We ride Honda's 2006 Sport Quads

We ride the 2006 Honda Sportrax lineup
-- They updated them, now we rate them
Photos Report by: Joe Tolle
Main test rider: Cody Smith

The TRX450R returns for 2006 with an impressive number of updates. While it doesn’t look that much different, the performance enhancements may surprise you.

My how times have changed, remember the glorious 90s? The decade where manufacturers could sell the same outdated machines year after year without remorse. Fortunately times are a changing. Heading into the 2006 model year the market is dramatically different now days. We're now in the time and age where ATV manufacturers are seriously updating their existing fleet of aging machines. Now days they either update like they mean it or fall behind the times.

After updating the appearance and adding reverse to the 400EX last year, Honda went to work on more than half of their sport lineup for the 2006 season. With the competition updating their current existing high performance models and the rumors of more made for the track 450s coming soon, Honda figured it was time to advance their TRX450R.

With the influx of adult beginner quads from Taiwan as well as offerings from their Japanese competitors, the 250EX was the next obvious choice for a makeover. Last but not least on Honda's renovation plans is the TRX90. Not so long ago nearly all of the sales in the mini market were enjoyed by Honda and Suzuki. Now days there are literally dozens of new Taiwanese mini quads popping up everywhere from motorcycle dealer showroom floors to the Wal Mart lawn and garden department. It's kill or be killed in the mini ranks, so Honda took their venerable 90 back to the drawing board for some much needed updates.

Upon release of the 2006 lineup, Honda brought everybody who is anybody in the ATV publication world to Washougle MX Park in Oregon to ride their newly thought out machines. With one of the most ATV friendly motocross tracks in the country, combined with a long stretched out GP course, we knew that Honda had chosen a phenomenal place to put the new red machines through their paces.

choose your ride...

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