It would be a nice quad if it was not an automatic. I think that it will be hard on the engine being only 250 air cooled, the automatics seem to always be reved right up there when riding, hard on a little 4 stroke air cooled 250?.. I love the old 250x's they are very nice machines, this new one will probally sell alot but I am pretty disapointed with it.
p.s. I bought the yam. broken.

 

It's time too start using our heads here boys.

Honda is #1 in sales because they offer a wide variety of products that range from kids quads, to utility work-horses, and finaly sport machines.
Thier products are known for reliability and craftsmanship.

Polaris Industries is #2 in sales because they offer a wide varity of machines too choose from. They are known for thier user friendly trail machines. But no High Performance machine!!!

Yamaha is 3rd in sales. Also a wide varity too choose from. Even with the Banshee and now the Raptor. Yamaha will still be 3rd in sales.

Why?????
Because the High Performance market is such a small portion of the "big picture". Look at Polaris, not one "true" sport machine and no High Performance machine. But still #2 in sales.

How?
They offer machines too the general public that are easy too use and work well.
95% of atver's are trail-riders, utility workers, farmers, and family folk.
Only 5% are racers and High Performance guys.

Honda is going after the "general public" on this one for sales. They don't want too be overtaken by Polaris Industries in total sales. It's all about money now. Honda is a buisness. In order too remain profitable, you must appeal too the masses.
I introduce too you the 2001 Honda ATV lineup. Like it or not, this is what it is.

 

Quadfather: For a company that builds such good machines like yamaha, it is sad people like yourself represent them on this forum. I have riden Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, etc. Sport bikes, Atvs, and 3three wheelers. For you to say Honda can't hold anything to Yamaha is stupid. For Yamaha making the mighty raptor, it still may note or may be the best. For putting all that money into the R1 and R6, and yet still not the best. Hell most of those pathetic old F3 still stick with your new bikes that Yamaha offers. Oh, and I won't even go to Kawasaki, they flat out rip your butt with there zxr900 vs the R1. It is to bad you can't see past your brand, they the companies all have there own ideas of what they need, just because you don't agree with Hondas ideas is no reason to be a jerk about it. Besides, I haven't seen a 00Kodiak do anything the smaller Honda Rancher can't. Might add actually it's the other way around if you want the truth. Maybe Yamaha's pathetic, they still haven't even TRIED to improve their 4wheel drive system.

 

One thing we might want to remember about the Government. Example, guns, Even the NRA doesn't disagree with the government that civilians don't need semi automatic guns. However the NRA is smart enough to know that if you give the Government a inch, they take a FOOT. This is why the NRA is successful, they don't give in at all. In some ways what Honda is doing is going to hurt the industry to a point. IF and when, and they might be, but when they (all the manufactor's) get rid of the 2stroke they will think it is over. That is such bull, then the government will try to say the 4strokes are the biggest problem. See the point, the government will not be happy until all of the atv's are gone, all of the water crafts are gone, all of the guns regardless of our rights are gone. I suggest we tell the atv business to stick up for our rights, You can't tell me all of the manufactor's are not making loads off of us. I think they should put more effort behind us, their customer, or they won't have a market someday, and that would be a GOREable day for all.

 

Broke mybanshee:

your patheetically retarted, and i hate you...


You bought it broken huh??? then why did you tell people that you boke it in the yamaha forum..


either your an ignorant 11 year old with too many porno's under your bed, or a liar.

bottom line: get a life

 

but no one has driven it yet so it could be quite the machine . i don't see how it being and auto is going to have any effect on there motor? Honda has been making shifting air cooled atvs for years.

 

Remember, the new 250ex only has an automatic clutch, but it is still manual shift.

 

Does anybody know what the MSRP will be on the 250EX ??? I bet that it will win all shootouts against all current 4 stroke ATV's by a mile !!!

 

I understand what you people mean by an entry level quad and how well they will sell, But I think this is a Very BAD Idea. If you want to talk about injuries this may be where it all happens. the law says must be 16 or older to drive. Now given a 40 parents and 50kids go to buy a quad they are faced with a choice, If the kid is under 16 they should not be allowed to ride the 250ex either, but the parent of a 10-15 year old will buy it any ways because junior wants a sporty four wheeler. If junior gets hurt on it and is underage, It becomes the industries problem, But on the other side of the Coin if it is a 16 year old and he knows he can get a 250ex, a 300ex, or a 400ex, which is he gonna cry for and try and get. The 400ex, which he may or may not be able to control, so if he gets hurt the industry suffers again. My point is this the 250ex is perfect for riders approximately 12-14 years old, 300ex for 14-16 and up, and the 400ex should be 16 and up, It is my personal opinion that anything 500cc and up should be 18 and over. Designing a entry quad for 16 year olds though is not a good idea, If they had though to use some technology and make a lower displacement quad for those under 16 years of age, coupled with a change in the standards that you have to be 16 or over to ride a 90cc or over diplaced quad. they probably would have been better off. Along with the whole industry. If done properly they can create steps to bring people into the sport the right way. The manufacturers should do more than they currently are to change the regulations of limiting riders below age 16 to 90cc atvs. Is it really right to go from a trx90 to 400ex or banshee or DS 650. NO, but thats just my opinion on how the industry caves to the government on safety.

 

Stick to ATV's, I could care less about street bikes, I'm not dumb enough to get on one. I've rode with many a Rancher, and believe me, they can't hold a candle to the Kodiak in any category.