Hello Lurch..I'll agree with you that there are a high percentage of posts regarding the ES system, but of that 75% you stated, only about 5% are actual faulty parts or workmanship (battery drain problem). The rest of the problems seem to be mud in the shift buttons, mud in the connector on the transmission sensor, very cold weather (-30F)until warmed up, or improper shut down procedure. Other then that I don't know, I haven't had any shifting problems with mine yet, now at 2000 klm 352 hours.

Jeff

 

OMG!!!!! you mean a sportsmans belt is slipping?!?!?! no never happen.......yeah right

 

One note, the Rancher off should be shut off in neutral. When you turn the Rancher on after being shut down in a gear other than neutral, it won't start. You have to rock it back & forth a little & then shift it to neutral to start. Just a minor inconvience.

Here is an observation from this weekend a 2000 Kodiak had to be rocked a little to get it out off park.

 

Well guys i've heard good and bad about electric shift...I've looked at all the new quads for 2000 and 2001, those electric shifts look and sound awsome! Personally if I had the money i'd buy an electric shift. But my old 87' Honda has manual and it still keeps on trucki'n, they must have been made very well back then....I haven't touched the engine yet.

 

I tried one over the week-end and it went pretty good. Obviously I am used to my Polaris's so I found the Honda a bit small but it drove well. Shifting is a bit strange though, sounded kinda "clanky", must have to get used to it I guess. I have another riding buddy who had a few problems this winter with the shifting. Engine compression was a change of pace too. All and all it was a lot of fun but a bit underpowered for my needs.

 

Greetings,

I like it, but the battery drain thing was a pain. By the time I got it fixed the battery was shot -- the dealer is submitting a claim to Honda to pay for the replacement but there's no guarantee they will come through (and I don’t care that much, just so it starts).

During the winter the shift was sometimes sluggish and would bulk occasionally – notably when the temperature was under 10 degrees. The pod also acted erratically at times in the cold. But I attribute both of these things to the weak condition of the battery at the time.

 

I have an '00 Foreman ES with 1200 miles and an '00 Rancher ES with 500 miles and have not had one problem with the ES (or anything else for that matter). ES is the only way to go as far as I am concerned, especially if you like to wade water as much as I do.

Tempest