Hmm....I sure seemed to have spent a lot of time investigating this. I guess I must have made up my mind to buy one if it was "right"..

Anyway, I'm sure everyone had an initial reaction, and mine was negative, as it doesn't have a couple features I think are important to me. But, it's been interesting reading on other forums, especially the ones that are primarily honda riders, what others reactions were.

One of the biggest complaints was with the styling. Looks like a quad to me, and when you're riding, you can't tell what it looks like anyway. So that's no biggie, at least in my book. The other thing seems to be a disappointment to many is that its not an aluminum frame, and is pretty much based on the 400ex. I'm not sure that's a bad thing. Aren't the 400ex's supposed to be great handlers? If so, I can't see why Honda would feel the need to reinvent the wheel. Might even have helped keep the cost in check.

Of course, my negatives, no reverse or electric start. Ehh...even as an old fart, I think I can live without them. In a sense, I'm glad it didn't have these features, as I would have bought one right away, and been raped by the dealer, as I'm sure these are going to have a premium for a while.. So the bright side here is that I can wait a couple years, and the price will come down since there will be other "new kids" on the block, and someone else will live with the first year bugs that are to be expected.

So, in the end, I don't think result was worth all of the hype and build up. From just looking at it, I think it's a nice bike. On the surface, it doesn't seem revolutionary like the Yamaha was, but I think it's going to be a good evolutionary bike for Honda. But the true test is really yet to come...when everyday people put a leg over them, and put them through their paces in the real world. It's possible this could turn out to be the best thing since sliced bread...

It just very intersting they didnt include any electrical start. No battery for the hill... at least give the consumer an option. Im gonna head to my dealer and try to kick it when it comes out and see how it compairs to my old lt250s.... that was a beast to kick over, even when tuned right...

Looks a lot like the Z with fancy shocks...for 1000 more than the z? and 500 less than the yami... but you get a true 450 not a yami 439 or a suzi 398.

[quote]It just very intersting they didnt include any electrical start. No battery for the hill... at least give the consumer an option. Im gonna head to my dealer and try to kick it when it comes out and see how it compairs to my old lt250s.... that was a beast to kick over, even when tuned right...

Looks a lot like the Z with fancy shocks...for 1000 more than the z? and 500 less than the yami... but you get a true 450 not a yami 439 or a suzi 398.[/quote]They couldn't put on the battery and starter . It would make it to heavy as far as the kick it will be just like the 2 wheeler's ,but with a quad you don't have't to worry about falling over .I think Honda did good even if it has a few bugs at least there trying . going to be great seeing the Honda ,Yami & the Polaris running aginst each other at the hill wonder who is going to win ?

I'm not big on the whole quad thing but this would be my 1st choice. The yami would be a close 2nd.

The difference is that it's a forward kick, like the 250R, not a backward kick like the bikes.

No Electric Start? Personally I think that is a mistake. Nice looking quad though

and Not available til Jan 2004? Why so long?

Seriously - there's no electric start? :?

[quote]
I will donate the first nail and hammer for the coffin! Its gotta be big a casket for that dino some of you call the 250R.
[/quote]

Dream on my boy dream on. I like the smell of two stroke in the morning...

theres no better smell than 2 stroke in the morning...

Hey Mr Dune now you gunna have to change your signiture to "KICK RED"

Yeah definently need to wait a few years before buying one, do to the bugs, like the yamaha and the a-arms

QUOTE

Seriously - there's no electric start?  :?

Apparently not. But I wouldn't miss it. My 400EX had all kinds of starting problems that would've been cured by a kick starter. I hated the electric starter on the EX.

the crf450 bike is very easy to kickstart, no need for an electric start. my crf has been sitting for almost a year, and it fires up first kick every time. chapparral said they expect some in late next week.

Now keep in mind I'm used to kicking over my YZ400 so I have a strong leg but Kevins bike was a cinch to start. This quad shouldn't have starting problems unless someone is starting it in tennis shoes or it's a fairly light girl.

I bet many will choose the yami because of the e start though.

I'll still take my banshee in the dunes over any of the thumper quads any day. :mrgreen:

the CRF's bike engines arent that bad to start at all. 4 stroke bikes got a bad rep for hard starting b/c of the YZF400/426...after those two bikes...all was good

The TRX450 has a forward kick like the 250R...I have never really gotten used to that. :? :mrgreen:

QUOTE

Any of you planning on buying one?

