So, Honda has let us performance riders down for another year!! I ride mostly desert XC, so I was looking for a quad version of the "king of the desert" XR650 dirt bike. Honda fields a VERY SUCCESFULL dirt bike desert race team, but they don't pay any attention to us quad guys!

I have avoided going full out moding up the 400 for the desert (440 kit, extended axle and a-arms, and suspension), because I really want to keep it for trail riding (the 400 is really at its best when used as a trail bike). Now my choices are, go full out moding up the 400 for the desert (and use the 300 for a trail bike), wait another year and hope Honda comes out with my dream bike, or buy a big, hulking, heavy DS650 Baja. The Raptor isn't a posibility, because I've owned a bunch of Yamahas over the years and I didn't like any of them!!

One of the magazines said Honda was working on both a 650 and 450 with ALUMINUM FRAMES. What makes this believable, is the aluminum frame thing. Why would they have this kind of detail if it was just a rumor?? So, what is everybody else going to do??? If Honda is working on these bikes, they better tell us NOW, or they are going to lose market share to somebody else!!!

 

I waited last year for honda and they came out
with NOTHING so I gave the 400 to my girlfriend
and ordered the Raptor I,m glad I didn't wait
and so is my girl friend life is to short to
wait for one comany to make what I want when the
next guy has it and I have been all SMILES with
the Raptor going to dove springs oct.18-21
which is a GREAT DESERT bike I still wish I
had more power I'm never happy!!!

 

Do you feel that the XR650 and the desert racing program would win without Johnny Campbell?
Brand loyalty may never get you the quad you are after. Probably have to mod you 400ex to get what you want.

 

gary-Didn't Campbells team have some problem in the Baja 500 or something, and Hondas 2nd string team got the win?? I think this happened in another race too?? My point is it's a great desert machine, and not necessarily just good riders. This engine is just a natural for a desert quad!!

redrock-Where is Dove Springs?? Out by Jawbone??

 

I think it's just a rumor because that is what everyone expects next.

As for the aluminum frame, I'll stick with steel. I think a quad takes too many lateral forces such as twisting bending that two wheeled motocycles don't. If you look at mountainbikes, some costing as much as quads, an aluminum frames lifespan (if ridden agressively) is counted in year, maybe 2-4 before it fails (cracks) where steel and titanium frame's lifespan is measured in decades. Aluminum tends to snap (break) where steel bends, ask fellow Raptor riders how much they love those aluminum a-arms.

 

YZGUY
Jawbone then redrock canyon
and up the highway is dovesprings
to the left up the top of the hill

 

Looks like raptor and ds sales will get a pretty nice increase this month as all the people who waited for the new honda will be switching brands. Too bad honda is missing out.

 

I don't understand Honda. They sell about 4 times as many quads as they do dirtbikes in this area of the country. I would think a new sport model would sell very well. YZGUY don't be thinking so fast on the Raptor. I really never liked Yamaha either. Honda didn't have what I wanted so I gave Yamaha a try and I am very pleased. Chet

 

I'm leaning towards buying a Cannondale next summer. I really want to see this American made atv succeed and I'm willing to put up with some recalls if they are still working bugs out. Cannondale has demonstrated their absolute commitment to fixing things if you have a problem with one of their atvs. Another atv that interests me is the Kawasaki 650 v-twin sport model that is in the works.

If I were into 4X4 quads, I would consider the new Honda; but the Kawasaki v-twin engine would probably convince me to buy it instead. Too bad the Kawasaki is so nasty ugly compared to the new Honda, Suzuki and Grizzly 660.

I feel let down by Honda but I'm happy for Cannondale. In my opinion, the worst thing that could have happened to Cannondale would have been a Honda TRX450EX.

 

The solution for me was simple, CANNONDALE. This thing if very similar to a Honda in many ways, except for the fact that is puts out wayyy more horsepower. If I were alot of you guy's I'd ride the Cannibal before you make a decision. Cannondale is a great company to deal with, and if you shop hard enough you can get one for the price of a Raptor. Nothing against the Raptor, but I'm a Honda man and I can't see myself riding a Yamaha quad.