Just finished reading the new Dirt Wheels magazine which compares all the latest quads in the 650-700 cc class. It turned out pretty much as I expected. You Arctic Cat guys would have hated it and I know for a fact that v2rider would have already written a letter to the editor to complain had he read it. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] The review on the AC 700 was a bit rough. They basically said that it seemed to lose power on steep hill climbs and was better suited for the ranch than the trails. About the only thing they complimented on it was the color scheme.

The new Grizzly 700 took the nod overall followed by the Rincon and then the Sportsman 700. According to Dirt Wheels, the Sportsman was the clear cut winner in the mud. The Grizzly, Sportsman, and King Quad all tied in the drag race. The Can-Am was the clear winner in power although DW beat it up on its weak frame. I found it interesting, too, that the Can-Am "showed the most signs of abuse" when the day was over. The Rincon and the Grizzly had the best manners on the trail.

Just to give some of my thoughts (for what they're worth), I'd like the Rincon a lot more if it was actually treated like a "flagship" model in Honda's ATV line. The Rubicon is the one running the best transmission in the Honda lineup, not the Rincon. If the Rincon had that transmission, they'd have a big winner on their hands. Right now, Honda is the only one holding back the Rincon.

The Grizzly is almost perfect. If the Rincon didn't exist then I think it would be because the Rincon is now the new measuring stick for IRS suspension performance in an ATV. Otherwise, the Grizz does a lot of things well.

The Kawi always seems like it's big on power and not much else. In my opinion, it's one of the ugliest quads on the market. The BF looks ok but the Prarie styling needs a lot of work.

The KQ is a well-rounded bike but, according to DW, drag racing only tells half the story about it's power. Apparently, there were clutching issues with the KQ transmission which limited its performance in hillclimbs. They went on to say that everything else in the field blew by it up and down hills. I'm sure there is a remedy for this but it's ashame that it comes this way from the factory.

I thought it was a good article but could have included more utilitarian tests rather than just strictly tests based on mannerisms on the trail. A durability test should be a standard for these reviews as well but I'm not sure how long the magazines get to keep these quads for long term testing. I'd really like to see a long term test on the new EPS unit on the new Grizzly and Honda Foreman.

 

You Arctic Cat guys would have hated it and I know for a fact that v2rider would have already written a letter to the editor to complain had he read it. The review on the AC 700 was a bit rough. They basically said that it seemed to lose power on steep hill climbs and was better suited for the ranch than the trails. About the only thing they complimented on it was the color scheme.

>>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>

I have the V2, and have have never heard of, or had any power issues with this quad. Im not a big fan of singles. I cant say much about the review, except that AC makes ATVs for what they said, a ranch! ACs singles have plenty of low end power, but loses it at high speed , high gear power. Im a little dissapointed they didnt comment on the speedracks, ground clearance, 4x4 or diff lock options. AC really is built strong, heavy, and made for hauling, outdoors (camping/fishing/hunting) and is an excellent work horse. There, i "edited" the review[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Just another example of Dirt Wheels priorities being totally out of step with the majority of ATV buyers. In very steep and very loose downhill trails the Rincon is a big wreck just waiting to happen. An expert can stay in control with proper brake control and using electric shift mode but a novice had better just stay off these hills. I suppose the Rubicon tranny would be better in these situations as JD suggested or even just a 4 speed with low range. Since strong 4WD engine braking is critical in open class (anything goes) trail riding, my ranking of top utility quads would be Grizzly, tie between King and AC, tie for all the rest. There are many lightweight sport quads that do a much better job of booking on easy trails so I see no reason to use these qualities to rank big bore utes.
On nasty trails the Honda Ranchers, Foreman, and Rubican often are a much more appropriate ride than Rincon.

 

Have you ever ridden a Rincon?! I own a Rancher and a Foreman! I will take the Rincon on nasty trails anyday. It is a trail machine. The others are not.
I have also never felt like I was going to loose control on the Rincon on downhill trails and I am not an "expert" as you call it.

