We sell Quads, new, used, mostly Hondas and Suzukis. All of a sudden we can't get new Hondas, even the official UK dealers can't get Hondas. Supply of new bikes has got strange, no 250 Hondas or Suzukis for over a year, then Suzuki 400KQs disappeared from the market. Now, no Hondas at all, leaving the UK utility market with only Yams and Suzuki 500/750KQs. We have sold 2 Suzuki 500s this week to people who wanted new Hondas but can't get them. Is it Covid 19? Is it because the UK is out of the EEC now? Have the latest emissions rules caught makers out, stopping them selling bikes?

 

Here in the US demand is higher than mfgrs can make them. With the govt sending out all this money to poor folks who are in turn going to dealers with this money and buying toys! My local dealer sold 400 machines in 6 weeks back in early summer when first checks were sent out. Demand has been steady since, not sure where all these poor people are at?? Neighbor had to order and wait 4 weeks to get his new general, no stock at dealers, just look at pictures! Mfgrs are behind due to virus and demand is record high...that is what all the dealers are saying over here...good luck!

 

I guess if you are "furloughed" and have nothing to do, going "off roading" may appeal. Here in the UK people are not encouraged to go out more than necessary, though the number of Lycra clad cyclists I see on country roads, right from the start of the pandemic, would indicate they think they are an exemption. We sell mostly to farmers, and lamb prices have been particularly good, so farmers are wanting to offset some profits against tax by replacing worn out machinery, such as Quads.

 

We've got the information you seek on the ATV Connection homepage, here:

https://atvconnection.com/articles/a...-atv-shortage/

 

All I see around here are old Honda atvs. The only new Hondas that sell are the Pioneer and Talon utvs. Nobody is buying the new Honda atvs. They're just too expensive for what you get. You can buy a new atv from any of the other manufacturers for less money that has more power than anything Honda makes. Honda needs to update their atv lineup, its way overdue.

 

Honda 14 on models are great quads, except for the Autos. We sold lots of 420s when we could get them. A peculiarity is almost everyone wanted a power steering ES so Honda don't supply them, only power steering manual change, or ES non power steering. I don't see much difference in price between 500 Honda and 500 Suzuki, or the 400King Quads (when you could get them) and 420 Hondas. Hondas are way too complex in their electronics but everything is going that way, cars are much worse. Rumour has it that nobody can fix electronic faults on the Autos, including Honda.

 

In this area you can buy a new Grizzly 700 for the same price as a new Rubicon. I'm not saying the Rubicon is a bad machine but if they're the same price, most people are buying a Grizzly instead. Its just as reliable, considerably more power, better ride and simply a more capable and enjoyable machine. The only reason anyone around here buys a new Honda is because that's all they would buy. They don't look at anything else. I'm not convinced that all the electronics are a good idea on an atv, most notably the dual clutch transmission. Its cool when it works but when it fails, it will cost thousands to fix or replace. A cvt is a proven and simple design. Worst that ever usually happens is replacing a $100-$150 belt. Other parts can wear out too but they're not that expensive either. And the belts last a long time, Yamaha has a 10 year warranty on theirs.

 

We sold a new Kodiak (Grizzly in disguise) two weeks ago. They have got the size better, the old 550 Yams were bigger than the 500/750KQ and they are slightly too big. The Yam's engine is awful rough compared to King Quads and Hondas. As I explained above, nobody wants a post 2014 Honda Auto, the old Hondamatic was as good as a belt drive but had complex electronic controls. New Rubicon has even more complex electronics and a manual gearbox which changes up, or down unexpectedly, when it feels like it. If you still want a manual gearbox, you have to go to Honda, and since 2014 they are good bikes. Not sure why you think they are outdated, 2014 was a total redesign for 420/500. 2018 "new model" King Quads are your old 750 with more complex electronics and slightly altered plastics. I can't see what they have done at the "new frame" it looks exactly like the old one. Lets hope they have improved it, we are selling quite a few at the moment and the old frames needed welding up at every service.

 

Honda hasn't made much of an attempt to build anything to compete with the big bore machines. Even something comparable to a Grizzly 700 or King Quad 750, around 50 hp or so. The Rincon still exists but it is very outdated and severely lacking in power. I think the Rubicon chassis would be a good platform for a more powerful atv. Honda has plenty of motorcycle engines that are in that displacement range and would be a very good choice. They even had a 700 single that was in the 700xx sport quad that was about 50 hp. I suppose people still buy Hondas for work machines but nobody is buying them for recreational riding, just lacking in power. Yes ive heard King quad frames sometimes have issues but no problems with mine and its 13 years old. Maybe it was strengthened sometime in the past, I dont know. I've only had it for 3 of those 13 years. I've also heard that they eat batteries, again so problems there either. I think that was more a problem with the 700. I remedy this mostly by not letting mine sit for more than 2 weeks without going out and starting it and letting it idle a few minutes even if I dont ride it. Hasn't gone dead yet. Only thing I've had to replace are the cvt shafts, i think I've replaced all 4 of them. But aftermarket ones are cheap, $65 each so not a big expense. I've even still got the original belt, 5500 miles on it and still good.