I guess to honest about the whole thing, I would probably replace bearings with zerked also. I am not new to any of this, been riding snowmobiles, dirt bikes and about anything with a motor since the early 60's, so I am religeous about maintenance. Some aren't, like you say, and for them the sealed bearings are best.

 

I've always been a big Honda fan, and although I've ridden plenty of other bikes in my day. I've always felt like honda was a step ahead... I'll tell you why they have my respect, go back to the 250R. The sport quad that changed it all, it told everyone who was making serious race ready king of the MX track and who was making JUNK...

Kawasaki had the tecate which was riddled with clutch, transmission and electrical gremlins
Yamaha had the banshee, which has the respectable race proven RD350LC engine in it, but was put together with J arms and a hug rad that always just asks for a big stick or rock to go through it...
The LT250`s were much better than the above two
but a TRX 250r is something different isn`t it... I have friends that own them and other than being bored 40 over and in need of new plastics (still using originals from 87, 88) these things eat 400ex`s for breakfast. The cranks and gear boxes in them are bullet proof...

anyway I`d just like all you non honda sport quad lovers to know, a lot of the technology in all your bikes was copied off honda... if you don`t know what a J arm is, go look at an old banshee, tell me what yamaha was thinking!!!

 

Just look in the ads for older 4 wheelers. They're almost all Hondas. Most of the rest are recycled by now.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Mountana

Just look in the ads for older 4 wheelers. They're almost all Hondas. Most of the rest are recycled by now.</end quote></div>


Thats right!

 

Just my opinion, but the older Honda's ATV's did seem to be pretty much bulletproof.
From reading on these forums and having friends with the newer stuff I think Honda has dropped the ball on quality like they used to have and are selling off reputation now.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: OhHell

From reading on these forums and having friends with the newer stuff I think Honda has dropped the ball on quality like they used to have and are selling off reputation now.</end quote></div>

Have you considered how many Hondas you come into contact with and read about here versus how many are sold on an annual basis. You are only seeing a fraction of a percent of them. When you sell a gazillion of anything, a certain number of them are going to fail. I am still willing to bet their fail rate is still lower then the other of the big 4, and Ill go farther and say that I think another 15 to 20 years down the road, you will still be seeing a lot of old Hondas... and not many of the others... just like now.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Mountana

Just look in the ads for older 4 wheelers. They're almost all Hondas. Most of the rest are recycled by now.</end quote></div>

I hope my new Honda doesn't have any recycled Polaris in it!

 

Way back when.... Hondas didn't have much suspention and didn't go as fast or as far per trip.

Times have changed. People rely on them more now than back in the day...

-----gimpy-----

 

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to ride a new Polaris 500 H.O. we use for Anti-Terror patrols on the base at which i'm stationed. My buddy and I couldn't get either of the 500 H.O's started. They hadn't been run in a few weeks so we tried to jump start them. No luck. I was mad because I really wanted to ride the 500 H.O. My buddy is a die hard Polaris guy and was ranting and raving about how much power and how smooth the ride was.

I noticed a row of about eight old Honda 300 4x4's. I asked him about the Honda's, and he said they hadn't been run in about 4 months and i shouldn't waste my time on them. I got the keys, full choke and 4 pulls later i had 2 of them running. He couldn't believe it. He's still a Polaris guy, but he's got a new found respect for Honda.

While he prefers 500 H.O.'s, he'll be bringing the old 300's on the next deployment to the desert.

 

There is so much I'd like to type but I'll keep it calm. For anyone who has a 420FE--you have no room to talk about quality! Anyone with a 420FM-- That's the entire point of this original post. Honda keeps making 20 Year Old four wheelers! An old swing arm no suspension, manual 4 wheel disconnect, manual shifting Antique.

As for why are there so many Hondas in used ads? because no body likes them and want to get rid of them.

The comment on Kawasaki Tecate? I had a new 1984 Kawasaki 3-wheeler. My friend had a 1984 Tecate 3-wheeler. Still the fasted thing on balloon tires I've ever road. Too fast. Nearly killed everyone who ever rode it. The only electrical problem was the rear part of the frame was always broke from flipping over backwards.

Sealed bearing? invented for lazy people not for longevity.

468bbc, I can drink beer with you. [img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img]

And when was the last time anyone seen an Odyssey? Well that wasn't a mini van?