OK, I've heard the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Rincon. I love the way the bike looks and am a Honda fanatic. But if I'm gonna spend that kind of money I sure want to be happy with the bike. Here's how I ride, lots of trail riding, some mud and around the farm. Most of my friends ride Ranchers/Foremans and I sure as hell want the Rincon to perform at least as well as there bikes. So put the egos aside and give me the real scoop on the Rincon. Thanks a bunch!!

 

No engine-braking below 8 mph. Down right lethal in the stuff that I ride, but probably fine if you are a flatlander. Met a guy on a Rincon just last weekend out on the trail and I asked him about it. He said he has to tap the throtle to get it to brake at low speed. Lets see, you are trying to slow down, and you have to use the throtle to do it........doesn't seem quite right to me. He did say once he got the technique down, it is no big deal.

 

Its a great atv, any rincon owner will probably tell you they love their bike

 

ReconRanger is right. No engine braking under 8MPH. Above that speed, engine braking is good, as long as you're in the right gear, and you don't have the idle set too high. Bet that's what that rider you met was doing, RR, trying to get it to downshift before a decline. You can always put it in the ESP mode, and it will stay in first until you press the button. Most riders get used to the engine brake habits and don't have a problem. I suppose in slow technical terrain, the Rincon is not the right machine. If that low speed control, and pulling heavy loads is important to you, the Rubicon is a better choice. If handling and ride quality, is what your after, the Rincon is top notch. It's downright magic on a bumpy trail, and running in ESP is a blast. You don't have to let up on the throttle, just push the button and it shifts. Nugs is right also, most owners I talk to really like their Rincons.

 

They have these things called brake levers. One by each hand and even one by your right foot. I've used them and they work great. Great Ride.

 

The Rincon is a fantastic machine. Not for everyone and has been said probably not the best choice for slow speed riding but for general all around use it is top notch. You will have to learn to adjuster your riding habits, somewhat, to fit it and its auto transmission but that is no big deal. That is all about being a good rider.

 

As for the engine braking, there are no "tricks" to make it any better. It starts to work at about 8-10mph because of the high 1st gear. Using ESP or auto, it's not gonig to make the engine braking any better.
When in auto, when you come up to the decent slow down to a stop and let it downshift to 1st and as you go down the hill it WILL NOT shift into 2nd it's not supposed to. The brakes work great for me when I want to go REALLY slow down a hill. Just hold the front harder and the rear a little lighter when in 2wd. When in 4wd, the braking down a hill is awesome.

I love my Rincon and am very happy I bought it. It is the best trail bike there is as far as I'm concerned. Plush ride, great handling, and it can really haul *** when you want it to. I have 670 miles with no trouble at all. The Rincon is for some people, and it's also not for some other people. Just depends on your likings and where you want to ride.

 

I traded my rincom for a grizzly best move I ever made[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Love my Rincon...if I had to do it all over again...well I would still get another Rincon. It may not be the fastest, best mudding, technical rock climbing sport utility out there but it works for me and will probably fit the bill for 90% of all ATV riders, I haven't been in a predicament that I couldn't get out of or felt unsure of going into in the first place, the Rincon has pulled me through each of those instances.

If someone will loan you a Rincon for a day or so...I think you will be sold on the Rincon, it really is a sophisticated piece of machinery that rides Cadillac smooth and is quite durable.

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Sorry to hear that. It's ok though...wait maybe not. Your maxed out at 12" of ground clearance because of the off-center rear differential. You will have to get used to the boiling gas so when it stalls in every puddle you gotta let it sit for a sec you should get used to that. And you will be buying a new CV joint once every other month, but hell that's regular maintinance on a grizz. Sorry, the truth hurts sometimes.

Hdpower, don't be so sure. The Rincon can hold it's own and kick some *** at alot of stuff. Trails are were it is #1. It may not be the fastest, but it can outrun P650s, Grizzlys, and SP700s. Some of them will at least. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Your right, I will say it sucks at mudding. Its like the belt drive boys putting their big bore in High range and trying to hit a mud hole. Isn't going to work, but if the Rincon had low range it would turn huge tires in the mud without a problem. That's not my cup of tea though, so I am better off without low range.