Now that Yamaha has come out with the RX-1 do you think that Honda will enter the snowmobile market with there own 4 stroke sled. Let hear from you. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

they have been rumored to have been building one for years. *have not see it though.

I would be surprised if we don't see one in the next couple of years.

I hope so, the more competition the better. *It keeps everyone on their toes, and cost competitive. *(well sort of cost competitive)

FishHog

I heard elsewhere that Honda is telling their dealers they will have to be Honda only

I think that honda should stick to making civic SI's and Accords. Entry level companies are a tough sell, I think that any money that can be made in this business is already being taken by the top 4

Entry Level? *If Honda entered the mix they would be a major player. Don't kid yourself, they wouldn't do something like that unless they knew they would take a big bite out of everyones market share. *For the smaller two, Polaris and AC, I'm sure they want Honda to stay out.

yeah i agree if they do and i think they will. they will be a force to be..... i do know they have been working on and basicly waiting for the 4 strock market... *well guess what....its here.

Ever hear of a bad honda product ? They have good *ATV's, Bike's, Car's Lawnmower's and even there generators kick some butt so just imagine if they ever do come up with a sled ! *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif

I had bad luck with a honda outboard motor and a lawnmower. *

And to top it of the customer Service was Crap. *

Im sure they will have a good sled but honda just isnt my style. *Its a little to greenish for me.

My Doo dealer sells Honda ATVs and bikes. I was not in the market for one,but he told me that the engines are virtually flawless.And the tech support is better than the Bombardier support.

All I can say is if they would drop that 1200cc 4Cyl. Turbo (170+ HP) jet ski engine into a sled it sure would be interesting!! Honda just got into the jet ski market and have a great ski, 1st time out. They build great engines with allot of power and are dependable. Ask anyone who knows anything about the 250R quads and trikes, they flat out flew!!

my family has bought nothing but Honda for years, including a 87 Foreman 4x4, a 87 Honda 21" lawnmower, a Gold Wing, and a 85 Shadow 1100. We have had nothing but fabulous results. Couldn't tell ya about cust. service, we have never had to take anything back. I even plan on buying a VTX1800 next spring.

I was at Planet Honda/metro Powersports today. They said that Honda has made mention tat they have a suprise for the 2004 model year but didn't say what! http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif *I truelly think they will come into the market with a a cruiser and a perf. sled. They have the motors as we all know. I was checking out the 1200 turbo pwc while there. It is small and could easily be put into a sled. I didn't know that it already had 170 hp. I think that it would be a light weight sled that could have a small motor and an open class motor. I don't think they are happy with the way Yam has been beating them up with there BIG outboard,the Grizzly,R6, and and especially with the R-1. Now they have another hot product. i also think that they could buy out Redline possibly also but I doubt that would happen.
Caleb

I'm sure they will hop into the market at some point.

And how is yamaha "beating up" honda when honda sells more bikes than any other sportbike company.?

id would never own any yamaha product. *maybe a bike or outboard. *but still i wouldnt take them as my first choice. *i would take a honda product over yamaha.

I am slightly miss quoted. I checked the Honda web sight and the AquaTrax 12X is 165hp according to the web sight.

I do not know much about the 4 stroke market, but if it was my $ I would get the Honda. Had bad luck with a Yamaha warrior several years ago and have never gone back. The R6 is a great package, but the 600F4i doesn't give up anything to it. THe Grizzly is nice, but after owning Foreman that is 16 years old a still mechanicly perfect, I do not see what they lack. The styling is old, but functional. The R1 is a great open bike, and I have ridden one. This is a segment that Yamaha has nailed down, but Honda has Focused on the 954 rather than annything 1 liter or bigger. The 954 handles just as good, just gives up some displacement.

I used to sell Honda Power Products in the wild west coast market...let me state, in my opinion, their products are as close to flawless as anything thing I have ever sold and this was in the early to mid 80's. *Any market they decide to jump into, the other competitors will feel it. *I just wonder what color they would choose in the sled market to be their identifier?

RED!

http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/withstupid.gif * HONDA=RED

I got this off an auto website, but who knows??? *Probably just car stuff. Where do they build thier bikes and quads?
Just to add a little more to the fire....
btw,this was edited for content... I didn't ADD anything.

