport car called the Darrin Roadster in 1953 beating the Corvette to market by 2-3 months. This car was quicker, lighter, and offered more features than the Corvette at the time. This unique designed sport car, however, never took off due to its body design and its rarity at which point the Corvette gained momentum and the rest is history. Now, the Darrin was considered to be historically significant although it was "ugly" and not an American design. So my point continues....

The astro kit may have been ugly or did not look right, but the design was considered to be historically significant to the 3 wheeler history and should be recognized for what it is. The astro kit was unique and different no matter how ugly it was (and yes it was a goofy looking contraption)

Too many people are willing to scrap these kits for a 3 wheeler. 25+ years down the road this kit may be a major rarity, let alone now.


horrible comparison. looks aside, u state the studebaker was lighter, quicker and handled better.

this astro kit added alot of weight, and just by looking at the geometry of the suspension components, it would handle like absolute crap. i believer laegers at one time made a trx250r geometry based 350x hybrid frame if you really want a 350x motor in a quad frame that will actually perform.

historically significant? how so?

please dont get butthurt about peoples opinions on a useless piece of equipment just because you think it is "so cool". you asked for a conversation and people gave you their input.

[RUNMEDOWN]

I have never ridden one but think they are cool in the "80's - retro what the hell were we thinking" type way. I am sure we could have a very very long list of items that would fit that list. That being said for how I ride, I would rock one but only if I had other ATCs in the same model. (200x Astro on CL a year ago for $250 - on a bike that "Runs great, just needed its carb Cleaned", I should have picked it up).

[El Camexican]

The Chinese have a saying; "ma ma hu hu" which basically means that some one tried to draw a tiger's head on a horse's body with mediocre results.

If I ever had the misfortune of owning an astrodisastro I would get MA MA HU HU decals made for it. (and post it in the quad section ;))

[BWard]

I wonder of that 350x astro kit that is listed above for 125.00 is still for sale? Anyone know?