Ya, it would be nice if Honda would resurrect the 250R!

 

i reallly dont see honda putting reverse on the 400ex. it is the best made 4-stroke out of the box for mxing. if they add aluminum and dont add reverse, it will be even lighter. the next generation 400ex will problably have a nwely designed swingarm that isnt as prone to braking, new front shocks that are more durable (and more adjustable) and maby some more power. it is really following in the r's path. inroduce a generation 1. it is good. after people buy them, beat the crap out of them and find the weaknesses, nail them with generation 2, and you have the same situaton as way back in 1998 when the 400ex went on sale, and the dealers couldnt keep them in stock. just a profecy!

 

Your logic makes a great deal of sense. However, there have been some dramatical changes in some of the external factors putting demand on the manufacturers. First, look at the ATV demand during the mid to late 80's. They were still a realitively new concept and people were still a little nervous with all the hype from three wheelers.
Secondly, the economy has dramatically improved allowing more people to have disposable income to afford luxury items. This has created a dramatic increase in sales for the manufacturers. There has been an average increase in new sales for ATV's over the past 8 years of 18-28% That is huge compared to other growth area's of street bikes, dirt bikes, and the like.
With this additional demand on the manufacturers, I beleive Honda will produce another machine to match the Big Bore's currently on the market.
As with your comment, this is just my opinion, and I hope that you are wrong, and Honda steps up to the plate. My personal opinion is that I will continue to ride my 400ex and enjoy every second until someone comes out with a replacement for the 400ex, something that feels as comfortable, has the dependability, and performs in the same fashion out of the box.
I enjoyed your comments, they made alot of sense.

 

atvscene.com on the fast track is already saying the 400EXR is in the very near future. They've already got the 450 motor from the new motocross dirt bike pegged as the answer for the 660. Yamaha always answers Hondas handling with more displacement. Can't beat the 250R, make a 350 twin. Can't beat the 400, make a 660. Yamaha's are very fast don't get me wrong, but they are a hand full sometimes.

 

The 250R's were stopped because of lawsuits. They were wildly popular and every yahoo who liked something fast bought one. Of course many of them couldn't ride them and ended up wrecking them and getting hurt. Let's face it a 2stroke has some unpredictable power for someone who is not used to a power-band kicking in. Mom and Dad or the wives of these guys were hopping mad and called the lawyers in. Honda was already getting sued for 3 wheeler accidents like crazy and when the 250Rs started being named in some lawsuits. Out it went. The enviromental wackos are seeing to it companies like Honda are not turning out MORE 2strokes. Check out the 4stroke outboard motor Honda makes for boats. It won't be long before the 250 Supercross dirtbike series is the 400 - 4stroke class.
As Dennis Miller always says, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

 

Alot of people said the yz426 motor in a qaud was going to be yamaha's answer to the DS650.But what happened?Yamaha acame out with the mouth watering raptor>I have always been a honda guy but yamaha has definitly upped the bar with the raptor.don't get me wrong I LOVE the 400ex's and think they an EXCELLENT qaud!But the raptor is also an excellent bike.

I wish honda would bring back the 250r.I have one and really really LOVE it yet I seriosly doubt there will ever be a new 2 stroke qaud coming out.

moded out 86 trx250r
97 300ex
90 blaster

 

I seriously think that the new RC450 in a quad frame would be a very good quad. A 450 Liquid 4 stroke! But would that be too close to the 400ex and maybe make it lose its sales and value?

 

I love honda's too and wish they would bring back the 2 strokes. I have ridden banshee's and a couple of r's and if you ask me for how old the r's are they handle great. As for power the Banshee may have more for drag raceing the 250R's are smoother. For me the ultimate ride would be a brand new TRXR with a CR 250R engine in it counterbalenced of course.

 

team400ex i don't think a 450 is too close to a 400EX because they already have the 250EX and the 300EX. but i don't think something called the 400EXR is gonna be 450cc. i think it will be a more high preformance version of the 400EX with maybe liquid cooling, lighter, more horsepower, ect. it definately won't have reverse if its a race version. if it comes out and the demand is high enough maybe they'll put reverse on the exsisting 400EX.

 

I have the feeling they are going to come out with the 450 and drop the 300ex or 400ex. Because they will have the 250ex for the smaller sport quad and there top of the line sport quad will be the new one.