ATV – Honda Reveals Select ’06 Updates
Honda this month made an early-release ATV product announcement that included new colors, a few technical updates, but no model changes. Missing was information for the Rincon, TRX450R, TRX250EX and TRX90. What does that mean? It may be a clue that some significant announcements will be made regarding those models at the OEM’s dealer meeting in early September.
Most machines in Honda’s ATV lineup get new color options for 2006, and some color options from last year will be dropped. For instance, the Rubicon (MSRP $7,299) and Rubicon GPScape ($7,499) will be available in black as well as red, yellow and olive. They are still powered by a 499cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine.
The Rancher AT ($6,099) and Rancher AT GPScape ($6,299) also get a new black color option. They will also be available in red and olive. Powering the Rancher AT and AT GPScape is a 397cc air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke powerplant.
The Recon ($3,599) and Recon ES ($3,799) get a new blue color to join the red and olive schemes already available. Returning to power the Recons is the 229cc air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke mill.
Meanwhile, the FourTrax Foreman ($6,399), still powered by the 475cc four-stroke engine, will be available in yellow, joining the red and olive colors in the lineup.
Honda’s two lesser-powered sport quads also receive a new color option.
The 2006 TRX400EX ($5,899) will be available with black plastic in addition to traditional red. After receiving a major overhaul in 2005, Honda stayed away from updates to the quad that started the four-stroke revolution. The convenience of reverse returns on the ’06 model.
As for Honda’s 300EX ($4,749), it also receives black plastic that joins red.
– Guido Ebert