i think or hope that if honda ever feels their position of dominance threatened enough or even lost they will go straight to work. right now their saying if it aint broke dont fix it. as long as they are leading the market they wont change very much. consider it a good thing that honda is about to drop a notch in the sales because they will likely put disc brakes locking front diff's and keep improving until they are back out on top.

 

OK let me re-phrase it. Perhaps my choice of words was wrong.

Honda is making ATVs for the general public. Not the ATV enthusiast, not the pro-racer (although the 450R may change that), not the rock crawler, not the mudrunner. ect ect ect. Without the features that each of those groups would want. Detuned, ultra stable, generally superior handling (from a saftey aspect), quads.
So mr Joe average can't get hurt and sue that pants of them.

And yes I agree Hondas are overpriced, but when you're #1, you don't have to try harder.
As long as we the people keep buying them at their prices, nothing will change.

And BTW, the reliability and manuverablity/handling is the reason I bought a Honda Rancher. Everything
else takes second fiddle to me.


How does that sound? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Boy, I had to read that twice to make sure I wasn't dreaming... Muddy4life actually talking down on Honda doesn't happen everyday. Bill, I have read a lot of your posts over time and am really surprised at this statement. First, let me say I agree that Honda should get with it and offer features which are now commonplace among other brands. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the best thing that could happen to Honda would be to get passed by Polaris in ATV sales. This would be the wakeup call Honda needs to give its customers what they want. However, one has to realize that along with these features come a vast array of problems, that's the way it works. You add more features, you increase the odds of breaking down, and you do break down more often. The thing is, you knew Honda didn't have any of these features when you bought your Rincon, so why are you all of a sudden unnerved by it a year later? Also, when you were dissing your former Polaris machines, you flaunted their unmatched features but were dissatisfied with the subsequent frequent breakdowns that occured, saying that having all the features in the world was useless if the machine broke down a lot. So to say that is not accurate in your case. If you didn't care how dependable an ATV was, you would still own your fully-featured Polaris ATV's. Again, I agree fully that Honda is ignoring a lot of potential customers by refusing to add more features. I'm just a little surprised that you're now saying the exact opposite of what you were saying peviously. By the way, any problems with your Rincon?

 

WOODSRUNNER,
MUCH BETTER!

ATV TECH,
I did indeed purchase my Honda because I was sick/tired of my 99 and 2000 Polaris ATV breakdowns,especially belts and clutches.When I took on the job in sales at the Honda dealership in early 2002,it was very appearant to me that Honda had NO WHERE the problems of ANY other ATV manufacture out there,especailly Polaris.

I will say that the NEWER 2003 ATVs [including Polaris] have made great strides in the reliability department and I dont think I would fear buying one,except im not CRAZY about belt drives.I would NOT purchase ANY 4x4 Polaris ATV that was made 2002 or before.

The Rincon,though a very nice ATV and very dependable,does lack some features that seem to come STOCK on many belt drive ATVs.My drums have NEVER failed me or allowed in any debree,but I still would not mind having DISK brakes front/rear.Though I've not needed a front diff locker yet,I still would like knowing I have the option of using it if needed.And the reverse override button is a must for die hard mudders.

Its appearant to me that this kind of stuff seems to be unimportant to Honda and they WILL lose future sales because they are not addressing it.Many folks like myself may soon realize that most new ATVs produced from 2003 and newer are very dependable and are not willing to buy into Honda's PAST record for reliabilty when the rest of the new ATVs come with more features,are just as reliable,and cost far less than a Honda.

I like the Rincon and im not in a hurry to buy another quad anytime soon,but when I am,they BETTER address my concerns or I may be buying someone else's product.

I have had two problems with the Rincon in 1100 miles.The CDI box was replaced,and the tranny's shift drum was replaced.Other than that,its been A-OK.

Bill

 

Muddy, rest assured that you have the most advanced trany on the market today.
Caring not what the others say about it, it is the best.
Sure it only has 3 speeds, but do you really need more? It is the best handling and manuvering
650+ out there. Carries heavy loads like no other. I would give my eye teeth for a Rincon.
Consider yourself blessed. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Actually,
one of the biggest reasons I picked the Rincon was because of its REAL auto tranny.And though it can haul alot of weight,it would never compare to the weight that either of my Polaris 4x4s could haul.It also does not have near belt problems that I had with my Polaris ATVs either.

Bill

 

According to the reviews I have read, it is better at carrying overloads than the SP700,
or any other large displacement quad, as far as the overload
affecting the handling and safety. But that is not from experience, just from others
opinions.

And I know what you mean on the belts. A very close friend and riding buddy has
a 2000 SP500, replacing 4 belts in 3 years. He ain't a happy camper. There is not
a belt drive quad in my future. LOL

 

Im not sure where your reading these reveiws on the Rincons low end power,but I will tell you from EXPERIENCE that though my Rincon does a good job at hauling a trailor load of firewood ect,it has no where near the low end torque/pull of EITHER of my Polaris ATVs.

Honda should have made this Rincon a 4 speed auto.Than first gear would be lower and there would be no issue's with low end torque.

The Rincon will never win a weighted sled pull with the tranny it currently has.

Bill

 

I don't believe they were talking about pulling loads, I believe they were citing rack loads
in exess of what they were rated for. Rack overloads verses unit handling. Perhaps the
strengh of the racks stell played a factor in the reviews I read.

I have no idea which would pull loads the best. I will have to take your word for that. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

hey guys all this bs still doesnt help with the fact that there is no override, right now i dont care about annything else but getting a product or re wireing the machine so i can get full reverse power. with that said. my honda kicks *** and does every thing i want it to do, ecept in reverse .