I am looking for any advice you may have regarding these two bikes. I have always been a honda man and nothing else, but lets face it. Honda has been left behind when it comes to ATV features. I know the Rubi has a great tranny and a reliable motor, but as far as ground clearance, limited slip 4x4 and rear end suspension they are beat. My uses for this unit will stricly be hunting and light camp work. Nothing abusive. My view of these two bikes is that Arctic Cat offers way more features and a true 500 engine with a manual tranny as opposed to the Rubicon's automatic and mind boggling electronic features. If something were to break on the Rubicon such as the tranny or the electic shift I would have no idea how to fix it. Also, Honda only offers a 6 month warranty as opposed to the Arctic Cat's 2 year warranty. What do you guys think I should buy and why? What do you think about each of these two units???

 

you could also look into a manual-shift Foreman S, they have a 500cc engine too, manual shifting. The only thing they dont have is a diff lock though.

 

The Foreman 500 S has only 475cc, which isn't much of a difference, but I'm looking for a true 500 like the Rubi. Thanks for your reply.

 

There are a couple of things that I would consider when buying a ATV. What do you need it for? "My uses for this unit will stricly be hunting and light camp work. Nothing abusive. " So first thing would be what do you need the ground clearance for if you are only doing what you stated above?

Second I have taken a Rubicon out for a test drive. Like you I was under the impression that it didn't have much power and that ground clearance was a factor. The first thing I did notice was the power. A lot of power. I took the thing in 6 to 8 inchs of snow, drop in low gear and went anywhere I wanted to go. It had stock tires and I was amazed what this thing could do. After about 15 mins, I realized that I did all of this deep snow stomping in 2X4. When I did try 4X4 there wasn't anything holding this thing back. For the recreational use you mention above this thing is twice the machine you need. With fun factor to spare.

It will be more stable than the AC,( AC's got 12 " of GC with soft IRS which is good if you need it, but you give up sporty ride and will have lots of body role with the AC when cornering). The SRA on the Rubicon is a very nice ride. Test drive one and noticed the quality.

Finally, and most importantly you get a Honda. The reliabity is second to none.

 

well with honda you wont need that 2 year warrenty. they are by far the most reliable manufacturer there is. nobody comes close, maybe suzuki and the cat does have a suzuki engine in it.

 

after owning both brands I won't be going back to Cat anytime soon. My riding partners 03 AC 500i is faster due to gearing (isn't any quicker), but isn't holding up too well - just like my 98. I do like the MRP system though. Rubi is more of a 500 than the AC, though not much. I wouldn't call the semi-auto a true manual either. They clunk. I once preferred it, but not anymore.

think about it, more travel and clearance, higher COG, less stable. there are trade-offs to each.

torsen on the Honda works pretty good (they are preferred on pavement to viscous types), and I can always install the DGL for <$350. Haven't needed one so bad that I had to rush out and buy it yet.

I used to get all caught up in the marketing bs. Not any more. I want a solid machine, not gimmicks. The other's all talk about how invincible they are because they have a locker. I say B.S.

 

I also have the rubicon I had a 2003 now I have a 2005 and I just love the rubicon I used to say the same thing about the electric shift trany and I never had any truble but if I did I aways get the extedid warrinte for around $400 I got 4 and a half years I more then used that amount after two years on some barrings and the dash stopped working but still the trany worked. On the 2003 I was pushing snow the case broke on the back of the trany but the trany still worked great even when the oil was running out I still got it home and to the dealer I dont want to now what that would have cost they had it for a month to get it all fixed up for me they never even asked what happened to it. I even broke the plastic on it once and I took it to the dealer to get serviced and to order new plastic when I went to pick it up they fixed it and told me not to wory about it warrente will cover it. I have a uncle that got a arctic cat about the same time and he regrets getting it not very much power and very tipsy. I would test drive both befor buying a arctic cat or a honda and choose a atv. GOOD LUCK

 

I own a 2001 Rubi. Plenty of power but not the torque of say the 98 Foreman I`ve road w/ polaris 700`s, Suzuki Vinsons and other Hondas and have never had a problem. I too needed more ground clearance but didn`t want to compromise the COG to much the same reasons previously stated. I put on a 2" stainless lift kit. This kit won't prematurly wear out the drive train or axles but does give a good crawling clearance.

 

Hondas are a solid choice. I owned a rancher and beat it and it held up great, except for the brakes. Between AC and honda, reliability about the same between the two and understand I am comparing the honda to a ac 500 manual, suzuki motor and trans, very simple, tough bike. I'll even admit that other ACs have issues. Major difference is price and options. Rubicon is a good bike, but the AC has locker, better brakes, softer ride, irs, more gc, more power, 2 yr. warrenty and most importand costs a few thousand less (very important). As far as stability, ACs are about 4 inches wider than the honda which makes them very stable. I feel safer climbing, off camber, and turning on my H1 than I did on my honda. But don't get me wrong, the AC is a tank and is a handful to manuever. I considered the rubicon but wanted the extra features, but its up to you what you want a atv for. Yes hondas are reliable, yada yada yada, hear it all the time, but they are also very simple and lack features and performance that cause parts to fail. Some people like that and thats great, thats why there are so many diff. brands and models out there. Your chioce, just some of my opinions and observations. good luck.

 

no disrespect Brian, but I must point a few things out

Power, the Honda 500 and Suzuki 500 are REALLY close in power. The only reason the AC500 is a few MPH faster (not quicker, as soon as he shifts its over) is gearing and rev limiter on the Honda.

Brakes, single lever unified brakes are for novices or people that just putput on groomed trails. + I've had a unified brake failure when I lost a pin that holds the pads in the caliper. Grabbed the brake and it went to the bar as the puck was pushed past the oring in the caliper. I would discount this as a fluke, but when replacing a CV boot on a 500i (this has been a regular maintenance item on my Cat and my buddies Cat) I noticed the cotter pin holding the pad retention pin was gone. He was that close to total brake failure. I have little doubt the Honda's discs are better than the Cat's, and the drum brake on the rear makes a real parking brake that you can use while trailering. The Cat's hydraulic will bleed down after time, they even tell you not to use it for extended periods like trailering. I also watched my buddy almost kill himself taking it off the truck as his discs were frozen, drums don't do that (if they are maintained). No leaks in mine yet. Cat's separate rear brake has been nearly useless, but I heard they have improved it a little.

Arctic Cats are MORE expensive around here. I picked up an 04 Rubicon for $1000 less than I could have gotten the AC500 Manual for. Same thing with the 05s. Look around.

Off camber goes to the slightly stiffer, lower CG Honda. No comparison. And that 4" wider ends up being nothing more than a hinderance in tight trails. You should see my buddy's rims....

First you say Cat is simple, then you say the Honda is simple. But if the Rubicon had a locker (which is often overrated) the only difference would be IRS, which some riders don't want.

However, if I rode treeless flatlands or muddy swamps, the Cat might get my nod (and from experience) more of my time wrenching on it in the garage.

Around here the big machines (and biggest talkers) like Polaris and AC go from the fastest down the road to the slowest in the trails. Too damn big.