Quads of the Future

Sometimes we just can’t wait around for the OEMs to come out with new sport quads, so we build them ourselves. This is a group of machines that we know the big manufacturers could build with very little investment and would sell very well. Are you listening, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, KTM? Can-Am actually has a good selection of sport quads right now.

HONDA TRX450R
The flagship TRX450R now needs to be widened to 49 inches, like the Suzuki LT-R450 and the Yamaha YFZ450R. Very little investment would be required to make longer A-arms and slightly longer shocks with more travel up front. Out back, add 2 inches to each side of the axle and build a new shock, and change the linkage out under the swingarm and it would be competitive with the Yamaha. Keeping the steel frame and carburetor would allow them to sell it considerably less than the Yamaha and save years in development time. When the sport quad market starts seeing growth, then they could release the aluminum- framed, EFI-equipped model.

HONDA TRX450
Honda already has a pretty strong hold on the ATV racing market. The TRX450 is the most popular machine built by pros without a factory sponsorship. It’s easy to modify, very reliable and works great with the right aftermarket products. Honda could easily sell a stripped-down model with low-cost shocks that were basically spring holders, a kick-starter and steel wheels. It could be priced around $5000 and would make a perfect platform for racers to build from. As it is these days, racers replace all the suspension anyway and add their own controls, tires and wheels before they ever hit the track.

SUZUKI LT-R250
The Yamaha Raptor 250 still needs competition, even though the little fun machine hasn’t been produced in over three years. It’s a very popular product for younger trail riders and racers. There’s is no doubt Yamaha will sort out their “vendor issues” or just bring production of that machine to the U.S. and get the Raptor 250 back in dealerships. Meanwhile, Suzuki could take the 200cc, air-cooled, dual-sport motor they have and bump it up 25 percent, slide it into the Z400 chassis and have a winner. Sure, the shocks would need to be recalibrated, and we would love to see it come with 19-inch rear tires like the Raptor. The chassis itself could basically stay the same and Suzuki would have their own generation-Y winner.

KAWASAKI KFX250
Kawasaki is in a great position to take over the entry-level sport quad market, while Yamaha is sorting out issues with the factory that builds the Raptor 250. Very easily, Kawasaki could take the 140cc, air-cooled trail bike motor they have, bump it up 100cc, and slide it into the KFX chassis and have a winner. Sure, the shocks would have to be resprung and valved, and we would love to see it come with 19-inch rear tires like the Raptor. The aluminum chassis is lightweight, could basically stay the same and Kawasaki would have their own generation-Y champ.

SUZUKI LT-R450
It would be something as simple as sliced bread and be a home run for Suzuki to bring back the LT-R450. The LT-R450 was deemed illegal for sale because of some government EPA rules that Suzuki tried to bend in making the original LT-R450 so good. What they did is actually programmed the ignition with an extra map that was easily accessed by closing an open circuit with a $40 aftermarket product. All they would have to do now is replace the wiring loom with a new legal setup. It will only take the guys selling fuel programmers a minute to figure out what kind of inline programmer to sell to those people interested in more power. Of course, this would be for closed-course racing only. Yes, we get it. It was a great machine back in 2009 and would still sell today, especially with a new set of front shocks installed.

HONDA TRX50
One of Honda’s best-selling engines is the small, SOHC, single-cylinder, air-cooled, 50cc, three-speed mill. It has been used in countless dirt bikes, scooters and so on for well over three decades. It’s about time it finds a home as an ATV. The first ATC three-wheeler used the 90cc version, and then later a smaller 70cc powerplant
was used in a micro ATC.

KTM 525 STREET-LEGAL
As recent as 2012, KTM was still selling a 525 XC legal for street riding in some European countries. For 2015, it has fallen completely out of sight. In most South American countries, as well as many states in the U.S., particularly Utah, Montana, West Virginia and Arizona, dealers would have trouble keeping a plated quad like this in stock. We could see people moving just so they could live in a state where riding this sport quad on the street was legal. The 525 XC was super fast and a blast to ride, and we would still take one without the license plate. We are sure many of our readers would too. Yamaha, of course, would not want this machine to come back, as it would be a huge threat to the success of the Raptor 700.