Anyone on here part of the honda product development team? Talking with with Chip Kuizets Honda will be releasing pics of their 2up 4 stroke this winter. From a quick conversation I understand it will have a standard "car like transmission" Kind of like the rincon. Sounds like it's a tank right now.
Honda Testing Sleds in Greenland
- Thread starter Trees4Traction
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I've heard they will be fully loaded with power steering/abs brakes, cruise control, paddle shifters for the trans. navigation, stereo, heated everything, remote start, autonomous driver, turbo, blower, direct injection with glow plugs
find it hard to believe they would be interested in joining a sport that has shrinking sales and plenty of manufactures already...
find it hard to believe they would be interested in joining a sport that has shrinking sales and plenty of manufactures already...
If its anything like Honda's 700XX 4wheeler, it wont float on the snow doesn't matter how long a track it is... The 700xx is a heavy pig. Honda makes some good toys, I think they should stay away from the snow.
Honda and Yamaha have a very intense history from day one..it doesn't have to make sense to them..if Honda made sleds and it made Yamaha sell 10 less sleds a year Honda would smile..i know it sounds crazy but these two have an insane relationship of distaste for each other ever since their early wars on motorbike engine design purchases..
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Completely unconfirmed rumor suggests that Honda MAY be working on a Snowmobile Engine for one of the big 4 manufacturers, but NOT on an actual snowmobile itself..
if Honda is making a four stroke for a current sled manufacturer then it will be for Polaris.
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Sign me up!!!
well there engines are tough as any out there...Honda is capable of a wicked two stroke for a sled as well..and Polaris seems to be the only one that needs the engine package to get in line to truly make them dominant for as long as they would want..
They stopped making 2 strokes from what I've seen. Even if Honda did want in the sled scene I'd bet it would be a 4 stroke.
I'm still convinced that a manufacturer like Honda or Yamaha could make a lightweight 4 stroke motor that is either supercharged or turboed in a great chassis. The price is the problem. They could never sell enough to offset the engineering price. So, Yamaha uses the R1 motor to evolve but it never really works. Maybe if we all promised we would buy one they would build it.
are Honda and Yamaha publicly traded..??...if they weren't I wouldn't put it past them to do it just to have that trophy above the mantel on the fireplace..
Honda as a company is in a lot of trouble. They are a marketing machine but their products have fell way back. They are going super "green" and it is hurting them. I'm sure they can make the motor, but it won't produce near the power you want. It will be energy efficient and low polluting. It doesn't make a lot of sense for them to get into the snowmobile market, it is far too small considering the alternatives.
What's more interesting than the rumor itself is the fact that Trees4Traction has joined us once again after a long absence. Only those of you that have been around a long time would understand.
Good to see you here ol friend. (I haven't been on here much either)
Good to see you here ol friend. (I haven't been on here much either)
What's more interesting than the rumor QUOTE]
Is that this rumor of the Honda on snow has been around since the 90'sWe evengot the top secret pictures one year--it was a redline with some body panel changes.
There is no money in it for them--shortly it will be a 3 sled business--Yamaha is losing their ....
Honda has had a huge problem replacing people on the car side from losses after the tsunami. They basically lost their whole work force that knew how to make cars and run a manufacturing facility. My buddy owns a Honda dealership and they had a hard time getting cars for almost 2 years. I have no idea if the motorcycle/motorsports production facilities are in the same area.
My father in law used to work at a Honda dealership in the 80's and 90's. He said at that time they had a snowmobile and tested with it in Alaska, but they never intended to produce a snowmobile. They only built a snowmobile chassis to test their small car engines in arctic climates. Honda has no interest in the snowmobile market as the market is overpriced and saturated already. By the time they design a sled and tool up they'll never make the money back.
Makes the most sense.
I remember a thread about that video...would be VERY interesting.
Would be fun to try a totally silent sled. I can't say it would suck.
