atc prices coming down?

[Jim mac]

I'm not talking about museum quality restorations. Are trike prices finally coming back down? Last 200x I bought was 600 bucks, ripped seat, cracked plastic, but pretty complete, Added gas and rode it, going to pick up my old 200x tomorrow, titled, maier plastics, funky seat cover, new tires, complete, 600 bucks. There's a really nice 350x on marketplace for 3900 obo with title.
what are other members seeing in different parts of the country? jim

[haroldpo6]

Not in N.W. Florida.

[350for350]

I've seen some cheaper ones listed, but they're all 185Ss or 200 hardtails.

[Jim mac]

I rearranged some trikes started 3 of them 185s 2 200x. trying to convince myself to sell the 185s. But it needs brake cables, rear tire leaks, good bones but probably a 4 or 500 dollar trike. I can't replace it for what I'll sell it for but I've got 2 other 185s in the shed . jim

[Jim mac]

ended up posting
2 84 200x 1 85 200x all titled running etc. and a 82 185s no title on marketplace and cl starting at 4000 bucks and zero calls. Not even a trade for a refrigerator or other junk
jim

[knappyfeet]

The general craze for this stuff seems over.

Your always going to have collector stuff sought after but the rest of the "run of the mill" stuff is toast.

I had these plastics on Offerup for 10 bucks..... nothing. Probably couldn't give them away.

Whatever....it was fun while it lasted.

https://i.postimg.cc/sDcBrfPD/20240308-153956.jpg (https://postimg.cc/ppmVQH1g)

[ATC King]

Nearly everything I see online is very overpriced junk from delusional owners. People who've never actually rebuilt them and have no idea of the cost and labor, and absolutely aren't qualified to appraise them.

Even the auction sites are mostly full of poorly modified, questionable history/condition trikes. The baffling thing is all the stock ones in fair to good condition that get low bids, some I've seen looked like a steal, while pieced together looking ones with 'performance' upgrades bring more than they're worth and what I'd even consider paying. The caveat is the ones with vintage aftermarket parts, those are worth collecting.

The ones that are 'performance' modified by owners who obviously aren't capable of choosing matching components and theirs now runs worse than a stock one, except maybe at WOT.

Basically all of them skimp on any suspension or brake upgrades, which I prefer over engine upgrades that just make the trike worse to ride.

New plastic is all well and good for a rider, but for long term value, nothing replaces OEM plastic. We all know the cost and rarity of excellent condition OEM fenders.


'Runs good but needs carb cleaned' Seriously, very confused people.

Then there's the people posting them online that don't even have a cold start and running video link or mention they can send one.

It's just horrible with used trikes right now. I'd buy a new one before even considering most of the overpriced used junk out there...

About the only deals are the one's sitting by the road with a sign. The owner knows it needs work and they want to free up space more than keep it for several more months (or longer) trying to get a mythical price for it. The owner also wants nothing to do with online scammers or the hassle of tire kickers who may or may not show up when they say.


I'm pretty much out of considering buying any more. About the only thing I search for is a nice KLT250. A nice 225DX could be in the future too. Both of those are pretty hard to find a lot of the OE parts for, in nice condition, especially the KLT. I wouldn't touch any of those as a project trike, they'd have to be complete and in fair or better condition, something that mostly labor would line out. Aboslutely nothing that's obviously been sitting outside most of it's life or had poor maintenance. Something with general wear and tear and showing it's age a little would make a good rider, not the beat to death and abused junk people are wanting absurd prices for.

I don't have the room for either right now though.


I've got enough projects anyway. I have one machine that someone else around here used to own and a guy was over and wondering what ever happened to it. He was surprised when I showed him I had it in the shop, under a tarp. I stared working on it years ago and need to finish it, most people think it disappeared.

I guess I look at the vintage vehicle value like the cost of a very aged bourbon. The person that let that storage space be taken up for all those years, who cared for it all that time, deserves to be compensated for their effort. Someone who drug something out of a field and can't tell the difference between negligence and patina is a beggar, not a seller.

