So what's next?

[Pappy]

I was flipping thru the latest issue of Advertisments....i'm sorry....a quad magazine:p Anyway, it kind of hit me that not only has the sport of riding all types of ATV's exploded, but the new models that are being introduced are insane when compared to just a few short years ago.

Think back to 1999, 5 years ago or so. The 400ex was the hottest quad out:eek: Now the 400ex is mundane. Cannondale was the next best ever and quickly faded and again we were left with the humdrum..same old same old.

2004 gave us the YFZ450 to be followed by the TRX450R. Jump ahead to this season and Yamaha alone has thrown so many new models to the line up that one wont be able to throw roost without pelting one!

Honda seems to be remaining very conservative, maybe, just maybe a few surprises for 2006 (remember the much anticipated GPS equipped utility....oh my!)

Where do they take it from here? Suzuki will be launching it's newest 450 racer soon, Polaris has shaken it's saber with the new Independent Rear suspension fitted Predator, and Dinili is coming after everyone that doesnt have a big name pinned to them.(watch out Tiawanese importers, Dinili is out to get you:macho )

So I ask you, what's next

:confused:

a quad with 2 inch rimz

[Pappy]

Originally posted by kickerkfx444
a quad with 2 inch rimz

i can see your thinking cap is busted.

[Ex'In_Alberta]

My first comment is i dont like the idea of Independent Rear suspension , but i dont know much i'm still fairly new to the quad scene but i figure honda is going to let the anticipation build and then let something explode, atleast i hope, everyone else seems to be pushing the limits, a company as well renound, and as known for quality has to have something up thier sleve

[hardkoratvmxr]

i look to see a drag bike or rock crawler or soemthing to that effect to come out from production

[slcpornstar69]

I think engines are reaching perfection. Next will all sport quads equiped with EFI, then they'll have to work on lighter frames and better suspension to get an edge. Just my opion though. :)

[Pappy]

ummm.....maybe yamaha is using the new raptor as a test-bed for its future efi system:chinese:

[Quad18star]

I think we'll just continue to see larger and larger displacement engines being stuffed into quad frames . What's Polaris at right now with their 4x4s ?? 800cc? 900cc?

Maybe the manufacturers are gunna start stepping up and offer true race ready quads . They do it with dirtbikes . Slowly they seem to be creeping towards this ... heck adjustable shocks on a sport quad were mearly just a dream a few years back . EFI ... that was nothing to be seen until the future ... aluminum frames .... hrmmm !!!!

[Snow]

did anyone read the part about the new suzuki 450 in the latest "QUAD MAG" ??

it sounds like its gonna very nice

[Punk'd]

The king quad 1000 equipped with a bubble machine.

[Doober]

i think it'll be efi in sport quads next or an aluminum frame....IMO

[Tommy 17]

major suspension changes... they need to make them out of the box racers like bikes... you can take a bike to a motocross track and do a 100 + ft jump no problem... try that on a quad:o

[Punk'd]

I hear 3 wheelers might come back?

[TheFontMaster]

Originally posted by Punk'd
I hear 3 wheelers might come back?

Wouldn't that be nice. I would love to see a factory atc450r. I think I have an idea for my next project;) I think honda has something up thier sleave, they almost have to. Suzuki has the race ready z-450, yamaha has the new raptor 700, and polaris with the IRS outlaw, honda needs something new. What I would love to see, is a 4 wheel drive high performance quad, or a 4 wheel drive high performance 6 wheeler.

[zeppelin]

why not a 6 wheel dive ^^^ but i deffenitly want to see them start coming out light, like with more aluminum and ti

Independent Rear Suspension w/ Diff. for improved cornering.

[Snow]

this is what should be next.. only with a 450r motor.

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/attachment.php?s=&postid=1741659


i want that frame to come stock on all new quads.

[Pappy]

Other then cost of manufacturing and the resulting retail price, I know honda could knock something out of the park in regards to an all aluminum twin spar chassis. Id also bet the bean counters is what is holding them back!

I do some side design work for Armotech and Warsensor (paintball gun manufacturers, military type paintball guns) when you see something not coming out in a long time it usually means R&D is very hard at work and not just going to let just another same ole same ole product come out.

Give it time, im sure they are working on something top secret.

Pappy, if you decide to get a paintball gun for you kid let me know, i'll hook you up.

