Went to my area Honda dealer, and looked at the Rancher AT, Foreman Es and Foreman Rubicon.
The dealer insisted that for STRICTLY trail riding, I would be happier with the Rancher AT or Rubicon. I have read that the AT is a little underpowered, and want the Bigger motor. he said the ES might be a little slower due to gearing, and Stiffer, since its meant to work.

Is this Guy blowing smoke? Is the Foreman ES a stiffer work suspension? Like I stated, its mostly for trails, and I dont want the Stuck problems ive heard about the AT.

Thanks

 

Sounds pretty accurate to me.

 

It is slower my 450 caps at about 50mph But how fast do you need to scoot down the trails anyway? The suspension is fairly stiff but the overall ride is really not bad for a work horse. I think any of those are suitable for trail riding.

JMO

Later

 

I second meb 1's reply.

 

I just bought a 2004 Foreman ES. The supension does feel stiff, and it's no speed machine by any means, but it has TONS of low end power and torque. There is a pretty steep price difference between the Foreman ES and the Rubicon. It's almost a thousand bucks difference here in PA, Ohio, WV. My buddy bought a rubicon and I could see a difference in little things like the tail lights were nicer on the rubicon. Of course te rubicon has a bigger motor and automatic tranny also, along with better suspension. I'm not sure about the Rancher AT, but it is about the same price as the Foreman ES around here. Overall, I like my Foreman a lot. I'm really happy with it. I do virtually no trail riding - I couldn't justify another thousand for plowing snow and dragging deer. If I had the money, I would have bought the Rubicon. My buddy got the 2004 Rubicon GPS for $ 6,100.00 out the door. I got my 2004 Foreman ES for $ 5150.00 out the door. Those numbers include everything such as tax, title, freight, prep, air in the tires. Now if my buddy could figure out his GPS we would be set, lol!!! Good Luck. Pete

 

Bigger is better. I know this is sort of trivial, but it's nice having that light on the bars as well as the two headlights, especially when trail riding (at night of course). I'd grab the foreman, albeit the rubicon is bigger yet. But does anyone else think that the front sticks out on the rubicon too far? It looks like the profile of the aquatrax water craft! Cool, but what happens when you nose up to a rock and bash that intstead of hooking up your tires? But...IRS in the rear gives you added ground clearance...hmmmm the debate goes on!

 

y dont you buy the honda 400ex or the 450? I mean..thats perfect for trail riding..there light..and fast..I hate utility quads...too heavy..stiff...

 

Most of my friends have 2X4 Quads. Somebody has to pull them out when the going gets bad. And they always seem to get stuck in the small streams. The OLD forman I borrowed was impossible to get stuck, even in a Marsh . I also will ride in the snow. Ill take less speed for a Tougher, go anywhere machine.

 

Sledrider;
Your dealer is correct the AT would be more fun for the trails but the ForeMan is better for not getting stuck especially with aftermarket tires and the ForeMan also has selectible 2-4wd for playing on the trails. It's definantly not fast (48-50mph) but in 2wd it will slide through corners with anybody than switch to 4wd and really play in the mud or pull out your stuck friends.
Mike

 

well i really like the forman es and i admit on flat ground they are easy to pass but they can fly climbing hills. i would dare say they rival some 500cc atvs in the torque department too.and a forman 450 is not a hard bike to negotiate!!! its some what nimble!!! the ride is rough but stable and i beleive on the 2004 model they gave the thing some ground clearance too I own a racher 350 4x4 myself and love the
quality of a honda atv before i bought it though i road a foreman a lot it was my cousins and in the wooods a foreman is fast .bottom end torque is great on a 450 plenty of umph to getyou down the trail.i dont know much about the rancher at but i do know the rincon had some tranny trouble when it first come out and the at is a mini rincon id have to agree with most of the others go with the 450 es get
the most bike for your money