Are 86 and 87 TRX250R the same? I am interested in one but long time ago when I raced 86 TRX250R I was WAY faster on my Tri-Z but I di never raced an 87. The 86 250R even had a DG pipe with silenser and I was running the stock pipe and an Answer silenser and I was still faster. I did race an 88 and newer and those were prety close to my trike. Problem is they are not easy to get (any year) and there is an 87 one for sale in my area but if it is like an 86 I am not sure if I will want that. Also, what can be done to an 86 or 87 to make it run like an 88+.

 

i really dont think there is much of a difference other than the year.

 

They all run about the same.

If you kept up with your tri-z then something was wrong with the 250R you raced.

 

86 and 87 are the same bike, the 88 and 89 are shorter and the motor is a little different, the stroke is different. Anyway you can take any year R and make them fast, the 89 is superior only due to it being the last year and they improved the R over the years, the CDI, cylinder and Clutch are much better. First of all when you get the 87, don't go with a DG pipe, go with an aftermarket pipe from a Race Shop like Curtis Sparks, LRD, CT, Paul Turner, get some port work and a carb and you will smoke your TRI-Z. If you have a bike that is close to stock the Trike's will beat them most of the time, you have to remember, a 3-wheeler is alot lighter. Anyway that's my 2 cents.

Later

 

So in terms of engine power and chassis there is nothing bad about getting a 87 instead of an 88+. Thats good to know. There was more than one 250R that I raced with my Tri-Z and I am sure there was nothing wrong with them. My Tri-Z is fast, this weekend I play around with a few piped banshees (FMF, Pro Circuit, etc) and I was hanging with them from start to top speed and that was in the street where I have to take it easy while accelerating because it WILL willie and if you are not carefull it will throw you away of it. I am sure I have a better chance in the dirt due to the lighter weight of my trike. Also I do not have pipe only a silencer and different sprockets would help. But I think its time to get a quad (a 250R if possible, too many banshees around) so my wife can use it once in a while and I can also keep the Tri-Z to have some fun.

 

Engine wise in stock trim there are some minor difference. When modified, and of course it IS required...the differences become moot. Certaintly not worth the several thousand dollar difference in later model years that I see around here.

Chiefly and most important difference is the rod length in the two engines. The '85 '86 ATC/TRX engines had a 125mm centerline length rod whereas the '87+ have a 130mm CLL rod... so 5mm's longer...contrary to what was previously mentioned the STROKE is the same, at 72mm's for all years. Being that you are looking at a '87 model, the rod thing is moot.

There are a couple other internal engine differences, again the main one; is the clutch lifter. It went from a ball that was prone to welding itself on the end of the push rod to a better needle bearing set-up...I've ridden the '86 style clutch pusher set-up for about 5 years now and havent ever had a problem...It's only about $60 to upgrade that to the later model type.

There are some gear ratio difference, but some ppl tend to prefer the closer ratios that the earlier models have....

As far as mods go...it's how fast do you want to spend...from a clamp on silencer to a full blown alky burning big bore stroker...

The 250R has much potential with many incremental degrees of state of tune that can be done...

 

What I like about the TRX 250R is that you can find almost anything for it. That is not true for my Tri-Z and that is the main reason I want to get a quad. ATC 250R are also popular but personally I prefer my Tri-Z, I have had it for over 14 yrs so far so you can imagine what I mean. It would be cool to have a really fast quad that almost no one else has and can give a good battle to banshees.

 

Someone also mentioned that the 88-89 were shorter; not so!
The A-arms on the 88-89 are 1" forward from 86-87, but they also have a 1" shorter swingarm. All the same wheel base! All the same length!

 

ive heard the 86 cylinder is more opened up. the 87 more tuned down.

 

Whats with 250R's?!?!?!?!?!?!