[Pappy]

Originally posted by DierWolf


Give it time, im sure they are working on something top secret.



thats what everyone said when the 450R was on everyones waiting list:p

[Atkins]

Originally posted by DierWolf
I do some side design work for Armotech and Warsensor (paintball gun manufacturers, military type paintball guns) when you see something not coming out in a long time it usually means R&D is very hard at work and not just going to let just another same ole same ole product come out.

Thats proably true, but if you look at the 90's basically nothing new came out of any importance to racing besides the 400ex. I think everyone is just a little impatient because there always that possibility that a company feel they are consistantly selling enough units to not put the R&D department to work, although I find this scenario highly unlike based on how our sport seems to be booming like crazy lately.

[Punk'd]

Honda cant just be sitting there. They have to be doing something totally UNEXPECTED and hopefully it will blow our minds.

[wilkin250r]

I would like to see some new technology thrown into 2-stroke design, like DFI, to make them more enviro-friendly. But me thinks it won't happen.

[400exrules]

i think honda should make like a 500-600 sport 4-stroke for dunes and drag racin, cuz yamaha is pretty much in charge at the drag strip most of the time

[zeppelin]

what does dfi stand sor, deisel fuel injection ?:confused: ive heard something about rapid combustion or somthing or another, its when you have a two stoke pumping max hp for its engine size then all of a sodden at a sertain rpm it just starts to combust form the heat of the last combustion (or maybe it was comperesing so fast or somthing) i geuss it works kinda like a deisel but its suposed to run super clean

[Guy400]

EFI is a no-brainer. Aluminum frame and IRS is the future.

[SRH]

i want a aluminum framed 450r with the power the bike motor has and somewhat race ready suspension and width, witha crf style exhaust not those trail ready stock pipes...sell it as a closed course machine...annd a mix between yfz and 450r ergonomics

[protraxrptr17]

Aluminum frames will become the norm in the future. Steel is expensive and hard to come by in Japan (so I'm told). Aluminum frames are really cheaper for the Japanese companies to produce. I would rather have a chassis from 4130, but aluminum frames definitely look better. There really isn't much of a weight difference in aluminum and steel frames. Ever pick up a Cannondale frame? KTM makes their bike frames from 4130. It's strength is higher than mild steel so the tubes can be much thinner.

As I've said before, I think our rear suspension designs are very primitive. IRS is definitely going to replace swingarms one day when somebody finds a way to make something light enough to race.

Carbs are definitely on the way out.

I see electronically controlled valvetrains coming soon after EFI. Camshafts and timing chains will be dinosaurs one day I believe.

I would LIKE to see a true open class ATV worthy of motocross. 450's are becoming bland. I would also like to see a MX worthy youth production bike such as a YFZ250 using the YZ250F engine. I think the sport would grow dramatically if the 16 and under crowd had something fit to race.

[CannondaleRider]

Theres still "new" Cannondales around............ATK :D

[zeppelin]

what about progressive cams like farrari uses, one end of the cams lobes are desined for low end and it tapers to a high end style lobe on the other side, so as you rev the engine the cam slides to the side and changes the timeing for the most power

[trick450r]

Originally posted by zeppelin
what about crogressive cams like farrari uses, one end of the cams lobes are desined for low end and it tapers to a high end style lobe on the other side, so as you rev the engine the cam slides to the side and changes the timeing for the most power

thats such a badarse setup...im prolly gonna get flamed out my butt for this...but isn't the idea of the "v-tech" the same type of system

[tater_kamik]

sometimes the kiss principle comes into play. i would love to see more composites used, and carbon fiber. basically, anything to make them lighter. i would also like to see an high displacement (like 700cc's) quad with kickstart and no reverse with performance ques from the 450's

[FasstMidnightZ]

If anyone hasnt seen the Article in the new QUAD magazine they talk about the Z450. They say its fuel injected. They also said it has best supension out, including aftermarket !. The Z450 is going to be considerably wider. Approx 3 inch's wider than the YFZ and 450R. It will also be very low to the ground. Doug and Jeremiah will race it with stock A-arms, shocks, and swingarm. It comes with chromoly swingarm :eek: . All that was said about the exhaust was that its "very trick exhaust"

[Ralph]

u sure they didnt say a chromoly swingarm?

[FasstMidnightZ]

Originally posted by Ralph
u sure they didnt say a chromoly swingarm? fixed ;)

i just wished quads were street legal