it's embarrassing how under powered those rincons are- going from a renegade 800 to a Rincon 680 is like swapping out your 1200cc sea-doo to a row boat! my rincons handled great- but both were always having tranny issues (especially shifting in the winter) and way way underpowered.

same here- look at some of the trails I have posted in my albums- sporties take a beating on trails around here. there's a lot of good open sand pits for'em- but trail wise; not so good. I've done a bit of riding up in NB Canada- have an album in my profile with pics- great riding up north!

 

Yea the 700xx will probably be sitting for most of the winter unless we get a random 50 -60 degree day. I've had the same problem with rocks and sprockets over the years, that's why I like the xx. The way the sprocket sits in the rear makes it impossible to slam against rocks and it sits over a foot off the ground.
Power certainly isn't the main concern for honda utes. They have really never been a company about brash power in any of their vehicles so I can't say that I'm surprised with this. Even in the age of 800 hp super cars they have elected to stick with a v-6 with 450hp for the new NSX. I guess when it comes to ATVs they feel that they make sport ATVs to go fast and ute ATVs for trails and work. It doesn't bother me because I didn't buy my rincon or rubicon to go fast anyway. My outty 650 will absolutely put a beat down on the rincon in a drag but the rincon is nimble and a great handling atv and will lose it in the trail. It's also been extremely rugged and reliable and In 10 years I haven't been very easy on it. Lol everything about that also goes for my rubicon. The renny 500 will crush its spirit but everywhere else (except mud) the rubicon has the edge.

 

My ATVs are put away for the winter. Snow is just to deep now.

Nice Pics Beergut.

 

Yea I had a 450r for a little bit and liked it a lot but the rocks would bash up the sprocket. Like I said, the xx is nice because it's chain and sprocket sit up high like a differential in any ute and has a skid plate protecting it. the XX actually has a good 1-2 inches more of GC than the renegade so it's never a problem. Also you must have had a bad rincon if the transmission always had problems. Honda even adapted that engine/trans package for their new pioneer and that thing is getting a lot of praise from the mags and other critics. It must do a few things right. Guess everyone has their own thing. I like having a variety of different things to ride because after a while the 850lbs machines just don't handle well enough

 

The Rincon 680 and Pioneer both have a low 850lb towing capacity do to that odd ball 3 speed tranny.

The little 420 Rancher has a higher towing rating then the 680 flagship , what's the logic in that?
The reviews I have read call the 3 speed Rincon tranny "Silly".

 

Yea I guess that's all a matter of opinion. Honda had low towing numbers because of the lawyers in the company. Even the rubicon with the hydro trans is rated at 850 and I'm sure that trans is more set to work than any CVT.. I've never heard a review like that. The rincon came in second in the dirt wheels shoutout vs the outty 800, king quad, brute force, artic cat , sportsman and grizzly. Only the grizz topped it I believe so not every review is bad. It may not be the best atv for pure working or plowing but c'mon, these things are toys. Get a tractor or a dump truck if you want to do real work. The rincon shines on the trail and there isn't a better atv built for this purpose then the rincon. Let's not forget it is the most reliable flag ship atv around also but I guess that gets overlooked by people. Guess I have to stay on the honda forums for that to matter

 

And you may want to take another look at the pioneer stat sheet. It has a towing capacity of 1500 pounds and hold 1000 in the bed. That just might be class leading compared to the other jap brands

 

Sorry, your right 1500lbs towing for the Pioneer. 2014 Pioneer 700 Specifications - Honda Powersports

Same tranny and motor as the Rincon but with X2 the towing. Weird. 2013 Honda FourTrax Rincon™ Base Reviews, Prices, and Specs

 

Of all the quads I've been on, I don't think I ever disliked one as much as the Rincon. Non-adjustable shocks on the rear and it rode like a brick. And the 3 speed transmission was not geared low enough in first. It was fun going down rutted trails with boulders thrown in with a quad that didn't have much engine braking until you got up to 12-15 mph. And, I agree that the engine was underpowered.

 

Yea well I can see you thinking it is underpowered, you said you are like 350 right? At that weight tho, I don't see how you could think it was too soft unless maybe you were bottoming it out just by sitting on it.