[Jim mac]

I'm just out of space and kids are done riding. I get into these moods and end up cleaning out all my junk then start collecting again. I sold a guy a running 110 a few years back, he noticed all these other 110s I had (I think 3 or 4) 1 set of plastics 1 tank but I sold him the 4 for 100 bucks. we even moved the tank from each trike to just drive them onto his trailer. now most of my spare stuff is 185s or 200s stuff. biggest issue of dumping all the parts is our main ATC guy passed away and the source of easy to get parts have dried up. jim

[Jim mac]

and I find airbox and both boots for 85 bucks for the 200x. So I pull the ads of cl and marketplace. It's too much fun just making these things nicer.
This 84 I had about 750 into it, then sold it for 1000. A fewonths later, I bought it back for 600 bucks, added a seat cover and front master cylinder now airbox. So I'm back into it about 750 bucks. jim

[Homeless Dave]

In my area, prices have dropped. A beat to death 110 used to be 2k, now they can be had in good shape for 4–700. Even the market on the performance units have dropped quite a bit. I think that the rising cost of living is keeping people from buying things. It’s possible the market might heat up again, but nobody can predict that. I still just buy the stuff I get a scorching deal on, I don’t have lots of money, I work on a tight budget.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jim mac]

just sold a complete running 200x no smoke, both brakes good tires, new seat, fixed but cracked plastics. title for 1000 bucks. buyer was happy, I advertised it as the cheapest 200x running and only got 2 replies this weekend d. jim

[ATC King]

I'm still not seeing it, looking at online ads.


A derelict 200X with plants growing out of the rotted seat, for $1,000. Oh, and they're going up in price everyday, as stated in the ad, typical.

A 250ES in 'great' condition, never mind that it's realistically, barely in the good condition territory, for $6,000. If they spent just a little on it, it would be a solid good condition, but that's not the M.O. of those sellers. Still not anywhere worth the asking price though.

I did just see a YTM225 parts trike, for $150. No fenders, tank cover, or headlight, but said the engine turns over, doesn't start. I'm sure it'd be worth the price for someone who needed parts other than what it's missing. It's within reasonable driving distance from me, but I don't have a 225.

[Jim mac]

this is a 1000 dollar 200x around here when I want to sell one. if I were trying to buy this, it would be 2000 bucks
jim

[ATC King]

Any of the Japanese trikes someone is asking $1,000 for should at least run and ride, in the basic sense.

The models with more current parts availability are the best ones to stick to when on a budget, but they also tend to bring higher prices. It works out good that way anyhow. The people asking high prices for models where a missing part is very expensive and hard to come by, I mean the typical Japanese trikes, are asking far too much for something that isn't exactly all that rare or valuable to start with. Good used parts for those can exceed the total value of the trike itself. For models like that, anything that isn't turn-key should be considered a parts trike and have an appropriate price. A person could have five parts trikes of the same model and still not have everything to build a complete one, that's why it's important to skip over the 'project' trikes, they'll often be a loss or have a very narrow margin.


All that said, I believe the best deals are out west, where the trike scene originated. The rest of us get the availability of beat up farm trikes who's owners live in rural areas but look at West Coast prices, and dream.

A big thing that often isn't focused on when buying a trike, and most of the sellers sure don't offer it up voluntarily, is frame condition, especially rot. The trikes that have spent their whole time in dry climates and seen little to no mud are going to have the frames worth paying for. The ones used in wet climates and obviously weren't the best cared for are more often than not going to need some frame repair because of rust.

I hardly ever see buyers asking about frame bottom pictures, or before pictures if the frame was repainted. Most sellers don't go out of their way to show those either. There are a lot, a very lot of trikes being sold online now by dealers and a large percentage of them are not experts. Clean it up, spray some slickem on everything to make it look purdy, and move it out the door. I'm not saying all dealers intentionally sell questionable vehicles, but not even being real enthusiast has major shortcomings when properly representing a vehicle's condition.

If buyers pay the price without doing their due diligence, that's their fault, right?

