UPDATE – This 1985 Honda Odyssey FL350 is listed for sale again after it was featured about a month ago here on Barn Finds. The same seller has it posted here on craigslist in Santee, California and they’ve dropped the price from $4,300 down to $3,300. Will it sell this time? Thanks to Rocco B. for the tip!
FROM 11/27/2024 – Honda isn’t just known for its incredible line of two-wheelers, or even the – gasp – “deadly” line of three-wheel ATVs that we’ve seen here on Barn Finds. They also made a popular four-wheeler ATV known as the Odyssey beginning in 1977. This 1985 Honda Odyssey FL350 is posted here on craigslist in Santee, California and they’re asking $4,300 – a bargain if I do say so myself. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Tony P. for the tip!
Add $200 to $300 for new tires and you’re ready to roll. Well, shipping from California for a lot of us is pretty expensive, so there’s that, too. Or just take your pickup out there and get it yourself, there are a ton of areas to ride on the way back through the various deserts in the southwest. Honda made the Odyssey from 1977 through 1984 in the FL250 model in two generations and then came the FL350 for the 1985 model year. This model was replaced by the Honda Pilot ATV in 1989 and 1990. After 1990, Honda got out of this market. They still make ATVs but not this “dune buggy” rear-wheel drive style.
I’ve never tried one of these things but I would love to someday. Believe it or not, I’ve never owned a Honda that had more than two wheels. Independent front and rear suspension gave riders a bit of a break from off-road trails but I’m sure it was still a jarring ride being strapped into that single seat and bouncing around.
The seller says the original plastics are in great condition. There aren’t a lot of photos but the seller covered the bases and that’s nice to see. The yolk steering “wheel” looks good and appropriately faded as it should be after almost four decades in the sun. Switches for the lights and one for high/low are on the left side, along with the run/off switch in red, and electric start. The gear selector is at the bottom right partially cut off, but it’s forward, neutral, and reverse, nice and simple.
The engine is Honda’s 342-cc two-stroke single and the seller says it could use a tune-up and carb cleaning but that should be easy enough for the next owner. It sends power to the rear wheels only in this series of ATVs. With just over four gallons of gas on tap, a person could ride for quite a while and I’d love to own one of these someday. Have any of you had a Honda Odyssey ATV?
About 10 [15?] years ago I had the chance to buy one that was just a little rough for a few hundred dollars. If I had only known where the prices for these were headed!
I had a yellow one 18 years ago (I was 16). Got it for a couple hundred bucks. Ran it around our property and mining roads for a while, rolled it a few times and then traded it for a 920 Yamaha Virago. Parents didn’t like me having a street bike because I was a bit reckless with it to say the least. Ended up trading that up for something else. The odyssey wasn’t ideal for the mountains, dirt bikes had more of a place here. Was fun on the flats but we didn’t have much of that… the pilot was the one to have with these but they were always more sought after.
My cousin had one of these and I loved it, Would let him ride my RM 125 and we’d switch. was great memories
gotta have (or be ina) particular place for these for work or rec (not much into ’toys’) I no longer am so could not “earn” it’s place here.
WoW has THIS segment grown in the 1/2 century of development. Not sure if there’s a ‘lill guy’ like this one any more but every other place (‘ranch’ in 3/4 the country) has a Side.B.Side. Some even 4 up. Many here use the dogs to get in the sheep/other stock but a big place might like 1 of these (again, 4WD is close to necessity).
Had a yellow 250 back in the 90’s that bought for my 10 YO son. Lived in MN. and neighbor had about a 3 acre lot that he mowed for us to put a course in. Straight away, then 180 curve, then S curves, and back around again. They built these with a tall roll bar to keep it from rolling on top. A friend, my son, and I would spend several hours having fun. Son lost it in the S curve and rolled on side once. He killed it and we went out to turn it back over. He was grinning like a Cheshire Cat. Moved to Pa and ex had a farm. Took it there for him to use. Finally the recoil broke and couldn’t get parts, and found a newer one with reverse. It was the best $300 I ever spent.
30 years ago(or so) I bought one that was 6 miles from my home. I waited till night and drove it home all but a mile when the police gave chase, I did not stop, I knew them and they were idiots. I made it to my house and fortunately had my Cadillac out of the garage and I zoomed in and closed the door. They cruised around for 3 hours, nothing better to do.
Lol 🚨 🚔 nice one Kid.
The price on these blew up during COVID. This one’s “somewhat ” reasonably priced.
I had the first gen that didn’t have a suspension just low PSI in the tires for cushion. Hit the opposite side of a wash ditch going at a high rate of speed and the resulting whiplash lasted for years of pain. couldnt get rid of it fast enough
I had the fl250 in the 1980’s. Fun machine, but it seemed like I had to pull the head and fool with rings several times. It bounced over every bump without rear suspension. Good times though
Oh sure, bound to get a buzzkill or 2 for sure, but for the most, it’s impossible NOT to have fun with these. Like 3 wheelers, people that pushed these too far, got a rude awakening. I don’t think there were many deaths, but unrestrained drivers many took a flop, usually walking back holding an arm. Properly secured, the roll cage did a good job. People with more common sense, rode these back where no person had gone before, in the summer. Snowmobile trails in summer are a blast with these. It’s only downfall was it’s not AWD. That could be an issue and a winch would help. In adverse conditions, these are pretty helpless and heavy once stuck. It’s why AWD ATVs became the norm, but these basically started the ATV movement. It was quickly determined, a front assist drive was necessary.
Howard its morphed into some truly wild and powerful ATV machines now. Seriously fast, and expensive. Unfortunately I’ve come across a few of these on the trail on my old Enduro motorcycle. They take up a whole 1 or 2 track trail. Once I narrowly escaped a serious collision. Guy was absolutely flying around a blind corner, music blaring from the multiple speakered sound system on board, luckily I dodged right, he went to his right too. I avoided some alder trees growing on the side of the trail. Close call.
He just kept blasting down the way, never slowed up or stopped.
Trail riders on motorbikes, be aware.
I see you are a night owl too, eh? I’ve had some really close calls on snowmobiles, and the only thing that saved me, and you, was we were half anticipating something like that. It’s part of the risk you take, and while I don’t approve of that guys carelessness, it goes with the mindset, “a miss is as good as a mile”, I suppose. I always hugged the right side of a trail.
sounds like me tryin to get out to the rd after a sno 1 yr. Asshats (a family) blastin dwn my driveway, youngest 1st in frnt, blockin me from gettin out the last 1/2 my driveway to work. I was so pissed (8am, 1/2 hr to start time) I grabbed the frnt skis, jerked it out of the way, jumped back in and still was able to make it up the hill & out the un-plowed drive. I plowed at sunset -after work- most storms. AM rush hr (6 – 9 am) was time fora bagel in the cab, 1/2 hr after rising.
Answer to your question:
Will it sell at the current price?
NO!
Never had an Odyssey ATV but my brother still rips his 1984 250R ATC around Georgia!
Sorry friends they were fun. Is not Worth more than the initial cost when it was brand new. Pay it forward Donna . Put a realistic price on it . It is gonna need a bunch of money to get the motor, tires, brakes and everything else fixed. Probably can’t buy the parts anymore so you’re gonna have to make everything yourself or have somebody make it. it’s gonna be expensive!