I'm looking to buy a new ATV. Right now I have a Suzuki Quadrunner 250 2WD so I already know that I want independent rear suspension. Right now I like what I've pretty much whittled down the selection to the Honda Rincon, and the Arctic Cat 550 H1. At the same price point I can get an LE AC with a winch, hand warmers, and upgraded wheels. The AC also has much more protection underneath it seems. The thing that draws me to the Honda is reliability. I don't know much about their ATV's, but I have a Honda motorcycle and love it the craftsmanship and reliability. The beltless transmission appeals to me on the Rincon. What I'm looking for are some owners of each, or people that have ridden each to let me know what they love, and hate about their bikes. My riding will be trail, hill climbing, woods riding. Crossing some streams, not much mudding, but want it to be capable if I encounter any. I don't mind regular maintenance, just don't want to be fixing my ATV everytime I go riding (and avoid known problems). Thank you in advance for any information yall can help me with.

 

Based on what your riding style will be go with the Honda, if it was more mud I'd say the AC but the Rincon willl be less maintenance and more reliable

 

I would agree with papahouse... about the only things I would like better about the AC is the locking front diff, lo-range, and better ground clearance. If you need those features, the AC might be a better choice.

Good luck with your decision.

 

The low range was one thing that had me worried about the Honda. Many of the hills around my area are very very steep and I use Low alot on my Suzuki right now either to go up or down them (of course I'll be going from a 250 to a 680cc engine). Is the Honda's gearing decent? I only worry about this because most of the hills are rutted and you are unable to get a running start on them.

 

I can't speak out of experience on the Rincon gearing, but the guys I've talked to (and from what I've read) say it isn't great on the low end. Also, the engine braking is also lacking. Those guys still love their Rincon's... and seem to get by.

I would ask around in the Honda forum to get more input.

I can speak out of experience on the Cat's though, as my son has a 400. Low gear is very low, and it has great engine braking. However, it does lack "umph". The 550 H1 should have considerably more power.

 

Welcome! I would say go with the Rincon

 

Actually, if I were rufrydsc2, for the type of riding he wants to do, I would get a new Rancher AT with the Electronic Shift. That way he gets low gearing when he wants it, Power Steering, EFI, IRS and the Honda quality that he wants. All he would need to bump the tire size up to 25".

 

Welcome!

 

Thanks for the welcome Dodge. Bossman: I had looked at those, but liked the larger displacement in the Rincon. Yall pretty much confirmed what I was thinking all along, that I should go with the Rincon. I'll be purchasing a leftover in Jan, found many available in my area for 6400 to 7500. Man I can't wait, I'm driving my wife nuts talking about it. LOL.

 

The engine braking on the RINCON is lacking but i just hit the brakes.. The machine has plenty of low end power it's just the first gear is pretty tall.. If you were a novice rider it might be a little problematic but if your gonna be doing the same trails that you've been doing on a LT250 Im sure you'll be all set LOL

You could also look at the Honda rubicon ...yes I know you said you want IRS but compared to a FL250 the rubicon drives like a brand new cadillac and has amazing gear ratios and engine braking.