Honda Begins Unveiling 2012 Model Lines
Mar 4, 2011 | 10:38 AM
#31
Shed Knocker Rider
Harley Punk!
Harley Punk!
Joined: Oct 2003
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Throwing my random 
in here.
I think people that say Honda needs to do this or this, are way to into all the gadgets and gizmos. If you like that stuff, that is perfectly fine and that's great you like that stuff. But I promise you, in "most" cases I can take a mid size ATV, basic without a bunch of options, and go more places than some of these big high featured quads can. You can't use body english on these quads that are the size of a Jeep! For pure mud running, maybe work, or slow comfort riding these big ones are great, but that is more of a "niche" market. And considering how much it costs to develope these machines per unit sold, I can see why it doesn't makes sense to build one.
Do you know what Honda has made the most profit on by a large margin? The xrf/xr50's! Those are basic as they come, but affordable and function great for basic riding. Same thing for big boy toys in my opinion. On the sport end, a 400ex or preferably a Z400 works for me. Nothing fancy, light, easy to work on, does the job. And they're safer IMO.
in here.I think people that say Honda needs to do this or this, are way to into all the gadgets and gizmos. If you like that stuff, that is perfectly fine and that's great you like that stuff. But I promise you, in "most" cases I can take a mid size ATV, basic without a bunch of options, and go more places than some of these big high featured quads can. You can't use body english on these quads that are the size of a Jeep! For pure mud running, maybe work, or slow comfort riding these big ones are great, but that is more of a "niche" market. And considering how much it costs to develope these machines per unit sold, I can see why it doesn't makes sense to build one.
Do you know what Honda has made the most profit on by a large margin? The xrf/xr50's! Those are basic as they come, but affordable and function great for basic riding. Same thing for big boy toys in my opinion. On the sport end, a 400ex or preferably a Z400 works for me. Nothing fancy, light, easy to work on, does the job. And they're safer IMO.
Mar 4, 2011 | 10:46 AM
#32
Supersock
Hired Gun!
"Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!"
Hired Gun!
"Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!"
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Land of the misfit toys
Do you know what Honda has made the most profit on by a large margin? The xrf/xr50's! Those are basic as they come, but affordable and function great for basic riding. Same thing for big boy toys in my opinion. On the sport end, a 400ex or preferably a Z400 works for me. Nothing fancy, light, easy to work on, does the job. And they're safer IMO.
Mar 4, 2011 | 10:58 AM
#33
Shed Knocker Rider
Harley Punk!
Harley Punk!
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 35,876
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One day I'll be a real boy
On another note, MX bikes have gotten so good they have priced most people out of the game. I miss the year 2000 or so, for ATV's and bikes. You only had so many to choose from, but they all had character and while performing decent stock then, to be fast you had to mod them. I always wished back then to have what we do now in these almost perfect dirtbikes and ATV's off the showroom floor. Well, IMO the grass is not greener not that we are there, seems to take character out of the sport.
On another note, MX bikes have gotten so good they have priced most people out of the game. I miss the year 2000 or so, for ATV's and bikes. You only had so many to choose from, but they all had character and while performing decent stock then, to be fast you had to mod them. I always wished back then to have what we do now in these almost perfect dirtbikes and ATV's off the showroom floor. Well, IMO the grass is not greener not that we are there, seems to take character out of the sport.
Mar 4, 2011 | 02:47 PM
#34
Super Moderator
Well, golly JimBob!
Well, golly JimBob!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 40,196
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YouTube - hp vs lack of hp.mp4
My friend (holding the camera) is riding a 2010 Polaris 550 Touring with lots of ground clearance and "true" 4-wd. It powered out in the deep snow and wouldn't turn the tires so he had to shift into low range and when he did he lost the momentum required in deep snow.
Here I come on a 2009 Outlander 800 Max blazing along in high range. I slowed down and took off into the deep snow and he couldn't keep up with me even following in my tracks. It was like that all day.
