The new quad is directed more towards a specific type of riding. I would have liked to see something more well rounded. There are alot of different types of riding areas and different types of weather in those areas. There are also many different types of customers and it has nothing to do with if you are a man or not. I've pulled my friends Mojave around enough in colder weather to appreciate electric start. I've also ridden enough tight wooded areas in rattle snake country to appreciate a reverse gear. The world doesn't revolve around the open dunes and year round warm weather or mx tracks. There are alot of people that would have liked to see at least an electric start. How many currently made quads can you name that don't come with electric start?
I can see Honda during the planning stage. How can we save weight and not have to go the extra mile to add a starter or reverse? Hmmm. I know lets put an R after the 450 and say that the 4stroke is the answer to the 250R. The 250R didn't have a kick start or reverse. Great lets call it a 450R and they'll eat it up. The 250R was made for 3 years back from 1986 till 1989. Honda couldn't figure out how to make a decent light race quad with reverse and electric start in 14/15 years? Some people would appreciate an electric start in racing type situation. Just in case the quad stalls. I've watched races where the quads get into a bottle neck area and get all jambed up. This Z400 just put it into reverse and backed up then took another route. I remember the announcer commenting about it while the others jumped off their quads to sort out the mess.
It's one thing to say that these things are not needed because...... But it's another thing to start name calling just because people would like something different than you because their needs might be different.
I've always liked Honda products and have owned a few here and there. I don't think that the product meets the anticipation of the product. At least Honda did finally come out with something and I hope it meets everyones anticipations on the track. (Without cheating like in the Baja)

 

man you guys are sad bitching about the fact that a bike has reverse. Ive been spun out ont eh track by yes someone without reverse and it saved me time to click reverse and back up then go. but hey if you think when someone spins you out and you stuck on a haybail if you like wasting time getting off to push if you think liking reverse makes you a moron then have fun pushing its just reverse is a nice feature. oh yeah it doesent matter if its a 450r, yfz, a z400, a 400ex, or hell even a warrior, you all need to realze that when you have a set up bike it all comes down to rider not the color of your bike or if you have reverse. damn just so you all know no bike is race ready out of the box the yamaha and honda have the most set up bikes out of the box but still need improvements for the track so maybe you all could stop squalving about reverse and who has the better bike when racing comes down to rider.....

 

4 years for the R ---Coyotechaser, 86, 87,88,89

 

Somewhat true - would you say the same about a 250R? I know plenty of people that use their 250R's for recreational trailriding.

Past-
TRX250R
TRX250X
LT250R
LT500R
Tecate 250
Probably a ton of others I'm forgetting

Current-
Yamaha Banshee
Yamaha Blaster

When you figure that your sport quad choices are limited to about 8 real models - 3 of those, big bores - that's a significant percentage

I've been in races where my e-start only quad's starting system failed and it's cost me big.

 

mojave doesnt have e start either

 

I can't believe that you guys are seriously complaining about the 450R not having electric start and reverse. I'm just happy that Honda is making the d@mn thing, and to come back to racing with Farr, OMG, could it get any better?!?!

Now I have two choices when I go quad shopping for an '05 450-class machine (YFZ and TRX), so I'm pumped. I'm still leaning towards the Yamaha, but we'll see the reviews and reliability after next year. I'm sure that these machines will be a lot closer in spec come '05 models (Honda putting on an FCR and Yamaha going to 450cc).

What's next, 450 racers from Suzuki and Kawasaki??? Will Yamaha or any of the other factories field a team for '04 now that Honda has stepped up? I would love to see Yamaha do an "about face" on the issue. Heck, I never thought that I'd see Honda support a race team again, let alone a MX ATV race team... =)

 

My thoughts exactly Alaska - a person will hard pressed to go wrong with either choice & it only gets better from here with Honda stepping up and adding a factory rider to the mix.

 

I got the years right ,I just counted them wrong. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Thankyou to everyone for responding with examples and without name calling. That is when I learn a little.

 

At first all I could think about was getting a new TRX450R...but now I want to be the first person on the forums to SMOKE selector up Sand Mt. on the Honda...Hey Selector...I'll be the guy passing you up the hill(yah I'll let you have a bike length start) waiving my middle finger like it was my last "gesture" in life


Puss^ hill racer!!!

After I humiliate you going up I'll let you have a five...scratch that...TEN qaud length start towards the bottom...something tells me that riding isn't your strong suit...its running your mouth and holding a throtle wide open(not much skill...I could do both by the time I was 13 years old)

Nuff said

Selector I'll see ya on the hill[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

i have to laugh when people say that honda has "brought nothing" to teh table. what honda has brought is a machine that is on par if not better than the yammi. even honda haters expect the best from honda and because they didnt come out with a bike that can sprout wings, fly, make your lunch and give a hummer at the same time, their going to talk smack.we all know honda COULD have come out with an all alluminum frame, Could have come out with fuel injection or FCR's,etc. but as with all companies who desin products it comes down to 2 principles... "return on ivestment" and "price point". look at where cannondale is now. awesoem bikes but 2 damn expensive to keep the everage joe from purchasing them.but the best part of this whole debate is that honda need only "up grade a 400ex"to be bring a machine competetive to teh yammi.