ok from what ive been reading this is how it is:

*1983-1984 Honda is dominating 3-wheel market with ATC250R
*1985 lt250 comes out (R&D in 1984 made in 1984?) (Honda aleady developing 4 wheel version of ATC250R)
*1986 Honda realeses TRX250R (but made in 1985) and kills LT250

Looks like i got this right, i dont see a complication anywhere. Honda didnt copy suzuki because they were already making the trx-R. So no honda is not a follower. The same could be said about the 450R and the YFZ. The 450R is already in the making and has been for a while the YFZ just came out first cause Yamaha could care less about overall quality, Honda on the other hand does and when they put somthing out its as reliable as reliable gets.

 

Sure, Honda has the 400ex, and the 250r. But it appears that Honda is more interested in another market other than quads. They are not interested in keeping up with everyone elses advancements in quads. How many years have the loyal Honda owners/fans been shreiking for them to convert one of their big 4 stroke motors into a quad? Ever since I can remember!!!Honda just is unconcerned with being tops in the sport atv market. It is like they believe that they could dig a turd from the punch bowl and put a sticker on it and we would buy it because it says "Honda".

 

HA2,

Gee whiz, so you have relatives that work at Mitchellwhich "is the leading provider of data, software and eBusiness solutions for the automotive insurance, collision repair, medical claims and glass replacement industries". Ah.... so what? Is that what makes you feel you are some self proclaimed expert on the inner workings of Honda in 1985? No? Oh yeah it was that you work in marketing for a leading nationwide lending corporation. That's right, sorry.

Seems that you are the one stating opinions as fact. Again, back to our little reading lesson, the ONLY thing I said was an undisputable fact was that the Quadracer came out before the 250R. Now, you can and should believe whatever you want about OEM's getting together before they release their products. I really don't care. That is a subject for an entirly different thread. Here's the deal, anyone can see that Honda was not the first to the market with the 250R, the 250X or the 450R. That gives them an advantage since they can look and test the other companies machine and make theirs better. Quads don't take that long to turn out, were not talking aircraft, and those have been designed and built in 100 days or so, something I remember seeing on the History channel. Anyway, it is very conceivable and appearent that Honda delveloped their quads in response to another manufacturers product. Now, I never said that R&D meant copying, you did, so quit trying to put words to my posts.

Try reading these forums with a bit of an open mind and lose the childish game you are obsessed with playing. If you do, you might actually learn something in the process rather than spending all your time bickering, taking sentences and meanings out of context so you don't have to admit to yourself that you were wrong.

 

honda is a follower
the 250x was produced to compete with the lt230
the rincon was put out to compete with the other big bore utilities and it still has those waterproof drums
the new rancher was put out to compete with the kodiak, outlander, eiger, sp400, and the prarie 360
the recon was produced to compete of the timberwolf
the 400ex was inovating when the only thing on the market to compete with it was the warrior then the ds, rappy, z400, vforce, predator, cannondales, yfz, and gas gas models came out. If the trx450 isn't as good as the yfz450 you can kiss honda good by.

 

you guys are leaving out one half of the story. the utility market that honda jumped into.

honda introcduces the US90, the first three wheeled atv in 1970.

Yamaha introduces its first three wheeler, the YT125 in 1979

Kawasaki introduces its three wheeler, the KTl-200A1 in 1981.

the first quad was the LT 125, produced by suzuki in 1982

in 1984, honda came out with its first quad, the TRX200 and Yamaha's first quad to hit the market was the YFM200 according to Yamaha's website: Yamaha history

In 1986, TRX350 (4-wheel drive) and the 250R hit the market.

 

i actually no sum1 who rides a trx200 1984 model. i didn't no it was the 1st honda quad, but that just makes my point a little clearer....its still running and ridin the trails while the other quads that honda "copied" are sit'n in the weeds. and if it was a let sum one else do it, then we will improve it a little, seems to me like there would be sum parts that would interchange, but there is not! they all do there own thang, honda just tests longer to ensure a better product while the others hit the market with under developed quads just to be first. honda aint copied any1 THEY TEST THEIR STUFF LONGER and if it boiled down to it the quads came about cause of uncle sam outlawing 3 wheelers which honda already had the market wrapped up...as 250r 3 wheelers are still running around everywhere and even still competitive, the tri-z and the others that was suppossed to compete with it, r broke when u look at sheer numbers that are still out there running. like i said be4 i ride with sum1 on a '84 trx200, i don't think i've ever seen a lt 125 suzuki or any other wheeler (except honda) from the early 80's on the trails cause they aint running anymore, they broke along time ago because they was 1st on the market while honda was makin sure theirs was going to last

 

lol

 

if this info is rite teh honda lead yami by NINE YEARS and kawi by ELEVEN YEARS now who started this revolution the 1 who dominates maybe late but its a better machine

 

I believe that Honda and Polaris are the two big inovators with Bombadier right behind, some good and some not so good. But you have to put it on the table to find out.

They all follow each other. They don't want to make the same mistake the other guy did.

I do think the big technological advancements would have to go to Honda, they can build anything they want. Honda has more technology at it's finger tips than all the other manufactures combined, and probably enough money to buy out everyone of them.

Who follows who?

 

this coming from a guy i havent seen be helpful in one thread. i see that the 6 people that rated you in your profile agree with me.

.......im still waiting for you to practice what you preach and back your statements up with proof. you said you saw a tv show design and build a aircraft in a 100 days..............ok, relivant points? no where. how many did they produce? did they market it? legal reviews? testing? you're making this too easy for me. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Mitchell receives new vehicles, such as automobiles, snowmobiles and yes they have received QUADS. one of their MAIN focuses is writing REPAIR MANUALS in both hard copy and electronic form. They rely on data already written or taking apart, rebuilding and documenting vehicles directly from the manufacturer, on site. i have personally seen these rebuild areas and the workers in process. they know EXACTLY the magnitude of what kind of engineering goes into vehicles on all scales. But I guess me visiting the facilities, seeing this with my own eyes and having family members working their for the past several years, isnt good enough for you. you'd rather take what you saw on TV...........excuse my while i bite my lip so i dont burst with laughter.

I work in marketing for a nationwide corporation and have an idea of what it takes to market to the retail (public) end of the business. You rely on your TV and shows that are funded by the party being documented. hmmm

Marketing alone would take several months to even get rolling to the public for something on the magnitude of the Honda Motor Company level. Business to consumer, business to business....now where have i heard this before.......maybe where i make my living.

when are you going to explain your, "They let someone else do the R&D and then wait a year and introduce a model that is better. Honda did this with the 250R, the 250X and probably the 450R, but that remains to be seen" statement? you're running out of excuses and quite frankly, im beginning to think you are saying these things towards honda out of pure hatred.

i like debate, but only if the opponent can stay on track and support valid points.

good night. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]