ATC 250R Help with year pls

[Rip_Tear]

I'm helping a friend rebuild his ATC 250R, but we are unsure of the year. It is liquid cooled, has a carrier/rear axle similar to a 400ex.

If anyone can suggest how to find out what year it is it would be greatly appreciated. Also if/what parts from the 250R's are interchangeable from the years(motor wise). It was his dads bike, and can't find the paper work for it otherwise we could check it.

Thanks for any suggestions/answers.

[250R-Dee]

It's either an '85 or '86. Post the engine serial number and frame number.

3wheeler world (http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/index.php?) and 3wheeler.org (http://www.3wheeler.org/vb/index.php?) are good places to find info.

[Tom TRX250R]

It is either an 85 or 86, a good quick indication is what color is the motor? An 85 has an all black motor while an 86 will have the gray motor.

[Rip_Tear]

I'm pretty sure it's a gray motor, but it could have been black at one time. I'll do some more checking tomorrow. His dad thought it was an 87, I said 86 just as a basic guess after seeing it, and my friend though it was an 85, all real close.

Thanks for the help.

[250R-Dee]

Since you are in Canada there is a good chance that it probably is an '87.

[2StrokeFreak]

If the carrier has a spanner adjuster it is an 85.

[Tom TRX250R]

Well either way if it is an 86 or the VERY limited 87's ( I highly doubt it is an 87 due to the low production rates after discontinuing them) produced it would be the same part number's as an 86 so I would go with the 86 part numbers. There were a only a few things that differed from the 85's to 86's including different port timing, kick starter gear, black motor, and the swingarm. Post a pic of it and give the VIN so I can make verify exactly what year it is.

[Rip_Tear]

Thanks for all the info, this is the vin JH3TB0606GC511335

How do you use the VIN to know the year?

[TravEX]

It is an 86.

[TravEX]

here ya go

[250R-Dee]

Most of the ATC's sold in in Canada during 1987 were actually leftover 1986 models but Canada did get some of the actual '87 models.

[honda350r]

Originally posted by TRX250RJapan
Most of the ATC's sold in in Canada during 1987 were actually leftover 1986 models but Canada did get some of the actual '87 models.

That has got to be a rumor ! There is no documention on a 87 ATC.. If there is some please post it !

[SET THE STAGE]

Originally posted by honda350r
That has got to be a rumor ! There is no documention on a 87 ATC.. If there is some please post it !
http://www.files.3wheelerworld.com/Sads/sHonda1987atc.jpg
http://www.files.3wheelerworld.com/Sads/sHonda1987atc125m.jpg
http://www.files.3wheelerworld.com/Sads/sHonda1987atc200x.jpg
http://www.files.3wheelerworld.com/Sads/sHonda1987atc250sx.jpg

i know you don't see them much.. but they're there

[TheFontMaster]

Originally posted by SET THE STAGE


i know you don't see them much.. but they're there

What those probably are, are adds that were in canada in 87. In the U.S. all 3 wheelers were banned in 86, so that is when production stoped. Those 87's are left over 86's that were re-marketed as 87's. I heard of them doing that with the trx250r's. Occasionaly I heard of a 1990 trx250r.

[crewchief47]

Originally posted by TheFontMaster
3 wheelers were banned in 86, so that is when production stoped.

It's possible that Honda produced those ATC's in 87 and just didn't ship them to the US. It was still legal to sell them in Canada. I would agree that there was probably no significant change from the previous year, but I'm sure the VIN would state 87 as the year of production.

[SET THE STAGE]

Originally posted by TheFontMaster
What those probably are, are adds that were in canada in 87. In the U.S. all 3 wheelers were banned in 86, so that is when production stoped. Those 87's are left over 86's that were re-marketed as 87's. I heard of them doing that with the trx250r's. Occasionaly I heard of a 1990 trx250r.

i'm not real sure about that, but i know for a fact there are a ton of 87 200x's out there. well not really a ton but a good amount at least, the sticker on the frame even says 87 and the graphics are different than the 86's.

i've yet to actually see an 87 250r trike. though, i don't think i'm missing much, it's got a nasty colour combo with the plastic.

[TheFontMaster]

Well I'm not shure about the rest of the ATC's. But I know there were no 87 atc250r's, other than left over 86's being re-sold.

