This 3-Wheeled Murder Machine Is A Blast To Ride

"Aaron Vick Starnes" (aaronstarnes) 03/13/2015 at 16:45 • Filed to: Honda, threewheeler, 3wheeler, deathmachine, peoplesmasher, adrenaline, ATC

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Some folks get their kicks by jumping out of planes. Others like to keep dangerous animals like cobras and tigers in their backyards. There is a thrill in keeping something around that can poison or maul a person to death. Stephen F. collects a different sort of hazard; he gathers 3-wheelers.

Stephen is a firefighter from Texas who volunteered his 1985 Honda ATC 200S for a photoshoot and write-up. He is a thrill seeker through and through, particularly if things could do him bodily harm. Stephen began collecting 3-wheelers from the 80's about two years ago.

Three wheelers, or ATCs, were taken out of production two decades ago because their inherently tippy design had the funny little tick of paralyzing or murdering their operators. It seems the American public frowned upon little Timmy or Billy getting a shiny new 3-wheeler for Christmas and then having their tender little neck pile-driven into terra firma at speed permanently crippling them just in time for the new year.

Why ride a 30 year old machine with a murderous reputation? Stephen says it is "because things that are more dangerous are more fun, it's been like that ever since I was a kid. All the fun things were off limits."

It is not hard to find information that will paint a grim picture of these toys as dangerous murder machines. Practically any ATV forum has at least one thread debating the legality and danger of trikes. The polarizing argument between the don't-tread-on-me types who are still angry about the government ban on 3-wheeler and those who see the inherent flaws in their design rages on today.

When you buy one you have to understand the potential danger in riding them. They are twitchy and tricky, they are also just about the most fun I have ever had riding an off road toy. For outrageous excitement, and balls out adrenaline rush they are second to none. Each time I got close to the ragged edge of sane operating speed there is a little voice in the back of my mind starts shouting reminders of how horribly bad the ride could go, and I found myself backing off the throttle.

I won't dwell on the topic of the ban but if you want to read about that have a look at this article from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

On with the ride

A swift yank on the pull start and a simultaneous crack of the thumb throttle gets the party started. This machine still sits and idles beautifully even after three decades. There is no clutch control. It has a semi-automatic transmission and, oddly, neutral is all the way at the top, and you click down with your left toe to up shift. This makes for some pretty startling accidental downshifts while you are getting used to the transmission.

Handling

These things refuse to turn at speed, they have to be gently persuaded into an easy arc. In fact they don't really turn at slow speeds. From a standstill you turn the front wheel to one side, give it some throttle and watch the knobby front tire push the dirt along until it gets rolling and then the turn begins. The proficient rider learns to rock the trike up on the front and outside rear tires to turn tighter circles.

ATCs can clobber riders almost without warning due to their big bouncy tires. If you hit the right series of bumps at speed the trike is likely to jump on top of you and smash your guts out. Many models relied on these big bouncy tires as their soul means of suspension. This is like riding 3 rubber balls, once compressed they must rebound, often violently.

Trikes ask their riders to go against natural instincts. Imagine climbing a hill at full throttle and things go all tippy. A rider's instinct is to put their foot down to stabilize things but in this case there is a big knobby tire waiting to grind the back of their calf.

All the terror aside these things are hysterically fun to ride. They are wheelie monsters that can drift. The experience is unlike anything else.

Acceleration/Power

The throttle takes some getting used to. These trikes have slide type carburetors that respond better to gentle persuasion rather than just whacking it open. A little time in the saddle and you can start to predict when the 200cc single cylinder enters its powerband. The rpm climbs in a deliberate but hasty way from idle and then really take off. It is not a violent action but it certainly will get a rider's attention.

Pretty soon you are taking advantage of the engine's predictability and the solid rear axle for drifty sideways action, donuts and wheelies. Going sideways on a trike is a lesson in bravery. You have to suspend your apprehension of being thrown and hammer the gas and when you feel the engine come into its power band crank the bars over. Voila a drift, or more donuts than Shipley's .

Just like that tiger you've got caged in your backyard, it's not a question of if that terrifying man eater is going to bite you, it's a matter of when and how hard.

