We sell utility quads to farmers and the main business is circa 400 to 500cc 4wd machines, as these combine being big enough to pull a trailer with being not too heavy on petrol. However we also sell a few 250 Hondas every year, mostly to dairy farmers who just use them to round the cows up etc, and don't need a big Quad. Last year we couldn't get Recons. We tried getting Ozarks, which I actually prefer as they are smoother, though probably slightly less robust, couldn't get them either. I know Kawasaki started selling Taiwanese 250s with their badge stuck on, a few years back. So, have the big makers quietly stopped making 250s? Or did those last EU emissions rules the UK had to apply, stop the import of ATVs with air cooled engines and carburettors?

 

Yeah, 250s from the majors have almost disappeared. I doubt it is due to emissions requirements, esp since we are the strictest here in California, AFAIK.

Honda seems to sell a lot of their 250 Recons, but clearly prefer to push $8000 420 Ranchers. The Kymco 250-300 utilities and sporty quads from Taiwan have really taken that segment, it seems. Not just their own MXUs and Mongooses, but also the Kawasakis, as you noted. I do think the Kymcos are well-made, and I have now owned 6 of them, including 2 sold with Arctic Cat labels.

Of course, that is just what is seems to me; I have not seen the raw sales data.

 

We've got the information you seek on the ATV Connection homepage, here:

https://atvconnection.com/articles/a...he-250cc-quad/

 

From Jason G:
"We imagine in the future, as the major Japanese, American and Canadian brands continue to move away from the segment, customers’ best bet if they are looking for air cooled, carburetor-equipped small bore performance will come from the larger (more reputable) manufactures from Korea and Taiwan like Kymco, Hisun, and CF Moto."

HiSun and CFMoto are both mainland China makers, while Kymco is based in Taiwan. All 3 have US dealer networks and parts support now and offer small and large ATVs and UTVs, with EFI.

It is all about money. Just like with cars, the makers want to sell the most expensive loaded vehicle they can and competition has hurt them in the <300cc segment. Too bad, cuz plenty of buyers want a no-frills 250cc ATV and not some behemoth that gets 1/3 the fuel mileage. Note that smaller ATV engines often feature EFI and CARB-compliant emission controls as they have for years in small-displacement scooters.