700XX Wins Baja 500
 

Teams 1a (Prather) and 3a (Matlock) running the new Honda. Like always, it is difficult to find any results.....

700XX Baja 500
 

1st- 700XX

2nd- 450R

3rd- 700XX

"Earning its first career Tecate SCORE Baja 500 victory, 2008 Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 winner Wayne Matlock and Marc Spaeth rode a new Honda TRX700XX to the overall ATV win, posting a team of 10:10:40 to beat a team led by Javier Robles of Mexicali, Mexico, by just 21 seconds and the two-time defending race-winning team led by Danny Prather by eight minutes, 25 seconds."

Lineup:

PRO ATVs

CLASS 25 (over 251cc)--

2a Jason Greenhaw, Bakersfield, Calif./Nick Nelson, Tehachapi, Calif./Nick DeStout, Oceanside, Calif., Honda TRX450R

3a Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif./Marc Spaeth, Ramona, Calif./Rick Cecco, Briling Springs, Pa., Honda TRX700XX

4a Javier Robles, Mexicali, Mexico/Adolfo Arellano, Tijuana, Mexico/Cesar Lopez/Alfonso Cota, Honda TRX450R

5a Reid Rutherford, Montrose, Colo./ Ben Vernadakis, Rico, Colo./Tony Valerio, Telluride, Colo., Honda TRX450R

6a Max Hernandez, Queen Creek, Ariz./T.J. Miller, Tucson, Ariz./Jason Fritz, Globe, Ariz., Honda TRX450R

7a Stefano Caputo, San Felipe, Mexico (Italy)/Felipe Velez, San Felipe, Mexico, Honda TRX450R

1a Danny Prather, Ramona, Calif./Mike Cafro, Bonsall, Calif./Chad Prull, Laveen, Ariz./Levi Marana, Hemet, Calif., Honda TRX700XX

9a Travis Dillon/Kyle Petheo, Encinitas, Calif., Honda XR650R

10a Kyle Needham, Truckee, Calif., Yamaha YFZ450

11a Charles Barfield, Sutter Creek, Calif., Bombrdier DS Baja 650

12a Joel Aldrete, Valle De Las Palmas, Mexico/Roberto Villalobos, Tecate, Calif., Yamaha YFZ450

http://race.off-road.com/race/...ontextCategoryId=35357

700XX Baja 500"></title><script src=
 

I missed this when first posted. What happend to all the bitchen about the heavy weight turd of a sport squad and how it would never amount to anything because it is 70 pounds heavier the Raptor 700. And how about the predictions that an IRS sport quad would never cut the mustard. Looks like Honda nailed the design of an inovative new concept again. And also how about some recognition that the 450R isn't the only motor that can win in the desert.

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

Honda has the best teams and best support on the planet in these races....these guys could win riding almost anything!!!

Don't make to much of this win! Honda always introduces a new model by running it in Baja (like the Rincon a few years ago). It's their way of proving their machines can go the distance. Don't think for a minute that the XX will ever be their permanent Baja ride. They will be back riding the 450R as soon as they have proven what they wanted to prove about the XX.....

I still think Honda has a highly specialized machine in the XX, that will do best on rutted/rocky eastern trails, but where 4wd is not required. For any other type of riding or any other venue, all they have in the XX is an overweight turd!

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

I thought Honda did a great job with the XX. To finish the Baja is a pretty big bragging right not to mention winning it. I agree with the "Eastern" trails comment. I've ridden straight axle machines out here in New England and I don't recommend it to put it mildly. With the rocks, ruts, and mud we have the IRS is definetly the way to go.

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

One of the magazines did a Honda/Polaris IRS shootout....and the Honda lost!!!

They said it "pushed" terribly in turns, and if you didn't have a burm to bump up against, you were in trouble. They also dissed it for its weight. If you look at the machine's weight, the 450R is ~150 pounds lighter. Which machine do you actually think is really going to be more "fun" to ride????

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

I don't have the money to buy either at this time. I have sat on them and can tell you the Polaris IRS Outlaw has a lot stiffer suspension. I'd love either machine out on the trails. But for the riding I do a 4wd is the way to go. I probably use my machine for 1/2 play 1/2 work. But, boy, would I like to take either machine out for a couple of days.

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

Honda says its target audience for this machine is the current big bore 4X4 rider, who would like a more sporty ride. Ok, maybe some beer bellied hillbillie who has been riding an 800 pound ute all his life will think that 500+ pounds is "sporty", but they aren't going to pull that one off with any true sport rider.....