2 years ago Aaron Vick Starnes quit his well paying bank job to pursue inevitable poverty as an automotive writer. He has !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in automotive restoration, and works at a shop restoring and customizing cars. He also is a grad student in journalism. Follow him on Twitter !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and check out his !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Bonus videos

Race and crash footage, eats a guy !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Girl wrecks guy comforts the bike !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 16:52

1

A cousin of mine had one a while back. Slightly more safe than these, of course, was what John Deere made for a while - 5-wheel Gators that were basically an ATC with a bed and extra axle.

jariten1781 > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 16:53

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A rider's instinct is to put their foot down to stabilize things but in this case there is a big knobby tire waiting to grind the back of their calf.

Yup, we had them on the farm growing up and I still have a scar where the tire ripped off the back of my ankle.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 16:53

6

The holy grail of 3 wheelers.

Aaron Vick Starnes > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 03/13/2015 at 16:53

0

I'm sure you could still manage to get in some hairy situations. Lots of fun!

Wacko > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 16:53

2

Big Reds where better, a 250 with front and rear suspension, and they had reverse.

I used to have one with a plow to open my yard, until the reverse stopped working.....

not mine, never took any pictures of mine

Aaron Vick Starnes > jariten1781 03/13/2015 at 16:55

0

Ugh! They're gnarly for sure.

Aaron Vick Starnes > Wacko 03/13/2015 at 16:56

1

I've ridden both (Stephen had one but it was stolen). For down low power and brute force the big red has the 200 for sure. But for fun and speed it's the 200 all day.

Wacko > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 16:58

1

for sure,

we used to have these when new....

way back in 87

Tohru > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 16:59

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I have an old Briggs-powered 3-wheeler laying around, and a perfectly good XL600R motor I'm not doing anything with. Great combination or greatest combination?

Aaron Vick Starnes > Tohru 03/13/2015 at 17:00

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There is one way to find out... make it so.

Aaron Vick Starnes > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:08

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Further reading

The Ban:

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-terra… Wikipedia

http://www.3wheeler.org/vb/forum/the-t… Forum

http://atc90.tripod.com/hondaatc90/id1… History

http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/atv-dis… Good Convo here

http://www.trackshare.com/forum/showthre… Forum

http://www.tc.gc.ca/motorvehiclesa… Canada Ban

http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-th… American Academy of Pediatrics Article

http://www.pinterest.com/comicuzzi/hond… Pinterest

HammerheadFistpunch > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:08

2

My family has (or had, I don't know anymore) a 250 cc "Big Red" with blown out shocks and bad allignment. Always worked though and it pulled the log sled just fine. We were allowed to cruise around on that thing unsupervised for hours as young as 8. We are all lucky to be alive.

OtisHoyt > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:08

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Reminds me of mine

For Sweden > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:10

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This is the face of a man who, in five years, will decide he's a reformed bro and start writing for Deadspin.

Birddog > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:13

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I love these things!

I sold my 200x last July and miss it every day.

Once you know how to handle a Trike there's no beating them. Hopefully I'll be back in the saddle soon. I'd love to find a 350x or a 250sx for the next one.

Aaron Vick Starnes > For Sweden 03/13/2015 at 17:14

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Though an all around rad dude, Stephen will not likely be writing for Deadspin any time soon. He's busy fighting fires and raising his baby boy.

For Sweden > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:16

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He's a father? He should probably just apply now.

GoesLikeHell > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:21

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I bought an ATC200 back in the late 80's when I was 13years old. I used it in the summer time to drive to a neighbors farm a few miles away where I worked picking tomatoes and corn for $3/hr cash. It only took 100 hours of work to afford that 3 wheeler and I had a blast with it. I never got hurt, but my trick was to ride the wheelies with my knees on the seat so if it came over backwards i could stand up and either stop it or get out of the way.

CobraJoe > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:22

2

Ah, the joys of growing up on a farm.

My dad got a 3wheeler when I was young, it was great to runabout the yard to check on animals. I believe it was a Honda Big Red, but it still had no suspension or differential.

Oh, the fun I had on that thing when my dad wasn't looking, and I only ran over my own foot once!

