Anyone willing to confirm rumors that honda is going to release a new performance quad with the new 55hp CRF450R motorcycle motor to spank Cannondale at their new game? Ever wonder why Yamaha never went ahead with putting the YZ426F motor in the Raptor chassis? I'm kinda glad Cannondale has done what they are doing too wake the big four up in the true high performance category, even if it is with fourstrokes. I think they are starting to realize there is still a market for true high performance quads.

 

THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF THEY WOULD DO IT. I OWNED A 426 AND IT HAS ALOT OF POWER. ABOUT TO MUCH FOR A DIRTBIKE BUT IN A 4WHEELER YOU COULD USE ALL OF IT. THEY NEED TO PUT IT IN A BANSHEE FRAME INSTEAD OF A RAPTOR.

 

We can only hope that Honda will do something like that. They really need to do so in my opinion. I spoke with a dealer the other day about this very same topic and he said that Honda has not released any info on a possible new sport quad with the new CRF450 four stroke motor. He did say that the new CRF450 is 7 pounds lighter then the CR250 and starts up a lot earier then the YZ426.

I was also surprised that Yamaha did not use the 426 motor in the Raptor frame. However, the 660r motor is an incredible motor. I have ridden a Raptor once and was very pleased with the performance and handling. I think that the 400ex's handling is just a taste bit better though.

Say that Honda did come out with a new high performance quad that would compete better than the 400ex, I believe that they would have to develop a whole new frame just like what Cannondale did. With technology today, you need to be lighter than the past. With the fact that Cannondale has an aluminum frame I think is awesome. I realize that the 400ex does have a cast-aluminum swing-arm, which is good but I think that if Honda is thinking of a new quad in the works, it needs to be on the lighter side and have the power-to-weight ratio just like the Cannondale. I also think that the new quad should have a grab bar that is separate from the sub-frame. I don't know why Honda did not do that on the 400ex. The grab bar and sub-frame is one piece. I think that was stupid why Honda did that. As for a possibility for a reverse gear on the possible new sport quad, who cares. Yeah, it would be nice, but if you really now how to ride, you don't need reverse. Most high performance quads don't come with reverse exept for the Raptor and the new Suzuki. The fact that those two machines have a reverse gear in my opinion is nice and does make them stand out better on the market. Mostly the Raptor because the new Suzuki is not on the market yet.

As for putting the YZ426 motor in a Banshee frame, yeah, it's possible but the Banshee has been around for a long time and is over-due for some changes. I have ridden a Banshee and think that is an incredible screaming machine. I like Banshee's a lot but I am glad that Yamaha developed a new frame for the Raptor rather than the Banshee frame.

That's my two cents worth. If you have any other questions ragarding this topic, please e-mail me or respond onto this forum. Thanks

 

If your dealer told you a 2002 CRF450 is lighter than a 2002 CR250 than I sugest you stop listening to him. I think the CRF may be lighter than an 1982 CR.

Woodo

 

On one of the motorcycle shows on speed vision they talked to the guy that helped honda design the 450 engine and he said in total weight the 450 is 10 pounds heavier than the 2002 cr 250.

 

The Banshee frame and suspension sux!!!

 

<<As for a possibility for a reverse gear on the possible new sport quad, who cares. Yeah, it would be nice, but if you really now how to ride, you don't need reverse.>>

What a crock of $h!t ! I have heard people say that again and again and i have been holding back the urge to reply about it but this time I can't take it anymore!!

It doesnt matter if your the best rider in the world sometimes reverse is a must!!! Apparently I don't know how to "really ride" because I often need to get off and turn my R around. I ride in the woods and reverse is needed unless you wanna get off all the time. Don't give me that "You can just whip it right around" $h!t either! Sometimes it is inevidable sometimes have NO place to trun around. SO thats all I have to say I guess I just dont know how to "really ride" nore does anyone else who has EVER used reverse on an atv.

 

I agree that everybody could use reverse sometimes, but it definately wouldn't be the deciding factor in my purchase.

 

Ok if Honda puts the CR450F in a quad frame they better not put reverse in it. Why would they build a state of the art race quad with a CR450F motor in it and then put reverse on it. They dont put spark arrestors on CRs because they are not trail bikes and neither would this quad.

I also dont think it needs electric start although it would make a little more sense than reverse on a race quad. Basically, if you stall you already lost so as long as you can get it started on the line that would be good enough.

Fourtracker14, which piece of my stock cast aluminum swingarm is good? Because, basically it looks like a big piece of crap to me. It has been replaced with a lonestar that seems about the same weight and has taken at least as much abuse.

The technology of the modern mxers is so awesome, but as long as the atv market is so confused that people want to run a 55hp trail quad...we probably wont get the CR450F quad.

Adam Smith

99 400EX

 

My friend Josh broke his EX swingarm into two pieces. He rides hard, but not "that" hard!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
Mine hasn't cracked yet.