All-right, Lemme throw this at you for my first post. Why not build your own 650EX instead of waiting for Honda to come out with it, and de-tune it along the way? Anybody else done this? My little brother is getting a raptor[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img], and I am used to eating his 300ex for lunch(passing in 3rd gear with the front wheels in the air). Anything special to look for?

 

I'll start off by saying that I own a priarie 650, and am very pleased with it so far, but I still think that Honda has build more good atvs than anyone on the market. I think they have great ideas and designs, but they have fallen somewhat behind in the area of sport quads. Kawasaki's new V-force will be the fastest and quickest production model available when it comes out, and I have heard it will do 84mph. That's almost scary. But for those of you who want a sport quad that will never be beaten by any other, and you want it to be a honda, there is a guy who builds just what you are looking for, although I can't remember his name. He takes a 400ex and guts it, then uses a honda 600 from the crotch rocket and tucks it into the 400's frame. Think what it would be like to have 100hp and pull up beside the fastest raptor or banshee, or whatever and just smile and wave as you blow his doors off![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I would be bummed if they used the Rincon engine. I would be happier if they used the XR650r engine and happiest if they used and didn't detune the CRF450r engine. I do think they need to make the CRF450r engine more durable though. For racers Honda recommends a top end rebuild every 20 or 25 hours or something like that. I heard (I don't know) it's partially due to the fact that it has a single ring piston.

Honda could also make me happy by making a Cannondale type of quad with EFI, Aluminum frame, really good suspension and low weight. I think with all Honda's experience with EFI and Aluminum frames they could do it cheaper and with less R & D since they already have years of experience in these areas.

 

Oh yeah,
I think the new 700 cc Kawi is impressive but I don't understand why it's so heavy. I mean 116 pounds heavier than a raptor seems nuts. Is that V twin that much heavier by itself? I don't think shaft drive adds much weight and it has a sport style frame, tires and rims. So what is so heavy?

 

First off it is 106 pounds heavier than a raptor, dry weight of 506, not that 10 pounds is a big difference. The reason the thing is so heavy is mainly because it is a bigger machine. The V-force is basically as big as a prairie 650. The V-twin is a larger motor, but as I said it is just a big machine all around. I also know most people have a problem with the automatic tranny, but if they hold up good they are actually faster because you don't have to shift and you're always in the optimal rpm range. With that said, the V-force has already won a couple of GNCC races.

 

Why doesn't Honda buy Cannondale? I wouldn't mind a Honda with Electronic fuel injection.

 

New line-up:

650ex: Electic start - Aluminum framed 400lb Raptor competition

450x: The new "250r" - Aluminum framed 360lb - CRF engined racer

450exr: 400ex w/ increased cc's plus reverse. Still air cooled.

300ex: Current model discontinued

250ex: Displacement bumped to 300cc with current layout plus added rider accessories / comforts. Replaces old 300ex.

200ex: Small sport quad for small humans that are too small for new 300ex

 

CR is two stroke / cr250 cr500

CRF, which is the CRF 450, is four stoke

what up with hondas XR 600 motor ?

isnt that one of the most powerful motors made?
If so, why hasnt anyone done something with it?

Come on honda Time to reclaim throne

 

The new Kawi weights 516 which is only 10 pounds more but still the weight is adding up. Kawasaki didn't use the frame of the prairie it has a new frame design for the 700.

Honda XR600 motor is old news it was an air cooled 600cc motor that was replaced by the liquid cooled 650cc engine and renamed the XR650r.

I know that 3 out of 5 dealers within 80 miles of where I live aren't selling the 300exs at all. I think since there is only a little over 1hp difference between the 250ex and the 300ex they should just dump the 300ex. Put sport style rear tires on the 250ex like Suzuki is doing with there 250 and bump up the performance 2 or 3 hp and then change the shock mounts to use the 300ex style shocks on the 250ex and you would have a great beginner machine that wouldn't be outgrown as quickly.

Wish list:

TRX650ex in an aluminum frame around 47 - 48" wide with good suspension and not a ton of detuning at around 375 pounds. Hondas are always lighter than Yamahas and if Yamaha's original 2001 Raptor weighed 398 dry with a steel frame I know Honda can do 375.

TRX450ex with the same aluminum frame and suspension weighing around 350 pounds not detuned much either except for maybe making the gearing and power distribution aimed more towards a quad.

*note* Honda could give me either of these quads with EFI and they could add an 02 sensor so the EFI could automaticaly adjust air fuel ratio.

I don't think Honda would buy Cannondale just because they could do it themselves cheaper. Cannondale had to do a lot of R&D for their EFI system and Aluminum frames and what ever else. Honda has had cars, motorcycles, SUVs with EFI for years and now a personal water craft as well. They have also had street bikes and dirt bikes with aluminum frames for a while as well. I would be willing to bet that with the amount of materials Honda uses to make all this stuff they could buy in much greater quantities than Cannondale and do it all cheaper when it came to manufacturing as well as R&D

PS. I'm not knocking Cannondale I like their quads a lot and give them the respect they deserve for the massive effort they put forth to make a quad no one else would.

 

XR 650 - thats what I meant.

I personally think this motor in a well designed frame would rule all