Hello:

I am trying to decide between a Rubicon and a Foreman 500 after I sell my Rincon.
I am wondering which has better downhill engine braking between the Rubicon and the Foreman 500? Are they about the same? Any advantage of one verses the other? How does the ride feel one smoother that than other? Any input would be a great help.

Thanks

 

i dont know anything about the foreman 500, but i love my rubi. the engine braking is great. i can creep down any hill at 4mph in low range. also works good at high speed. also like how u can switch to ESP to control it yourself. im sure if u get a rubi u wont be dissapointed

 

My Foreman will also creep down hills in low w/o using the brakes.

As far as which is better, The Rubicon is liquid cooled and has a hydro-mechanical transmission, where the Foreman is air cooled and has a gear on gear transmission. I suppose it comes down to personal preference. If you like autos, go Rubicon, and if you like foot shift, get the Foreman...

 

The two machines are so similar that it really comes down to what "JeffinTD" said. Do you want a foot shift(Foreman) or auto with ESP thumb shift(Rubicon)? Both are great machines and you would be happy with either one.
The Foreman has a super low and short first gear where the Rubicon has a designated low range on the transmission. Both have great engine braking but the transmissions are different. I personally like having the low range so I can carry more speed and still have the low range power.
You will love either one. Let us know what you decide.

Cirviver

 

Well it all comes down to what you want, and how much you want to spend. The forman platform is a time proven reliable setup (the engine is the same as the 450 just bored out again) so its nearly bulletproof, it S or ES, either case you have a super low 1st gear for great engine braking. Granted, now the Rubicon is time proven as well and seems to be very reliable. Liquid cooled is nice, but both engines seem to be reliable anyway.

If it were my choice, I'd go with the Forman, becuase simplicity seems to be the way to go in the long term. The formans tranny will be cheaper to repair over the rubi if it failed, liquid cooling always has the possibility of a leak.

 

the rubicon is also auto or manual shift.
plus the rubicon is liquid cooled and the forman is not.
and the new rubicon is suposed to be a better riding then the forman.
i would go with the rubicon just because you can shift it or let it shift itself.
and its liquid cooled also.
and thats a big plus when it starts to get hot outside.