Why did Honda only make the shaft drive hardtail Big Red for one year?

[BigRed1984]

Until recently, I was not aware of trike technology prior to 1984. I thought the '84 Big Red was the first Big Red, but no. Honda had a chain-drive Big Red in 1982 and 1983, which became the 200M for 1984-1986.

Honda got a good run out of the 200M design. Five years.

On the other hand the 1984 shaft drive Big Red design was only used for one year.

It seems like Honda went to a lot of trouble and engineering expense to come up with the 1984 Big Red design, to only manufacture it for one year. Sure the 85 was a quantum leap forward, but wouldn't it make sense to "upgrade" the 200M with shaft drive and reverse, getting some legs out of the design, rather than throw away all those development dollars?

It's not like the design isn't robust... 26 years later and my well-beat 84 still runs and drives as good as I remember, and nobody's been inside it yet.

[Tri-ZNate]

Probably since Honda had enough hard tails the smartest choice was to specialize their 200es towards a certain market, farmers and people who wanted to do work with their ATV. Give it more power, full suspension, accesories like a power plug and work light and you have a stroke of genius

[bonkers_200s]

The chain drive 200es big red was my first trike, I miss that old clunker. It had a self recycling oil system, I would have to bring 2 quarts of oil in the trunk every time I went riding :P

I don't know for sure but, its seems to me a hard tail, shaft drive machine is bound to have drive shaft problems if beat on just right, or wrong I should say.

[muddog]

well the 250BR is just far superior to the 200BR so i can see why they dropped it.

[litebulblsc]

I don't know for sure but, its seems to me a hard tail, shaft drive machine is bound to have drive shaft problems if beat on just right, or wrong I should say.

Care to elaborate?

[Custom200]

I though the 200m was on made in 84-85.

[zppeacock]

I don't know for sure but, its seems to me a hard tail, shaft drive machine is bound to have drive shaft problems if beat on just right, or wrong I should say.

The 200es was only available in 1984 it was a shaft drive with high, low and reverse. There was never a 200es chain drive

A shaft drive on a hard tail would be very strong because the shaft never makes any angle movements and just sits still.

[litebulblsc]

The 81 and 82 Big Reds were 200e. It did not transform into the 200m, as I believe there is an 83 & 84 200e. But I have no idea what the difference between the 200e and 200m are

[bonkers_200s]

When I had a hard tail that shouldn't be jumped, I jumped it. Hard and often. Sometimes the chain would pop from the sudden impact. Sometimes I would be the one popping off it. I think if I had the shaft drive when I was kid, I would have snapped it.

[3wheelmecca]

Could be leftover parts or just an experiment to see what people liked. I prefer a hardtail for trails, suspension for jumping and dirt track.

[petesatc]

the 200m and 200e are slightly different.....200e has a hi/lo gearbox the 200m did not.........also over here in the UK we got the 200es in 1985 (same tank decals as the 250es) we also got a 200e in 84 (different decals) so honda did make them after they stop selling them in the states..........the 200m was only made for 2 years 84-85....
if you guys want to see the brochures for the 84e and 85 200es check out this link to my web-site http://www.offroadvintage.com/page9.htm

[MudBug]

also over here in the UK we got the 200es in 1985 (same tank decals as the 250es) if you guys want to see the brochures for the 84e and 85 200es check out my this link to my web-site http://www.offroadvintage.com/page9.htm

wow, I didnt have a clue that they made an 85 200es. Strange.

[BigRed1984]

Maybe the '84 sold so well, Honda recouped their design money and made a healthy profit on it?

[petesatc]

more likely is they didn't sell that well and honda tagged on a extra year because they had so many parts left and its pretty cheap just to redesign some tank and body decals for a extra year......

[litebulblsc]

It was Honda's first shaft drive model wasn't it? Probably more of an experiment then anything...