Latest issue of ATV Rider tested the Rancher ES, and had the shifter fail! At least they kept riding, with the manual lever. The other magazine (can't remember which one off hand), when they had one fail earlier this year, they just parked it and disqualified it.

So what's going on here? Seems to me, a manufacturer would go over a machine to be sure it is flawless, before they let it out for a magazine to test. There are a fair number of posts in here by people who have had trouble with theirs, but there are also a lot who said they have had no problems.

 

Maybe the last models of the ES shifter have problems, because I never had any problems with mine ....
But I do read many post about Transmission problems and ES problems ..... Don't really know what is happening with honda.

 

Yup, the ES can and will fail from time to time, but it's hardly an epidemic. Remember, this system has been out since 1998. If there was really a design problem, Honda would have solved it a long time ago. People simply have to realize that the ES system cannot be as reliable as the foot shift. After all, the ES has the exact same transmision as the foot shift; however on top of that it has the whole ES system and there are more parts that have the possibility of failing. I work in a Honda shop and can tell you that I have seen very few ES failures since 1998. (I can count them on one hand) Also, if I were to purchase a Honda 5-speed tomorrow, I wouldn't consider the foot shift; I am totally sold on the ES. Don't forget, even if the ES system fails, you'll easily get home with the use of the backup shifter. Let me put it this way. Honda has made the ES system about as trouble free as they, or any other manucfacturer can make it.

 

All I can say is, I have never seen anybody's FOOT fail out on the trail!

 

Yup, I think I covered the fact that you can't beat a foot shift for reliability. The great thing is that Honda gives buyers the choice: simplicity or convenience. I highly doubt that Honda sells more foot shift models than ES models. Have you ever driven an ES Honda? Man, I personally love shifting five speeds with buttons instead of my foot. And if the ES does fail, bring it home via the backup shifter. Can't beat that in my mind.

 

Those dang ES's, I'll take another one.

 

Stupid question but my Dad just picked up a used 2001 Rancher-ES.

I'm not sure what kind of paperwork/manuals he has with it so I was wondering how the backup shifter even works should we ever need it?

Thanks

 

The backup shifter is a lever that you put in the usual place a foot shifter is located ..
I find it stupid for 2 things . .

1 - Why didn't they gave us the 2 shifters !? .. The foot shifter and the ES shifter at the same time .. Given the option to remove the
foot shifter ..

2 - Why did they put the backup shifter so ackwardly