Horse power in my opinion is one of the biggest factors of being able to go in deep snow and tires play a big part too.
My friend (holding the camera) is riding a 2010 Polaris 550 Touring with lots of ground clearance and "true" 4-wd. It powered out in the deep snow and wouldn't turn the tires so he had to shift into low range and when he did he lost the momentum required in deep snow.
Here I come on a 2009 Outlander 800 Max blazing along in high range. I slowed down and took off into the deep snow and he couldn't keep up with me even following in my tracks. It was like that all day.
Horse power in my opinion is one of the biggest factors of being able to go in deep snow and tires play a big part too.
Mar 4, 2011 | 08:34 PM
#35
Pro Rider
Loves riding and can't get enough.
Loves riding and can't get enough.
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Hello Moose!! How ya doing??
They both had the tires they came with.
I would think that if the tires on the Polaris had no traction that they would have just spun in the snow but they didn't, they just quit turning. In order to turn them he had to put shift into low range, once in low range he couln't go fast enough to get through the snow.
Having the power to spin the tires in high range gave the 800 the wheel speed needed and it never slowed down due to a lack of power to rurn the tires in high range.
It was the same back when we played in Jeeps and trucks, the higher horse motors always went further.
Don't you think that if you had a 850 XP and a 500 HO with the same tires that your 850 would out perform the 500 in the deep snow??
They both had the tires they came with.
I would think that if the tires on the Polaris had no traction that they would have just spun in the snow but they didn't, they just quit turning. In order to turn them he had to put shift into low range, once in low range he couln't go fast enough to get through the snow.
Having the power to spin the tires in high range gave the 800 the wheel speed needed and it never slowed down due to a lack of power to rurn the tires in high range.
It was the same back when we played in Jeeps and trucks, the higher horse motors always went further.
Don't you think that if you had a 850 XP and a 500 HO with the same tires that your 850 would out perform the 500 in the deep snow??
Mar 5, 2011 | 10:24 AM
#36
Super Moderator
Well, golly JimBob!
Well, golly JimBob!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 40,196
Likes: 55
Hello Moose!! How ya doing??
They both had the tires they came with.
I would think that if the tires on the Polaris had no traction that they would have just spun in the snow but they didn't, they just quit turning. In order to turn them he had to put shift into low range, once in low range he couln't go fast enough to get through the snow.
Having the power to spin the tires in high range gave the 800 the wheel speed needed and it never slowed down due to a lack of power to rurn the tires in high range.
It was the same back when we played in Jeeps and trucks, the higher horse motors always went further.
Don't you think that if you had a 850 XP and a 500 HO with the same tires that your 850 would out perform the 500 in the deep snow??
They both had the tires they came with.
I would think that if the tires on the Polaris had no traction that they would have just spun in the snow but they didn't, they just quit turning. In order to turn them he had to put shift into low range, once in low range he couln't go fast enough to get through the snow.
Having the power to spin the tires in high range gave the 800 the wheel speed needed and it never slowed down due to a lack of power to rurn the tires in high range.
It was the same back when we played in Jeeps and trucks, the higher horse motors always went further.
Don't you think that if you had a 850 XP and a 500 HO with the same tires that your 850 would out perform the 500 in the deep snow??
How fast were the CanAm's tires spinning speedometer wise? I've been on more than a few trips in the snow where the tires were going 40 mph but we were barely going 15 on the gps. Slick, no adhesion, powderey snow.
I'm thinking about an 850 X2 when things stabilize a bit here. I've always wanted to have a spare machine to bring along buddies that don't have the cash for a machine. We'll see.
Mar 7, 2011 | 08:12 AM
#39
Pro Rider
Loves riding and can't get enough.
Loves riding and can't get enough.
Joined: Mar 2002
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If I had been riding my Rubicon I have no doubt that I would have been right behind my friend.
