I am currently looking into purchasing a new Rubicon, also considered a Yamaha 660 4WD, and even a Kawasaki? I'm 99.9% sure I want a Rubicon. I've never owned a 4 wheeler before. I'm looking for any and all suggestions available. I've owned Honda mowers and never had any problems out of them. Yellow is my favorite color so thats how i've based my decsion so far...Also this is my first post to this list so go easy on me guys....Thanks [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

I have a Rubicon and I think it is the finest machine on the market today. Some are making bigger motors but still use a belt to drive them. The Rubicon transmission is automatic or manual shift and does take sometime to learn how to use the transmission to it's full potential but when you do it is nothing short of fantastic. I've had this one about three months and if I we're going to get a new quad today I would get the Rubicon again without any hesitation. The quality I think is unequaled by the other brands as of yet. I would also like to add Honda reliability is a big factor for me as I ride alone and don't want to walk back through cottonmouth infested swamps or even on dry land. Good luck on whatever you decide.
Steve

 

Hi;
Believe it or not I'm Honda all the way, but I don't think I'd buy a Ruby. As with all Honda's in general, they're reliable and relatively maintenance free. The group of friends I ride with, mostly ride Honda and only the one has a Ruby. He loves the automatic, but is not impressed by the power or ride. He also owns a 450 ES. I asked if he would buy the Ruby if he could do it over, as I am interested in a new quad. He told me not to buy the Ruby as it is not worth the money over the 450. These guys ride hard and put on a lot of miles and have proven Honda durability in my mind, so in reality you can't go wrong.
Just my two cents worth. Good quading.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I also have a Rubicon, my advice is to buy based on how you want to use it. Now that's easier said than done because most of us know that riding in different situations is what makes riding fun. The Rubicon is very nice, having ESP and Automatic is great. I didn't buy mine to go fast or be a "sport bike" I use the Scrambler for that. If you are going to have one bike I would definitely consider the Grizzley or Praire as I feel they can cross the gap between sport and utility better. Now if that is not important then I would go with what makes you happy. One other thing to consider: bigger is not always better although it appears to be more fun, just make sure it fits you and feels like something you can control and fit into areas you want to go. Good luck.

 

I think the folks here need more information about your intended uses for the quad to say what is best. As for me, I use my quad for deer hunting and light farm work so I want a quad that's reliable. I could care less how high it jumps or if it goes 70 mph, I want the thing to start when I push the button and Honda's are the most reliable out there. I have a rancher but if I were going to get an automatic quad there's no way I'd even consider a belt driven quad, which leaves out everything except the rubicon. I'd say most would be better served by a rubicon than any other automatic quad out there but if you just want to ride trails and it doesn't matter if you're broken down half the time then you could consider a polaris or yahama.

 

rollin, imagine that. You post your question on a Honda board and everyone says get the Honda. Hunter brought up the ? how do you plan to use it?

I use my quad just like hunter does and I decided on a Praire 300 4x4. It has been everything I would hope for and it was $1500 less than the Rancher. Before I bought mine I had limited my search to Rancher and Praire. Went to many Honda and Kawasaki shops in Houston to see if there were any in for repairs and didn't find any of either.

Don't worry about a belt drive. They have been on snowmobles for many years. Polaris has used them from day 1. They are a proven transmition.

I will give you some + & - of each as I see it.
Rubicon + electric shift or auto
+ comes in yellow (I don't like yellow but to each his own)
+ Honda reliability (although there reputation has become slightly tarnished they are still known for there reliability)
- largely unproven disign (only in production 1 year)
- unprove transmition (only been in production 1 year, not repairable, $1000 to replace)
- drum brakes
- solid rear axel
- smaller motor
Grizzly + proven belt drive ($30 if the belt needs to be replaced)
+ IRS
+ disk brakes
+ big motor
- largely unproven design (new model)
- yama not known for bullet proof reliability
Praire + proven belt drive
+ powerful motor
+ disk brakes
+ reliable (Kawasaki's reliability is only slightly less than Honda)
- solid rear axel
- largely unproven disign (new model)

Whichever of the three you get, I am sure you will be happy with it.

 

Boxofrokx,

Your comments about the Rubicon are completely false….

