The year was 1983, I'm 13 years old. I remember it like it was yesterday. My parents, with no advance warning, take me down to the local Honda dealer on a sunny Saturday. We look at the new models available, specifically the ATC185s. First year that the 185 had front suspension. Wow! What a machine! I think it was like $1,600 out the door. I had NO IDEA my parents were actually considering buying one. For our family, at the time, $1,600 seemed more like half a million, at least, to me.

Then they pop the question.

"Do you want one?"

I was floored.

"Mom, Dad, you can't be serious. There's NO WAY we can afford that."

"Well Doug, we have been saving some money, and we think you deserve it. You've proven to be a good rider on those 3-wheelers we rented, and we want you to have your own."

Now keep in mind, my family was not well off. I raced BMX at the time and had to work my butt off washing cars and mowing lawns to afford upgrades to my BMX bike. For my parents to offer to buy me something so expensive was a major shocker.

"Yes I want one. I really, really want one!"

"You know Doug, you will be responsible for doing all the maintenance on this bike. Are you willing to accept that responsibility?"

"Yes, yes! Oh God yes! I will take the best possible care of it!"

So the deal was done. We bought a brand spankin' new 1983 185s. I was the happiest kid on Earth! The dealer agreed to deliver it to our house... two days later. Those two days were probably the longest days of my life.

So the Honda guys drop off the ATC and I'm in Heaven. All my friends come over to check it out. I'm the most popular guy in the neighborhood on that day. Shiny red plastic, brand new tires, this thing is lookin' good!

Stickers! I must have stickers on the new bike! 3-Wheeling magazine stickers, DG stickers, any and all of the stickers I could get my hands on. Stickers make it faster, don't ya know.

First trip to Glamis. I feel like a super star. I have a brand new Honda ATC185s. I'm the king of the world. You have a 110? Sorry buddy, I'm faster. No paddles yet, but I don't care, this is a modern 3-wheeler that can tackle any terrain, any hill, any time. I attack the dunes with a vengance. This ATC is fast! It can easily wheelie in second gear. Third gear too if I do it right. I AM IN HEAVEN!

Time to hit the big dunes. I've ridden passenger in Dad's buggy a thousand times through the big dunes. I've even been allowed to drive the buggy a few times. But now I have my OWN machine. And such a grand machine it is.

Reality check... these dunes seem bigger riding by myself on a 3-wheeler. I'm not afraid, but I am cautious. Don't want to scratch the brilliant red plastic with a stupid crash.

Body english. I quickly learn that these little three wheeled things require a LOT of body english in the dunes. I'm cool with that. I can do this. The dunes are my conquest. I MUST conquer every dune at Glamis. This proves hard. As much as it wants to, the little 185 with no paddles has a hard time dealing with the powder soft sands and steep slopes that I'm asking it to climb.

A strategy must be employed. How do I get my ATC to the top of that huge bowl behind Comp? That hill is SOOOOO BIG, it must have a great view from the top. I MUST get to the top.

Straight up the face doesn't even come close to working. I try though. Up, up, up, tires spinning, losing speed, losing speed, not going to make it. So I turn around before sinking the rear tires into doom, and head back to the bottom. I need more speed. I go as far back as possible, turn around, and click the shifter into first.

Take off, hit second, hit third, click into fourth, WAAAAAAHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I'm moving now, I'll make it for sure. The balloon tires "squish" as I transition the bottom of the hill. In a few short feet fourth gear is done, downshift to thrid. I can make it! Nope, third runs out of steam, so down to second I go. Surely second gear will pull this hill, I had a huge run at the hill! Nope again. I hit first and my little ATC engine is wailing to the moon. Tires spinning, I'm leaning forward... I can make it, I can make it!

Shoot! No can do! The hill is too steep, the sand too soft. Once again I turn around on the hill at the last possible second before the tires dig for China.

I try again, this time with a new plan. I will zig-zag back and forth across the dune. This will surely work. So I get a good run at the hill, and when the bike starts to slow I head left. Sideways across the dune with major uphill body english. When I get towards the left side of the dune I make a quick turn to head back to the right. This will work. It WILL! I'm hangingWAY off the side of the bike, making sure I don't roll it, and negotiate the side of the dune, making a little progress towards the top. Reaching the right side, again I switch directions, side-hilling it like my life depended on getting to the top of the hill. But alas, the little 185 ran out of steam once again. I turn down hill again, not frustrated at all, this is fun!