Honda plans to expand its production in base in North America over the next two years, but company officials stressed the impending expansion doesn't mean the Japanese automaker is getting into the pickup truck business.

The automaker plans to double the size of its new assembly plant in Lincoln, Ala., boosting its potential production capacity...
The new plant will have a lot of flexibility, meaning it will be able to build a number of different models, Elliot added. "It will not have the capability to build a cab and chassis-type of vehicle," he noted.

Elliott and the other Honda executives who participated in the conference call in which the company outlined its expansion plans declined to say what vehicle or vehicles eventually be built in the second production unit at Lincoln.

?_?_?_?
http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

hmm...interesting...

Thats something i never thought of, a honda pick-up *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Honda may have gross sales but track and image all belongs to Yam. The CBR 954 is a direct competitor to the R-1 and Yam is spanking them bad. Every time honda has made there quad or bike bigger Yam has come out even bigger. The Japanese are as much about image as they are selling. Yam keeps it's products for core groups not for every one. They won't waste time and money to build things that won't hit a large core market. It's there overall sales goals and the BOTTEM line in terms of profit and that my friens is where they are truelly spanking the tar out of Honda. *Give me a Honda Sled for sure. You know it'll be quality from the start. For instance, a local dealer employs a family member of mine. He has on;y had 1 400EX motor fail and the kid rode it hard for two years without changing the oil. Motor was filled with sand. Guess what? Honda put a new motor in it under his extended warrenty still. now that is customer service.m they're rocks.
Caleb

i remember *seeing this some time ago and quickly found it again at the Vintage Snowmobile Club of America.
http://www.mvc.on.ca/img/MVC-010F_small.jpg

"Rare Honda White Fox on display in Waconia. *Larry Kaduce, Mankato, MN"

once again the honda sled rumour has been around long before they served rice in japan. *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/baaa.gif

I think Honda will release sleds to the market in a few years,4 strokes for sure. Clean,efficient,lightwight. Mark my words.

Paul,have a very rice day. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

I believe that Honda's technical know-how could certainly produce a world-class sled. *Having owned numerous Honda nad Yamaha motorcycles in the past I can tell you that they are both superior products. *I think that HOnda had the upper hand on quality in the past but newer Yamahas have all but made the gap disappear. *In terms of sales, I was reading last year that Yamaha has drastically closed the global motorcycle sales gap in recent years, most notably last year. *the two are practically at the same level at the present time and if trends continue Yamaha could overtake the Big H in total production. *Honda joining the market would not be welcome news to Poo and Cat (who have fewer resources) but would certainly be good for snowmobilers. *Bring it on I say!

I went to Bay Honda in Bay City, Mi yesterday to test ride a VTX1800. When I was there I looked under the seat of a Aquatrax 12X Turbo. That is a small pacakage putting out 165HP. It is very similar in size to that of a ZRT800 motor. It would not suprise me to see someone try a transplant.

They said they have yet to sell one in Mi, but have sold alsmot their entire inventory out of state. I am suprised they havn't spun off here.

Planet Honda/Metro Power Sports has sold turbo AquaTraxs. And that is in Canton<MI. They&#39;re running around Bellville Lake.
Caleb

Honda just needs to make cars and bikes. I think they don&#39;t like to market too much beyond what they already manufacture.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Greenstreak @ July 10, 2002, 11:28am)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I got this off an auto website, but who knows??? *Probably just car stuff. Where do they build thier bikes and quads?
Just to add a little more to the fire....
btw,this was edited for content... I didn&#39;t ADD anything.

Honda plans to expand its production in base in North America over the next two years, but company officials stressed the impending expansion doesn&#39;t mean the Japanese automaker is getting into the pickup truck business.

The automaker plans to double the size of its new assembly plant in Lincoln, Ala., boosting its potential production capacity...
The new plant will have a lot of flexibility, meaning it will be able to build a number of different models, Elliot added. "It will not have the capability to build a cab and chassis-type of vehicle," he noted.

Elliott and the other Honda executives who participated in the conference call in which the company outlined its expansion plans declined to say what vehicle or vehicles eventually be built in the second production unit at Lincoln.

?_?_?_?
http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif[/b][/quote]
I believe that this plant "expansion" was to produce the Pilot, their new SUV that the NA market is eating up hand over fist.

Not to doubt the possibility of a Honda snowmobile just the same.....but it wouldn&#39;t be built on American soil.

