Is a stock Tri Z 250 really that slow????

[Darius1502]

Hey Guys,

Just wondering...I am rebuilding an 86 Tri Z (as you may know). I have never ridden it and have heard the R and Tecate were faster. I have a YZ 400F (fourstroke motocross) and a Quadzilla (500cc two stroke).

I have also owned a KTM 250cc motocross...tell me:

How fast or slow is the Tri Z 250? Has anyone owned both an '85 and an '86 and if so is the '86 much faster?

[J.D.]

I dunno about this, but I'll give some comments. I do believe an 86 is faster, since it has the 6 speed tranny. My Z only goes 55 tops right now, but I'm running 12/44 gears with 22 inchers. I plan to put a front sprocket up to 14, so I should be able to go 65 after that, I also want to put a 42 rear sprocket on, I'm not real concerned about accelaration, I want top speed because most of my riding area is always 50+ mph. R's and Tecates are both more powerful and faster. The Tri-Z is like the crappiest of the 3, but still not a bad machine in my opinion. If I remember correctly I think an 86 or 85 R came stock going 85 mph, that's pretty damn fast.

[MR ATC]

they don't call them " Yamadog" for nothing...jk seriously out of the 3 250cc 2 strokes they are the least powerful and slower but they dose not mean they are bad. yamaha was just playing catch up to Honda & Kawasaki when the Tri-Z first appered. it is still one of the top performing 3 wheelers.

[Wickedfinger]

I don't know what Z's you guys are riding, but my '86 was and still remains probably the fastest ATV I've ever owned - faster than any of my ATC250R's ('85, '83, '82 - all stock except for pipes and a wiseco or two), faster than my '91 LT250R (R&R racing prepped motor, pipe), or my old '85 LT250R (ported, pipe, wiesco), or my '87 Banshee (DG piped), and maybe even faster than my highly modded '96 400L sport. Yeah the engine was match ported to the overbore piston, had the twin boost port, and I ran a DG pipe ..... but she was a beast. I'm sure TimSr would like to weigh in on this discussion.

[TimSr]

I dont much care what the magazines say, or how armchair engineers interpret what theyve read in the magazines. If you can ride my Z, and then tell me with a straight face that its slow, then Ive certainly got to see whatever you're riding!

Between the 85 and 86, if you are talking drag race or MX, I prefer the 85 gearbox. The 86 gears seem to be closer together, requiring more shifting than the motor deems necessary which costs to much time. I prefer the closer gears in the 86 for normal offroad riding.

[md1985250r]

YEARS AGO A BUDDY OF MINE HAD A TRI-Z,,BORED 2 OVER AFTER HE RAN STRAIGHT GAS IN IT....HE STILL COULDN'T HANG WITH MY STOCK 85 250R

[Dynofox]

I don't think my Z is slow by any means. It kills everything I ride with (warriors and blasters :-D ). I'd like to run it against some 400ex's, I don't see any reason my Z wouldn't take them. BTW i'm running a full dg system and boyesen reeds.

[CHAINSAW]

I have an 86 completely stock.. even has the original tires on it still (original bore, reeds, air filter, everything) . They are pretty fast... I mean its just as fast as any quad being released today. I love mine for the wheelie riding and jumping.. those things were made to jump!

You wont see a whole lot of fast Tri Z's because you cant find any aftermarket performance parts anymore. Other then a pipe, and that only helps a little bit. You wont be dissapointed by any means, and if you are.. Ill buy it. I love Z's

[Billy Golightly]

Call me crazy (Won't be the first time) but when my Z was running, it knocked the socks off of any atv I've ever owned before. It made mince meat out of my TRX250R in the excelleration department. I don't doubt that the R was a little bit faster overall, but thats mostly gearing. When I had it on the road (One of the very, very few times) I could lift the front wheel in ALL 5 gears with very little effort. My dad was also following me in the F-250, and he said he was doing over 70 and I was a loooong ways ahead of him. I'm not doubting the motor had some work done to it, but the exhaust was stock, and so was all the wacky airbox setup. I can't imagine one setup with the YZ250 powervalve setup + some porting and a good pipe like the LRD I have.

[Darius1502]

thanks guys...I appreciate the feedback. Hey chainsaw...can I see some pics of your Tri Z?

[CHAINSAW]

http://www.geocities.com/midwesttrik...ainsrides.html

[Bill X_R]

I'm not much on changing the look of stock bikes...but Chainsaw, that is one bad ass lookin "R"


I dont care if that is a new 60 $ headlight....PAINT IT TO MATCH!!

[denn]

If any of you follow ebay you might remember a month or so ago, there was a 250cc shootout from an old newpaper called the ATV NEWS for 86 being sold on there. This was the most thorough shootout I have ever seen and I have the dirtwheels and 3&4 wheel action ones also. They had clocked all three bikes, the top speeds were as follows TRI-Z 70mph, 250R 68mph and the tecate 58mph. They had printed everything, like the gear ratio of each gear, number of teeth, and how fast each bike went in each gear. The degree of rake and trail for each bike. Everything technical about those bikes is listed. Here's my favorite part!! The TRI-Z was the winner of the shootout. They tested each bike on actual motorcross tracks and flattracks and the TRI-Z had the fastest times and was the best handling. Not like dirtwheels and the others that test everthing in sand as if everyone lives around the corner from GLAMIS! They said the motor had the most useful powerband out of the three meaning it had something to offer in each stage from low, mid and top. I will gladly make copies and send them out to whoever wants one. It is a three page article and really the most interesting one I have ever read regardless if the TRI-Z won or not. I would also like to add as a current owner of 3 Tri-z's . That the 85 tri-z was a piece of crap compared to the 86. The engine in the 86 has a broader powerband and the suspension is completly different. It is extremelly difficult to bottom the front of the 86 tri-z. Most people give tri-z's a bad rap cause of the 85. Most people can't get ahold of a refined 86Z. They really are a totally different bike.
Let me know if anyone wants a copy of the article. My email is NICNAV@Peoplepc.com.

Thanks Denn

[Wickedfinger]

Dude, float me a copy of that article: Tejas10@aol.com - Billygoat and Howdy - you should put that up in the magazines section. No problems with the copyright stuff - the mag dosnt exist anymore.

[Darius1502]

My MINT 1986 Tri Z project just go a shot in the arm!

Wow....thats really interesting. I will have to review the article...but its good to see another viewpoint. I know Dirt Wheels and 3 Wheel Action were always very biased toward Honda.

Also most people dont realize that powerbands with a narrow RPM range are horrible for motocross and supercross conditions. Thats why the Yamaha YZ 250 has been the top supercross bike for 3 plus years...its not has fast as the Honda but has the most usable power.

Well since I am waiting on my axle I will post some pics of perhaps the most 'underrated' 3 wheeler of 1986. Its also interesting that since that was the last year of the ATC 250R and the Tri Z, the Tri Z never go a chance to get the word out more. Also if you look at the numbers...you just don't find alot of 1986 models....I mean for every 4 '85 models you might see one '86 model.

Here are some pics!!