I am looking for a new ATV. I have had a 03 Foreman 450S, and I am just getting rid of a 05 Rincon GPS. The foreman was great, I just want a little more power and the ESP option when I got rid of Foreman. The Rincon was great except for the lack of hold back (down hill engine braking) other than that, I would keep the Rincon. I do a lot of steep up and down hill trail riding with the lack of hold back some time the down hill portions were more life threatening than it should have been. I also ride on fire roads, with a little rock crawling. I also ride in the dessert. I really don’t like the belt on the auto transmission of the non-Honda ATV types, but I feel I can deal with it. So I have narrowed the choices down to three the Honda Rubicon, Yamaha Grizzly, or the Suzuki King Quad. Could I get some feed back on the virtues of these ATV compare to the others I would really like the information, since I can ride before I buy. If there is any other suggestion on other ATVs please fill me in on why.

Thanks

 

Have you considered the Foreman 500??? Similar to your old Foreman, but shoud have more power. Reliable foot shift and selectable 2wd/4wd. Not going to have the plush ride of your former Rincon though.

I was riding with a Rincon the other day at Hungry Valley. I was on the 400EX and we were both doing the big hill climbs. I was seriously kicking his butt! I figured a 650 should have more power, but the thing certainly wasn't any powerhouse. Guess his 200+ pounds of extra weight is a serious handicap.

I need another 4X4 and was considereing the Foreman 500, but after riding my fairly technical and narrow local trails in the San Bernardino Mtns. the other day, I realize that anything large will be a serious liability! So, it will be another Rancher for us. And, there is a safety issue as well. When I think about rolling a little 500 pound Rancher vs. something like a huge top heavy 700+ pound Polaris, and well.........no thanks!

 

King quad, hands down....

 

King quad, all the way.

 

King Quad. I traded a Rincon for my new King Quad. I love it. It's a much more versatile ATV.

 

How is the King Quad's engine braking (hold Back) compare to the Rubicon and Rincon?

 

I just purchased a KQ and did a very rough trail. The downhill engine breaking/holdback in low was great. It was even better than my Vinson Auto. I am very pleased.

A friend just traded his 650 Brute Force for a KQ and he is very impressed to. He had suffered too many annoying problems with his Brute 650.

 

If you narrowed it to those three, I would say King Quad. Owners seem to like them.

 

But, the KQ is belt drive. Ok, belts have improved over the old days, but personally, it's not somewhere I even care to go. Give me a good old manual gear-on-gear trans.!

 

Recon Ranger, Almost every manufacturer now has a belt drive on their big ute's so I ask you ......

How long have they been out?

How long does a typical belt last?

How much does it cost to have the dealer replace one?