 

I found the difference between the manufacturers claimed weight and the actual measured weight of each ATV to be very interesting. Did you realize that the Yamaha and Honda have essentially the same claimed dry weight, ... but when you add 5.3 gallons of gas to the Yamaha it gains 35 pounds, but if you add 4.5 gallons of gas to the Honda it gains 50 lbs. So either Honda uses heavier gasoline, or the scale they use to measure dry weight could stand a little "adjustment".

It's also interesting that the Sportsman gains 57 lbs when you add 4.1 gallons of gas. Polaris must really need to "adjust" their scales.

 

I think the article made some kind of comment about their scales not being 100% accurate and certified. That aside, you really have to be wary of many of the specs in mags like DW and 4wheelAction - the editing really sucks. I don't think I've ever read an issue that didn't have four or five glaring mistakes - specs in the article not matching specs in the sidebars in in picture captions. You can usually figure out what's correct but it can be misleading - especially if you are trying to compare like specifications on different quads.

Jaybee

 

[quote]
Originally posted by: ForemanDan
Hello Dan. Last summer at the Richfield, Utah, jamboree i had opportunity to ride with several Rincons. I signed up for an advanced ride but at the start the leader told us that several sections were usually used only for extreme rides. We get to this one down hill. It was steep, loose rocks, off camber to left, drop off on left side, and right turn at bottom with drop off on left. I am following one Rincon who is following one Polaris Sportsman. I gave both quads ahead lots of room before I start down. Both of these guys were locking up brakes and sliding toward dropoff and then letting off brakes to gain steering.They were fighting the lack of engine braking all the way down, and nearly lost it at the bottom right hand turn. These were both very experienced riders while I am experienced only on dirt bikes and sport quads. So I put my 700 Griz in 4WD low range and started down. I seldom had to use brakes at all and remained in complete control. The off camber right turn at bottom was a piece of cake. I noticed that the tail gunner of our group on a Rancher 350 also cruised right down this trail with no issues unlike both riders on Rincons or Polaris Sportsman.
No Dan I have not ever ridden a Rincon. I am sure they are beautiful machines on the right kind of trails that they were designed for. The Rincon would more than likely run away from my 700 Griz in the right kind of situation. But when you don't know what lies ahead and at same time you don't want to be the guy turning around and you don't care much about your speed in easy situations, I would take 700 Griz or any Honda Rancher, Foreman, or Rubicon before the Rincon.
I also know that rider skill, courage, and experience can make up for lack of machine features. And I have said before and will say again that with my lack of skill, lack of courage, and lack of experience, I will take all the help I can get.

 

and ATVs

 

I pulled out some old moto rags and learned that Honda improved the down hill engine braking on new 680 EFI Rincon. I have also seen that the Polaris Sportsman also offer 4WD engine braking on some 2007 models. I am sure the Rincon and Polaris models that were slip/sliding away in Utah were all older machines before engine braking was improved. Sorry to Dan and others for my confusion.

 

I too have just read the Dirt Wheels 650-700 quad review and I am not supprised at all. I expected the griz700efi to win, not because it is the best, but it is all about giving equal time to each manufacture. And, when a new quad comes out, it would look bad for the magazine to have a write up on the new quad saying it was a bad quad. The manufacture would have a cow and might pull their support. So, the magazine does the "politically correct" thing each year and bounce around the winner based on the new quads out.

This doesn't mean the new griz700 is a bad quad nor does it mean it doesn't deserve to be the winner. Just the facts are there are really no magazines out there that will tell then entire truth of each quad b/c much of their support comes from all the manufactures. Also, we fail to remember that when people give their opinions, it is usually subjective no matter how much they try not to be. It is part of being human. It is just the way it is and I take it with a grain of salt.

Just like the ac700 not haveing enough power when going up hills........now that is real funny. I doubt AC would make a quad that couldn't climb a hill, especially where the company resides from......hills and mud and forest, etc.

Like I said, it doesn't bother me where they rank the quads in a shoot out, b/c the shootouts are very subjective.