 As
the successor to Honda's immensely popular ATC250R
three-wheeler, the 1986 FourTrax® 250R had some
big tire tracks to fill. By the mid-80s, the ATC250
had amassed an incredible reputation in both competition
and on the showroom floor. Its racing victories
included an amazing fourth place overall at the
1984 Baja 1000, where it outran every buggy and
truck in the event, and all but three motorcycles
(Chuck Miller and Randy Morales were the overall
winners that year on their XR™500R).
In a marketplace moving toward four-wheeled ATVs,
the 1986 FourTrax 250R became an instant benchmark
for high-performance ATVs. Utilizing the same basic
engine as the race-proven ATC250R-a liquid-cooled
246cc two-stroke with reed valve induction, a six-speed
transmission and a vibration-canceling counter-balancer-the
FourTrax 250R also featured a unique box-section
frame. Honda engineers designed an automotive-type
front end around the two front wheels utilizing
independent suspension and long double-wishbone
architecture to minimize bump steer. The rear end
was familiar terrain, with a chain-driven solid
axle and sophisticated Pro-Link single-shock suspension
system.
The 250R also came with the best brakes in the
field. A trio of hydraulic disc brakes with twin-piston
calipers-one in the rear and a matching pair up
front for each wheel gave the FourTrax the stopping
power to match its acceleration.
Honda sold the 250R for three years, with each
new model featuring minor updates. In 1988, for
example, it sported lighter aluminum wheels at each
corner and low-profile radial knobby tires: another
industry first from Honda.
Right out of the box, the FourTrax 250R dominated
ATV racing, winning the national championship in
its first year, and scoring victories in venues
as diverse as California's Mojave Desert and the
muddy woods of Kentucky. Despite its short production
run, the 250R's racing domination exceeded Honda's
wildest dreams. Despite being at least a dozen years
old, the FourTrax 250R is still considered by many
to be the ultimate high-performance ATV for competition.
Examples of this remarkable machine can be seen
racing and winning all over the country. From the
desert of Baja to Grand National Championships in
eastern woods, Honda's FourTrax 250Rs fill grids
even today.
The high-performance mechanical DNA introduced
14 years ago with the original FourTrax 250R has
evolved directly into the 2001 Sportrax™ 300EX and
400EX, the most advanced sport ATV designs Honda
has ever offered. These machines owe much of their
success to one of the most popular and innovative
ATVs of all time: the FourTrax 250R.
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