Pro-tip: That chrome bar behind the seat? Put your foot there and your knee on the seat. Why? It makes for the easiest and most controlled wheelies ever.

CobraJoe > jariten1781 03/13/2015 at 17:24

1

No scar for me, but I was going slow enough to come to a stop on my ankle and scream for about 2 seconds before I realized that letting off the throttle would just let the trike roll back...

Mike > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:24

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It all comes down to what you grew up riding. I started with a Honda 50 3-wheeler at age 7. Never wrecked and could keep up with 4-wheeler. Could ride on the side for miles. Great times...

LugNutz > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:24

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An ATC250R is about like riding around with a pistol in your mouth and your finger on the trigger. I've been a avid motorcycle, dirt bike, ATV, UTV nut my whole life, and 3-wheelers have always terrified me. That is one government intervention I'm OK with.

clutchshiftington > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:24

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I remember riding into a fence the first time I got on one.

When you're riding a 3-wheeler, everything in your field of vision is like a motorcycle (handlebars, single front tire). If you're stupid, like I am, you'll forget about the two back tires and try to steer it like a motorcycle. I was riding roughly parallel with a fence and tried to gradually veer away by leaning and countersteering and, of course, the more I tried to countersteer the more it steered toward the fence.

After a brief period of bewilderment I realized my error and had no problem riding it from then on, but I still maintain that two wheels are both safer and more fun than three.

Cé hé sin > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:25

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No helmet on a thing like this? Clever.

Jakehopter > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/13/2015 at 17:25

1

Wow...now that is awesome. Unfortunately when I was into dirtbikes growing up (96-01) there were still considered dangerous so I never really got to ride on one. But that thing reminds me of my old Yamaha 125cc 2-stroke, which is really cool. I wonder where we can find one of those these days?

CobraJoe > HammerheadFistpunch 03/13/2015 at 17:26

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Same here, and exact same model I think.

It said one rider, but we would often put up to 4 on it, especially when my parents didn't want to walk up the hill. That big rack on the back can hold a lot of asses.

Professor-Lavahot > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:26

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I'm okay with the 3-wheeler facing the same direction in every photo.

Aaron Vick Starnes > CobraJoe 03/13/2015 at 17:27

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Thanks for the reply. These are way too much fun. And as for the tip, we may have happened upon it already.

F86Pilot > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:28

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My Dad told me about all the adventures/horror stories riding 3-wheelers around the farm, I never had the chance to try one...

GreenN_Gold > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:29

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I'm proud to say my childhood survived not one, but two of these things. Fun times were had, and there were some brief mishaps, but no injuries. Sorry about your fence, grandma.

RaggedMile > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:31

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Had an ATC110 in high school. Crazy stupid fun. Amazingly I made it to my current age despite shirts and helmets rarely being used.

Gah! Kinja you suck. There should be a photo of me popping a sweet wheelie circa 1980 here.

HammerheadFistpunch > CobraJoe 03/13/2015 at 17:31

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yup, it RARELY had one human on it. Minimum 3, sometimes 1 more on the front rack if you were going slow.

Poundingsand > HammerheadFistpunch 03/13/2015 at 17:32

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How bad can the alignment be? It only has one front wheel! You sure you weren't, you know, turning the handlebars? haha

j250ex > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:32

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honda big red. Fuck yeah!

Aaron Vick Starnes > GoesLikeHell 03/13/2015 at 17:32

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Your names says it all. That's an awesome story. When I was a kid I picked all my grandfathers onions before they were ready. The lady at the end of the street still calls me "onion picker" 20 years later!

Aaron Vick Starnes > Birddog 03/13/2015 at 17:34

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Get out and get one! There's still a healthy market and some of them are pristine.

