If you go to www.hondamotorcycle.com it says on the home page that on Sept. 14th they will announce the new 2001 models, as well as some other exciting news. Could some of this news be of the new quad they promised? I can only hope.

 

Im hoping for a mint new sport quad but it will probably be a utility quad of some sort.But hey you never no,it might read "HONDA DESIDES TO BRING BACK THE TRX250R" I bet there would be a lot of people going to get their Raptor deposits back

 

Go to www3.ns.sympatico.ca/atcharleys (weird address, I know) then click on "ATV Spy Page" they were one of the first sites to show spy photos of Yamaha's Raptor. According to them Honda is either coming out with a 600EX, or bringing the 250R back. Check it out.

 

My bet would be that Honda comes out with the aircooled 600ex. It's hard enough to get a big 4 to pass the emissions everywhere (read: California). They would want to market a quad that could be bought and rode anywhere, anytime, not just during certain times of the year like they do for quads that don't pass the emission tests in Cali.
Being that it would be a Honda, it would be a great ride I'm sure.

 

you know if honda was coming out for a new bike
there would be alot of new press. go to the yamaha site and look at all them boys talking about how fast their raptors are. Then soon they can actually ride theirs.

 

Makes sence, honda just retired the XR600R and a 600EX would make good use of that engine and aftermarket parts! I will call my navy friend in Japan, he swore he saw a liquid cooled 650EX but the aircooled one sounds more like honda. Just rumors as of today.

 

if it IS a new quad you'll see my 300ex for sale on ebay on September 15 . well not really, but I'll get it next May (I'll have to save up every penny I have and sell the 300ex). It doesn't really matter if its a updated 250r or a 600-700ex. Both will be great.

But to all quad guys like us, this could mean nothing. They could add a CR300 or CR425 and a motorcycle and be done. Or they could just slap on manual shifting in a rubicon...or automatic ranchers.

I will be interested to see what it is and I hope its quads and if we're really lucky sport quads.

 

oh yea and it won't read:
"HONDA DESIDES TO BRING BACK THE TRX250R"
because you spelled decide wrong :-)

just kidding there

 

Hope springs eternal; however, I doubt the green eyeshade boys (Honda's financial managers) smile on further new ATV product capitalization anytime soon, given the chunk of change the Rubicon release required.

Genrally, for surviving companies, R & D doesn't rule--even Sales doesn't rule--at the end of the day, Finance rules. Unless the bean-counters are convinced they'll realize more return from money invested in developing a new ATV, instead of for a new cup-holder for a soccer-mom mini-van, don't hold your breath in expectation of a new quad.

My opinion is descriptive, not prescriptive; don't shoot the messenger. Truth be told, I hope I'm wrong!

Tree Farmer

 

With the 400EX still selling extremely well, I don't see Honda coming out with a new machine. They have been working on a 4-stroke motocross bike and there have been rumors of that machines existence, but so far, nothing about a quad. I really hope I am wrong.
IF Honda does come out with a big thumper, I think it will be the liquid cooled 650 motor in the xr simply because it is counterbalanced, which it must be for an ATV application.
Yesterday, when I was out riding there were about 8 BRAND NEW 2001 Banshees out. When I asked those guys (and gal) why they didn't get a Raptor, they said that they really just wanted a Banshee. So some people just want what they want, and don't care if it is the fastest, newest, badest, etc.