the honda 650 is gonna have to be damn impressive for me to be interested but i do hope they give the 400ex a big facelift

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

I think Honda is going in the wrong direction because- People ask for things like a selectable 4x4, (still not on all the Honda 4x4's) locking diff. and independent susp. What does Honda give us on our utility quads? ES shifting and a cheap GPS system. Little by little, Honda seems to be getting less reliable.
Suzuki had a independent susp., locking diff. and selectable 4 wheel drive on their little 250 Quadrunners. Now they are the things that come on the big expensive quads. Cannondale, Polaris and Suzuki are the few that have made a quad with EFI. Where's Hondas EFI? 2005 Yamaha Kodiak 450 has a locking diff., selectable 4x4 and a all new independent suspension. What does Honda do with their 450 utility? Well, they might drop it.

Now I like Honda atv's but I do not like the direction they are going with them. If I can't have the things mentioned above. Then give me one of the old simple semi-auto, no speedo Hondas. (Fourtrax 300) They were the reliable ones.

There's always a curiosity for what might come. (from Honda) They just might surprise us. The Yamaha 450 sport quad surprised me. The day that the pictures of the Yam YFZ 450 were posted on the forum was a great day. The day the 450R was released was not nearly as great. It just wasn't. Maybe Hondas next release day will be great? Maybe not.

 

My buddy rides an xr650r and that thing rips. I'd love to see it on four wheels, and maybe with reverse.

 

Buddah,

What did you here? I am planning on buying 2 450R's in October. If this 650 is available well that could throw a wrench into the gears. Of course, I've been saying that since 2000.

What is the date for the Honda show this year?

 

The show is next month. I spoke with the individual over the weekend and he confirmed it will be released. I was wrong when I stated it had reverse. He wasn't sure if it did or not. Apparently they won the race by over an hour. The rider almost crashed big time from what I'm hearing. The race was held outside of Vegas. It is aimed at the DS, Raptor, and V-Force. Again, this is what I heard over the weeked. We'll have to wait till September rolls around.

 

ya i cant wait....and for ozark...great comments....right...

 

"Many years" since Honda has dominated racing????? Where have you been. This is the first year that I can remember when Big Red hasn't kicked everyone's a$$!!!!! Welcome to Earth.

 

ok, jus my 2 cents worth, but why does everybody say that honda is being dominated in racing? ya, i realize that in MX honda isn't doin so great, but have u even looked at the flattrack and TT results??? how about stadium series or the baja races? the 450r is smokin everybody in all of those. based simply on what honda has done in the past, i highly doubt that there will be a 650 sport quad to "compete with the DS and raptor". but u know what? stock for stock, the 450r does compete with the DS and raptor. the stock top speed of a 450r is around 73mph, now if they put that same technology into a 650cc motor, that thing would be damn near 100 mph! unless you are a drag racer, you will never need a quad that fast, the main thing that the manufacturers need to improve, is suspension. i'll bet that doug gust's z400 wouldn't win a drag race against a lot of those yfz450's that r in the MX series, and yet he's smokin them all. why? because his suspension is insanely awesome! as far as i'm concerned, its not about how fast your quad goes in a straight line, but how long and hard u can ride it before you get tired out. come to the pismo beach race in october and i'll show you what i'm talkin about.

 

Crobiker, what race is being held at Pismo? That sounds like a great time.

I agree with you, suspension is more important then having the fastest machine. Having your suspension dialed in will make you faster and less tiring to ride.