Pickup_man > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:36

1

I recently got into 3 wheelers so I feel I must defend them a little, they get a much worse reputation than they deserve. Three wheelers have to be ridden in their own special way. In the same way a motorcycle cant be ridden like a 4 wheeler, and a 4 wheeler can't be ridden like it's a car, a 3 wheeler has it's own learning curve and techniques required to ride one safely. Once you learn how to properly handle a 3 wheeler it is no less dangerous than a 4 wheeler. I've ridden one just like the one listed at 45mph sideways on gravel, without a hint of it wanting to tip, you just have to know how to ride them. The non suspended models though are less forgiving than suspended models. The suspended and sport models are actually pretty easy to ride once you know how to properly handle one and with some simple modifications can be made extremely stable. I've got a 200x sport model that is slightly stretched and widened that is more stable than any 4 wheeler I've ever been on. The hate and fear for three wheelers is slightly unwarranted and has gotten a bit out of hand. The only positive thing to come from all the 3 wheeler hate is that they are dirt cheap, especially compared to 4 wheelers.

Fun fact, the 3 wheeler ban only lasted 10 years, and was only for the United states, manufactures eventually stopped building 3 wheelers around 3-4 years after the ban. They were sold in Canada/Australia and in Europe for several years after they were banned here. Also, the ban did not make 3 wheelers illegal, it only banned the sale from manufactures, private party sales and possession were %100 legal. The ban has ended and manufactures are free to makes 3 wheelers again, but they likely never will because of the bad reputation.

3 wheelers are gaining some popularity again and for anyone interested I highly suggest checking out 3wheelerworld.com It's an awesome forum dedicated to 3 wheelers with tons of helpful and extremely intelligent members, don't let the reputation scare you off.

All that being said, the fun per wheel ratio of a 3 wheeler simply can't be beat. They are the most fun thing on wheels but demand the attention of the rider, much like a high performance car.

And for God's sake PUT ON A DAMN HELMET!!! If you get hurt you have no right to blame the 3 wheeler for your ignorance for wearing at least the minimal gear.

Edit: This is not directed really towards you, you seem to have a good understanding and respect for these machines. This is more directed towards those people who think 3 wheelers are the most dangerous things on wheels, and I just wanted to spread a little information and clear some misunderstandings. But still, put on a helmet.

Pickup_man > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:37

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You really need to ride a sport trike, a 200x will be worlds better than the 200s, and a 350x or 250r will completely blow a 200x out of the water.

Pending Approval > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:38

1

God yes, my best friend had one growing up, and his dad put a wheelie bar on it and extended the rear axle so we would quit tipping it over and getting hurt. Was still fun as hell to ride ( and with the wheelie bar you could just tip it back and ride it all around their farm on the back two wheels ) Good times.

TheFlyingBoat > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:41

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Fear or joy?

and 100 more > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:42

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NOSTALGIA BONER! My dad had one just like that when we were kids. we were too small to ride, but he'd putt around the yard with us on his lap.

One time he got the great idea to take the hood off an old junker, attach a couple ropes between the back of the ATC and the hood, one more rope with a PVC cross bar to use as a handle, and use it tow people behind it down our dirt road.

That lasted about 5 minutes, as everyone complained about all the dirt thrown at them by the rear tires, and the friction of the hood against the dirt making their feet get really hot.

Good times...

Aaron Vick Starnes > Pending Approval 03/13/2015 at 17:42

2

See there's a good dad. Don't yell at the kids for hooning around, make it as safe as possible and turn them loose. Awesome!

HammerheadFistpunch > Poundingsand 03/13/2015 at 17:43

0

well the handlebars pointed one way, which was several degrees different that the wheel was pointing.

Pickup_man > F86Pilot 03/13/2015 at 17:43

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Most fun on wheels, period. Just learn how they handle and how to properly ride one before trying anything adventurous.

Francois > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:46

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Stephen, as a fellow firefighter (retired), and grandfather, you must dial it down. Believe me in 30 or 40 years you'll regret it if you don't slow down.

Pickup_man > clutchshiftington 03/13/2015 at 17:46

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3 wheelers require their own special technique to ride, as you learned. You can't ride them like a motorcycle, or a 4 wheeler, they're their own animal, but once you learn, they're no less dangerous I believe, and it's the most fun you'll ever have on wheels.

E. Julius > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:47

1

Enjoying a notoriously dangerous unenclosed motor vehicle in the best possible way: sans helmet.

These things are pretty cool though. I have a buddy whose younger brother bought one last summer, and they would spend all night just tearing up and down their road popping wheelies and what not. They definitely get up the frighteningly fast speeds.

