Ebony is what Kawasaki referred to for their black KLT250 three-wheeler, but we most often see them in Wildfire Red. They’re a fairly rare model and this one will need some work as the seller says it hasn’t run in years. This 1980s Kawasaki KLT250 Prairie is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in New London, Wisconsin, and they’re asking $750. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
Kawasaki got into the ATV market in 1981, more than a decade after Honda, and they’re not seen too often today. You can see the safety foot guard on this model, the rounded piece behind the foot peg, so the rider’s foot doesn’t slip down and get run over by the rear wheels. Sadly, that was a real thing, and that guard helped make three-wheelers at least a little safer in this era than the early ones were. This one appears to be missing the front rack.
Cosmetically, the rear rack should be easy to refinish, and the rest of the three-wheeler doesn’t look that bad, really. I have an oddball three-wheeler called a Commuter Industries TE-380, and thankfully, the similar wheels on it are in good shape as they aren’t available anymore. You may be able to find used ones on eBay or elsewhere every so often, but I haven’t been able to find new ones. The KLT250 Prairie came out in, I believe, 1983, so that’s what I’m thinking this one is. There are only four photos, hardly any description at all, and no numbers listed or shown in the photos.
The engine would have been a Kawasaki 249-cc four-stroke single-cylinder backed by a 5-speed manual transmission with a dual-mode quick-change rear differential sending power to the rear wheels. All the seller mentions in their listing is that it “hasn’t been run in years.” The $750 asking price is probably reasonable if it isn’t locked up and the gas tank isn’t rusty, and all of the usual things to look for. Have any of you owned a Kawasaki three-wheeler?
3 wheelers always get a bad rap, and I suspect this will be no different. Before that happens, 3 wheelers were the most fun, to date. The Kawasaki 2wd 4 wheelers were a few years away ( 1985) and this was the best that it got. As said many times, everytime one comes up, 3 wheelers got a bad reputation because they were pushed beyond their limits, that were never intended. It was designed as an “alta kaker” step saver and not for jumping or hanging it out on turns. Ah, but temptation was great, they were a lot of fun. Except for some freak accident, they didn’t go fast enough to get killed, but we took many a lump, again, all in good fun. 4 wheelers changed everything and these fell out of favor pretty quick. Like all these “archaic” Asian products, I’d be concerned about parts. The farm I was living on had an older Suzuki 4wd, and had a bad front U joint,,,UNAVAILABLE. Caution be advised on this one.
Fair point Howard parts on less obscure older dirt bikes and by old I mean early 90s let alone their elders… are near unobtainable. I always remembered the Honda 3 wheelers. And seeing them exclusively up where I was at the time anyways.
Guys around here bought these to herd cattle, turn sharp and roll over, many minor injuries a few deaths, quickly abandoned for much stable 4 wheelers.
One of these would be good for me, especially this time of year. I don’t need as much exercise as I’m getting making many trips back to the orchard to check on apples, pears, peaches, blackberries, grapes and hazelnuts. The latter of which yesterday I could’ve also benefited from carrying a weapon for the ground squirrel that was eating my nuts. I’m also making extra trips to the chicken coop and duck house to get young birds in at dusk.
Rallye those squirrels can be a nuisance big time.
Yeah, father in law had one on the ranch. Bad deal. They were unstable and I’m a gearhead dirt biker kinda guy. Seriously susceptible to pressure differences between the tires causing bad load balancing (and who monitors tire pressure regularly on a ranch), which meant flipping on its side.
The four wheel versions couldn’t come along fast enough. Way more utility, especially w a small cargo bed and a WHOLE lot more fun due to stability.
Any surviving models should be hauled to a scrapyard
Listing update: this one is gone.