A brief walk through (ATV) time...
In another post, someone made the comment of not understanding why Yamaha didnt stop making the Banshee in the 80's....and in replying, I decided to make a new post so everyone would know why our sport is making a 'comeback' after a near 15 year slump. Feel free to add to the story and or correct me where I may have made a mistake........
Back in the 80's many kids (under 16) were getting seriously hurt or killed by riding adult ATC's and ATV's. As a result, around 1988/89, the US gov't/CSPC forced ATV manufacturers to stop selling 3-wheelers, and to stop putting R&D into producing newer, faster quads...for 10 years. However, none of the manufacturers HAD to stop making high-performance 2-stroke quads.
Honda CHOSE to drop out of the business, as in their view, their company/name was getting a massive black eye from being the top selling ATC/ATV manufacturer that was causing all these kids to have fatal or near fatal injuries. They stopped making racing quads, and eliminated their sponsorship for racing ATVs. They did not want the Honda name tarnished by one of their products.
Shortly after Honda stopped making the 250R (and killed the design of the 500R), the industry follows big red: Kawie stopped making the Tecate4 (250) and Suzi stopped making the Quadzilla (500) and the LT250R.
Only Yamaha CHOSE to stick it out, with the Banshee (and the Blaster). Granted, Yammie did as they were told, and stopped putting any R&D into the 'Shee...and thus why though the 80's and into the 90's all quads received for upgrades were "revised graphics" ... and why the 'Shee never got a decent airbox!
Fast forward (through the painful drought) to 1998/99. The 10-year R&D "ban" is over. Honda knows there is serious money to be made in sport ATVing, and cautiously CHOOSES to get back into "high-performance" ATVing by coming out with the 400EX. We all know how amazingly successful that move was. Although the 400EX was far from 250R performance levels...it was still a major leap forward from the 300EX's, Warriors and Mojaves that we all had to accept as "high performance."
Shortly after the 400EX, we got the DS650, Cannondale quads, Raptor and Z400's, etc etc. Life was good.
Fast forward again to today. Yamaha takes the bull by the horns and releases the no-compromise YFZ450. Right on their heels, Honda comes out with the TRX450R. The industry/sport has come full circle. We are (FINALLY) almost back where we were in 1989.
However, everyone, us, the manufacturers, etc....need to make sure we don't allow a repeat of what happened in the 80's, or our sport will be history...and won't return.
I say:
Hats off to Yamaha for sticking through it the whole way, and also to Honda for (if ever so cautiously) not completely giving up on our beloved sport, and creating the 400EX spark that relit the flame. Yamaha and Honda both make serious quads, in completely different ways...one through no compromising performance, and one through bulletproof reliability combined with top-shelf power.
I ride red. Period. The 450R will be my 3rd brand brand new Honda ATV. I look forward to the day I get to race it against a Yammie 450 or a Suzi 450 or a Kawie 450...whether I win or not, I *GUARANTEE* I'll still have a smile on my face...
Re: A brief walk through (ATV) time...
Quote:
Originally posted by MIA416EX
In another post, someone made the comment of not understanding why Yamaha didnt stop making the Banshee in the 80's....and in replying, I decided to make a new post so everyone would know why our sport is making a 'comeback' after a near 15 year slump. Feel free to add to the story and or correct me where I may have made a mistake........
Back in the 80's many kids (under 16) were getting seriously hurt or killed by riding adult ATC's and ATV's. As a result, around 1988/89, the US gov't/CSPC forced ATV manufacturers to stop selling 3-wheelers, and to stop putting R&D into producing newer, faster quads...for 10 years. However, none of the manufacturers HAD to stop making high-performance 2-stroke quads.
Honda CHOSE to drop out of the business, as in their view, their company/name was getting a massive black eye from being the top selling ATC/ATV manufacturer that was causing all these kids to have fatal or near fatal injuries. They stopped making racing quads, and eliminated their sponsorship for racing ATVs. They did not want the Honda name tarnished by one of their products.
Shortly after Honda stopped making the 250R (and killed the design of the 500R), the industry follows big red: Kawie stopped making the Tecate4 (250) and Suzi stopped making the Quadzilla (500) and the LT250R.
Only Yamaha CHOSE to stick it out, with the Banshee (and the Blaster). Granted, Yammie did as they were told, and stopped putting any R&D into the 'Shee...and thus why though the 80's and into the 90's all quads received for upgrades were "revised graphics" ... and why the 'Shee never got a decent airbox!
Fast forward (through the painful drought) to 1998/99. The 10-year R&D "ban" is over. Honda knows there is serious money to be made in sport ATVing, and cautiously CHOOSES to get back into "high-performance" ATVing by coming out with the 400EX. We all know how amazingly successful that move was. Although the 400EX was far from 250R performance levels...it was still a major leap forward from the 300EX's, Warriors and Mojaves that we all had to accept as "high performance."
Shortly after the 400EX, we got the DS650, Cannondale quads, Raptor and Z400's, etc etc. Life was good.
Fast forward again to today. Yamaha takes the bull by the horns and releases the no-compromise YFZ450. Right on their heels, Honda comes out with the TRX450R. The industry/sport has come full circle. We are (FINALLY) almost back where we were in 1989.
However, everyone, us, the manufacturers, etc....need to make sure we don't allow a repeat of what happened in the 80's, or our sport will be history...and won't return.
I say:
Hats off to Yamaha for sticking through it the whole way, and also to Honda for (if ever so cautiously) not completely giving up on our beloved sport, and creating the 400EX spark that relit the flame. Yamaha and Honda both make serious quads, in completely different ways...one through no compromising performance, and one through bulletproof reliability combined with top-shelf power.
I ride red. Period. The 450R will be my 3rd brand brand new Honda ATV. I look forward to the day I get to race it against a Yammie 450 or a Suzi 450 or a Kawie 450...whether I win or not, I *GUARANTEE* I'll still have a smile on my face....
That person that asked about why the Banshee is still made was me:D