Yup - put my deposit down about a month ago. Dealer said they expect them by the end of this month, hope that is true. I can't wait to see what premium I will have to pay for being the 1st on the block to have one, but thats baseball...

I have deposits are 2 places Who ever gets them 1st and doesn't rape me on the "set up" charge gets my business.

I will keep my so called '250R' and have the best of both worlds

havent really looked through the other posts but here is a link about the trx 450r fourstroker.
http://events.reflectsystems.com/clients/h...ype=1&speed=300

QUOTE

The planes are to release it in JANUARY! Who told you the end of the month?

Da Plane, da Plane... oh, you must mean the Plan...I called the dealer again to make sure I wasn't hearing things and they told me again they should have them before the end of the month. I'm not telling which dealer since I don't want to rock the boat, but I'm sure at least some of the dealers will have them at the same time. This is the same dealer that gave me the pre-press info that was correct. Dunno if the date is accurate or not, but one can hope!

Alright, when you get your steel framed 6800.00 plus FEES! No reverse, No elec. start in Sept......three to four months ahead of the rest of the free world, let us know.

Just can't please everyone

For the record MSRP is $6499.00

Yeah your right, MSRP plus 'set up', plus tax. I asked what set up costs/is and was informed it includes freight and how ever much work the dealer needs to do to it to get it ready.

I am sure it will be total BS liek the 1st Raptors were.

I have deposits at 2 places and if they both have a crazy set-up fee they can kiss my arse

QUOTE

The planes are to release it in JANUARY! Who told you the end of the month?

Da Plane, da Plane... oh, you must mean the Plan...I called the dealer again to make sure I wasn't hearing things and they told me again they should have them before the end of the month. I'm not telling which dealer since I don't want to rock the boat, but I'm sure at least some of the dealers will have them at the same time. This is the same dealer that gave me the pre-press info that was correct. Dunno if the date is accurate or not, but one can hope!

I just got a call from a dealer. He said they will get 1 in December and a bunch in January. I am on that list also. I asked him about teh set up fee. He basically said the 1st ones usually got for more so we will see.

he said a normal set up fee is anywhere from 600-900--ouch!

QUOTE

Alright, when you get your steel framed 6800.00 plus FEES! No reverse, No elec. start in Sept......three to four months ahead of the rest of the free world, let us know.

I am only repeating delivery dates the dealer has told me on two occasions, if it happens - great, if not I'll wait.

As far as the price goes, it may well cost that much, I don't really care if it does. I buy mostly used toys, but some I buy new, this time I want the latest and am willing to pay for it.

To each their own.

[quote]he said a normal set up fee is anywhere from 600-900--ouch![/quote]
That is pure, unadulterated price-gouging. There is NO set-up fee for a vehicle under normal circumstances. Lets not forget that the dealer is making a significant profit just for selling at retail.

the last 2 bikes i bought the dealers didnt charge me a set up fee, thats the dealers i will buy from again, the one dealer that did charge me an outragoues setup fee(chapparral) i rarely buy anything from them anymore.

I've ridden thumpers..

YZF400 dirtbike (not enough power imo..)

Z400 with cam/pipe/jet kit/ 103octane gas (nice bike had lots of power)

stock 400ex (i was accually impressed with it, had no paddles in Pismo)


I wouldn't mind getting the new honda, but heck thats too much money.. I'll have to stick trying to beg a 250r out of my parents. (then a 350r powervalve kit) i love 2 strokes so much more.. but 4 strokes have more predictable power, wouldn't mind having one if it was around $4000

it's easy to find a 400ex for 4,000 or less these days

Whats the big deal, you only start it once per day :bandit:

Hmm, someone said that someone said that Honda *might* offer an electric start as a $400 option...

also, my dealer is now backing off of the Sept delivery date :x and says he expects them no later than december, but Honda has not sent out any official ship dates yet. If not by Halloween, I may take a closer look at the Yahama 450, now that there are some "non-bendable" A-arms on the market....

Oh well, you know that they say, "It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt - then it's friggen hilarious" :mrgreen:

How sweet it is. Too bad I just bought the YFZ450 Yamaha. Guess i'll have to own them both some day. Peace