I just purchased a Forman 450S. I was doing some mudding last weekend and everytime I got on an incline it would only spin one front wheel. Also when I was in some fairly deep mud on flat ground it was only spinning one front wheel at a time. That so called "limited slip differential" seems very limited in its capability to get you through anything that really requires 4 wheel drive. Maybe Honda should refund all of us that thought we were buying 4 wheel drive ATV's! 3 wheel drive really stinks.

2000 Forman 450S RED
1986 TRX 200sx

 

Yup I had the same problem with my 98 foreman 450ES , 1 wheel spinning madly others are totally dead on wet logs, slick hills, list goes on, get atv locker kit, it cures 100%!!! well worth the $$$$

 

Muddyforeman,
Did you get the highlifter locker kit? How was it to install? How has it effected your normal driving, does it still handle well on trails and is it hard to steer?

 

Get a locker from Highlifter or try pulling in the brake a little to get both to pull.

 

I tried the brake trick, didn't work for me.

 

From what I've personally seen at my local riding area,the brake thing never works for more than a split second,and thats not enough to get you out of a bad situation.I also dont like the Idea of having the quad in 4wd all the time.I cant figure out why Honda has'nt got true 4x4 and switchable 2wd-4wd on them quads yets.

Lockers will make the quad steer hard.If mudding is your primary riding,than thats ok,however,you will really feel the stiffer steering on a casual trail ride vs non lockers.====Bill

 

I think it is a real rip off that honda put there improved system only on the rancher and rubicon, this really isn't fair to the people that wanted a bigger bike than the rancher and didn't want to spend the money on a rubicon, seems Honda left some of there owners high and dry here and as Bill said with a locker you will be entering the MR America pagent very soon. Well I am not going to say it but that is why I like my bike 4 wheels pulling and its on all the models not just a select few.

 

ctebbe,
I installed the locker from highlifter on my foreman 450. It wasn't that difficult. The results are amazing, it will go through so much more. Handling on trails or mud is barely noticeable. On pavement at real slow speeds or if you're stopped is where you notice it's more difficult to turn the handlbars. I would put the locked differential up against the 'improved' front end of the rancher any day. Havn't rode with a ruby yet but the Ranchers I've ridden with have the same problems with the front differential.

 

sibbs,
How are the titan 589's on different surfaces? I've been looking at the 26x9x12 and 26x12x12 for my 450s. Do they stick out past the fenders?

 

The 589's work great in the mud and on the trails. They also work great for going over brush piles and downed tree tops, logs, rocks and any other rough terrain. Still waiting to try them in snow. I've got no complaints with them so far. I've got 9" 27's on the front and 11" 27's on the rear and I think they're about as wide as the fender. I put them on stock rims and did not need spacers or lift kit. They fit real good. Their is pics of it at my photo album in the 4 wheeling category.

http://briefcase.yahoo.com/honda450es