[SET THE STAGE]

Originally posted by TheFontMaster
Well I'm not shure about the rest of the ATC's. But I know there were no 87 atc250r's, other than left over 86's being re-sold.

yeah that's probably true.... BUUUTTTTT i bet there's at least one out there, i mean they had to of taken that picture of the one in the ad somehow, you know? haha

plus if i'm thinking right, that ad is written in french (i'm guessing considering it's probably from canada) so if there are any or even just one it's probably up there

[TheFontMaster]

Originally posted by SET THE STAGE
yeah that's probably true.... BUUUTTTTT i bet there's at least one out there, i mean they had to of taken that picture of the one in the ad somehow, you know? haha

Unless I'm missing something the first add that's in french doesn't have any dates on it. And that atc250r looks just like any other 250r.

[SET THE STAGE]

Originally posted by TheFontMaster
Unless I'm missing something the first add that's in french doesn't have any dates on it. And that atc250r looks just like any other 250r.

the only differences i've noticed on them in the first ad is the reflectors and different coloured plastics on the 250r. on the 350x i noticed there's different coloured plastics, and a RED rear flap on the rear fenders. up until then they've always used black ones. i don't know much about the other two on there so i can't say much else

i'm gonna try to translate that ad though

[Rich250RRacer]

Those are 87's in the ad, if you look at the seat on the 250R, you'll see the "ATC" logo is different from the 86. Actually the "A" is where you'll notice the difference. That ad is most likely Canadian. Supposedly the only differences were the logo, plastic color, and a keyed ignition like the 87 TRX's.

[Rip_Tear]

Originally posted by Rich250RRacer
Those are 87's in the ad, if you look at the seat on the 250R, you'll see the "ATC" logo is different from the 86. Actually the "A" is where you'll notice the difference. That ad is most likely Canadian. Supposedly the only differences were the logo, plastic color, and a keyed ignition like the 87 TRX's.

Canadian ATV/ATC's had reflectors too, so that might be another thing for that reason.

[Rich250RRacer]

Originally posted by Rip_Tear
Canadian ATV/ATC's had reflectors too, so that might be another thing for that reason.

You've got a good eye, I missed the reflectors.

[250R-Dee]

The 1987 ATC250R's and 1990 TRX250R's were also sold here in Japan and in Europe.

[x.system]

Originally posted by SET THE STAGE
yeah that's probably true.... BUUUTTTTT i bet there's at least one out there, i mean they had to of taken that picture of the one in the ad somehow, you know? haha

plus if i'm thinking right, that ad is written in french (i'm guessing considering it's probably from canada) so if there are any or even just one it's probably up there

There must have been at least one, I have a seat from one. :devil:

[TheFontMaster]

Originally posted by TRX250RJapan
The 1987 ATC250R's and 1990 TRX250R's were also sold here in Japan and in Europe.

Did they change anything on the 1990 trx250r? I was always under the impression that the 1990's were old 89's that never sold.

[deathman53]

many 89 250r's weren't sold, I remember a guy telling me that when he was in mexico a few years ago, he would have been able to buy crate new 86 and 87 200x's, 89 250r's, 250sx's and other trikes. They had honda, yamaha quads around too that never sold. I have heard of many 350x's and 200x's thats were de-crated in 93 after being found in a warehouse and privately sold. I truly believe there is ex-race atc250r and 200x parts in a warehouse somewhere in this country with short track kits and hrc pro-racer parts abound. There is probably many ex-race 250r's at 200x's out there too in somebodys garage, a few years ago some guy bought a 86 atc200r with a specilay made pipe, honda protype seat, somekind of weird swinger, h-track flat track tires, strange ingntion and other small number parts. This was a ex-racers bike and the same guy he got it from has one of gary denton's trx250rs, 2-3 of blackwater pro's bikes, champs dirtbikes and more, just sitting there. He also has rotted sets of unused blue duro's and rotted sets of h-track and the famous 18" honda atc250r stock tires that weren't available to anybody but a honda sponsered racer. The stuff is out there, you have to look. If you look at some of the pics, hrc had some realy wierd stuff on the race atc's, you can forget the one-off 2 stroke 200cc 200x bikes and the frames that most of the 250r and 200x race bikes used too. Kawaski had bassini stuff and one-off frames too. Yahama had a 84 tri-z racer that was a yz250 engine and custom frame and stuff. Its all still out there, along with all the aftermarket trx250r and hydrid stuff that has been around. I saw a leager 250r frame that was built to use a 350x motor brand new.

