In 1986 or 1987, as three wheelers were facing their ultimate end, I remember one of the ATV magazines at the time (either 3 & 4 Wheel Action or Dirt Wheels) had an article about a proposed replacement for the endangered three wheeled ATV.

This was a three wheeler, but not in the normal sense. It rather had two wheels up front and one wheel in the back. To my best recollection, the front was very similar if not the same as a Suzuki Quadracer and the rear housed a motorcycle style swingarm. I believe the rear swingarm, wheel and tire setup was actually transplanted from a Yamaha Fat Cat motorcycle (isn't that what they were called??).

I recall that the machine as tested recieved favorable reviews from everyone that rode it, but I heard nothing more about it after that. Test riders claimed that it was very stable and felt that it would be a safe replacement for the conventional three wheeled ATVs of that time.

Does anyone else remember this machine? Does anyone know what became of it?

 

I do remember it. I don't know what ever became of it though. It did look pretty cool, but most bad jumping accidents on quads seem to be landing with the front too far down and having it roll over forwards and body slam you. It seems that machine would be VERY good at such a trick.

 

Mike Tryke also makes a conversion as we speak. Check it out. Http://www.ftconnect.com/~mtryke

 

I believe dirtwheels did it as a joke,a filler article to wast espace,Im not sure but I think it was alien quads from outer space,or soemthing like that.The July1989 issue had a Honda 250R trike converted to a 2 wheeler fatcat,I believe 2 men from Canada devised a jack shaft that had 2 chains 1 from the countersprocket to the chain sprocket and another chain going from that to the wheel.They said it handled good was a bit heavier,more chain maintenance and w a better knobby would blast the dunes better,they stated w the rubber it had on it it woulda made a killer woods bike.

 

I dont remeber the one Sugarhead was talking about. But there was another article that did a conversion. Using a Yamaha BW200 and one of the 3 Wheel to 4 Wheel conversion kits. They still sell these kits in the back of Dirtwheels. I dont remeber what they said about riding it. But it was probably fun.

 

<< The July1989 issue had a Honda 250R trike converted to a 2 wheeler fatcat. >>



I saw that exact thing in marienville Pa over memorial day weekend.. looked like it was meant to be that way too, real slick.

 

Some of you may already know this and some may not....but Honda made a production model of the ATC200X/TRX200SX with only two wheels. It was called the
TR200 FATCAT. It was made in 1986 and 1987 and used the transmission from the TRX200SX but with the cylinder and topend from the ATC200X for more horsepower.

It didn't sell well at all, and died.

[Before any of you comment about the '86-'87200X and 200SX topends being identical...they aren't. Same castings but with different pistons and cams. That is how the TR200 received it's horsepower increase over the TRX200SX version]

 

there was also a missle engineer kit that converted 250r's over to a two wheel fat cat style bike. Those were a pretty cool set up!!

 

That would be cool if some 1 could take a brand new cr250/500 and make a fat cat outta that new streetbike like frame.That was the best thing Honda ever did by designing that frame for there dirtbikes.THe worse killing the 500 and 2 strokes in general.DOes any 1 Have a bw200 by chance and whada ya think of the bike?

 

i think it would be pretty cool to have the 350x turned in to a fatcat cycle.