What is the difference in horse power at the wheels between the 450 and the Rubicon? Does that hondamatic trany eat up any extra hp the 500 makes? I am looking to up-grade from a trx300 and can't decide which one to get. If the 500 does not get much more power to the ground I was thinking of going with the 450s for it's reliability. I will be puting 27" mudbugs on it and want to be able to spin them in muskeg and mud. Thanx in advance.

 

the new honda matic tranny actually is way more efficent that any belt driven atv like the one i own. so all in all the 500s tranny should save the power. the 500 will have plenty of power to turn 27 " in deep mud. i also like the choice of having ES or auto.

 

yes there is a differance in power and its enuff of a differance for a freind of mine to trade in his 450 for a 500.
just some food for thought.
my buddy has the same quad as mine, except his has 27 inch mud lites and mine has 26 inch mud lites and mine out performs his in every way.
and he perfers to ride his yellow one over his red one because his yellow one has 26s on it also.
i would would go with the rubicon and the 26 inch tires.
the half inch in hight you'll gain is not worth the power you'll loose in performance.

 

Does any one have the horse power numbers at the wheels, I think the 450 is 12hp. What about the rubicon?

 

I find that the power is better in the 500 but both have pretty much the same torque due to the gears of the 450.
Mine is modified so I can run with my friends 500 no problem untill he starts cruising at higher speeds. O I wish for a sixth gear.

 

stock the rubi has 20.9 hp and 36 ft lbs and the forman has around 12 hp so the rubi will definatly be more powerful

 

There is a pronounced power difference between the two. Put them on the trails and you won't see much. Sure in a drag, the Rubi will stomp it, but in normal riding, you are going anywhere on a 450 that a Rubicon will go.

 

The 500 is a new generation of engine (dry sump), designed to keep the weight low in the chassis. What the performance advantages are (if any), I don't know? The 450 and Recon are the only models left with the old style engines. I will venture a guess that we see the 450 gone from the lineup within a few years???