I wonder what Honda is up to as far as a new quad goes. The 400ex is down on power compared to the Raptor, Banshee, DS, and the new FX, but OVERALL it still hangs. My dream quad would be something like the 400ex but with about 8-10 more HP, reverse, more rear ground clearance. Seems like the 400ex isn't far off my mark. A reissue 250r? That probably will never happen. I'm not sure if Honda will join the displacement war or not? With the 400ex still holding its own in the buyers market it probably will keep those Honda guys up for many late nights.
Until then, lets hear some ideas you would propose to Honda if you could build your dream Hi performance quad.

 

Well since you asked here is my dream-
The new 450f liquid cooled motor in the 400ex frame. I am with you on the suspension upgrade, I think that another 1.5 inches of travel would be awesome. I myself dont feel that a true sports quad should have reverse but to each his own, I would rather save the weight. I am not sure of the hp decrease that will occure when setting this engine in a quad frame and driveing two tires but my guess is it will still be somewhere around 51-53 rw hp. THis would still keep the quad somewhat light an nimble like the current 400ex but would add the hp increase that we have all spent thousands of dollards to achieve. Also a nice thick gripper seat!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I think the next sport quad from Honda will be an improved version of the 400EX. Prolly in the 450 to 500CC range. I don't think they will jump into the 650CC+ war at this time. Honda is more conservative and what they come out with will be reliable, thats there trademark.

 

Honda is lacking big time in the utility market. With the new Kawi and Yamaha and the old SP500 they are loosing business....heck even mine if they dont fix things.

 

With at least three brands seriouly changing their suspension setups this year, when is honda going to come into the fold. I see that Yamaha has pictures of the 660 grizz with IRS, Suzuki and AC going to IRS,and Kawi doing their thing with their 650 seems that Honda is vying to become the dinosaur of ATV's.

 

One of the magazines seemed to indicate that there is both a 450 (new CRF450 engine) and a 650 (King of Desert Racing XR650 engine) in the works??? I would like to see the 450 be an "out of the box" MX bike. People would buy this bike in droves! Look at all the MX dirt bikes that get sold. I see people out riding cross-country on YZs and CRs all the time (when they should be out there on WRs and XRs). People will sacrifice comfort for all out performance!!

I WOULD NOT like to see the 650 come out as a TRAIL bike. That much power just isn't usable on the trail, and there are a bunch of great trail bikes out there already anyway. This is the mistake Yamaha made with the Raptor. They made a huge, top heavy, tippy thing into a trail bike!! I would like to see the 650 as an "out of the box" desert racer. Moded Raptors are starting to win desert races, and Honda is going to get left behind if they don't get with it.

 

Sure 650cc's is too much for the trails. It's not about that though, it's about image and competition for a lot of people. Personally for me it's about cost and having to work with whatever you can get. That's why I drive a Polaris. I got it cheap. That's the only reason. If I had my choice I'd be tooling around in a 250r with 400ex plastic.

 

51 to fifty what HP? The bike doesn't put out that much,let alone detuned for a quad.The TRX450R would be an amazing bike, I'd rather have a new 250R,but we know that aint gonna happen.If they do produce a TRX450R look for bone stock to be in the low 40s.

 

I want a 450ex in a 400ex frame with better front shocks and brake lights. And maybe some new designed plastic so you can take the headlights off easier for racing. Electric start And maybe leave the kick start on for backup and if you want to remove the electric start for racing. Make it just fast enough that you can dust a raptor in a drag. They also need to update there whole utility line or they are going to be left behind.

 

It usually takes Honda about 7-10 years to catch up to everyone else. We should expect something new about 2009