trikes on the trail. nobody understands.

[xela456]

Hello all. First time poster here.
I've been the proud owner of an 86 250es for about five years now and in the area I'm starting to feel a little lonely. I wanna talk about the trike specific experience we've all had. The advantages and the disadvantages of trikedom. I myself started as a 3wheeler basically out of necessity. Everyone had atvs and I wanted to join in the fun, only to find a deal on my current trike. I started to feel a little different when following behind in the deeply cut 4wheeler ruts. I needed more ramps to load ny machine. I thoroughly enjoy big red on the trails, and find that there are very few places this trike won't go.

What are your experiences? Good? Bad?
Lets hear it!

Also I would like to post pictures if I can figure out how to do it from my phone!

edit!
god typo in the title i can't change it!!!

[Ghostv2]

I know exactly how you feel. But they are just so much fun now. Only problem i face is trying to keep up on rough ground. I mean, you have no suspension. But as long as they look back now and then and slow down i have not found one place my atc will not go. Use to be a beast going through deep mud holes with them balloon tires.

[xela456]

My 86 has pretty decent suspension. I can think of some awkward sideways slope trails that aren't that fun but all in all I would say its a very capable trail machine. I feel as far as traction goes it does much better than a 2wd 4 wheeler. I guess 2/3 is better that 2/4 lol also have you ever busted your knuckles on a tree or the like on yours? Pretty easy to do I've found!
What model do you ride?

[tri again]

Great question.
See if you can search key something like 'why'
as in why did you choose 3 wheelers.

TONS of entries.
Faster, lighter, when they flip you're NOT under a 600 pound brick in 3 inches of water etc etc.

4 wd quads get stuck in my field within 20-30 yards.
Trikes laugh their way across.
I can also walk mine through the creek and it floats.
I mean, I get off and walk beside it but it goes.

For 3 or 4 grand you can get 6 or 8 of them.
You'll find the threads.
Interesting reading for sure.

Have you looked into hand grip protectors like on dirtbikes?

[xela456]

thats a good point about the weight, i've been underneath red before and i came out a little healthier than similar 4 wheeler accidents (accidently downshifted up a hill) if i remember the ship weight on a big red is like 289?
if i can figure out how to post pics from my phone i will. Mine lacks a few things from the factory, the front rack and headlight were the casualty of a rollover, plus a pretty good bend of the bars. The rear fenders have been cut out in front of the wheels (all of this has been prior to my ownership). I had to axe the original tank also when it started leaking. The tank doesnt really bother me, but with the lack of rear fenders it really starts to make my legs cold and wet after a long ride.
i use to think i wanted to trade it off for something with 4 wheels, until i really didsome hard trail riding with some of those hulking 4 wheelers. they couldnt keep up!one question though. tell me if this is a hairbrain scheme, but has anybody ever tried filling the front tire with some heavy liquid? only reason is like when im moving my boat around the yard, turning in thick mud, or just trying to park on the slick garage floor the front doesnt seem to stick very well. is this something you've ever heard of?

[dougspcs]

You gotta stop looking at your trike as an short coming to your buddies on quads..

Set it up with some decent tires, learn the balance and control of the machine and you are every bit a capable as the 4x4 guys..in fact once you learn your ride I'm sure you're buddies will be impressed.

It takes more skill to operate a trike under rough conditions, but once you have that skill you won't be the back of the pack all the time..

Forget about filling the front tire with anything to weigh it..just screw up the machines handling.

You might even show them up a thing or two..check out the video I posted for you in the other thread. You'll see!

And for god sake, stay out from under your RED!!

[M.Pargiello]

Old picture, Before I changed anything on it. But I always trail ride mine. All my buddies are surprised at what it can keep up with and go through. We all have dirtbikes too though.

[xela456]

i will try!
i feel like im getting ther i've got a few years of 3 wheeling under my belt, i feel like i'm just a shine over an amature, it was a few years ago that i went through that man-wheeler-inversion and its not something i'd like to repeat either. does goin on a trail thats sideways on a slope up your pucker factor still? it does mine!
i have deffinately notice the difference in turn radius, those hulking behemoths need reverse alot more than i do!

