Does Suzuki make a pretty good machine. I like the looks of the 500's and wouldn't mind having one but I would have to hear something good about it first. I don't pay much attention to who sell's the most but I don't want to buy something slow and under powered either. So tell me what you think. By the way I have polaris right now if you're wondering. 2001 scrambler 500 2x4.

 

does anybody know if there is anywhere that u can get the information on how many quads each manufacture sells in a year?? i would like to know how many Sp500's polaris sells, as well as how many Rubys Honda sells.

later
jon

 

I was told by a dealer who sells both machine types (Honda and Polaris) that they are very close in sales nation wide (Closer each year for the last three). The Sportsman 500 is the best selling quad for two years running. The gap after # 2 is HUGE being Yamaha in third and Kawasaki in 5th followed by Suzuki. The information was given to him at annual sales meeting.

Remeber competition is good for all because it forces the manufacturers to invest on product development and make better / more advanced machines.

 

One thing for sure though. Honda is a huge corporation with very deep pockets. They have a large investment in american sales. Cars, bikes, and quads. They lately have even been making the things over here for Made In The USA sale-ability.
If they start loosing sales and its because the quads they make are slow and have poor (compared to the competition) suspension, they will re-think the honda philosophy and produce powerfull real 4X4s that can keep up on the fast trail rides most of us seam to spend time doing. I ride fast trails, some muddin and the ocasional sand dune (silver lake or the badlands in IN) These seam to be the jobs most quads are used for. I realize hunting and work at home are also needs, but fewer miles are covered doing these. Most people i ride with want the fun weekend ride, not tractor work. (except for snow plowing, 4X4 quads are great at this and who likes shoveling snow?)
Looks to me that the other Jap bikes have caught the Polaris good points and Honda should be close behind. If they made a 400EX type machine with serious power, like mabe a 650 liquid motor pumpin out 50 plus ponies, I might even part with the Scrambler,
YA RIGHT
But I do expect Honda to release a couple great quads in the next year or two.
If they dont, sales might make um wish they did.
Yamaha is on board and nailed it with the new Kodiak and Griz. If the price difference was not there, I might switch back to Yamaha.
I spent some saddle time on a brand new Kodiak last weekend and loved it.
Honda seams to me a little behind on the needs of modern 4X4 quad buyers, but probably not for long.

 

I've ridden with the honda formans, rancher, 4trax and older models. What does the rubicon have on the forman or rancher?

SRR

 

Hondas are popular with the "gas it and go" crowd as very little has to be done to them maintaince wise. They do advertize more than most other brands, but I think it has the most to do with their reliability.

 

I don’t care to get into a “mine is better than yours war” but the Sportsman 500 is only the #1 selling model since the Honda 300 was discontinued.

 

why is the sky blue?