The DRZ would not be the current top selling on off motorcycle if it had the air cooled 400ex motor in it.
The ATV may not be made currently but the DRZ sure is here to stay.

Don, t kill the messenger.

 

isn't that because its one of the ONLY on off road bikes still being made? not many bikes in that category, but anyway you seem like a spec junky. constantly bagging on Honda especially for its OHV motors for example. the 400ex may just be air cooled, but it has advantages of less to break and less maintenance. also I always felt the 400ex had a low end torque and handling advantage over the z400 which is why I like it better. the 400ex is still one of the best handling quads made




and as far as the OHV thing, if Honda wanted to they could easily get more power out of that design, they just choose not to. they are a conservative company and sadly it seems they always will be

 

Honda is smart enough not to use a OHV in any performance ATV like the 400ex. or any street motorcycle .

 

there are reasons for that other then power. the ohv design is fine in a utility quad and if they wanted to they can tune them for much more power then they already make. I agree that it would be stupid to try to use that design in a sport quad because they don't rev as quick or high and would suffer in a racing situation, but how many people race compared to those that don't?

 

Some people want a Utility to do 60mph down a smooth wide gravel road section.

A 700 Grizzly can hit 60 mph or pull a stump in low range, the same can not be said for a 680 Rincon , it can't do both.

 

yes that's true, but engine design has nothing to do with that. the Rincon cant pull a stump like a grizzly because it has no low range... they really need to update that thing