Munalum > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:49

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I've owned 3 Honda Atcs over the years. Even the coveted atc 350x. Never been hurt or killed. They are fun times 10. Climb anything if it's stuck you can pull it out. Doesn't weigh 700 lbs like a modern atv. I once got a hand job while driving one.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Jakehopter 03/13/2015 at 17:49

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Good luck finding one. They are now as rare as hens teeth and the people that have them know what they got so they are not selling them cheap.

For a good one I can imagine it would cost you at least 4 grand probably even more. for a thrashed out one with blown motor they are still in the neighbourhood of 2K

Pickup_man > LugNutz 03/13/2015 at 17:49

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Although I have no first hand experience, the 250r is a beast, not a machine for the inexperienced. Although if you thought that about the 250r, look up some reviews on the Kawasaki Tecate 250, a bit more powerful and a power band that came on like a light switch, made the 250r seem tame and controllable by comparison, even though the 250r performed better.

stayingclassy > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:51

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one of them new ADNOHs!

Pending Approval > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:54

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I honestly think its because my friends mom ( a vet ) was tired of stitching up her sons friends when we would keep on crashing it and figured that they should do something about it. His dad was an engineer so it was no problem for him to fab up the mods.

F86Pilot > Pickup_man 03/13/2015 at 17:55

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I was raised on Dirtbikes, but learned to drift an ATV on my friend's 350 banshee. still jealous of that guy....

Eddie-Kulk > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 17:55

14

When I was 14, I had enough money to buy a Honda "Big Red" 3-wheeler... without any help from my folks. Of course, my mother told me that I could have one... when hell froze over. My Dad was sympathetic, but he couldn't over-ride that decision.

So.... this is what my Dad got my Mother to reluctantly agree to instead. It was lots more fun as well.

Aaron Vick Starnes > Jakehopter 03/13/2015 at 17:57

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Craigslist!

Pickup_man > F86Pilot 03/13/2015 at 17:59

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Never ridden a banshee personally, but they are a hell of a machine.

Americanitis > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 18:00

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My brother and I had a 70cc Honda 3-wheeler when we were little, like maybe 6 or 7. We turned out fine.

Also, my dad built a 250R Honda 3-wheeler (their racing model) with a Honda CBF 400cc 4-cylinder motor/6sp transmission and a 4-into-0 open exhaust. That thing sounded like an angry funny car. Accelerated like one too, until I took it out into the woods without permission and proceed to hit a tree in it going maybe 50-ish. One of the back tires caught the tree, the trike went around the tree, and I kept going straight, right down the hill. Good thing PA forests tend to have soft floors hahaha Tucked and rolled accidentally, and walked away with a few scrapes and all my head/limbs/ass intact.

That was the last 3-wheeler any of us rode.

Aaron Vick Starnes > and 100 more 03/13/2015 at 18:01

1

Sounds like fun.

Aaron Vick Starnes > E. Julius 03/13/2015 at 18:02

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They're a handful in the dirt. Asphalt is a whole other story. The added traction makes them extra twitchy.

Aaron Vick Starnes > Cé hé sin 03/13/2015 at 18:03

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"He is a thrill seeker through and through, particularly if things could do him bodily harm."

Aaron Vick Starnes > Eddie-Kulk 03/13/2015 at 18:06

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Oh my god. That's an odyssey right? Tell me you still have access to that legendary machine and that I can come ride it and take some pics. Those things had straps to keep your arms in the cage in the event of a tumble.

Birddog > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 18:07

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Soon.. I'm planning a move from Ia back home to Chicago. The less I have to drag along the better.

Wagons-Midwest > For Sweden 03/13/2015 at 18:08

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Needs a Gamecocks t-shirt for the ultimate 80s douchebag look. Great pictures!

forced4 > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 18:08

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I learned how to ride on a Honda ATC185. Spunky motor and once you learned some basic skills, a real fun ride.

Poundingsand > HammerheadFistpunch 03/13/2015 at 18:13

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Nothing a big hammer can't fix! :)

Dr_Watson > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 18:14

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As someone who (as a typically dumb 15yr old) got a concussion when a big yellow Yamaha 3-wheeler decided to do a front somersault... I advise always wearing a helmet.

