Hey ya'll,
The wife and I just got back from our first ride today on our new '04 Foreman ES. I have to say that I love it! It handled really well, shifted smooth, and took the mud a whole lot better than I anticipated.

One thing I noticed that wasn't in the book was when Honda recommends using the 4wd. I figured it out all by myself that you have to be completely stopped to shift to or from 4wd. But, I am not sure if you would use 4wd sparingly like in a jeep, or if honda has recommendations on it?

All in all, I love it. My brother has a Rubicon and I found it a little stiff to steer. No problem on my new ES!


Lance

 

The Foreman is set up to where you can shift into four wheel drive at any speed. you dont have to stop. One thing you will notice and the book tells you this also, is that if you are riding in 4wd and you cut the machine off, when you restart it will be working in 2wd even though the switch is still in the 4wd position. Just flip it back to 2wd and back to 4wd again and you are back in 4wd. Mine is a lot easier to steer in 2wd so i just ride in that mode unless I hit a hill or mudhole that I anticipate needing all four wheels to pull, all you got to do is hit the switch to 4wd, without stopping, and off you go. No problems. Its a true 4wd on the fly and you can click in and out moving or sitting still. Hope you enjoy it. I am loving mine now that I got rid of the real rough mud tires and went to the mudlites. ITs an awesome machine. see ya

 

New Quad = Big Smiles

 

The Foreman is a proven wheeler and will provide you with many more great riding experiences....If you get a service manual ...it will help make the maintenance and keep your Foreman running strong for years.

Good Luck



PINKMOON

 

Change your oil and oil filter now, then again at 10 hrs.! Don't wait until the 20 hrs. or whatever the owners manual recommends. You will find a nice little pile of metal shavings in the filter. Honda GN4 is good break-in oil.

 

I saw in some Honda brochure that you can go into 4WD on the fly anytime that front and rear wheel speed varies by less than 6mph. Some kind of safety device that prevents engaging front drive while spinning back end too fast.

 

Good luck with your new Foreman. I always stop to switch into or out of 4x4.

I seem to go every where I used to go with my Recon. Maybe I go through more mud now than around it. I think I started using the 4 wheel drive even though I didn't need it yet. Mainly because I was afraid that the extra weight of the Foreman would bury it faster in 2 wheel drive. The number one reason I like the 4 wheel drive and when I use it the most is backing up steep hills. I don't know how many times I've had to back up a steep hill with loose rocks and dirt. Sometimes because there's a tree down and I can't get around or I just want to go back. These are the main moments I'm glad I bought a 4x4. The 4 wheel drive is also great in the snow compared to 2 wheel drive. Less effort.

 

remember the older foremans had all time 4x4, so dont be afriad to ride with it on all the time... my buddy has almost 6000 miles on his with all time 4x4 not a single problem with the 4x4 system