Whats 20 pounds!?!?!?! Very significant when your talkin High performance and not some weekender fluffy machine! You ever seen the automatic decompression system on the KTM 520/400 SX? Very easy to start.I know most people would choose Electric start over kick,the average ATVer in the last 5 years has become what their stigma is, its sickening.Look at the numbers gentlemen, the XR650 is 20 pounds heavier than the CR450 add to that the 20-30 pounds a REAL electric start weighs and you have a heavy beast, all warm and cute with soft edges to compete with the Raptor.How many of you would rather have a Kick Start High performance TRX450R over the XR650EX?

 

National TT in Canton, OH this weekend and Pine Lake next. With your mods your bike should be competive.
If nothing else come and watch...

 

I have owned quite a few non-electric start off-road vehicles, both bikes and quads, and I'm not saying a kick-start would change my position on buying the bike, but it would be prefered. We're talking about a difference that could be made up in a few aluminum accessories (handlebars, hubs, swingarm, ect...), or even more promenently, the rider. Don't get me wrong, on a two-stroke, I wouldn't even consider the need for an electric start, but the time taken in restarting a hot thumper with a kick start could be the difference between finishing first or fifth. If you race, as I do, you have probably seen it happen; a wrecked rider on a YZ426 desperately struggling to get his stalled bike running while getting passed by a fleet of 250 2-stroke mx bikes. Same thing will happen with a quad. I don't want electric start as a convienience feature like many, but something more. Take a look at Gust's new DRZ440 quad, he took a DR440 over a YZ426 motor even though it has less power, just because it has electric start. There's some evidence for you.

 

I might go watch, if I don't go to the Cannondale Nat's in Oreville. My bike isn't really set up for tt...not wide enough. What classes do they have though?

 

Electric start has saved me several positions in the heat of battle on a few occasions. Of course if I had to kick it, I would make dam sure I didn't kill it! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Just a bit of info I have come across. There is a TRX650R in California that races BITD desert races. Full race trim (all Roll Design suspension, skids, ITP XCT's)and an IMS full tank of gas(4.2 gal) weighs 412 lbs. It's a kicker, no reverse and hauls ***! The rider says it's a stock motor and is making 50hp at the wheels. It was impressive considering my 440 has 40hp and weighs 426lbs(desert ready).

 

I'm thinking they're gonna come out with 2 machines. One a high performance quad with the 450 engine. And the other with the 650 engine with reverse and electric start geared more toward sport.

 

that would make 3 high peformance quads made by honda. i don't see how they profit by designing 3 models when most people would continue to give in to just 1.