Do you have a link to the Honda announcement?

 

No, just straight from dealer. PM me and I will give you dealer info so you can talk to them.

 

as much as I'd love to see Honda in the snowmobile business I doubt your dealers info is accurate

 

I asked them if I could post what they told me on the HCS forums and they said I could. I doubt they would be messing with me. But who knows to be honest. I really can’t find anything online about it.

 

I would venture to guess that Honda coming out with a sled in 2026 is the longest of all long shots.

Will they come out with some sort of snow "vehicle"? That's a possibility.

 

It'd be great to see Honda do something, but no way is that going to happen given the current environment of the snowmobile business. I'd love to be proven wrong, but I think it's a pretty safe bet you're not going to see Honda as an option for 2026.

 

I have seen the statement on online... just nothing from Honda or the local Honda dealer.

 

Is Honda coming with a sled no But own a sled manufacturer and supply their engines for them , I could see that

 

It will likely be slow and outdated like their quads…

 

If they have as much luck with those as they have with their quads, they would be more than happy.
Becoming the number two snowmobile manufacturer would have even been enough to keep AC or Yamaha still in it.

 

Im sure it will be some weird sno-bike or something dumb…

 

I a father & son dual that have a snowbike fetish. I think they may have 6 of them between the 2 of them. They used new honda CRF450R's for the base then add Mountain Top kits now, and an aftermarket 450 that blows away a stock one. Not sure if honda would go there but maybe.

Another thought is why after seeing Yamaha sleds go out and Arctic Cat shutting down production would they think now is a good time? I would have to think when sled sales hit there peak in the mide to late 90's would have been the time to do it.

 

We're down to 2 snowmobile manufacturers until I see credible evidence suggesting otherwise.

 

I'll bet it's a snow bike, if anything. They can do that with off the shelf parts and sell to existing customers.

 

Electric snowmobile? Or a Talon with factory track kit? Or maybe they will buy Arctic Cat?

 

Honda rumor has been around at least 20 years on and off. I don't see it happening.

 

I think the rumor is going on 40 years now. 3 of the 4 major Japanese cycle makers took a stab at it, all choked. Honda would have to have something so innovative to capture the majority of snowmobile buyers on the first year just to be marginally profitable.

 

I was at my dealer yesterday and was talking to the sales team about Arctic Cat and their announcement. Just wanted to hear their thoughts on that. They sell Polaris and Yamaha but I asked if they are going to pick up someone else after 2025. They said they are keeping a close eye on everything and want to see what Honda comes out with in 2026. Honda is coming out with snowmobiles in 2026 which will be very interesting. I’m excited to see what happens with this development.

Side note: Anyone know any banks that’ll give me a $300 million loan to buy Arctic Cat? if someone would give me the money.. I would buy them in a heartbeat.

They probably would build something worthy I’m sure. But they waited WAY too long to try getting into snowmobiling. The cost and writing on the wall with the sport turning down a road unknown would really surprise me if they did!

 

They probably saw snowest magazine Instagram post about Honda planning to enter the snowmobile industry in 2026... Posted April 1st 2023.

Honda did make a snowmobile in the 70s. But only 2 remaining exist and rumors of a 3rd still in a crate.

 

They probably saw snowest magazine Instagram post about Honda planning to enter the snowmobile industry in 2026... Posted April 1st 2023.

Honda did make a snowmobile in the 70s. But only 2 remaining exist and rumors of a 3rd still in a crate.

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That looks like the least practical machine ever… lol

 

Honda is way to smart to do something like get in a declining sport. Not gonna happen.

 

Not going to happen.

 

Hard to say with track kits available.
Honda would most likely focus on the utility side of the equation, so they could do something interesting.

 

Like what...offer something thats already out there if needed?

 

Yeah they pulled out of gas lawnmowers and all small gas engines by 2030ish can’t see them diving into sleds.

 

It's all bs till reality. Maybe hcs ought start ''the bs thread to rule them all''?

 

Everything is.

But the reported results so far show the major sales drop in the northern European market.
They have snow/ice cover, but really high fuel costs. They also tend toward the utility market.
So if Honda was to enter, I suspect that would be area of focus.

 

For some reason there's a lot of wishful thinking around. But if you want to investigate the option, have a look at Honda's corporate structure and recent(ish) job openings and hires. If Honda would release something for 2026 it should be in the pipeline by now. EPA applications made, patents filed, licencing deals published, etc. Something like this doesn't come as a surprise, and especially not from some random dealer out in the sticks.

 

Honda has no reason to build snowmobiles when currently they have bigger fish to fry like nissan.

 

They would use motors that are already more than EPA compliant for snowmobiles... but may not be focused on the US, as that market only fell about 3% and may not be a fit for their powersports structure which is less about ''sport''. They also may not need any patents, as they have patents from the past that they never used, or technology that they have patents and are currently in use.

Nissan is easy for them, and a different division.
The more likely reason they wouldn't is because the production facilities could not take on a new line without some expansion... and they just completed something like that to meet current demand for their dirt line up.

 

It's happening & I'm snow checking one in the spring.
I'm getting the Samari Glacier Warrior 888cc Twin 2S, 167 solid HP (already dyno'd, see SnoBlower Magazine article, Nov. '24). 134.5" x 1.299" track with factory cleats & cool backrest . Badass blue/black color scheme - 1st year edition!! Can't beat the 4-year 3-month full factory warranty either.
Honda who is known for reliability & high resale values is coming for the riders that AC is walking away from & taking significant market share from Poo & Doo in years to come. I'm guessing the Cat dealer line is going to get first dibbs on handling these new innovative fast as hell badboys. Japanese owned but being built here in the States in Da UP
Get in line for one because they'll be literally going fast!!
Next year will be absolutely Epic!!!