[Rich250RRacer]

Originally posted by deathman53
many 89 250r's weren't sold, I remember a guy telling me that when he was in mexico a few years ago, he would have been able to buy crate new 86 and 87 200x's, 89 250r's, 250sx's and other trikes. They had honda, yamaha quads around too that never sold. I have heard of many 350x's and 200x's thats were de-crated in 93 after being found in a warehouse and privately sold. I truly believe there is ex-race atc250r and 200x parts in a warehouse somewhere in this country with short track kits and hrc pro-racer parts abound. There is probably many ex-race 250r's at 200x's out there too in somebodys garage, a few years ago some guy bought a 86 atc200r with a specilay made pipe, honda protype seat, somekind of weird swinger, h-track flat track tires, strange ingntion and other small number parts. This was a ex-racers bike and the same guy he got it from has one of gary denton's trx250rs, 2-3 of blackwater pro's bikes, champs dirtbikes and more, just sitting there. He also has rotted sets of unused blue duro's and rotted sets of h-track and the famous 18" honda atc250r stock tires that weren't available to anybody but a honda sponsered racer. The stuff is out there, you have to look. If you look at some of the pics, hrc had some realy wierd stuff on the race atc's, you can forget the one-off 2 stroke 200cc 200x bikes and the frames that most of the 250r and 200x race bikes used too. Kawaski had bassini stuff and one-off frames too. Yahama had a 84 tri-z racer that was a yz250 engine and custom frame and stuff. Its all still out there, along with all the aftermarket trx250r and hydrid stuff that has been around. I saw a leager 250r frame that was built to use a 350x motor brand new.

I know where there's a set of those 18" tires, and I'm pretty sure I can get my hands on them. Anybody interested?

[TheFontMaster]

Originally posted by Rich250RRacer
I know where there's a set of those 18" tires, and I'm pretty sure I can get my hands on them. Anybody interested?


I'm interested. PM me about them. I really want to get into collecting some old 250r stuff like those.

[250R-Dee]

A couple guys from my neighborhood raced ATC200R's and 200cc Tecates back in '86/'87. The HRC 200R's were sweet!

Every once in a while I will come across HRC and Mugen parts for ATC/TRX's on Yahoo Auction Japan.

[Rich250RRacer]

Originally posted by TheFontMaster
I'm interested. PM me about them. I really want to get into collecting some old 250r stuff like those.

I'll see what I can do.

[SET THE STAGE]

atc200r? what? fill me in on this, i've never heard of it. haha is it like a hybrid or something?

[deathman53]

a atc200r was either a custom framed 200x that used a mtx200 motor, custom parts and such. It was also a atc250r with a debore/destroke kit and lots of race parts on it. There also was the kits to debore the 250r and use a smaller piston and there also was the kits to destroke a 250r. They were very big at racing in 85 and 86. The hrc ones used nichelson frames and such. Most of them were very race oriented bikes.

[Tom TRX250R]

deathman53,
Welcome back man, I heard on the other r site from Dave and here about your accident. How did surgery and everything turn out? I'm glad to hear your alright! Tom

[deathman53]

it going great, I expect to be back on my atc200x by late june, my atc250r by mid july. I'm gona ride m cfr450r last and my xr250r street legal is gonna be right after the atc200x. there was a thread on this about me too. search for my user name you will find it. In mid september I plan to go to ohio and race my atc250r on tt and mx, there will be like 15 3 wheeler guys there.

[deathman53]

here's a photo I have of a shoot out

http://www.pictureposter.allbrand.nu/pictures/deathman53/200+shoot+out-2.jpg.html

[TheFontMaster]

Whats the point in de-stroking, and de-boring the 250? Was it just so that it could fit into a class with certain engine size regulations?

[SET THE STAGE]

neat, so it's pretty much a 250r that's been debored?

[SET THE STAGE]

Originally posted by TheFontMaster
Whats the point in de-stroking, and de-boring the 250? Was it just so that it could fit into a class with certain engine size regulations?

that's what i would guess. even with that done i bet the engine was still very powerful.

[deathman53]

yep, it was done that that a 2 stroke 250 racer could run in a 200cc class. These kits were done to 83-86 2 stroke 250 atc's.