There must be a way. I KNOW I can make it to the top. So I think. What would Dad do?

AAAAHAAAAAAA! I've got it! Take the ridge! Dad often takes the ridges of the dunes in the buggy, so that's what I'm going to try.

Speed. I need speed. I scope out the hill and find a good path where I can get a good run up the ridge that leads to the top of the dune... the top that I am determined to reach. OK, I have a plan. It will work. This time I will conquer Mr. Big Dune that has defeated me repeatedly.

I make a run for it. Fourth gear haulin'! I hit the ridge, leaning WAY off the side to keep the bike upright. My tires are spinning fast. I point the front tire towards the top. The side of the ridge is so steep the rear tires beg to go downhill... I'm in a straight-ahead slide. The rpm of the engine drops, time for third gear. I'm still going up, this is it! Wow, rpm drop again, time for second gear. But still climbing the ridge! I can see the top, it is attainable, I CAN DO THIS!

When the engine ran out of steam in second gear my confidence was dwindling. Is it possible to conquer this massive dune? I click the transmission into first gear and hold the thumb throttle wide open. Keep spinning tires, keep spinning.

The engine wails with all its might. The tires spin and spin and spin. I'm still going up! I ride the ridge with the utmost concentration. No mistakes, this is it, I can make it! My mind ponders what will happen if I mess up and roll the ATC down such a big dune. No more perfect plastic! With all my might I hold on to this wild ride, trying to remember everything Dad had told me about how to negotiate the dunes. Don't give up! Don't give up! You can do this!

With a sigh of relief and a scream of victory, I make it all the way to the top of this huge dune. I park right on the peak, the small 3-wheeler resting precariously on the ridge, just waiting to tumble down the face and destroy itself.

WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

I made it!

I'm sitting on top of one of the tallest dunes at Glamis, looking down on all the other "smaller" dunes. The view is breath taking. Well worth the effort to get here. I'm so proud of myself. I didn't give up. I kept trying and trying until I figured out a way to get to the top.

I must have sat there for at least half an hour, just enjoying the view. I earned the right to enjoy that view, and you better believe I soaked it up for a lifetime memory.

NOW THATS A STORY!!!! One thing you should of tried was sticking your tounge out a bit. I'm not sure how it helps but all the cool people do it.

I didn't mention sticking my tongue out? I must have forgotten.

OH yeah, sticking the tongue out definitely helps a guy to ride better!

Slapptacious KG, downright Slapptacious...You took da Slapster back to when he got his first McSlappmachine, and da feelin he got when it came home...OOOOHHH how tickled Slappy was...Then of course dat reality check; you gotsta do a lot of da work and not rely on just da bike...Great piece KG, McScrappbook bound no doubt...

[ 08-10-2002, 11:04 PM: Message edited by: Slappy ]

Awesome peace Doug, Like Slappy said it brings back memoir's of when I got my first bike. A brand new 84 ATC200x. Back then that was the Cadillac of 3 wheelers. I had a fever, I had to ride every weekend. Damn they were good times.

Sweet story, Doug. I started on a ATC 90' when I was 6 in 1976. Good times and thats where the addiction started

Wow, I forgot all about writing this story. Once in a while I love to go back and read old threads. Tonight is one of those nights.

BTW I still own that very same 3-wheeler.

Fantastic story Doug!


I bet the 185 still looks great too!

Sweet, nice story that brings back memories. I totally remember trying that same zig-zag approach.

Cool story! The King used to BMX? Orange Y?

great story KG

I still own my first wheeler also, needs the motor gone through, but still fun to ride. My dad bought it for me when I was 8 and on Christmas one year I got a 6 pack cooler. I won't ever get rid of it.

Might have to clean it up and customize it though.

Great story!
Wow you still own the same 185?
I have pics of my dad doing wheelies on a 185 before I was around. Damn old farts...

Great story KG I remember those days when you had to earn where you got in the dunes and not just point and shoot

A fast 185s for sure..

Great story!

great story

thats a great story KG

Dang, I was searching for another thread and by chance saw this in the search results. Hard to believe this story is over 6 years old.

