This is a 1985 Honda ATC 250ES Big Red, this is the first three-wheeler that was developed for farm work, as such it had a dual range transmission, and could be ordered with load baskets front and rear, and a rear tow hitch.
While three-wheelers were the obvious origin of species of the quad bikes that would follow, the Big Red was the dawn of the agricultural ride-on ATV, well, from a major manufacturer at least. Agricultural quad bikes are now staple vehicles on ranches from the United States to Australia, and for good reason.
In 1982 Honda introduced the ATC 200E Big Red, it was the first three-wheeler designed specifically for utility work, and it effectively created the utility three-wheeler segment as well as the utility four-wheeler (quad) segment that would soon follow. Image courtesy of Honda.
History Speedrun: The Honda ATC 250ES Big Red
In 1982 Honda introduced the ATC 200E Big Red, it was the first three-wheeler designed specifically for utility work, and it effectively created the utility three-wheeler market segment as well as the utility four-wheeler (quad) segment that would soon follow.
Before Big Red arrived, Honda’s ATC (three wheeler) lineup which had originated with the ATC 90 in 1970, was built around recreation, fun, and racing. The Big Red changed this equation entirely – it was purpose-built for work from the outset, arriving with front and rear cargo racks as standard equipment, a sealed rear drum brake that could survive water crossings and mud, a lockable storage box, and electric start – the “E” in its name.
It was powered by a 192cc air-cooled OHV four-stroke single, it drove through a dual-range 5-speed semi-automatic transmission with chain final drive, and it found an instant audience among farmers, ranchers, hunters, and rural workers across the United States and Canada.
Big Red Model Evolution
The Big Red model series evolved quickly, largely thanks to its instant popularity. The 1983 model was largely unchanged, but 1984 brought the ATC 200ES – the “S” now denoting a new low-maintenance shaft drive. That year also introduced a reverse gear and a rated towing capacity of 700 lbs, helping to establish the Big Red’s credentials as a serious utility machine rather than a toy or a weekend plaything.
Honda’s Big Red was a major turning point in the history of three-wheelers, and the history of ATVs in general. It was a model intended for work rather than play, primarily farm and agricultural work, but they were put into action in all kinds of roles well into the 1990s. Image courtesy of Honda.
The definitive version arrived for 1985 as the ATC 250ES. Engine displacement now grew from 192cc to 246cc, now producing 17.8 bhp at 7,000 rpm versus the 200’s 13 bhp. The sub-transmission (low range) was dropped, and for the first time, the Big Red gained rear suspension – making it the only Big Red generation with both front and rear springs.
Shaft drive and reverse carried over, the alternator output jumped from 70 watts to 200 watts, a kickstarter supplemented the electric start, and the headlight was designed to be removable for use as a portable worklight. It’s clear that Honda engineers had been hard at work on the model, and that the Honda management saw a major future for the series.
The 1986 model brought a redesigned swingarm and minor rear brake revisions, along with a grey seat cover replacing the previous black. The 1987 was essentially a decal update, and it was the last Big Red generation sold in the United States.
A Decree + The End Of Production
The reason for the end of the Big Red wasn’t due to its lack of popularity, it was because three-wheelers in general were being phased out on safety grounds.
The end came not from any shortcoming in the machines themselves but from a broader, industry-wide crisis. Between 1983 and 1988, three-wheeled ATVs were linked to over 300,000 injuries and roughly 1,000 deaths in the US, with children and inexperienced riders disproportionately represented.
On December the 30th, 1987, the Department of Justice sued Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Polaris, and by April the 28th, 1988, the manufacturers signed the Final Consent Decree – a ten-year agreement that halted three-wheeler sales, funded a multi-million-dollar safety education campaign, and mandated the buyback and destruction of unsold dealer inventory.
The truly definitive version of Big Red arrived for 1985 as the ATC 250ES. Engine displacement grew from 192cc to 246cc, now producing 17.8 bhp at 7,000 rpm versus the 200’s 13 bhp. The sub-transmission (low range) was dropped, and for the first time, the Big Red gained rear suspension – making it the only Big Red generation with both front and rear springing. Image courtesy of Honda.
The decree expired in 1998, but no manufacturer ever resumed production. The 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act effectively made the prohibition permanent by barring new three-wheeled ATV sales until a formal CPSC safety standard is written – a standard that has never been created.
The Big Red’s story didn’t end entirely in 1987 however. Today these models are highly sought after among collectors, and originals remained at work on farms for many years after the series was discontinued.
The Honda ATC 250ES Big Red Shown Here
This 1985 Honda ATC 250ES Big Red was bought new on December the 19th, 1984 from Deptford Honda in New Jersey and stayed with that same owner until 2026, when it passed to the current seller.
This Big Red is finished in red with silver, white, and black Big Red graphics, and it carries the full utility complement – front and rear cargo racks, a rear cargo box, a ball hitch mount with a chrome ball, a skid plate, black mud flaps, a headlight guard, trail lighting, and serrated foot pegs.
It rides on silver 9″ steel wheels shod with Ohtsu H-Trak Pro/AM tires, with drum brakes at both the front wheel and the rear axle. Suspension consists of a leading-axle telescopic fork with black gaiters up front and a Showa monoshock at the rear. The chrome handlebar carries black grips, lighting and ignition switchgear, a thumb throttle, and brake levers, with a keyed ignition and indicator lights mounted above the top triple clamp.
As you would expect, power comes from an air-cooled 246cc four-stroke single with electronic ignition and an electric starter, breathing out through an exhaust that exits below the rear bodywork. Drive reaches the rear wheels via an automatic clutch and a 5-speed dual-range transmission with reverse, running through an enclosed driveshaft.
This 1985 Honda ATC 250ES Big Red was bought new on December the 19th, 1984 from Deptford Honda in New Jersey and stayed with that same owner until 2026, when it passed to the current seller.
In preparation for sale, this ATC 250ES was dry-ice blasted, the battery was replaced, and an oil change was carried out in July of 2026. The sale includes a tool kit, the owner’s manual, original sales paperwork, and a bill of sale.
It’s now being offered for sale at no reserve out of Pennsylvania and you can visit the listing here if you’d like to read more about it 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.
