If Honda wanted to put a hard hitting motor in an ATV they would have kept the 250R, or at least would put a two-stroke motor in a new chasis. But Honda is to conservative to do that they would most likely use the 650 motor that has a proven reliability record. Even if they do put the 450 motor in it they would detune it and make the powerband more user-friendly. So no matter what engine they put in its going to be a more linear powerband to keep it user-friendly. So Gary stop wishing for a hard hitting 2-stroke like motor, I seriously doubt they will come out with one.

 

gary, even though they produce the same HP which engine do you think is capable of producing more? a mild 650 engine or a race ready 450 engine? the 650. sure, it will be big, heavy, and have electric start and i know you hate that but i think that would sell better than the 450. the normal guy who wants to buy a quad doesn't understand how a 450 engine can be the same as a 650. they see BIGGER ENGINE=FASTER QUAD. personally i'll be happy with whatever honda comes out with. i don't know about you but i hope that its not a kick start. i hate kicking over fourstrokes. i want a magic button. but no reverse.

 

yeah but knowing honda, they will end using neither of those engines, and use a little ***** 400 motor like they did with the 400ex.

 

My neighbor was talkin to me bout a 650EX right when he got his 2000 400EX and my brother heard about it to, this was in 1999. And like someone said, it will be a 650 bc they have to test the 450 for years in a quad frame.

 

If I had to guess I would say they are going to put the CBR 929RR engine in the 250EX frame and market it towards a younger crowd.

 

i think it will be the 450 engine. i got my issue last night and guess what they said about the new 450 engine??? it only weighs in at a little over 60 pounds!!!

 

Actually, I would take either one. I would perfer the 450, but the 650 motor is nothing to be scoffed at. They say that this motor is easily capable of 70 HP without going to a big-bore. It is also lighter than either the Raptor's motor or the DS's. This motor is available with a Honda "power up kit" that increases power by 28% over stock. Either would be OK with me.
As for the 250R, stock, it is not that exciting. It's powerband has been described as "electric motor smooth" which is what made it so good back in '85-'89. It is also very modifiable, as most Honda's are. Those of you looking for a hard hitting powerband may want to grab a handfull of XR650 throttle before you dismiss it. I would also bet that it is more reliable than it's smaller brother. If they make both, I will need a good story to tell the wife on why I need both. Think she'll believe his-n-hers?

 

660R01: why do u think honda never had a high performance quad from 90' to 98'?.... didnt they have a lawsuit that prevented them to produce a High perf. quad for ten years? if they didnt have that i'm sure the 250R would have sold a few more years before they decided to get rid of it... i'm not exactly sure if they did have the restriction for 10 years but that was what i was told... anyways.. most likely i believe that they will release a 450 quad.. they could have easily been testing it while they were testing the CRF450 bike and while everyone was talking about the bike they would have an easy time keeping the 450EX hidden.... just my two cents

 

exactly brian! if them damn lawsuits werent around, the 250r would be going yet to date. sometimes the law hurts us in a way. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

Hey brianw2004, i remember watching 60 minutes or 20/20, one of those shows, back in the late 80's or maybe it was 1990. Anyway it was a special report on ATC's and how so many people were getting hurt or paralyzed. And i remember there was lawsuits all over the place. They were showing video of courtrooms were there was some top guys from Honda and they were crying when they realized what was going on and how so many people were getting hurt. I wonder what ever came out of this and i wonder how this affected the 250r. I could see how this would make them cautious about making the high performance quad the speed freaks want.