And still a good story..

Oh yeah, a great story. Time is flyin, which means Slappy is looking prettier and prettier every day. It must be the sunscreen.

That was an awesome story!

Thanks for bringing it back up, Great story.

Must have great parents Doug.

There have been a few threads about three wheelers lately so I thought I would bring this thread back to life. Please read my original post. I will never forget those early days on my trusty 185s and I still to this day thank my parents GREATLY for the lifetime of memories that bike provided.

Nice!

Long live the three-wheeler!

Great story!

I still wanna hear about what BMX tracks you hit up back in the day...

Good stuff.

Sweet post revival Doug

I got my 250R wheeler apart getting a new top end and clutch, gonna be all fresh for Turkey Day

Those 185s were a blast in the dunes back then. Everything was a challenge.

.





Dude you got sand on in my face getting out of the bowl, I was right there with you, you wrote that well , took me back when.

I know this is an old question but I happened upon this thread and thought I would answer. I mostly raced at Ascot Park in Gardena, CA. Also raced at some no-name track in San Pedro and a couple of others that I don't remember. I honestly think my focus on BMX helped to be a better rider on three-wheelers and quads.

Just awsome, reminds me of when I was young in 1977 and my dad got me my 1st motorcycle a 1974 CL125S Honda. It wasn't a 3 wheeler, ok I don't think they made a 3 wheeler yet, LOL. Dosen't matter I slept with that motorcycle a few nights, to make sure it was real and not a dream. Again thanks for posting, it brought back memories I'm almost in tears....

Definitely a great story for us old timers. Reminded me of my best friend from high school. He crashed his brand new 185s the first trip to Pismo. Took off from the beach heading out for the dunes. Five minutes later he comes walking back to the truck with a face full of sand and no 3 wheeler. The dunes look so flat from the beach LOL

I just picked up this mint condition 85 Tri Z250 from DirtLee. He bought it brand new. My friends asked me why. I tell them if they have to ask, they aren't old enough to understand. The early 1980's and 3 wheeling at Pismo were some of the best times in my life. Everybody had a Honda but I aways wanted a Yamaha. Thanks to Lee I finally got one !!

Click to view attachment

KG

that was an absolute great recollection from the old memory vault.
And, that is the reason I was so adamant on my son getting a quad at the age of 7, MEMORIES, cause we don't live forever, and if I died today, I'd sure hope he would remember all the good times we had on the trails, in the dunes, and wrenching on the bike (even though he hates that part, lol).

I pull out the old pics from the late 80's and my trike from time to time, and just set there and remember that exact time and day and all the fun we had during and out of highschool.

At least your parents let you have one, mine wouldn't have it, but I bought one anyways and stored it in a storage and thought my 82 250r with a hi-flite seat was the best thing around!!

thanks to everyone for bringing this back up, I'd never seen it before.

I know I'm not the only one with an old-school story like this. I encourage the rest of you to start your own thread about your great duning memories. I think Slappy will approve.

Thanks for getting around to it! Just curious because I knew you were LA area - first house I ever lived in was a block or so from Orange Y, my dad used to tell me we could hear the gate dropping from the porch on race nights...moved to SD shortly thereafter and didn't get to actually ride the track until I was 12 at the state championships. Wish I coulda made it out to OK for the Grandnationals that year after winning, a kid I beat pretty bad on a twice-weekly basis came home with the big trophy and the red #1 plate to run for the next year...

True ATC stories here:

1st. 1979 in Rocky Point Mexico with my dad and brother I was 10 years old and it was my birthday weekend. We are hanging out in Cholla Bay by the cabin we rented lighting firecrakers. We had been seeing ATC's roll by all morning and were talking about them. A little while later my dad's buddy rolled up on a fresh new 1979 atc 110. We were all like wow, sweet, how fast does it go etc. The guy proceeds to tell me to sit on it if I want. I'm like "vroom vroom" he says "you like it" me heck yea !! Well it's yours happy birthday!!! I'm floored so stoked proceeded to ride it non stop all weekend.

2nd My brother and I broke the frame on the 110 and dad ended up buying us an 81 or 82 can't remember the 1st year of the 185s. Ripped that thing up and down the Rillito River in Tucson and down to shlt creek every weeked so fun!!

