Is it just me, or have you noticed how Honda has become almost as stagnant as they were during the early nineties regarding the high performance segment? True, they produce the 400EX, which is one of the best selling sport quads out there. I also realize that they are releasing the 450R, but that is a race quad, not an all-around sport quad. They have an excellent engine just waiting to be unleashed as a direct competitor to the Raptor 660, DS650, and V-Force 700. The engine I speak of is the liquid-cooled, SOHC, four valve, 650cc thumper in the XR650R. This engine has existed for several years, however, Honda is totally blind to its four-wheeled potential. I seriously doubt that they haven't noticed the sales of big-bore sport quads. They know that they would sell every TRX650EX that they would build, and their engineering department could design it in their sleep. So what is Honda waiting for? I haven't got a clue, and neither do they. Maybe if enough people start asking for a 650 they will build it. They're in business to make money, and they certainly could do just that with a 650 quad.

 

I think Honda has been focused on the utility market. They haven't felt their was a need for a larger displacement sport quad. They also were stung so badly by lawyers in the three wheel lawsuits that high performance was a bad word for some time. The trx 450r is a great step up for them hopfully it is a sign of good things to come.

 

"The trx 450r is a great step up for them hopfully it is a sign of good things to come. "

amen!

 

I understand that the lawsuits by all the bleeding-heart liberals really screwed with Honda's head, but that was almost twenty years ago, and they are releasing a quad that is just as fast as the 250R, possibly faster. I just think that they are needlessly absent from the big bore class. Like I said, it would be too easy for them to design a frame with their suspension geometry and ergos, drop the engine in, and have a line waiting for them at dealers like they have created with the 450R. They just seem to be a little asleep at the wheel sometimes.

 

One step at a time...I'm sure that's Honda's way. If the 450R does as well as they expect and the market still demands a larger bore Honda, I'm sure they'll eventually answer that call as well. Honda never does anything in rush delivery or half-cocked.

And besides, who here doesn't think that new 450R won't give even the big bores a run for their money?

The YFZ already does.

 

Be nice if they made a 650 by somhow increasing the 450r engine to 650cc dang talk about fast!