No oppurtunity to ride them, but the Kawasaki 650 has more potential, -waiting for honda to wake up- an 800ex that was as near the same weight as the 400 as possible. That would be a start, with twin cylinders and twin carbs, twin tubes, hooking up 70 hp or so to the ground. Single 'popper' motors just shouldn't be made much more than 400cc or so. Has to due with revs stress con rod limitations and how fast pump gasoline burns. Such a quad could probably start getting back near the front of baja style racing.






Opps sorry, it's not gonna happen even though developmentally it's a piece of cake. Maybe someday when the litgation recedes a bit. Till then I can chuckle at the 660cc single poppers out there( they'd of done better with a cylinder that big on diesel )

 

JHAM, Rubicon tranny can't turn the tires in the mud??????? Don't believe everything you read! I NEVER had that problem with mine and have been in some serious muck. Yes, I have gotten stuck in deep muddy ruts when I high-centered, but have also crawled right through mud up to the gas tank with no problems. Now, I'm not saying the Rubicon has the best 4 wheel drive, just that I haven't experienced what some tend to come in here and CLAIM they have seen.

As far as comparisons to the Kawi 650, sorry, but I haven't been on one yet to give any info. Of course, I can only say I am happy with the Ruby to date and can only imagine what will be the new "best quad" next year.

To Jeff I can only say try them both and make YOUR choice.

 

That was just a response to the BEST tranny comment, inferring everything else is inferior. The Hondamatic obviously has some issues, grinding etc. I'm sure it's not all Ruby's though and Honda will address the issues because their Honda. The ones I read own a Ruby and did not claim to have seen it, they lived it.