Alright guys, Knowsalot certainly doesn't need me to defend him, but I think some of you are way out of line by calling him out to explain why Honda didn't blow us all away with all new models . From day one Knowsalot has been nothing but helpful to people on this forum. Whenever he has some inside information regarding future Honda products, instead of keeping it all to himself, he takes the time to post the goods on this forum for all to see. Sometimes the release date for the new products is a little off, but how can he be expected to be 100% right on every single detail? The man doesn't work for Honda and doesn't control when Honda releases new models. For all we know, Honda may indeed have a 250 4x4, 650EX, and new big bore ATV that are near production. Maybe these models had a few last minute glitches to be worked out and Honda decided not to release inferior products. It seems some of you are taking your frustrations with Honda out on Knowalot, almost to the point of being mad at him because you didn't get what you were hoping for from Honda. I for one appreciate what Knowsalot brings to this forum and hope he keeps sharing his knowledge with us. Kudos Knowsalot.

 

I'm not calling him out as in taking my frustrations out on him. I want to call him out to simply ask him "hey, what happened to the new Hondas?" I want to do this specifically with him because I believe he knows..........as the name implies[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]I don't want to be a jerk to him. In one of my posts, I believe I said something like I had a bone to pick with him or something.......that's just me messing around. No hard feelings knowsalot, just wish I had your help right now......

 

Just droping a few lines in here..It seems i read alot of replies about ppl complaining about the price going up on some of the models witch in some cases is not to bad but others are.Example, the rubicon for 04 Base MSRP $7199...ok the 05 base MSRP $7399.but if you take a 04 and add warn 424 thats ay least $200 and if you add disc brakes thats another $380 .then add a GPS the cheap ones are over $150 witch gives the 04 a price of $7929........So you can get all of this for $7399 plus get bigger fuel tank an extra storage compartment on the front left fender .........lol im really glad they got rid of that rattaling a$$ fuel gage and went to a digital one,and im pretty sure you also get brake lights on it to.Anyhow just my 2cents worth.im not tryiny to rattle anybodies cages i just think its not as bad as it seems when you do some price figuring..... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
as far as the other models like the 400ex they might have made a big boo..boo as far as there custermers are concerned...I guess time will tell in sales whether or not......[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

That is the best avatar to date, IMO!

 

I can understand your point. I have not compared the new Rubi to the old. I just think the new Rubi is priced high compared to other 500 quads. It's just that you can get a Suzuki 700 with EFI and IRS for less than a Honda Rubi 500.

The Foreman 475 isn't too bad. Considering it's price is similar to the 433's price of two years ago. I think Honda is going to do well with the new Foreman 475.

I also like the 400ex. Honda didn't have to put reverse on the 400ex. They really didn't have to change it's nose. (May it's old nose rest in peace.) The 400ex has been a good reliable sport quad. I would consider buying a 400ex now. There are many Z400's with many names, colors and faces. But there is only one 400ex and it's now better (for some) with a reverse gear. It would be nice if the 400ex was priced a little lower but it's not all that high considering the 400ex's price of a couple years ago.

Honda may not have given everyone exactly what they've wanted. But Honda did give us a few things that we've been asking for. (450R last year, reverse for 400ex, disc brakes on two utes, 4x4 select on Rubi, along with larger gas tanks, better shocks and some other things on certain models.) At least Honda didn't just sit on their hands and do nothing. Some things are better than no things.

 

There is a reason The 2005 costs more than all other 500cc sport utility ATVs. One of them might be a little faster, another might be a little more aggressive, or maybe a little better in one area or another. But it ends there.

It is another example of Honda's reputaion for quality and durability, best engine braking in the industry, best erganomics, Trax-Lok, front disc brakes(and probably the best), built in GPS, greatest transmission in the industry.

Nothing else compares. This is the class of ATV's that Honda leads, no question. The "up-grades" on the 2005 are the icing on the cake.

The 2005 Rubicon is the first ATV I have seen since 2001 I would like to own. Of corse it would be Honda Red, with Wings!

Don't I just make you gag?

 

But, why does the Rubi cost more than the 700's with things like IRS, locking diff. and EFI?

 

You could buy a 5 speed Vinson for $1,000 dollars less than a Rubi. That's just insane for the Rubi to be that expensive.

 

Knowsalot did correctly predict the Foreman 475! I thought he was carzy at the time, because they have a Rancher 400 and a Rubicon 500, so I didn't see where a new bike would fit in between those. Who thought they would give us a new model with a MANUAL TRANSMISSION! (Not sure why they didn't just go 500cc and water cooled, like the Rubicon?) Anyway, I need another 4X4 sometime in the near future, and the 475 just might be the ticket???

 

First of all......I have sat this out to prevent myself from making enemies here. But don't get me wrong here....I have nothing whatsoever to defend myself about.

I have never said anything about a 650EX, 2504x4, or a bigbore 4x4 being definates at this show. In fact, If you search for every post that I made regarding the Honda show itself, I was spot on in what i said would be there. Sure, most turned out to be redesigned versions of current models....but I also said that was a possiblity.

All I had were numbers. And those numbers were low by 2 units due to the new 500 Foreman models..............so what's the beef? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

A question was asked about what they might be coming out with. I answered with "Look for the holes in the lineup....mini, big bore sportquad, and a bigger big bore 4x4"
I never said anything about them making production.

I listened to this crap 2 years ago about the 450R. It didn't make it at the April dealer show and then Honda bumped the date after Yamaha announced the YFZ450. I never heard any apologies, not that I wanted them................but I didn't hear any more spouting either.

Sorry that some of you didn't get what you want, but life just works that way sometimes.