Fellow ATV riders I need your help. I'm about to purchase a new ATV. It will be a 2007 Honda Rancher. The dealer has several brand new ones to choose from. He has a manual foot shift for $3299, and has the ES (electronic push button shift) for $3499. Is there a benefit of one versus the other? I"m going to be doing some light trail riding, and some light work around the horse stable. With a $200 price difference, price isn't really a concern, but I was curious about the pro's & cons of each. Thanks for all of your help.

 

yeah i was wondering the same thing as I am leaning towards the rancher myself......where are you located? and what dealer is that? is that a 4x4 model? if it is that is a really good price!

 

I live in Dallas, TX. I'll tell you who the dealer is after i get mine, he only has like 4 left, lol. He's in Arkanasas. I wish that was the price for the 4x4, unfortunately those are the prices for the 4x2. With the type of riding I'll be doing I really don't NEED the 4x4, but it would still be nice to have.

 

i dont think its even a close choice. go with the manual shift. i go to school fixing atvs and motorcycles and i see more electronic shift problems than you would ever believe. sneak to the back of their shop and ask their technicians what they prefer,probably tell you the same thing, the electronic shifts are not reliable after a period of time...

 

Thanks TNHondaMan, that's exactly the type of info I was looking for.

 

Lots of posts all the time in the Honda forum from folks who are having issues with their ES!!! I don't know why everybody is giving Honda a free ride on this one. The magazines never mention it. It is so not typical Honda to field such a flawed system.

Like this guy, for example:

http://forums.atvconnection.co...tid/8/threadid/559462


That said....if you absolutely love the idea of ES and want it no matter what, then go ahead but be sure you know that you are getting into possible future issues.

But, if you want to save yourself some future problems and $200, then go with the foot shift for sure!

 

I have a 07 420 rancher with es and have never had any issues with it. My 420 is also swamped every weekend, the only problem I've had is snapping front axles,but it does get abused and I'm running 27s with lift kit. The only thing I have done is take silicone spray around the plug,its located on the right front of the trans just behind the right front tire. Dont really know if this helped but have had no problems shifting. Hope this was some help.

 

Every bit of information helps, thanks lovin the mud. i appreciate the info.

 

look,you guys may have gotten good quads in terms of durability. but i work in a shop 6 days a week and i work on more utility atvs than any of the street or dirt bikes and sport atvs. and its either axles or the electronic shifts on them. im just telling yah for future reference man, im glad yah got one that hasnt messed up lovin the mud. but its on 07,still kind of newer. tell me how its doing in 2011.

 

manual. not because of any problem with the ES, i just mis the foot shifter too much..... if you want an auto get an auto, if you want to shift-shift with your foot