Honda invited some current Honda owners, to ride a prototype machine at a local So. Calif. track. They had current production sport quads and utes along for comparison, and had us ride each one and compare it to the prototype. They were also very interested in our opinions on styling issues....

The riding course had a bit of everything. A rocky section, a few whoops (I would have prefered a bigger whoop section for a better evaluation), some fast straights, a modest hillclimb, then a long twisting very badly rutted tight trail section, and finally some hardpacked "flat track" type terrain.

Sorry I can't say anything specific about the prototype...so don't ask! I will say that I really liked the concept of the prototype, but it would most likely not be a model that I would personally ever purchase, for the conditions that I ride. Riding comfort was particularly excellent, and I think it will nicely fit the bill for a large number of riders out there! They have another winner here!

Would have been a really fun day, had I not passed a kidney stone during the drive to the track!

 

Kidney stones are the most fun of ANYTHING!!

 

It'd be nice to see Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, or Yamaha come out with a 2-up machine. I love competition. It's good for the price and good for the product.

 

It also be nice to see honda get with the program and offer EFI on the rubi. I love my Rubi's but would even more EFI and IRS and maybe a 600cc version. I'm getting older and want convieniece and a smooth ride. At least since the rubi intro in 2001 they have the 2 wheel drive switch in 05, better brakes, and finally EPS.
I think the rincon needs to grow more powerful, maybe a Twin, to keep up with wthe other Big bores. Another gear and low range would be awesome. A then if Honda would offer some factory installed accessories like aluminum rims, winches, and bumpers. The other companies are leading the way Honda has quit innovating, they are the last to come out with what most of the buying public now demands. Took forever for a s x s still no 2 up IRS has finally shown up EFI is making its way in and EPS is now in. Other companies are way ahead in these areas. Honda has reliability be cause they do the samething over and over. They wait to see what probs the others have and improve upon them so their machine will be "reliable". Other machine brands suffer the reliability because of their innovation. By the time Honda comes out with something it's already proven technology. What must be realized is that the other companies constantly improve theirs too. Just because they took bruises for being the first does not mean that they are less reliable. I think if you compare a first year Honda to the impoved make you would find that they would have roughly the same amount of probs. Thats they way Honda has been since '01 when they introduced the hondamatic their last innovation.

 

Honda has seemed to be conservative compared to the other companies with their "feature laden" big bores, but in the long run I think it will pay off for them....

I live right near Chapparal, which is a monster dealership. In the past, you could go there day or night, and there was a crowd. Now days, it is deserted even on a major holiday weekend! The Ranchers and the old 300 4X4 have been the best selling units in history, for good reason. The standard Rancher 420 is by far the best value for your $$$ out there, and the economy is going to get worse before it gets better. I would predict a shift in the adult quad market away from the big expensive high dollar machines, to the less expensive 400 class, for both utilities and sport quads!

What about safety? Honda utes are nice and stable, and Honda gets the absolute most out of shorter suspension travel...and that keeps the center of gravity low. I for sure, easily go places off-camber on my Rancher, where my buddies on their towering top heavy 700 pound high dollar big bore monster machines, absolutely fear to tread! And, what will happen when there is the inevitable safety backlash from folks getting killed underneath their huge utes, and the government steps in like it did in the old 3-wheeler days???? Watch...it will happen with the leftists now in power!

 

I think people are alway wanting more power. More power = more possibilities I think people will hold off until they can get what they want. I have always thought that the 500 class is perfect in terms of value and perfomance. I would like a dual exhaust big machine in my dreams but don't find one practicle for me. In terms of safety any machine is dangerous in the wrong hands. A walk behind lawn mower less than 100# can take you out if your not careful. The difference between 600 and 700 lbs is negligible in terms of whether it will kill you when it comes down on you. As far as the ranchers and the 300 class being the best selling in history is because they are what started this all. They have been around for a longer time. Somebody on this forum in the last month has said that Polaris has taken the number 1 spot in total line sales. I don't know if this is true I would like to see some proof. I know Honda has had huge incentives recently which leads me to think that #2 could have taken over. In fact with a 52 inch Moose county plow and a Warn rt 30 winch installed I only paid $5995 for the 06 rubi I have. I paid #6250 just for the 03 machine. I could have bought a new Rincon '08 for $5995 on close out last week!! I think your going to see these deals continue as the economy sputters. The majority of all machines sold will be the 500 class because there is not enough price difference between the 400's and 500's to justify giving up the cubes and capability. JMHO

 

I agree that a machine that is "topheavy" could be more tippy. But if you also increase the width a bit that will negate the higher center of gravity. I've seen people on sport quads tip over plenty of times and seen sport utilities do some things I wouldn't have believed. I think the greatest influence on whether or not someone has accidents is the rider's abilities and if they are used to their machine or not. Weight can be good. I tried towing a lawn trailer with my Lakota 300cc. If I put a full load in it and didn't lay over the handlebars it had a tendency to wheelie. I pull a trailer that has 3x the volume of the original cart with the X2 and have no problems with that type of situation. And, that is going up and down hills with a 30-35 degree slope. Weight is a good thing in this case. It really comes down to what are you going to use it most for? What do you need it to do? Finding the quad that fits those needs.

 

Honda has chosen to take a different track from everyone else, by designing the most stable machines that they can. If one does not like that and prefers a tall floppy long travel machine, well just go get one from someone else! Let somebody else build the machines for the mudhole rednecks, who's most important "feature" is a cup holder so they can carry a can of beer while they ride....

The market will sort itself out by "natural selection". The truely good designs will survive the test of time, and the bad ones will fall along the way.....

 

I'm a New England Yankee, not a redneck. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] And, I don't drink and mudding is when I'm 30 miles into a 40 mile trip and it's cross or go back the way I came. Also, I wouldn't call a machine like mine tall and floppy. Mine's rated for 400 lbs. in the rear 120 lbs. up front. I've done plenty of dirt road corners at 50 mph. My problem with Honda is that they don't make as diverse a line as some of the other manufacturers are making. If they had a 2-up machine with the on board storage, engine horsepower and tourque, clearance (a necessity in New England), pulling and toting, and ride comfort (remember I have a bad back) I would consider buying one. I like Hondas. In fact there is something to like about all the major players. I think competition is creating a great market for riders to be able to find a quad that meets their every need. Not just some of their needs. All of their needs.

 

I really don't think the average buyer is well informed enought to even know what they really "need". Some salesman has them jump up and down on a long travel machine, and they fall in love with the "mush box ride". Plus, many get sucked in by the "big bore" thing, and get something just becasue it has a huge displacement number.....