Videokarma.org

Go Back   Videokarma.org TV - Video - Vintage Television & Radio Forums > Things with Motors

We appreciate your help

in keeping this site going.
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-16-2013, 05:38 AM
Kamakiri's Avatar
Kamakiri Kamakiri is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Buffalo, New York
Posts: 5,109
Talking Three wheelers!

Now call me nuts if you will (you wouldn't be the first), but I just LOVE 3 wheelers.

Here's why I personally prefer them over quads:

1. They are MUCH more maneuverable than quads. I can circle a tree with a 3w easily, quads have a turning radius as big as a small car.

2. They scare off would be drunken cowboys that would want to borrow your machine and take it for a ride

3. It takes skill to ride a 3w, you have to pay attention to what you're doing

4. About half of the people who have never ridden one think they're illegal

Haven't had one in a LONG time, so I picked up my absolute favorite of all time last week, a 1983 Yamaha Tri Moto 125. I had one many years ago, and now that my kids both have motor toys again, it was time to get back on 3 wheels. Paid only $300 for it, and after a thorough carb cleaning and adjustment, she fires on the first pull

Now the two stroke 125 Tri-Moto is probably one of the least desired 3ws out there, it's not a super fast machine, it's a loud and smoky 2 stroke, and the motor when running sounds like a tomato can ready to fly apart. I just LOVE it!

First is a pic of the 3w I HAD (which mine will become). Second is the one I just got, and third is a pic of me and my two boys....it's our "serious" pose
Attached Images
File Type: jpg yt125-1.JPG (40.8 KB, 13 views)
File Type: jpg new_one.jpg (83.3 KB, 12 views)
File Type: jpg 0712131944a.jpg (88.7 KB, 54 views)
__________________
"Restoring a tube TV is like going to war. A color one is like a land war in Asia."
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-16-2013, 07:28 AM
RobtWB's Avatar
RobtWB RobtWB is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Harrisburg, Illinois
Posts: 424
my brothers and sister shared a Yamaha YTM 200K during the mid 80's

neat machines, fun to ride, but like almost all toys a deep money pit ... beast required continuous maintenance

we spent lots of $ at the dealership, mainly buying rebuild kits for the pull starter
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-16-2013, 07:30 AM
AiboPet's Avatar
AiboPet AiboPet is offline
"micro" and quirky
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: I'm in San Diego, but lived in Hong Kong for a long time
Posts: 707
Those are GREAT!! When I think of "vintage dirt"...I deffinatly think of these little 3-wheelers. I'm in the states now (from Hong Kong)...but if it wasn't for seeing these at the local "Motoworld" shop every once in awhile, I would have thought they were illegal as well. Used to see a lot of backflip (wheelies....bike fell back on 'em,etc) injuries from these when I was a kid. Most don't know that Hong Kong has a whole "countryside" called "New Territory...where there were trails to play with these. THAT was when "Honda Odyssey" meant FUN...and not a minivan!!

What is the little bike in the middle? It reminds me of my little Yamaha 60 "Mini Enduro" I had as a kid. You had to CARRY a spark plug socket and wire brush on that thing in a little toolbag.....because the 2-cycle oil would just suddenly foul the plug. GOOD TIMES!!!!
__________________
My current "holy grail" is trying to get enough parts together to get a Singer TV6U going. Been kicking my ass for nearly a year now :-P

Last edited by AiboPet; 07-16-2013 at 07:34 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-16-2013, 09:27 AM
Kamakiri's Avatar
Kamakiri Kamakiri is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Buffalo, New York
Posts: 5,109
It's a 1974 Yamaha TS185. Bigger than it looks, and pretty darn quick

The quad is a 1986 Honda Fourtrax TRX125...
__________________
"Restoring a tube TV is like going to war. A color one is like a land war in Asia."
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-16-2013, 01:05 PM
Jon A.'s Avatar
Jon A. Jon A. is offline
Don't mess with Esther.
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,267
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kamakiri View Post