E. Julius > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 18:14

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Oh yeah, it took barely a twitch of the wrist to get it up on two wheels. If you gave it full throttle from a standstill it would easily drop you on your head.

mrbwa1 > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 18:22

6

ATCs and Trail 90s were how we learned to ride back in the day. Surprised my sister isn't wearing the Captain America helmet in this shot. And yeah, you don't turn an ATC; you just ride and hope obstacles avoid you.

Aaron Vick Starnes > mrbwa1 03/13/2015 at 18:23

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Awsome pic! Looks like fun times.

Pacorro > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 18:27

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It's easy to tip them over, just do two or three S turns

mrbwa1 > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 18:30

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That was was an ATC 90I think... The 90s usually had the same low range sub-transmission as the Trail 90s. Dad pretty much I greained low speed trail riding into us. I never managed to get into the higher speed Mx bikes. Probably why I have a Trail 110 now (which you are free to review if you are even in Idaho). I have never crashed a trail 90/110, but ATVs and 3-wheelers... Not so much.

WanyeKest > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 18:30

1

I used to have an 85 big red. Man it was so much fun to ride and hit jumps on. It wouldn't turn worth a shit and I rolled it over more than a couple of times. You just had to respect the fact that it wouldn't turn at any speed faster than 5mph and you were fine.

How do I get ungreyed around here?

picoFarad > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 18:49

1

I don't remember the Adnoh 005, but my first off road experience was on a Honda 3-wheeler. Nothing is as exciting as a long diagonal downhill run on one.

Fl1ngstam > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 18:56

2

So, is this a Russian trike? The ADNOH 005?

Aaron Vick Starnes > Fl1ngstam 03/13/2015 at 19:02

1

LOL. In Soviet Russia trike rides you!

Aaron Vick Starnes > picoFarad 03/13/2015 at 19:07

0

oops

tallestdwarf > Fl1ngstam 03/13/2015 at 19:09

2

Man, that was fixed quickly! I saw it, scrolled down for the comment, scrolled back up, and the universe had self-corrected.

SessileRaptor > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 19:14

1

I had a 4 wheeler back in 86 or so. Don't recall why my parents chose that over a 3 wheeler, but it was a good call. I remember that a kid on a nearby farm did that absolutely stereotypical "Gun the 3 wheeler up a steep hill and flip it over backwards onto yourself." and ended up with a broken neck, but I'm pretty sure that happened after I had mine.

I played it pretty safe, but my only screw up was a bad one. Coming back down our (very long) driveway at a good clip, I lost my situational awareness and when our collie wandered right into my path, I was too close to stop. I plowed right over her and flipped. Managed to kick away from the machine as it went over so it didn't land on me, skipped on the gravel driveway a couple of times (in a t-shirt of course) and smacked into the fence hard enough to crack ribs. Luckily I was wearing a helmet, so it cracked against the fence instead of my head. I got up to the house on adrenaline, told my parents what had happened and that the dog was hurt. I assured them I was OK despite the bloody road rash and to get the dog to the vet, then spent the next half hour pulling gravel out of my arm and bandaging myself. the dog lived, albeit with some injuries and a fear of anything motorized. I had the road rash, a few cracked ribs and some spectacular bruising across my whole back.

I continued to ride, but was much more careful about looking around and not becoming fixated on straight ahead.

E39FTW > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 19:27

1

Awesome! I remember being about 7 and riding my grandpa's 70 up and down the alley behind his house. It probably wasn't super fast but it sure felt like it to a 7 year old.

Stinger > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 19:42

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Had an ATC 110 growing up and I wasn't allowed to ride it alone (unsupervised) until I could go in a circle twice on 2 wheels without ever touching down the 3rd wheel, or taking my foot off the peg (dangerous). I got it mastered by the time I was 8 or 9 (and there was a big circle of dirt in the middle of our yard where I always practiced) and from that time on I had tons of fun on it and never once crashed/rolled over. Though I did have a lot of times I wheelied too high and ended up on the back bar.

