VINTAGE TECH: HONDA TRX250R PARTS

By Jeff Henson, Dirt Wheels Editor

 

For me, ATV Racing began in the desert on a 1989 Yamaha Banshee. It served me well south of the border, on the faster racecourses in the States, and was a riot in the sand dunes. But when the trail ahead turned twisty and rugged, it left something to be desired. I liked technical races; the rougher, the better. So, I found a low-hour, mint-condition, stock 1987 TRX250R and started building it for racing.

Right away, I yanked the stock suspension, tossed it in a milk crate, and replaced it with +2 A-arms, long travel shocks, and a chromoly swingarm. A CT310 top-end kit replaced the stock cylinder and piston, and various other parts came off to reduce weight, including the stock plastic subframe-mounted toolbox and tools, which I tossed in the trash. I kept all the tools and parts I needed in a tool belt and hydration pack, so the stock toolbox was worthless – or so I thought.

Collectors are constantly looking for mint OEM parts for their restoration projects. If you have an OEM toolbox and mounting hardware that is free of cracks and damage, it could be worth $200 or more, according to the offerings on eBay. And if it’s in mint condition, a bidding war will likely ensue. That’s enough money to cover a new chain and sprockets, a Wiseco piston kit, or a tank of gas for your truck if you live in California.

I’ve still got that milk crate full of TRX250R parts, including a complete set of gold OEM A-arms and shocks, radiator, and other hardware, none of which appears to be as valuable as my old OEM toolbox. Who knew?