when is a 3 wheeler too far gone?

[Jim mac]

I don't part them, locally not much of a call for a
parts unless I'm looking for some.
the 200s started as a frame and busted forks. I've since swapped front forks, added a tire installed a rear carrier and a mystery motor I bought today. all in I'm at about 30 bucks so far. tank was a freebie so was the handlebars. I've got a pullbstart and a china carb in the shed and a new chain I ordered by mistake.
I do have axles, hubs and used wheels and tires so the big bucks will be fenders and seat.
the 200x was 60 bucks, 30 for the tank, 60 for the engine mounts and another 60 for a set of rear hubs. again no plastics or seat$$$ as for a motor, ive got a 185s motor I can use but no exhaust. I've got 1 guy responding he's got 185 and 200s parts, maybe trade the 200x project for some seats, fenders for the hardtails, my suspended 185s is lacking a seat.
these aren't really for profit, I just like to work on trikes and come out a little ahead. I'm sure guys on here have scrapped nicer left over stuff, I'm just trying to use the parts and stuff I have on hand. jim

[350for350]

Well I think that you're that only one who can answer that question for you. You're the only one who knows your financial situation, spousal (or girlfriend) situation, storage situation, motivation, and abilities. I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but I feel like that decision is yours to make, not someone else.

[Jim mac]

if I wasn't into these, it would all be hauled to the dump
I just like to work on these so my time is basically therapy. then there's the chasing parts which is always fun. I have more fun chasing parts for my hotrods vs actually driving them, just took a 2.5 hour drive to buy a pair of 66 chevelle bucket seats the other day. I've got a really nice 79 110 rear fender, might do some slicing and dicing to make it work on the 200s. I was just curious how others go to bring back these old trikes. jim

[big specht]

When there burnt to the ground or rusted and corroded together. That’s when they are done for

[atc300r]

I'm building an 84 250r from a frame that was stored under my garage for about 25 years it had a missing lower frame cross tube/motor mount.I welded in a new tube and mounts.I got this as a parts trike about 30 years ago.About 3 years ago I bought a second gen 250r basket case for 300 dollars. Between the 2 I decided to build it back up.

[Homeless Dave]

I built a 250es out of spare parts i collected. it was even an 87...well the frame was! Guy gave it to as a bare frame with the forks on it, he thought it was junk. so i dug through my stash and put a engine together and found a decent rear end. it wasn't pretty but it ran! Your question can only be answered by you and your level of motivation. here are a few pics of that rig, cant find the one of when it was done, but you get the point.268525268526

[Hobbes12]

I had to abandon a 1985 Honda 200S in California after it got caught in a Wildfire...probably only thing left on it could have been the foot pegs...

[ATC King]

When someone would be upside down on the trike to get it running is too far gone.

Yes, it's a hobby for some and the running joke in most hobbies is they don't want to know how much they have in it, but that's being a little naive and condoning the same when most people don't have the luxury of being wasteful with money.

Typical prices for a rider now are unreasonable as most need twice the asking price in parts and repair just to be dependable and look half decent (no duck tape on the seat or busted fenders missing chunks). Then depending on location, it can be difficult to sell even a good machine for a reasonable price without having to sell it online and risk some of those potential pitfalls and headaches. I'm buying two trikes this week for an outstanding deal that have been for sale most of the year and the owners just got tired of the lowballers and idiots. They had a 50cc Honda bike in with the package when first listed but after dealing with aforementioned morons, they emptied the fuel, cleaned it really well and moved it into the house as decoration.

[Jim mac]

locally a running titled complete hardtail sells for 500 to 600 bucks. If you have you can't find a seat pan or fenders for cheap, you end up with a project for yourself.
my 60 dollar 185s got 3 new tires, a hi flite seat kit new air filter cables etc. I could probably sell it for 600 bucks but I splurged on the seat because I wanted to make this trike my keeper, even has plates and title. the second 185s I think was bought as a pile of parts, ended up swapping a spare motor into it, new seat cover, cables carb new tire, title and plates. probably can get 600 for it and make a small profit but I like these 185s trikes so might as well keep it too. jim

[ATC King]

locally a running titled complete hardtail sells for 500 to 600 bucks.

Y'all out that way seem to have much better selection and buying prices for trikes. It used to be like that here and more places eastward, but those days are gone. I did get a couple free 200 Big Red wheels the other day, but that's a rare occurrence anymore. I've had other parts given to me in the past because I've been known as a 3 wheeler guy around here for a time and many people just wanted 'junk' out of their yards.

I followed your decision process on that seat and believe you made the right choice. For a rider, the tall desert seats on a 185S are WAY more enjoyable to ride than even a new stock style foam and cover. The 185S is just too cramped for anyone probably over 5'6" and that desert seat opens the riding position quite a bit while also providing more cushion.

Nothing new is remotely comparable to 35+ year seat foam. That stuff is woe out even if it looks farm fresh.

[MrConcdid]

Someone should start a thread, buying, evaluating, fixing or parting these bikes.........I'll wait..
Mrc_builds

[MrConcdid]

Ps I'm inrested in some 200x parts if you part it out.

[Jim mac]

I'll let you know if I go that route, but I keep ordering and finding parts for it. jim

[ATC King]

Someone should start a thread, buying, evaluating, fixing or parting these bikes.........I'll wait..
Mrc_builds

You mean this one http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/190997-MRC_BUILDS-on-Youtube-(ATC-heavy-content)

And this one http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/189119-Who-here-flips-trikes