[dougspcs]

i will try!
i feel like im getting ther i've got a few years of 3 wheeling under my belt, i feel like i'm just a shine over an amature, it was a few years ago that i went through that man-wheeler-inversion and its not something i'd like to repeat either. does goin on a trail thats sideways on a slope up your pucker factor still? it does mine!
i have deffinately notice the difference in turn radius, those hulking behemoths need reverse alot more than i do!

Maybe think about something like this..

It will definitely improve your handling, mudding and hill climbing!! Won't stop your azz from tightening on those crazy cross grade hills..but it will help it immensely!

[xela456]

wow! i always wondered how well does the stock motor pull those giant tires? do you prefer a stock motor es on the trail or a bored performance version?

[dougspcs]

wow! i always wondered how well does the stock motor pull those giant tires? do you prefer a stock motor es on the trail or a bored performance version?

Never had any performance enhancements on mine..stock machine definitely has no problem pulling these tires and my 240lb azz around!

These tires are only 26", just one inch over stock diameter so they have little effect on ratio..guys have gone into 28" and reported little or no problems.

This setup I have is awesome..and the change to the steering is beautiful. Pretty much eliminates the steering slip issue trikes have.

My brother just bought a 250ES (dman) and we will be applying the same changes to his trike..I like to experiment with wheel setups and have found some winning combinations for replacements for the old OEM.

I can send you the details so you can order a set for yourself..you can do a full set of tires/rims/caps/nuts and stay in or around $400.

I have a similar setup on one of my 250SX also..

[fabiodriven]

You will find if you stick with the 3 wheeled platform that it has many advantages. We run them pretty much to the limit these machines are capable of around here. This is our ride thread- http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...w-England-Ride

Every time we go out I am surprised usually more than once by the capabilities of these machines. I ride a bone-stock (right down to the tires) 86 ATC 250SX. The machine is extremely capable out in the mountains with an experienced rider. You will find the more hours you put on the machine and the more you push both it and yourself, the farther and faster you will go.

[trike savior]

I know what you mean about 4 wheeler ruts. learn to use them to your advantage.

if you can, put the back wheels in and be easy on throttle adjustments cause with the front end so high your in a situation it will go over backwards if you nail it. however on a down hill this is the safest way to do it cause it will keep you riding at less of an angle than the hill itself and less likely to go over the bars.

in some situations I like to put the front wheel in the rut and keep the rear end high. just watch for things that will stop the front tire cause it can put you over the handle bars. in this situation it is better to be on the throttle because sharp throttle increases will lighten front tire and get over obstacles easier. this works well when climbing a hill with ruts cause it keeps you riding at less of an angle than the hill and less likely to flip backwards.

on turns I go to the outside of the ruts and put my inside tire in the rut. as long as you have enough speed that the g's in the turn will keep you glued to the trail. its like riding in a banked turn (nascar track).

if you experiment a bit you will see how the ruts can help you

[xela456]

I would deffinately be interested in that u can see how a flatter narrower track on the front would help. I'm due for a front tire at least. I think I've got 7 or 8 plugs in it. The code on it reads the 40 th week of 1984 so its lives its life!
Can you get all that from this site?

[dougspcs]

I would deffinately be interested in that u can see how a flatter narrower track on the front would help. I'm due for a front tire at least. I think I've got 7 or 8 plugs in it. The code on it reads the 40 th week of 1984 so its lives its life!
Can you get all that from this site?

Try this...


4/110 ITP Steel Wheel 12x7 2.0 + 5.0 Silver - 1986 Honda ATC 350X (Rear)
Part # 1087260011
$39.99

Kenda Bear Claw ATV Tire 26x9-12
Part# 1054490013
$72.99

Tusk Tapered Lug Nut 10mm x 1.25mm Thread Pitch w/ 14mm Head Chrome 4-Pack
Part# 1287110002
$2.99

www.rockymountainatv.com

Free shipping over $100..don't forget to tell them to load the tire as a 'right side wheel' to make sure the tread is pointing in the correct direction.

This rim will bolt directly onto the BR front end without spacers and the thinner front wheel will make your steering track better..have fun.

It is exactly as you saw on my machine, but my rim is black..it also comes in silver. Oh yeah best order a 4 pack of tapered wheel nuts too..

And no, I don't work for Rocky Mountain..I just like their stuff!