Honda reliability (although there reputation has become slightly tarnished they are still known for there reliability)

Slightly tarnished. How do you figure? For the #1 quad manufacture in sales there’s bound to be needed repairs. Compare that to repairs for the same number of quads sold under any other manufacture and you’ll see there is simply no comparison.

largely unproven disign (only in production 1 year)

This transmission has been in production since 1962 and has extremely reliable and well proven. I currently have a 1978 CB750 that I bought new with the same transmission and 12K, not one problem.

unprove transmition (only been in production 1 year, not repairable, $1000 to replace)

Although the transmission is sold only as a unit they are repairable. And when I checked they were $750.00. Expensive. Yes, but again I have never seen one fail. Unlike belts that get wet and slip and burn. I’ve replace over 6 belts on my last Polaris and I vow never to own another belt driven quad. I have even had my belts slip on my snowmobiles although it less common it happens.

Drum Brakes is hardly a minus. No water = limited replacement. The only advantage discs have is their stopping ability. Sand and dirt will cause premature wear.

Smaller motor- Huh? The Rubicon has more than enough to pull to any job you can ask of it and them some. Speed is not a determination of Power. Not that you’re claiming that here…

Solid rear axel. Although not IRS the Rubicon provides a terrific ride even with my bad back I have never got of my machine with a complaint about how sore I feel.

 

I bought a 2002 Rubicon this August in Alaska. I have never owned or ridden a 4 wheeler and the last motorcylce I bought was in 1981.(Yamaha)
My friends here in Texas own Polaris 500s and think they are great; but my place in Alaska is 8 hours away from the nearest dealer, and I bought the Honda because of their reputation for reliability. I put 350 miles on the ATV in two weeks and the Honda has not disappointed me yet. The machine runs flawlessly and the fit and finish from the dealer was without any defects. The downside was the cost of $7,150 and the throttle lever vibrates my thumb numb.

 

hiofcer, my openion about the rubi CANNOT be false because it is my opinion.

Now lets try to get some facts. Starting with reliability. To the best of my knowledge no atv maker provides data on the number of units produce AND the number of units repaired so ANY reliability info is anicdotal(sp?) evedence not data. With no data published we do not know a thing about reliability of any quad. I base my statement on statments I have read on this forum from Honda owners and there opinions. Many have stated there rubi are not as reliable as there formans or other Honda atvs where. Therefor my tarnished statement.

About the transmition, are you telling me that you can take the transmition out of your '78 CB750 and drop that thing in your rubi? I had no idea they put automatic transmitions in CBs. I am goning to have to see that to believe it. I didn't know Honda put an auto in any of there other street bikes or atvs either. As far as being $1k, again I am only repeating what I have heard rubi owners have said what they spent for repairs. If the transmition is the same one as made in 1962, why can't you just put some of the parts from one of them in to fix it? You shouldn't have to buy a new one. I'll tell you why, because it is a new transmition, not a 40 year old design. Additionally, if I get water on a belt it will cost $30 to fix. If I get water in a rubi it will cost $750+ to fix.

Now brakes, you stated 'The only advantage discs have is their stopping ability'. I don't know about you but thats what I use my brakes for, stopping. You are also saying there is less maintaince on the sealed drum brakes. Maybe so, maybe not. I have not replaced sealed drum brakes on an atv but it looks like a pain in the @$$. I have replace disk brakes and drum brakes on a motorcycle. Disk brakes take about 10 minutes, the wheel is left on and 2 screws are removed. Drum brakes take about 2 hours, the wheel must be removed and a few springs must be removed. Add to that the complexity of a sealed drum brake and you probable add an additional hour.

As far as the smaller motor. It is a fact it is a smaller motor. It will have more than enough power for 999 riders out of 1000. As I stated in my first reply, I have a 300 and it has enough power for me.

IRS does not make for a smoother ride, soft spring and long travel make a soft ride. IRS does a much better job of keeping all 4 wheels on the ground under rough conditions. IRS also give much more ground clearance. It becomes a safty issue if you ride up steep rocky hills. A solid axel atv will flip over where an irs goes with confidence. Are you trying to say 'if they had an irs rubi and a non irs rubi the non irs rubi is better?' If your opinion is the non irs is better, that is your opinion. My opinion is a irs is better.

PS having read my post befor posting it, there are both facts and opinions in it. Ultimately, rollin asked for OPINIONs on the 3 atvs. I gave him MY opinion, not yours or anyone elses. If you don't like my opinion, give yours. But don't lie to the guy and say a 1962 transmition is the same as what he is buying in 2002, 40 years later.

PPS I still stick with my statement 'Whichever of the three you get, I am sure you will be happy with it.'

 

I have made my mind up!!!HONDA RUBICON WINS!!!!!!
I should pick it up on Wensday, I'll let everyone know what my pro's and con's are after i ride it next weekend!!! Thanks for all of your opinions....
Rollin
Spring,Texas