I've seen it posted that the new '05 rubicons and the new Forman 500 have a far better ride than they're predecessors and the Forman 450's. What have they changed to do this??? Is it simply new shocks and springs, or have they made more drastic changes???

If it's just shocks and springs, can you fit a set from an '05 rubi/forman 500 on an older forman 450??? Maybe one of the honda techs here can size it up between 2 of these bikes in the shop and let us know. I dont mind a little fabrication if it will make for a nicer ride!!!

 

Bump, annyone, Knowsalot?? Dzzy??

 

not a Honda guru, but I heard there are geometry changes too (shock angles)

 

I've got the '05 and the entire frame has been changed. When they made the change they also changed the angles and I believe Honda also changed the valving on the shocks. All I know is that it worked. The new bikes ride and handle a ton better than the older Foremans/Rubicons. As far as retrofitting anything, I wouldn't know.

 

OK..........

The 2005 Foreman models use the Rubicon chassis.....and yes,...the 2005 Rubicon chassis is the same as the previous models to.

The shock angle difference was only up front. They did this by moving the bracketrs on the frame and not the control arms.
The rear suspenison is the same as it has been since 2001 with the exception of the shock itself.....and it will fit the older Rubicons.....but not so sure about the 450 Foreman models. I would have to look into that.

As for the front, none of the 2005 Foreman pieces will fit onto a 450 Foreman of any year model except for maybe the shocks...but I don't know what difference that may make considered the shock angle on the 2005. That shock may not work well with the geometry of the 98-04 Foreman 450.

Maybe this will shed some light on this matter.
The old 400/450 chassis is gone completely........and the new Foremans are using the 2001-2005 Rubicon chassis.....less a few frame brackets ofcourse. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I ride a 04 Honda Foreman 450S model . The only complaint that I have is also the stiffness of the ride. I broke my back in an automobile accident about 7 years ago and have two herniated disc. I love to ride and do ride almost every weekend. I have got to find a better ride too! I have just placed an order with atvoutfitters.net for a full set of Progressive shocks for the foreman. 397 for the set of four adjustable shocks. I hope its not a waste of hard earned money, but the stock shocks are a little higher in price than the progressive, and the progressive are fully adjustable and an inch longer to boot! I will let you know if they improve the ride enough to make up for the difference on prices. The stock shocks on this Foreman let you feel every little bump on the trail. Its very stiff compared to the rancher we have. I know it was designed more to be used like a tractor than trail riding, but jeez, even farming and ranching we need some relief! In this field of comfort is the only area that I feel Honda is really behind the other manufacturers. The suzuki, kawasaki, polaris, all float across the trails, I have ridden these that belong to friends, but everything else about Honda I feel is miles ahead of the competitiion. Hopefully in the near future they will listen and add a good adjustable shock to their atv line. I had written a couple of other shock manufactures online about the shocks for the Foreman, but none offerered a reply except for Progressive. So Progressive it will be . I will let you know how they work when I get them. .Thanks for the space and opportunity to respond to your thread.

 

Thanks alot knowsalot, you definantly live up to your name!!!

Triplelstroker let me know how you find those new shocks, reply here or PM me I'd be interested in the results. The ride is rough, but its not too high on my priority list of things to do, its just nice to get some ideas for future modifications!!!

 

Knowsalot, will the new springs/shocks from the CTE or even the 05 Rubicon improve the ride of older Rubicons?? Any idea of cost??

Thanks.

 

Got the rear Progressive shocks today. The front ones did not come in yet. Three of us rode the Foreman after installing the Progressive shocks on the rear of the Foreman in the softest setting on the spring preload. We would ride the Foreman and then swap to the Rancher and ride the same route. All of us agreed that it is now smoother than the Rancher in the bumpy stuff. I am curious to see if they get better as they get broken in. I will keep you posted. The shocks are advertised to be one inch longer than stock, but were at the most 1/4inch longer from eye to eye. When you let the atv down off the jack the Progressive shocks will squat a little, unlike the original that were so stiff. Hopefully the weather will hold out this weekend and we can test them out trail riding. I will keep you posted as how they do. Thanks.