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

That's true. I'm 6'3" and over 300lbs. I have been on the 450s but find them too small. I have bad knees and with the lower seating on the sport quads my knees take a beating. I'm getting too old to bang up my body much anymore.

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

The 700XX will always ride smoother than the 400/450 sportys because of physics. A heavy Cadillac rides smoother than a Chevy. The principle is that the heavy ride has a more favorable ratio of sprung to unsprung weight. That is unless the owner ruins handling with heavy wheels/tires. Look at the heavy IRS Trophy Trucks. The weight does not seem to bother them in the desert.
When the 700XX was first announced, I predicted the 700XX would be a Baja winner while all others were giving up just because of weight. So IM expert O, the XX will be very succesfull for any rider who desires a smooth riding, respectably powerfull sport quad. This would be great Glamis quad for riders who want ride compliance over hill shooting. Very few riders on this site agree with Honda for lack of utility quad features and model selections while they manage to outsell everyone else. I put over 20,000 miles on very similar Honda motor in XR650R I used as Adventure Tourer so reliability of this sport quad will be undeniable.

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

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

That's true. I'm 6'3" and over 300lbs. I have been on the 450s but find them too small. I have bad knees and with the lower seating on the sport quads my knees take a beating. I'm getting too old to bang up my body much anymore.</end quote></div>

If one is a big guy, then I would go with the DS650, which is at least a "real" sport quad, unless one rides in conditions where the IRS is an advantage. I will still maintain that in most conditions and for most riders, the IRS will be a liability rather than an asset.

As for the other "big guy" quad, the Kawi 700, it is nothing but a warmed over 2wd utility quad, and is even a bigger pig than the Honda!

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

Jeeze, recon, take it easy

yeah they weigh more

whoopie

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

The dude hates hondas and everything about them.
I dare you to ask him what he thinks of the E/S system.

LoL
Just having a little fun. Dont take to serious.

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

well, i just noticed he not only flamed this post, but he started it!

?!?!?!?!

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

The thing about this machine is that uninformed folks are going to buy it just because it is a "700", thinking they are getting something comperable to the Raptor...not! The Raptor is a great all-arounder, where the XX is a highly specialized ride that I don't think is going to be for everybody. I think we are going to hear from some disapointed buyers in the future.

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

I think you got it backwards,

an IRS is def more of an all arounder than a SRA any day.

Now, ive only owned SRA machines.. and I can get them thru anything I need to,
but I think an IRS would do all around stuff way easier.

SRA is great untill it gets rough, after that it turns into work and skill

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

I also would rather have an outlaw anyday than a 700XX

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

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

I think you got it backwards,



an IRS is def more of an all arounder than a SRA any day.



Now, ive only owned SRA machines.. and I can get them thru anything I need to,

but I think an IRS would do all around stuff way easier.



SRA is great untill it gets rough, after that it turns into work and skill</end quote></div>

Leave IRS on the utility quads, where it belongs!!!

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

I've had a Raptor in the past, but my 700XX is a much better all around machine. It doesnt like to do donuts well, but is awesome off small jumps. Plus I can ride all day and not feel like the ATV beat me up, like my Raptor did.
I agree that it needs to be lighter, so i am trimming any unnecessary weight off it. Will get it on a scale once i am done

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

Do you find that your XX tends to "push" (understeer) in truns (which is one reason the magazine reviews dissed it)???

700XX Wins Baja 500
 

Understeering is often reduced by proper setup which includes stiffer sidewall tires, proper front to rear tire pressure differential, and proper front to rear suspension preload differential. As an example, the Arctic Cat utes have been able to greatly improve cornering characteristics by just carefull adjustment of tire air pressure and shock preload. But it will never corner like a SRA.
Some of the most passionate riders about their machines are the Rincon Owners Group. Sure, these machines are not for everyone and some have purchased a Rincon only to be dissapointed. But the great majority of Rincon owners love their ride and take pride in cleaning some nasty section with limited slip and no low range while friends struggle with full features.
So the 700XX certainly is not for everyone. Many will pass because of cost or because of drag race results, or because some moto rag racer couldn't run with some 450. But I believe that for many riders who need comfort and reliability, and who do not want to get all beat up, and who do not care what the moto rags or some group of fast guys have to say, these owners will be passionate about the 700XX just like the Rincon owners.