I always wore a helmet though because even before I was a teenager I was smart enough to understand what would happen if I crashed without one. It's unfortunate when adults are unable to understand this. It's even more unfortunate that eventually, it catches up to some of them and they are unable to live productive lives afterwards. Posting pictures of someone without a helmet riding a 3-wheeler aggressively probably isn't a real good idea.

chuckster1124 > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 19:44

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I had one growing up. (Yes, I am still here and in working order). You just had to learn how to turn them (lean out into the inside of the turn and counter-balance it), accelerate (lean forward for counter-weight), bouncing (enjoy it laughing when it throws you off and get right back on).

First thing we all learned was how to take a fall because we all knew we were going to fall, period. All part of growing up. It worked for bikes, trikes, skateboards, mini-bikes, go-carts, and anything else we thought would be a hoot to ride at breakneck speed.

So we got banged up. So we shinned our knees, twisted wrists and every once in a while, we broke a finger or an arm. We healed and got right back on, but we learned a lesson, and we didn't make the mistake again. Self-taught lessons always seem to work.

AtomB > For Sweden 03/13/2015 at 19:53

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If he can still walk.

ben loves his new "real" SUV > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 20:10

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My father bought two and almost died on one the first day he owned it. He didn't crash and break his neck, but rather ran into a broken barbed wire fence, which then snapped and wound around his leg.

The wire cut his femoral artery. Good thing he was riding with a doctor, was close to home (this was before cell phones), and got to the hospital quickly.

He sold both of them before he was released from the hospital.

special_k_side > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 20:12

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LOL! I had one of these! I bought it used, but it in the back of my pickup and went to work right after. On the way to work the rear diff started grinding and whining (I know, Dakota) So the Dodge sat in works secure parking lot for 2 weeks until I could get to fixing it (Borrowed a work vehicle) So, while it sat there, the building manager let me hoon around the 2 level parking lot. All sorts of fun on the smooth concrete until one time, I yanked the wheel hard right (POWER SILDE!) Jammed my throttle thumb/hand against my leg, right rear came up, got my legs down, and promptly drove up my right leg. Holy shite did that hurt! Also had most fun on a private grass air strip, jumping off an 8X10 sheet of ply..until 2 AM rolled around, we found a kids sled, 40 feet of rope, in July to boot.......all was fun until the fog rolled in, the tower didn't see the ramp until the last second, swerved to avoid it, them WHAMMO! Up I went ass over tea-kettle with the sled flopping behind me. Wild things they are. :)

AaronTV > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 20:37

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NO STOP PLEASE

Please don't drive up the prices on these, I was planning on buying one for a project soon

BigBSinPA > CobraJoe 03/13/2015 at 20:46

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Add mine to the list of asses.

MAXIMUMVRM > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 21:03

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When I was 20 I was riding a three wheeler around a landfill. At the bottom a small river. I twisted the throttle with all my might and headed down. I jumped it but smacked into the vertical bank on the other side. I flew off backwards twisting around mid air expecting to land in the water. Well as soon as my head was facing the direction I came from I hit a tree. I still have a large knot under my skin on my right cheek. Hell of a time!

special_k_side > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 21:07

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"and out into the ether of wherever, Canada." Just so you know mate, this is British Columbias' second largest (Population) City, and very ethnically diverse. You want a great Curry, go there, you want to get shot at walking into a bar, go there (The Flats) You want a great underage alternative dance club, don't go there, the Hells Angels turned it into a dealership for Harley. You want someone to punch you in the face for no reason while on a bus? Go there. You want Exquisite East Indian clothes, go there.

CRider > Tohru 03/13/2015 at 21:18

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RIP Tohru, let me have it when you die please.