3. It takes skill to ride a 3w, you have to pay attention to what you're doing
My first time on one of those when I was a kid, I barely got started and crashed into a dog house. Took a while to live that one down.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kamakiri View Post
Now the two stroke 125 Tri-Moto is probably one of the least desired 3ws out there, it's not a super fast machine, it's a loud and smoky 2 stroke, and the motor when running sounds like a tomato can ready to fly apart. I just LOVE it!
Ha, same sort of thing with my favorite car. Four-stroke 1.6 though, noisy as heck, but that gives it character in my opinion.
Reply With Quote
Audiokarma
  #6  
Old 07-17-2013, 06:46 AM
Celt's Avatar
Celt Celt is offline
Peanut Head
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Paragould, Arkansas
Posts: 1,746
Good lookin' crew there, Tim.

__________________

Let me live in the house beside the road and be a friend to man.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-17-2013, 07:22 AM
Kamakiri's Avatar
Kamakiri Kamakiri is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Buffalo, New York
Posts: 5,109
Thanks!

My wife, for the VERY first time, tried riding the quad. She LOVED it! I was so proud of her!

*searches Craigslist for another one* (sigh )
__________________
"Restoring a tube TV is like going to war. A color one is like a land war in Asia."
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-18-2013, 05:50 PM
Jon A.'s Avatar
Jon A. Jon A. is offline
Don't mess with Esther.
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,267
Oh man, you had Picard in your corner for so long that you took on his hairdo!

Seriously though, it suits you.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-18-2013, 07:56 PM
Sandy G's Avatar
Sandy G Sandy G is offline
Spiteful Old Cuss
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Rogersville, Tennessee
Posts: 9,571
Tim, just PLEASE be careful !
__________________
Benevolent Despot
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-19-2013, 08:52 AM
Kamakiri's Avatar
Kamakiri Kamakiri is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Buffalo, New York
Posts: 5,109
Quote:
Originally Posted by KV-1926R View Post
Oh man, you had Picard in your corner for so long that you took on his hairdo!
I haven't had bangs since about 1992
__________________
"Restoring a tube TV is like going to war. A color one is like a land war in Asia."
Reply With Quote
Audiokarma
  #11  
Old 07-19-2013, 08:56 AM
Kamakiri's Avatar
Kamakiri Kamakiri is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Buffalo, New York
Posts: 5,109
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandy G View Post
Tim, just PLEASE be careful !
Oh, no worries Sandy, I'm no stranger to them

Here's progress so far, the one I had versus where I'm at now. Mechanically it's all done, and actually starts and runs a little better than the one I had too.

Now, time to find some racks and a sticker kit
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 3wheelercomp.JPG (76.3 KB, 12 views)
__________________
"Restoring a tube TV is like going to war. A color one is like a land war in Asia."
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 11-15-2013, 02:04 PM
truetone36's Avatar
truetone36 truetone36 is offline
electronics packrat
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Trumann, AR.
Posts: 942
I've never had a 3-wheeler, but I did have a '74 Yamaha GT-80 which was a lot of fun.
__________________
Dumont-First with the finest in television.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11-15-2013, 05:53 PM
Kamakiri's Avatar
Kamakiri Kamakiri is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Buffalo, New York
Posts: 5,109
Through a lucky twist of fate, I ended up buying my ORIGINAL 3 wheeler back, after it had changed hands a couple times. A friend of mine ended up with it, and decided that he wanted to invest in a landscaping business.

For $300, I bought her back. Still had all my original receipts, and even had my license plate on it, still registered to me, but expired. Renewal is in the mail

....and now I have twins!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 100_3245.jpg (65.4 KB, 10 views)
__________________
"Restoring a tube TV is like going to war. A color one is like a land war in Asia."
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 11-17-2013, 09:58 PM
old_coot88 old_coot88 is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,541
Always dug the Morgan 3-wheeler (I know, it's got the single wheel in the rear 'stead of the front) with a big Harley Vee on its snout, with straight pipes.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gjn-53H0WfQ
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:45 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
©Copyright 2012 VideoKarma.org, All rights reserved.