This is a restored 1985 Honda ATC 250R that now benefits from a repainted frame, all-new plastic bodywork, and a refreshed engine.
Back in the golden age of the three-wheeler, the 1980s, the ATC 250R was one of the kings of the hill. It was an out-and-out racing machine and it would pick up a slew of race wins before three-wheelers were phased out on safety grounds, and replaced with the quad bikes we so commonly see today.
The first generation ATC 250R was the fastest three-wheeler in its class by a significant margin, it recorded a slew of race wins and established itself as the trike to beat in top flight competition. Image courtesy of Honda.
History Speedrun: The Honda ATC 250R
The Honda ATC 250R was first introduced in 1981 with an air-cooled, two stroke, single-cylinder engine and one intention – to dominate three-wheeler racing.
All Honda three-wheelers had been four strokes prior to this, the 248cc two-stroke that was used in the ATC 250R was far more suitable for racing, Honda coupled it with front and rear suspension (which unusual on a three-wheeler at the time), and a chassis designed for racing.
The first generation ATC 250R was the fastest three-wheeler in its class by a significant margin, it recorded a slew of race wins and established itself as the trike to beat in top flight competition. Honda invested heavily in the model and its development, every couple of years brought significant upgrades to keep it ahead of its competitors and establish Honda as the de facto choice for aspiring racers.
The single cylinder two stroke motor had a balancer shaft to cut vibrations at higher RPMs, a 5-speed transmission, and what was essentially a live axle rear bolted to a swing arm with a fully adjustable monoshock.
The first model in 1981 had a front four-pot disc brake and a rear drum, 1982 saw the rear drum replaced with a disc. Both the 1981 and 1982 models were fitted with front and rear suspension offering travel of 6.7 inches and 4.3 inches respectively.
The next generation landed in 1983 and sold through 1984, it included improved suspension and brakes, now fitted with Honda Pro-Link suspension offering 8.7 inches front travel and 8.1 inches in the rear, with disc brakes front and rear as standard.
It would be the 1985/1986 models that are now remembered as the fastest and most extreme examples of the Honda ATC 250R. Front and rear suspension travel was now 9.8 inches and it utilised the same Pro-Link technology from the previous generation. Honda redesigned the frame for added strength and rigidity and perhaps most importantly they added a new, higher-performance liquid-cooled motor.
Above Video: This is an original Honda ATC 250R TV advertisement from the 1980s, as you can see, these three-wheelers can be ridden hard and fast by people who know what they’re doing. That said, they can be very tricky for new riders to get the hang of.
This new power unit was a two stroke with notably increased power from the same capacity, a 6-speed transmission was also added meaning the top speed of the final iteration of the ATC 250R was a hair-raising 70+mph.
By the mid-1980s the writing was on the wall for three-wheelers. There were thousands of lawsuits proceeding through the courts in countries around the world challenging the manufacturers on the basis that these bikes were inherently dangerous. For skilled riders this wasn’t a significant issue of course, but the problem was that most three-wheelers were being bought by weekend cowboys with no training or experience.
Production of the ATC 250R ceased at the end of 1986, though rumours do suggest that there was a 1987 model developed and a small number was sent to dealers. Honda instructed that these bikes have their engines removed and the frames be cut in half before disposal.
The surviving examples of the Honda ATC 250R are now highly desirable with enthusiasts and collectors, particularly the later 1985 and 1986 models. The only issue is that it can be difficult to find them in good condition with no obvious accident history.
The 1985 Honda ATC 250R Shown Here
This is an original 1985 Honda ATC 250R that was restored under previous ownership and then bought by the selling dealer in 2025. It’s finished with replacement red Maier bodywork over a refinished red frame, with reproduction red, white, and blue graphics and a blue vinyl solo seat.
As you might expect, power comes from a liquid-cooled 246cc two-stroke single paired with a manual clutch and 6-speed transmission, sending drive to the rear axle by chain. The engine uses electronic ignition, a kick starter, twin high-mounted radiators, a UNI foam air filter, and an expansion-chamber exhaust. The selling dealer explains that the engine was refreshed under prior ownership, while the spark plug was replaced more recently.
This is an original 1985 Honda ATC 250R that was restored under previous ownership and then bought by the selling dealer in 2025. It’s finished with replacement red Maier bodywork over a refinished red frame, with reproduction red, white, and blue graphics and a blue vinyl solo seat.
As with all ATC 250Rs, the spec-sheet includes a telescopic front fork, Pro-Link rear suspension with a remote-reservoir mono-shock, front and rear disc brakes, and 9-inch gold-finished multi-piece alloy wheels fitted with Serwa Pro-Vector tires.
There’s no odometer or hour meter, so total use is unknown, and the machine is being sold for off-road use only with a bill of sale and no title or registration out of Franklin, Pennsylvania. You can visit the listing here if you’d like to read more or register to bid.
Images courtesy of Bring a Trailer
Articles that Ben Branch has written have been covered on CNN, Popular Mechanics, Smithsonian Magazine, Road & Track Magazine, the official Pinterest blog, the official eBay Motors blog, BuzzFeed, Autoweek Magazine, Wired Magazine, Autoblog, Gear Patrol, Jalopnik, The Verge, and many more.
Silodrome was founded by Ben back in 2010, in the years since the site has grown to become a world leader in the alternative and vintage motoring sector, with well over a million monthly readers from around the world and many hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