[Jim mac]

years ago I made a post about a 185s I dragged home and someone mentioned the frame was probably rotted
at the foot pegs. I've never seen a trike frame with rust issues here in tucson. I imagine even if a trike was buried it wouldn't rust out here because it's so dry. jim

[Jim mac]

these are the other 2 I planned on selling as a package. the 84 on the right has a aftermarket exh and a twist throttle, new rings. the 95 on the left new rear tires and I have a new front tire. I still might keep one, just have to decide which to keep. jim

[ATC King]

It looks like this thread is more about rider pricing and not collector, with the later not always being enthusiasts, but more like short term investors.

It's undeniable now that many of the buyers don't even care to ride them, and sometimes don't care if they even run. That's what I'm seeing on the 'collector' side. They're watching the trend and if they can buy one then sell it a few months later for a profit, that's what they're doing. Same as with many things now, including homes/apartments that nobody lives in.

Trikes were never in the same arena as high end sports cars, there were already very expensive road racing motorcycles in that time period too. Top level bicycles could cost as much, or more than some trikes and many mid-tier bikes cost as much as half of a trike's price. Trikes were very much a middle class phenomenon, then when the manufactures stopped production, it immediately drove the value down even more to where just about anyone with a little cash could own one. That was the entry into ATVs for a whole lot of people, even after four wheeled ATVs became available.


It's also undeniable about the hoards out there. Will a bulk sell of those bring prices down? Will they be inherited by someone who could care less and just wants them gone? How many of them sit for such long periods without actual ride time that they're basically ruined to the point of needing a complete rebuild just to run? How many will be cannibalized to make one running one in another twenty years? Will some be lost in fires or other mishaps covered under insurance?


There's a documentary in there somewhere, and even if it's about trikes, what it says about pop-culture, materialism, and capitalism may be more provocative. There's all kinds of things people collect that could be applied to, but few mass-produced items with the stigma attached to trikes.

I did get a laugh out of that one social media video where the guy says it's a brand new 250R, never been started. New engines are in fact, started and run. Sometimes, run pretty hard, much harder than the suggested break-in procedure, but for a very short duration. Poor guy, so excited to think he was the first.


There's a 200SX (I think) a dealer near here has sitting by the road. I've done passed it several times and keep forgetting to stop. No, it's not a trike, but I'd put it's value up there with a 200ES in the same condition, for someone that wants an early Honda quad for a garage queen. I don't know Honda ATV history, but it looks like the 200SX could be considered their first four-stroke sport quad.

[ATC King]

271532

I stopped by to look at a 200SX, 1986.

It's not a trike, but I think it's close in many ways to be some indicator of trikes from that time, the hardtail models anyway, in the utilitarian type of design. Many of the same issues with this quad as a trike would have in that condition, much the same prices to fix too.

They're asking $1,500. To high of a start if I was in the market. I feel like someone will buy it because it's the lowest priced, running quad they can find and that'll be the final end to it's life. I see at least $1,000 needed to spiffy it up and make a decent looking, dependable rider. I do think it's a typical quad/trike in this area at that price, which is too high for the work they need.

Wheels and tires are newer, certainly some value there, but the front is a poor choice. A Kenda Front Max or something with a similar pattern would have been a great tire for that 2x4 quad.

Air box had the lid and looks intact. Stock muffler, with the baffle, is all there and looks good. Seat has a decent cover, though it looks like it wasn't installed the best.

Everything else is a negative. The picture makes it look better than it is.

All the plastic is cracked somewhere, the tank cover is so sun damaged that one good bump will probably shatter it, the trunk lid is missing, as is the tank top cover. The large abomination on the petcock and the hole cut to accommodate it?

Front and rear fender are available from Maier, and the tank cover. No trunk in the Maier rear fender though. Still, that's $500-$600 just to help it look better and maybe not have a chuck of fender give way during the first ride. It'll also never retain the value of a quad with OEM fenders.

The headlight lens is missing. The chain and sprockets need replaced. Handlebars switches need dissembled and thoroughly cleaned. Wheel/axle bearings may have been ok, but I didn't really yank on anything too much to see. Brakes unknown, I didn't ride it, but I'm guessing from the overall condition they're probably in need of service.

The compression feels low and after looking at the picture, it looks like there's a small oil weep near the cylinder/head area. I don't think it has an auto decompression mech, just the manual lever.

