Dont know how much truth there is to this, but i heard there was a big contraversy back then over the size and speed of the quads(the fed gov stepped in) heard yamaha was the only one that paid to keep making the wheelers they already had out, but they couldnt make any knew or bigger race machines. Suz- Hon both figured there wasnt a bi enough market at the time so they dumped their lines. Finally after the 7-8-9-1000 snowmobiles were coming out they they said HEY WHAT THE F--K and got the laws changed, thats when the 300 ex came into play. I seems to me there all carefull on the big moters. I know there is the Bomb 650(big and slow) The raptor 660 was improvement but was still pretty much a detuned trail machine. The knew 700 is a big improvment but still for a 700 dont know? Ya i know their 4 strokes.