How long do you all think suzuki and kawasaki will wait to bring out a quad to compete with the yfz and trx 450's. Do you think both companys will come together like the z400 and praire 700? I read in a dirtwheels magazine not long ago that there were rumors of kawasaki bringing out a 450 4 stroke and also rumors of a 250 2 stroke. Anybody else read this. I dont have the magazine i just read it in the store. Most likely if it does happen it will be a 05 model. What do you guys think? Anybody heard anything else like this?

 

I read that too... but it is DW...

Anyways, The RM-Z450 wont be released till about August of next year, so Id guess maybe another year, like you said, an '05. Not sure about Kawi though, those guys are sneaky, I dont ever hear much about them.

 

with suzuki signing doug gust i think it's only a matter of time before we get a Quadracer LT450R or maybe a racier version of the Z400. And as for Kawi... I think they may come out with their own machine before then... Those guys are actually into quads. They've got more up their sleeve then the V-force, I'd bet my own LT on it.

I'm also willing to bet that the next racer coming from one of the OEMs will mop the floor with everything that's out now, or has EVER been out. don't forget about KTM or Bombardier. We've been expecting a racer from both of them for a long time now.

however all this turns out, we're obviously already in a golden age. hoorah for us.

 

My dealer said 05, said a factory person said no signifigant changes till then when they go to 450

 

You can bore out your Z400 right now. No waiting.

 

Here's the scoop. RMZ450 next fall as a 05 model. QuadRacer to follow. KX450F dirtbike will be available around the same time if not sooner and will make it's initial appearence at the Japanese supercross series next year and be ready for the outdoor series here for 04. It is a completely different bike unlike the shared design of the 250 4stroke MX bikes.

If Suzuki takes a beating next year at the hands of the YFZ and the 450R, look for that QuadRacer450 asap. As for Kawasaki, the latest rumor is a 2 stroke 300cc bike. That would be interesting. Gas Gas and Kawasaki on 300cc 2strokes and Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda on 4strokes. The ATVA would probably allow 300 2strokes and 450 4strokes to compete in the same class. Well at least they should.

Gas Gas does have a 250 that will be legal for next years racing as might ATK with a Maico powered quad and the ghost of Cannondale's sad story may spawn something. KTM could be a player as they owned Husaberg when they developed the Enforcer line and has made a business out of building no compromise race bikes and competing at the grass roots level. How long will they stay out of this area of off-road racing?

Bombardier and Arctic Cat have products that will be seen at local events and are more than capable of producing real racing products. This is especially true of Bombardier who owns Rotax, argueably the makers of the world's best 2strokes.

But watch out for Aprilla and their V-Twin 450 racer in a couple of years, they want to race MotocrossGP in Europe next year! They are firmly commited to winning in motocross. ATV's are the next and probably more lucrative step.

We could have 6-8 maybe 11 players in the racing world within 24 months or so. That would be awesome.

1. Honda
2. Yamaha
3. Suzuki
4. Kawasaki
5. Gas Gas
6. Bombardier
7. Arctic Cat
8. Cannondale / Dinli
9. ATK / Maico
10. KTM / Husaberg
11. Aprilla

That would just about fill the starting gate.


Now if we could get some lunatic to pull a backflip on a quad during the X-games that would get it started! Maybe Honda could pay Metzger to pull it off.

 

trx440, i like the way you think.

 

Very nice post trx450, very nice. Id love to see KTM unveil a quad, from their dirtbike MX success, I think they are very capable of making a quad to compete with Honda and Yamaha. I really want Suzuki and Kawi to come out with one soon too... but who knows...

 

i wanna backflip a quad badly
im gonna find an old lt250 or somthin else cheap and fast thn flip it into a pond i already have a spot picked out i just need help with the geomatry of speed, ramp angle and so forth.
o btw i will have plenty of ppl ta pul me out if somthin gose wrng.
i cant wait ta try it shouldnt b 2 much harder thn on a dirt bike

 

Godspeed STALKR,

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