And here is the reason, looks like the venerable XR650 may be discontinued. This site is from Austalia, but still.......

http://www.hondamotorcycles.com.au/r...+final+run.pdf

They might keep it here in the states, who knows. If not, could the CRF450X then become the Baja bike for team Honda????

 

But, there is a rumor of a future CRF600X????

 

hey reconranger why dont you make your own 650ex with a 400ex or 450r frame

 

I guess it could be nice for big guys to ride but I can't think of many other reasons to make it.

 

By the time Honda makes a new sport quad (650ex) it would prob be so long awaited all the new big bores from yamaha, suzuki, kawasaki, and maybe bomb would have 700's or 800's by then and the 650ex couldnt hang with the crowd. Not saying i wouldnt like a lightweight long travel suspension 650cc sport quad other than the ds(which is heavy) but i dont think honda will be doing anything else in along time.

 

pity. austrailian and european sites are usually right and more informative than the US' site.

its dumb for them to discontinue such a dominant bike... but, hey that's honda. they did it to the 250r.

i dont see honda making them just for the states - they are too streamlined for such a move usually what we get the rest gets as far as atv's and stuff are concerned. Sometimes we get them first, sometime they get them first. I know people in australia and they didnt get the 450r until months after we got it even though honda motor co. told them before they told us.

the question is and its what they are probly asking themselves - do they really NEED to make such a bike? sales are good and the 450 has plenty power with the only thing lacking is reverse for the hard core trail people. it's a cost justification that they have to determine if its worthy to put into production. i know ive heard they have been testing a 650ex but for whatever reason chose not to release it yet...i dont know what honda is thinking, but i do know they hate to be out done(even though on some levels they have been). if they were to release such a bike now without efi, it will be obsolete next to the new raptor and may not get the glamour and sales that they hope for right out the box....or..maybe they are in re-grouping mode and may yet suprise us all.... im always glad to see any atv manufacturer come out with new stuff and keep the market and competition alive. the only hope now is that they make a 700Exr to be on par with the Raptor700 or do something that they have rarely done before and keep making the 650 engine, punch it out, outfit it with efi and slap into a quad chassis... it could happen..maybe.

for trivia sake-thats kinda how yamaha came up with the banshee (true story i read somewhere from a yamaha rep)- they had alot of the RZ350 engine parts left over and after regulations changed for street use- rather than have them go to waste they made a quad and stuck the engine in the chassis. they never thought it would be such a huge hit for 19yrs...

 

If true (XR 650 discontinued) it would be too bad. I'd bet though, that 450 sales have cut into the 650 market pretty good. It's maybe just not selling too well anymore. It would leave a total vacuum in Honda's already nearly non-existant dual purpose bike line-up. I think they really need to address that area.