Inside of fuel tanks looks like it'll be fine for a while, but does look like someone removed rust but then let it get a bit back in it after doing so. Needed to look closer but didn't have a good pen light. No liner though.

I was asked if I wanted the key, to hear it run, but declined. Maybe if someone really wanted this particular model and had the time and money to shine it back up into something more than it is now, the price may be a decent starting point. I don't think I could ride it anyway, as it looks tiny. It may be similar in size to the trikes I ride, but it somehow looks smaller, more cramped. Looking at it in the picture, it doesn't seem that way, maybe even the opposite, but in person is looks great from someone about 5'7" and less than 160lbs.

Nothing related to condition, but the front suspension uses a steering axis that is fixed to the angle of the lower arms, no ball joint. Lots of camber change throughout the suspension travel, lots of bump steer I'd imagine, except the only saving grace is there isn't much travel. Certainly not a high speed handler. I'd feel safer on a trike.


I've not seen any trikes for sell by the roadside. I'll be sure to take a look if I do.


Edit: The 200SX front does have a separate knuckle assembly from the A arms. I hadn't looked that closely and just thought it was similar to other early quad front suspensions that were extremely basic. The 200SX has a bit of a cumbersome setup though, instead of other and later versions that used ball joints or a strut type IFS.

[Jim mac]

I'm down to 3 185s and 2 200x right now, all are rider type trikes not restored. But if I have the parts, I do like the trikes complete as possible. My 185s frame I'm turning into a roller had a nice chain guard. So I spent this evening swapping the chain guard onto my otherwise complete 185s with a title. It didn't need it but it looks correct.
Just got the rear decals and gas tank decals for the 200x' The 84 just looked off without tank decals (thanks blueline graphics)
none of this makes the trikes worth more, I just like to make them look a little more complete. next up is shock boots on the 200x and maybe a 200s front end on one of the 185s. jim

[Jim mac]

threw my beater 185s up for sale, had a lady come by to check it out, go to fill up the tank and the jb weld leaks, so swap out a different tank..has a leaky petcock! Install new petcock, top off the tires and fires right up. Get a call while checking things out, guy says if it doesn't sell, call him back. Lady shows up, rides it around, loves it but her replacement knee can't bend and so she passed. The caller asks for better pics, I go take a few pics and notice the trike frame is rusted under the motor!
send the guy pics of the rust, repost new picks on the cl ad with the rusted frame (won't sell junk). Added I'd include another 185s frame with the trike.
So the next project? swap everything to a spare frame, might as well add the 200s front end so it's got a little suspension.
Get all this done, why not get it titled and just keep it?
this is a $600 trike in tucson

[Jim mac]

threw my beater 185s up for sale, had a lady come by to check it out, go to fill up the tank and the jb weld leaks, so swap out a different tank..has a leaky petcock! Install new petcock, top off the tires and fires right up. Get a call while checking things out, guy says if it doesn't sell, call him back. Lady shows up, rides it around, loves it but her replacement knee can't bend and so she passed. The caller asks for better pics, I go take a few pics and notice the trike frame is rusted under the motor!
send the guy pics of the rust, repost new picks on the cl ad with the rusted frame (won't sell junk). Added I'd include another 185s frame with the trike.
So the next project? swap everything to a spare frame, might as well add the 200s front end so it's got a little suspension.
Get all this done, why not get it titled and just keep it?
jim

[Jim mac]

the last 2 200x went away this afternoon
sad but having to take blood thinners and the doc says atvs and blood thinners don't mix, probably sell 2 of the 3 185s that I have left, gotta keep 1 right? got a little surgery coming up. if all goes as planned, 3 months of blood thinners and I'm off the meds and I'll start hunting for maybe a 350x. jim

[350for350]

ATVs and blood thinners mix just fine as long as you keep the right one on top.

[Jim mac]

so true, never fell off a trike, should be getting a atrial ablasion, basically going in and burning the inside of my heart to stop the flutter. after that 3 months of blood thinners and no more pills! then maybe go out and look for a nice 350x. jim