3rd. Few years later my dad was transferred to Prescott for a year and we had to move into a hotel up there and go to school, we hated it but made it work. We were leaving for a Mexico trip on a thursday and had to drive thru phx on our way to Tucson (were we really lived) to get our moho and stuff. Dad pulls off freeway and heads to Apache Honda pulls in just as it is closing and the salesman is waiting for us with the paperwork and a brand new 1983 atc 200x. Me and my brother were so stoked we could not believe it. At the time my dad drove a 78 El Camino with bucket seats and me and my brother had to squeeze into one bucket seat. We slapped the 3 wheeler in the back and shot to Tucson picked up the motor home and went to Mexico. I could ride a wheely for over a mile on that atc in 4th gear and one hand. Loved that thing!!

4th we finally reached the Holy Grail in 1985 and got the '85 250r with an FMF pipe. That thing was so fast with us under 100lb punks on it that no one could beat us up the hill in Rocky Point.
One trip to Mexico in 1986 we found out there was a desert race down there the same weekend we went down. We did not even own helmets, We borrowed helmets and in our levi's and my Iron Maiden t shirt I came in 2nd place on my now clapped out 200x only to a full on racer guy with tricked out 200x I held him off the whole race and the last 100 yards was a strait and his bike was faster and passed me for the win. My little brother did thedesert race too with his Black Sabbath t shirt and smoked all the 250 class so bad that his motor was cool by the time 2nd place came in. We laughed so hard at all the "racers". At the trophy time in JJ's cantina the guy that beat me came over and tried to hand me the trophy and said I deserved it, I said Its cool you won. Loved the Mexico days on ATCs. Wish it would have been the dunes. A few years later we shed our training wheels and went to dirt bikes when quads came out. Then we discovered the dunes and now its all history.

.. Been there too.. rented ATCs in Pismo with the family .. for my 11th-13th birthday or maybe Christmas .. (can't remember which), I opened a card,.. it said, look in the oven,.. looked in the oven.. another card said,.. look in the closet.. etc. etc. etc. .. till finally.. 'look in the garage.' .. and ther was a brand new Honda ATC110!.. my first ride..

Over the years we had a DICO trailer with a 110, 185S, 200X and 2 250Rs. We camped in tents and I graduated to the 250R by the time I was 17. Those were the days man, .. late 80's..

I'm gonna pull some photos and post up. I used to jump the hell outta my 250R and could put my ass into it and pitch it at the top of a dune making a huge roost..

Great story... 20 years later, I did the same for my 5 year old girl, 7 year old boy, with a brand new KFX50 and KFX80. Did the whole, note deal that eventually led them to the garage. I'll have to find the photo (on some old hard drive, they're 11 and 13 now).. they were stoked!

Here's them a few/couple of years ago.. (attached)... also own an 18 year old and a 4 year old (who is now riding the KFX50, I follow here on the KFX80 tether attached. When she get's too close to some one, I stop and the tether pulls the kill switch, she rolls to a stop).

Late,

ABC

We grew up with 3 wheelers first was a 110 then we got a 185 then my dad bought an 82 250r.We spent many weekends at whitewater and rifding them near whittier narrows in the flood basin and one trip to pismo.We always had so much fun on them.

I remember when the 85 250r came out we wanted one bad but dad wasnt going to spend money on one at the time,My parents were busy buying houses at the time(which all made money).Then we got into dirtbikes and made our first trip to glamis in 87 did that for a few years then took a break.Eventually sold the dirtbikes.

Fast foward to 94 took a trip to glmais again just in truck last minute deal then i i picked up a clean 200x soon after to get back to glamis took one trip with it and liked it decided buy cr 250 too.My brother bought a nice 250r water pumper thanksgiving day in 95 we were back in full swing again for the dunes,friends began going for a couple of years.We continued on brother got a banshee my then girlfriend(now wife)had a blaster.I broke my arm on my dirtbike in 97 and decided to sell it friends said i wouldnt last without something my wife still had her quad we made one trip in early 98 that summer i bought a nice 85 250r(finally had the trike i always wanted).Rode that solely til 2005 when i got a buggy but still took the 3 wheelr and finally got rid of it in 2008 for a cr500.

I blame the 3 wheeler for keeping me at the dunes they got me started,revived the sand a couple of times when i thought i was done.