I am new to ATVs, but I have had motorcycles since I was 14 and I am in my 50s. I need a New ATV to trail ride in the deserts of Arizona and the high-country of Colorado. I have had 2 Honda motorcycles and like Honda's quality. Give me your ideas on what experienced ATVers recommend based on my use:

1) ES or Not? I have always preferred standard transmissions over automatics because of the ability to select gears based on power needs in all my vehicles.

2) Fuel Economy vs. Power: What type of mpgs are folks getting with their Honda ATVs? I am considering the Foreman because of the larger engine that may be better in the high altititudes of Colorado, but am still looking for economy.

3) Holdback (engine /compression braking): Do any of the Honda models have better holdback than others? Is ES lacking this ability in all models? Without ES, is the gearing low enough to manually select a low gear for optimum holdback? I read elsewhere where the Rincon lacked holdback, which is critical to me.

Thanks,
Ron

 

ive been asking the same things and it seems to me that the foreman500 is the better all around atv out there. has plenty of power alot better low gear for engine braking which is very important to me too.ride on steep trails. they also disengage from 4-wd to 2-wd.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

well, manual shift or ES will allow you to shift gears when you want, giving you the holdback feature you want. The ES works the same as the manual shift except you have up shift and down shift buttons instead of the foot lever. It's much easier to ride with expecially with big boots on, but the ES has been known to cause some electrical sensor issues, preventing you from shifting normally. Fortunately, there is an emergency shifter lever in the tool kit in this rare situation.

From what i've heard, the 500 foreman is a good balance of power and is probably better on fuel than most other brands quads. However, it is a larger machine and rides a little stiffer than the smaller Rancher.

The automatic Rancher 400AT, the Rubicon and the Rincon are a different league altogether, I've heard the 400AT is a little short on low-end power, as well as being prone to some transmission issues.
My advice: go to Yamaha or Polaris if you want a full-automatic. The belt system is much more reliable if you know how to change a belt from time to time. As long as it doesnt get wet, you'll be fine.

 

A new Honda Foreman 500 S or ES, but just for you, i would say the Foot Shift .. obviously you're familiar with it already, so stay with what works, and all Honda's get GREAT fuel economy, so your ok there, and besides it wont cost but $6 bucks$ to full the tank up anyway .. hope this helps, test ride the ES as well, you may liek it better, as my dad did/does..
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2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 (Green)
'27 ITP 589 M/S Tires
3000 lb. Warn Winch
3-Way Headlight Mod
High Lifter Lift Kit

2004 Polaris Sportsman 500 Mossy Oak - STOLEN
2001 Honda Rancher ES 350
Winch
Sold

 

Thanks for the replies. They are all helpful.

 

We just bought a pair of Rancher 4x4 ES models. The entire first day, when I would initially take out and go to shift to second, I found my foot searching for the shifter, every single time! Sicne then I've acclimated myself to the button shift and love it! One thing to keep in mind with Hond and the ES models is that with ES, on the Rancher and foremans, you get the digital display as well. I was initially going to get the foot shift model, but when I found out they didn't have the digital dash (disclaimer: something that I was really wanting, may not be improtant to you and others), I went with the ES model. If I would have bought just one ATV, I would have bought a foreman, but, since I was buying two, I settled for the Ranchers as that was all the cash I had set aside for an ATV purchase, I couldn't have swung a Rancher and a Foreman without fincancing, something I really wasn't interested in doing.

ES or foot shift, they all have automatic clutches and the gearing is the same between a foot shift model and an ES model. The foremans were made to work, the Ranchers were too, they have a really low first gear, tops out about 5 to 6 MPH.

 

I like my 500 Foreman pretty well. I have the manual shift (clutch is automatic), as I prefer a foot shift. The ES Foreman is essentially the same 5 speed geared transmission but with shifts with push buttons on the bar. Earlier ES systems sometimes had problems, and I don't really see an advantage... Well, I suppose when you are in really deep water you can shift w/o getting your boot wet, and also new riders can sometimes tend to miss a shift.

The 5 speed has a really low 1st gear, and will crawl down steep hills at about 1 or 2 miles per hour. Foreman is air cooled w/2 oil coolers, solid rear axle.

The Rubicon has a hydrostatic transmission, like some tractors. There has been an occasional thead about failures. Though it is a constantly variable transmission, it has a mode where the computer emulates shifting gears. Water cooled, solid rear axle.

The Ricon really rides nice, and it uses a 3 speed automatic transmission. It is essentially an automotive type transmission. A friend has one, and where mine would idle down a hill at 2 mph without brakes, you have to use the brakes to keep the Rincon's speed down. It's independent rear suspension feels only slightly less planted, and allows it to fly over rough stuff without the jolts and bumps that fatigue a rider...

Anyhow, if you prefer shifting gears and stone-axe simple reliability, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the 500 Foreman manual 4x4.

P.S. When riding with my buddy and his Rincon, we both generally hit reserve within a mile or two of each other. I would suggest that you pick the machine that best suits your taste and personal preference, as there doesn't seem to be enough of a difference in fuel milage to really be worth influencing your decision.

 

jd and Jeffin,

Thanks for the info. The Foreman is what I am looking to buy partially based on what was posted here. Jeffin, what did you pay for your ride?

My satellite modem was down for a week so I was unable to reply sooner.

Thanks again to all for the detailed, helpful posts.

Ron

 

I think I gave like $5700 out the door, but that was when the 500 was pretty new to the market.

I'm sure you could do way better now on a leftover 05.

 

I can't find a Foreman that I wanted in this area of the country; it would need to be special ordered. There is a Foreman Rubicon for about $7200.00 (pricey?) that is ready to go. What do you think based on the parameters I noted? I would like to get it by next week.

Thanks,
Ron