I fully agree with dirtdiggler...

Mxer's will have the best mx quad to date from factory with the 450 and the duner/drager
will have one hell of a nasty machine with the 650.

basically honda would not only have the crown for best quads "HONDA" would be stamped right on it.


dont get me wrong I love yammy ha, but unless they do something production with the yzf426, yammy is yet to produce a quad that is in the same ball park as a honda mxer.

 

As nice as both quads would be, i doubt we will get both. I dont think there is enough market for both quads.

But whatever they do, they better do it soon. Im getting impatient. I want one before my 01 tranny goes out.

 

I was at a local Honda,Yamaha, Cannondale dealer today. The owner of the place didn't know when the new Honda quad was coming out but he did think something was coming. He said that he heard it was going to be big. (in size) He also said that Cannondale had been bought and parts and quads will be available. He couldn't remember the name of the company that bought it. I don't think that he knew the name. He pointed at some guy across the showroom and said that he knows the name.
I also stopped at a Kawasaki dealer and looked at the new KFX700. I think I like the KFX400 better than the 700. The 700 is so wide at the mid-section. The 400 seems alot more comfortable for trail riding. I guess the KFX700 would be ok for the wide open spaces.
I really think the 650EX is going to be next, even though I'd rather a 450EX. I think Honda will fill the 650-700cc range first because they figure that they have a 400EX. Then they might go back and do something about the 400-500cc range. Once again, I hope I'm wrong but that's my guess.
Unfortunatly, I think that Automatic sport quads are going to be the new trend. This would bring in new customers that don't know how to use a clutch but want a sport quad. Just think of how many automatic cars there are out there. Alot of people refuse to learn how to use a clutch. When I was buying our new Honda car, I wanted manual shift and alot of dealers didn't have it. But they had alot of automatics. More automatic sport quads are on the way, just wait and see.

 

I hope your prediction is wrong coyotechaser! If you're right I might have to give up on quads and start riding dirt bikes. At least that industry is heading in the right direction![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

come on wes,
you dont wanna do that. I mean dirtbikes are SO over rated with there "2 wheels". Always, just falling over for no particular reason. Dont turn from the darkside! Embrace it and help the us with the struggle for dirt superiorty [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Have you seen the EX Riders Poll on another site? They asked which you'd vote for: Revised 400EX 5%,
New 450EX 18%, 650EX w/out reverse 17%, and 650EX w/reverse 61%. 1239 people voted. I'd rather a 400EX or 450 EX w/reverse. Unless they could keep the 650EX w/reverse under 400lbs. I thought the majority would want a 450EX.

 

Buy a 440 kit for your 400ex, then you pretty much have equivalent power to a 450ex.

I want a big 4 stroke. Weight happens at that many cc's. Theres not to many 400ex's competing with the big bikes on the dunes. The weight doesnt matter out there. A 440ex is great for MX. They need a big thumper to handle the rest at the dunes.

I believe in Honda. I know they can make one lighter than the rest and more powerfull.

 

the reason the 700 is so hevy is caues its an automatic, and cause the rear end hase every thing enclosed in oil ,including the brakes . that rear end desine means more metal, more oil which equals more wheight. but it also means you wont have to touch your rear brakes till 7000 miles. THE 700 IS NOT AS BIG AS THE 650 NOT EVAN CLOSE THE 650 IS WAY BIGGER THAN THE 700. THE REASON THE 700 LOOKS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN THE RAPCRAP IS CAUSE THE PLASTIC IS ALOT WIDER AND THER IS ALOUT MORE OF IT, ANOTHER REASON IS CAUSE IT IS AROUND 3 INCHES WIDER THAN THE RAPPY

 

I think honda should stick with a 500cc at the biggest I mean u dont want a huge quad that is heavy if you are racing mx,or cross country or trail riding cause u need sumthin that has power and is light and will get up and go I think myself they should make a 500cc engine liquid cooled with reverse and set up handling like the 400ex but have wider a-arms and a wider weelbase all around and have sloped front plastic kinda like them raptor and have 3 headlights 2 small round headlights and one kinda z-400 looking headlight. I think the 400ex is a great 4 wheeler and it it cheaper than all the other 4 wheelers and is a honda which means it is reliable and with the money u save buying a 400ex u can fix it up and smoke them dang yamahas on the track and when honda does come out with a new ex we shouldnt have to worry about waiting a couple years for the mistakes or bugs or whatever to be fixed cause honda makes good bikes . the z-400 already has frame problems along with the raptor having to tall to tippy problems.
2002 400ex ( for sale )
sticker kit
razr tires
shock covers
ac nerfs
white bros pipe

 

Honda best bet would be the 450ex cause it i slight easier to handle and would be alot more reliable in my opinion ..