I just want to start a new post in relation to "What's wrong with you guys?"

I for one look forward to seeing some new sport quads from everyone. I believe Honda will be next to introduce a new sport. I think we will be seeing a liquid cooled 650 spin off quad from them fairly soon. I think Suzuki will produce a DRZ 400 based quad from their new up coming plant in the US. We may see it or much bigger by mid 2002. As for Polaris, I wouldn't be surprised to see a big bore 2 or 4 stroke from them soon. But I think it will weigh 600 lbs. Now kawisaki, maybe we will see a 650 from them too. I think it will be a whole new chassis and the whole nine yards when we do see something, like around 2002.

But, I wouldn't be at all shocked it we don't see anything but a Honda. All the factories have become utility oriented. There is a good reason for that too. They take much less work to produce a satifactory model because things like weight, high speed, high speed handling and super-soaker suspension are less important to the buyer. So the total package doesn't have to have near the fit and finish of a sport model to be great.

This is my exact reason why I think we are not seeing what we want to. Companies that don't already have a good chassis and engine platform from which to work say ahh...what's the use in getting into this big bore sport war We already make a killing on these utilities, why change?

I also think this Big bore 4 stroke war will get out of hand and extremely exspensive (as if it's already not). I just happen to think that bigger is not always better. I would like to see more technoligy put into the smaller lightweight engines to extract huge power gains at an economical price!!! I know the technoligy is there. But, producers just take the easiest and most profitable way out.

 

Duster, I understand your disappointment and "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude. I for one don't hold the same pessimism. I don't think Honda will be first to market-Cannondale is close to starting production-we should see the FX by February from my conversations with Cannondale. It offers a high-tech, low weight package as you described. I think Kawasaki will have an all-new four stroke this summer as an early 2002. I expect it to be a bigger model as Kawasaki doesn't like to be outdone in the horsepower department. Honda and Suzuki are sure to follow this year as well. I don't see any of the manufacturers sitting out the new high-performance boom. All of the corporate rhetoric about there not being enough of a sport market for the manufacturers to get involved has been revealed for the falsehood we all knew it was. The sport enthusiasts were always here, just look at the prices used 250r's can command-we just didn't have new hardware to throw our money at. I see the sport four-stroke market splintering to support two distinct categories probably from each manufacturer-something in the 400cc range with light weight and a woods/motocross type ideal application and the larger bikes more at home in the dunes or the wide open spaces here in Arizona and much of the west. Bombardier would be an example of a company looking this way as they have a rumored smaller compliment to the DS650 in the works. If Honda goes the 650 route they would fill out their product line nicely to team with the 400. I can't wait to see everyone's offerings-I've walked into my local Yamaha dealer several times ready to spring for a Raptor but I'm now willing to at least wait until summer to make the ideal choice-With any luck the manufacturers will cooperate with my schedule and provide me with a full plate of offerings. By this summer I fully expect to see the Cannondale, a Kawasaki, Honda, and Suzuki arriving at dealers or at the very least we should have a great deal of details available if the models aren't in showrooms.