Hmm.. Wonder what HONDA has in mind..

[Mr_RPM]

well i think part of sales being bad is the lack of money for toys. my dad works at a motorcycle dealer and everything is extra slow. sales, service, all types of machines, everything. and whats this DFI 2 stroke?
but yeah the retro look might help. idk

[honda200x1987]

I agree that a retro looking machine would be hot! Again, it's basing sales on what people believe to be the best, or remember someone having back in the day. I don't think the newly styled machines have that same kind of timeless good look. A retro TRX styled machine would be a genius marketing move. Like Dodge pulled off in the remake of the Charger. Classic good looks........Over a modern chassis/engine. I'm still waiting for the DFI 2stroke to make it's debut though. This is coming in the not to distant future, and the 2stroke will make a comeback in motocross, and eventually spread to some sport atv's.

Did you say they will be making a 2stroke again? 2 kewl. and I think we should contact someone at honda in marketing and give them these ideas.

[oldskool83]

from what i was aware of honda was going to stop production because there were so many 07-08-09 models on the floors yet. but for some reason i thought this was only with the 450r models. if you look at hondas past they've taken time off with models, dirtbikes too and bought then back a year or 2 later unchaged. i think the markets just flooded with everything right now.

my local dealer has nothing 2010 honda but some sportbikes, does it bother me...nope im not buying anything new.

[TeamGeek6]

economy SUCKS, they cant sell a luxury item? Not surprised. And then, this:

"He said they can't sell the 2009 models,"

Yeah, they had the same problem in the 1985 Honda Goldwings. PIECE OF . Miserable engineering failures. They broke down not quite as often as the
Harleys due to electrical system failures, then COVERED IT UP.
I bought a NEW 1986 Wing in 89 still in the shipping crate, the electrical system failed a month or two later.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

[QUOTE=tecat-z;862135]I agree that a retro looking machine would be hot! Again, it's basing sales on what people believe to be the best, or remember someone having back in the day. I don't think the newly styled machines have that same kind of timeless good look. A retro TRX styled machine would be a genius marketing move. Like Dodge pulled off in the remake of the Charger. Classic good looks........Over a modern chassis/engine. I'm still waiting for the DFI 2stroke to make it's debut though. This is coming in the not to distant future, and the 2stroke will make a comeback in motocross, and eventually spread to some sport atv's.[/QUOTE]

2-stroke DI tech is already a reality in the sled world with the Rotax E-TEC engines available in Doo's 600ho and 800r. And it was in Johnson/Evinrude outboards in the early 2000's. So far from what i see over in Dootalk and hear from other riders they are terrific! It would be great to see the return of the 250r's, quadracers and so on, but it would be tough to do without infringing on Rotax's patent im pretty sure they still have at the moment. Imagine......the hp of the late model, 2-stroke, 250 bikes on a sport quad to compete with the new thumpers! Just in case anyone is wondering, Doos E-TEC sleds get nearly double the fuel economy as their older counterparts, make more hp than their older, carbureted counterparts, and run as clean, or in some cases CLEANER then their current 4-stroke counterparts......something to chew on huh??

[tecat-z]

It will instantly make the so called modern 4stroke antiquated once again. But....... The rules need to be changed in pro MX. The handicap given to the 450's is just rediculous. Some people just don't understand 250cc is 250cc, regardless of engine design. KTM already has a DFI bike ready for release, but under the current class structure it doesn't fit anywhere. Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kaw also have much interest in developing DFI for 2stroke. But Honda is rejecting it fiercely. They also occupy seats on the AMA board and have big time input in class structure. No other oem has that luxury. And it's wrong. It all boils down to dirty politics, even if winning means changing the rules to compete.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

i hear ya, but i think there is still a STRONG following and demand for 2-strokers, and if the tech is there, its just a matter of time before it breaks out. as i mentioned before, BRP is having great success with the E-TEC 2-stroke sleds. obviously, 4-strokes have a following as well. you can see in the sled world that 4-strokes and 2-strokes both sell well. ulitmately, i would LOVE to see the manufacturers get it in gear, and get some D.I. 2-stroke machines on showroom floors! let the consumer decide what he/she wants for crying out loud. i think that like the sled side of it, you would see both develope a following and both still sell well...

i think as far as sleds, Yammy is going to regret going exclusively 4-stroke. while their thumper sleds fetch great reviews in many areas, they cant come close to competing in the power-to-weight contest. the 2-stroke sleds were a dying breed till BRP brought in the E-TEC sleds. now, the other brands are racing to catch up. Yammi is in trouble in that area....the next few years will prove to be interesting.....lets keep our fingers crossed on the prospect of some new D.I. 2-stroke 250s in the future!!!

[3Razors]

Oh well! Let them fade away. In my honist opinion every Honda atv since 1989 has been a very feeble attempt to keep up. Yamaha has always put emphasis on performance and style. And continue to completely rule the atv scene today. ( in sales and technology) To many Honda faithful continue to relish on the past work of Honda and the great machines the DID make a 1/4 century ago. They are a very avarage atv/off road bike company today.

Exactly. They are not the innovators they once were. And all the brands except Polaris have caught up and are on par with Honda reliability.

[The Goat]

Honda's market share is slowly getting taken over... polaris is now only 1 0r 2% behind...and that was as of last year.

Recreational atv riding is only a tith of the market...always have to remember that guys.