I am planing on getting a new Rubicon whithin the next year and was planing on keeping it for a while. I have noticed that there are very many people that say they have problems. Do Rubicons have good long term reliability with the Hondamatic trany? I was just wandering if it would be worth it to get on if it is just going to break, I am going to get ethier a 04 or 05 so does Honda have all the problems worked out by now or not?

Thanks for the help.

 

Just my opinion, but the more complicated you make something, the more likely it is to have some problems.

 

Considering how many are out there, the number of problems is pretty small. Are there Rubicons out there that have had problems? Sure there are. Just like every other ATV model out there. As for mine...I bought it back in July of '00. It was the first one in this area. It's been an awesome machine the past 3 1/2 years with NO problems at all. I've put it through a lot, and it has delivered everything I've asked of it so far. It only has 1700 miles on it, but a friend just bought one a while back that had over 4000 miles on it. It's still going strong too. Does Honda have the bugs out? From what I've heard and read, Honda does more testing before they release to the public than any other manufacturer. I don't think you'll be disappointed at all. If you're still apprehensive about it, you can always opt for the extended warranty.

 

Does a bear crap in the woods? Heck yeah the Rubicons work, just like any other Honda. Although it may not be as fun stock against the Vinson, Arctic Cat or Sportsman (500cc competition) it will outwork and outlast them all. Take my word for it.

 

Our Rubicon has 4000 miles and 465 hours on it. Other than regular maintenance the only thing we have replaced is one of the floorboards we cracked climbing over boulders.

This has been an excellent ATV and has delivered everything we have asked of it. It runs like new. The transmission is the cats meow.

We ride double and carry about 80 to 100 lbs of gear with us everywhere. Roughly 400 pounds total. It takes us everywhere we want to go without hesitation.

The dealer we purchased ours from I believe has sold more Rubicon’s than any other Honda dealer west of the Mississippi and has only replaced a hand full of oil pumps and a couple of transmissions. Thats nothing compared to how many they have sold. Ours is an early 2001. Keep the oil changed and the filter. Run quality oil that meets Hondas requirements.

Enjoy.

 

One of the most often times I have found that people report problems are people that mostly ride in mud and deep water where they are runing huge tires and using lots of power. I am not going to do lots of muding and probably never run over 26" or 27" tires because I want ot keep as much of the stock handiling characteristics and feel. Now the only thing to decide is to wether or not to get a Warn 4-2-4 shifer or not.

 

We are not "sport" riders. When we were first looking at ATV's, one of the things we didn't like about the Rubicon is that was in 4-wd all the time. I was always a manual hubs kind of person. Today we could care less that it is in 4-wd all the time, we actually prefer it that way. One less button or lever to push, just point and go. Now that we have been riding with a lot of different ATV's, I still prefer it being in 4-wd all the time. Have seen a lot of problems with others 4-wd not working all the time. I guess a mechanical engagement would be OK.

 

The Hondamatic is what sets the Rubicon apart from the rest,its the smoothest most versatile tranny there is period! I love my Rubi...

 

i would get the 05 then you r sure all the problems r worked out but a 04 wouldnt have many problems eather because honda tests them very good before they are released

 

The one I have seen with the most miles is 26,000. I made the first repair on it yesterday that was out of the ordinary maintanance.
The oil sender wire came loose so I replaced the wire terminal end. Other than that we replaced brakes and tires, over the normal maintanance adjustments and procedures.
I have repaired a few that were akmost new also, but have more out there that haven't needed any repairs out of the ordinary than the few of ones that have.

----- Gimpster -----