It's going to be in 2003 and NO it will NOT be a 450ex. Honda already has the 400ex for racing and a true sport quad without reverse. Yes, it's kinda underpowered, but with all the aftermarket companies out there, it's no problem.
It's going to either be a 600cc or 650cc engine,they leaning towards the 600cc (don't know why), 5spd, reverse, and liquid cooled. I'll be first in line for that quad....no cuttin line get behind me!

 

JVC, where did you find out this info? I am not callin you a liar.I am interested in it. E-mail me at TRX400EXBOYZ@aol.com and tell me more about what you know. I hope its a 600 or 650. It will kill everything else in the power and handling department. Honda has always been the best handlin quads since day 1. Thanks,Joe

 

JVC, where did you find that out at? I would like to know. Email me at TRX400EXBOYZ@aol.com and could you tell me more about what you know? Thanks, Joe

2001 400ex with lots of mods
2001 400ex-ProCircuit Pipe(might trade for DS650)

 

I doubt it. I would be willing to bet my 400EX that the next sport quad will be a 450EX based off of the CR450. A few months ago I was invited to a meeting with "unknown" quad reps. During this meeting/dinner they asked us about our quads, what we liked about them, what we have modified on ours and what we would like to see in a new quad. When this topic went around the room (what would you like to see in a new quad) everyone agreed more power...during my $0.02 I did mention the CR450 engine on a 400EX type frame...as soon as I said that, one of the gentlemen in the back pooked his head up, smiled and bobbed his head (in agreement). This was one of the gentlemen from Japan, as introduced in the begining of our meeting. This made me think atleast one of the guys are from Honda...at the end of the meeting (they paid us $50 for our time), the envelope that had the money, was a Yamaha envelope (it had Yamaha with the yamaha logo in the "return address"). Also, all of the other guys either owned a 400EX, Raptor or Banshee...no other make was there....it was very interesting.

But this is what I am basing my opinion on....I honestly think its gonna be a 450EX....

Eric

 

VW seems to be the most credible so far. He has told the same exact story a few times before. The word exact is the key word, he has not changed it one tiny bit which means he is probably not making it up. I hope hes right about the 450 though! Cannondale already proved that their highly modifed might i say 432 can beat a raptor and DS650. Why couldn't that beast of a 450 Honda engine kick butt? And another thing, its not wonder the Cannon is so fast, it has 12:1 compression, injection, etc. All you can really do to the thing is kick the bore &stroke up to make the engine bigger, and probably an aftermarket pipe! and for 8,000! jeez i can get a brand new 400ex out the door for less than 5200. thats a lot of extra cash compared to the cannon. And the cannon still isn't near wide enough or low enough, or have suspension up to par with a pro racing bike (which are for sale in the ball park of 8-9 grand!!) sorry it got a lil off track

 

ooooh jvc has some big connections with the Honda crew!!

 

Well, I promise you I am not making up the "meeting/dinner" with the "unknown" quad reps. This is actually a common thing that they do around the country...from what they told us. They do this to get real world feedback from us weekend riders, which makes up 90% of their sales. I guess they just go around and get random names from dealerships. I've also heard some BS shooting around a few honda dealerships around here about a 450EX as well. They base their info from their Honda reps...but as everyone knows...most dealer's like to BS

If you take the 400EX as it is and add about 5-7 HP (rear wheel HP), it would be at the top. Its already a very competitive bike with everything else out there, just lacking some grunt compared to the big bores. With todays engineering and technology, they dont need another 250cc's to make that extra power... take Hondas S2000 for example, the most HP per cubic inch in a passenger vehicle....I think they can make more than enough power out of a nicely tuned 450.

Eric

 

Well I already KNOW that Honda can tune that 450 engine! Haven't you seen their website? That baby cranks out twice as much power as the 400ex~!
55hp!

 

These motors make lots of Horespower(xr600r,xr650r,and RC450F),But honda will tune the down alot so they don't crank out so much horespower. The 426F makes more horespower than the Raptor,DS650 and banshee. The 426F makes 48HP,660R makes 38hp and the DS makes 42hp. The 426 is alomost 250cc less and makes more power than the CRAPTOR and DS. The Raptor could probablky come from the factory with 50HP but Yamha tunes the motors down so that Joe Blow doesn't go out and buy his 8yr old kid a 50hp Raptor and he kills himself on it (and you know people will buy Lil Kids big bikes). So even though the RC450F motor makes alot of horespower in the motorcycle it might make less when they put it in a quad because of the Joe Blow situation. Understand my point? See now where Joe Blow couldn't buy his 8yr old kid a 50hp RC450F because the kid couldn't touch the ground,much less crank it over. I bet the RC450F motor will be great. I would rather see a 650R motor in a quad,because you can't beat that Big Bore rumble and are rippin fire breathin power that it makes. Th XR650R (liquid cooled) weighs 360 wet and it can do 105mph with just a air filter mod and pipe. I rode that beast and it has tons of torque,and thats what a quad needs is torque. But while where all still dreamin and waitin for that new quad,RIDE HARD!

P.S Lifes fast,Have a BLAST

 

If Honda does make a TRX450R, it would put the XR650EX to shame.If Honda does indeed put out a TRX450R the motor would be de tuned by a restrictive EPA legal Exhaust and a modest Rev limit, put on an aftermarket exhaust and black box and your right where the CR left off.Trust me guys, nothing would be better than a TRX450R.