-Rob

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (tomw @ July 08, 2002, 9:26pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Now that Yamaha has come out with the RX-1 do you think that Honda will enter the snowmobile market with there own 4 stroke sled. Let hear from you. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif[/b][/quote]
Yes, it certainly is possible since Yamaha is now demonstrating that there is a four stroke market for snowmobiles.....at least, we think so anyway. *It will take a year of evaluation and sales figures before Honda will move on with the introduction of their own four stroke sled. *Japanese manufacturers are not about bragging rights, they are about dollars and cents. *

It is worth noting that Honda has also invested _considerable_ money and time during the period of &#39;90-&#39;95 when they took out patents on a twin track "Trail Roamer" type vehicle, a single ski "Jet Ski" type vehicle (hull and all&#33http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif and a Cub/CR type vehicle with a track module at the rear and a ski at the front. *None of these concepts really worked, but they all had teeny tiny engines...the "jet ski on snow" concept had a 250cc (like a Bravo) engine. *Seems like their vision of a snow vehicle is/was a scooter.

Do a search at the US Patent Offices database (online) and you&#39;ll see what I&#39;m talking about.

I do agree that Honda will take a closer look at the idea of a high-performance four stroke in the very near future for the simple fact that Yamaha has launched the class. *Honda is not as threatened by BBD, POL or AC....they could really care less what they do. *

They are more concerned with what Yamaha does. *

Expect a response in 2004 with the watercraft engine...no questions asked.

-Rob

i think he is right i think that honda has something ready and is just waiting for the right time to dump it on us...i think this could be an interesting next few months or years maybe...

like the boyz were saying the more competition there is in the market; the bigger the push for all the other companys to excel above the rest. I think that we should not be fooled by flashy looks; because you know that they are going to make the sled they produce look crazy.

Something that I ntise everyone always inplies that Polaris and Cat would like Honda to stay out of the market like it&#39;ll hurt them. They sell more sleds than any other brand and I doubt that that will change any time soon. Cat and Doo also don&#39;t sell as many sleds as they claim do to the fact they push sleds onto dealers that then are sold the next year as hold overs.
Caleb

Sled Dogg.

The way my dealer explained it is that they buy the sleds from bombardier and have a x amount of months to pay for them. *I belive the x amount is 3 months but i could be mistaken. *So I dont think bombardier and cat pushes sleds on there dealers unless some dealers operate diffrently.

My dealer also told me that they have sold more revs then anyother sled in there history of spring ordering. *Even with the bad winter people are still buying sleds. *One word, DEVOTION.

Machzzzz1,
* Ski-doo as a whole are not selling the REV welll at all. They&#39;ve said it themselves, when they were asked why they were advertising on tv so much this spring. Bigger dealers are given x-amount of sleds and told to sell them. Here in MI there are several dealers with a couple HUNDRED sleds each *left over from last year. Mostly all cats and Doos. Smaller dealers always do well any place becuase most of the time they have customer service that brings people in. We have Bob&#39;s Artic cat near by in Milan and they had all there sleds sold but a 2001 zr800 a 500 and a couple tourings sleds sold by new years.
Caleb

I can&#39;t see Bombardier annoucing that the REV&#39;s arn&#39;t selling... *that would be a real dumb thing to do IMO. *Just because its being advertised alot doesnt mean its not selling. *Honda advertises their Civics all the time and they sell like mad. *

Do any of the sled manufacture&#39;s release units sold or manufactured numbers? *Those would be interesting to see just before the next spring check.

Did you hear that honda just seized all selling of there 4 stroke PWC. *And recalled all the sold ones. *Seems that there is a problem causing the throttle to stick at WOT and killing it using the kill switch is causing harm to the engine. *

Honda will have there problems just like everyone else. *Ive seen honda at there worst so dont act like there invincible. *The only thing you will get with honda is a clean burning engine and 0 experience when it comes to building sleds. *

As for there civics. *Its these cars that make me wish i was driving a rusted 85 dodge ram with a I beam welded to the front so i could push them all of the road.

I may have a dissagreement with AC, polaris, or yamaha but i just cant stand honda. *They screwed me over in the past and one day i will get back at them.

As you can see I hate honda. *I have my reasons!!.

In this neibourhood its briggs and stratton or nothing.