CaliD00d > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 21:19

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Y'all are making me nostalgic. Me and my 3 older brothers had a Honda 50 and 85 dirt bikes, a 3 wheeler, an Odyssey, and a 250 2 stroke dirt bike. We used to drive them on the street when my parents weren't home, too. Then when I was about 8 a friend of a friend died on a 3 wheeler and my brother wrecked the 250 on the street necessitating a lot of stitches, and my parents freaked out and sold everything but the 50 and the 85. I still have them tucked in a garage. Each vehicle was ridiculous fun in its own way, though I wasn't tall enough to ride the 250. Imagine how people would freak out nowadays if a 5 year old was riding a motorcycle into town on his own. And of course we rarely wore helmets and had no other riding gear.

get-nick > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 21:35

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I was born in 1980 and got a small 70 for my 5th birthday. I broke my nose when I ran headfirst into a cadillac. Even after that, it was the funnest thing I've ever owned.

boost_retard > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 21:49

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But they're so much fun! I first rode an ATC 90 in the early 80's and tried to put my foot down once and lost a shoe, never did that again!

The 200X with full suspension was much better to ride, and I found that the best way (and most fun way) to corner was to lean my ass way over the side of the rear fender and give it a thumb full of throttle.

The worst thing that ever happened to me was when I was riding a 200X up a short but relatively steep hill, I started to lose traction and momentum near the top, so I leaned back a bit to gain some traction. Well, the traction came on all at once, the front wheel came up and I went off the back and rolled down the hill, with the ATC rolling down behind me. It caught me at the bottom of the hill, the handlebar went down the back of my pants and pinned me to the ground. My "friend" was sitting at the bottom of the hill laughing his ass off at me for a minute while I was screaming at him to get the thing out of my ass.

JJHeavyChevy1990 > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 22:06

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When i was 3 my father bought me a little yamaha 50cc trike fast forward to when I was 13 i had a kx85 dirt bike and my buddy had a yamaha tri z 250, many weekends were spent riding the snowmobile trails switching back and forth between machines out to my dads friends mx track behind his house a few miles from my place....fun times riding that strung out trike on the track hitting jumps, very different compared to how a bike handled felt like the front end was incredibly light

Not my buddy's tri z but looked the exact same

Corolla All The Things > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 22:08

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Oh wow, this brings back all sorts of memories. Learned on an ATC70 as my first, and from there it seemed most of my relatives had an old ATC110 or 200 sitting in a garage. And despite the neglect, they always ran.

rustyshackleford > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 22:09

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ive tipped one or two of these before haha

OutOfHere > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 22:37

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As a kid attempting a jump on one these things I managed to flip it over while sending me flying and I'm still here. Those ATVs were an absolute blast to ride and never seemed any more dangerous to me than any other device with an engine and wheels.

Your Mom > mrbwa1 03/13/2015 at 23:00

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I owned and rode these all over Illinois in the pastures and farm fields my family owned for years. Thru the lifecycle probably owned at least 5 Honda ATCs (yes the 3 wheel trikes) and I wrecked the shit out of each one. Helmuts sometimes but mostly no shirt, no helmut, and thumbing the shit out of the throttle... not twisting. I survived and rode the shit out of them. Pussies..Ergh Democrats regulated these out.

mrbwa1 > Your Mom 03/13/2015 at 23:21

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I have. Priced that cars and even 4 wheelers these days are very user friendly or are full on monsters that are more survived than ridden.

I miss the old days of the ATC... If you thumbed it and it didn't stumble dead, you expanded up in a wild wheelie or more likely on your back. If you were gentle, it would putt along (well at least when mom was around it would). My dad managed to flip one with my sister on the back. I was riding with a friend on the Trail 90 (in front like you seenp I those videos of families on a super cub in Asia).

The funny thing is that there were a lot of us that ripped ATVs and survived just fine. I always wondered if it was the drinking THEN getting icon an ATC that caused the real troubles.

DJTsShittyGolfGame > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 23:47

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Yes yes yes yes yes. My dad and I started out on 3 wheelers when I was a kid. I flipped that thing once (did not get paralyzed what what!) and after that I had a super healthy respect for it. I was sad when we sold them and got boring old four wheelers. :( Good times.

Makoyouidiot > Aaron Vick Starnes 03/13/2015 at 23:52

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I had this exact model of 3 wheeler as a kid. First time riding, I put my foot down. Big mistake. Sucker grabbed my shoe, yanked me off, and the footpeg sliced me 8 inches across the stomach. Still have a scar today. Man that thing tried to kill me and my friends so many times....wish I hadn't sold it.