Are any year models more problematic than any other when it comes to the ES shifting problems?

thanks

 

the es's havnt had the best track recor for honda. by far the worsed years were 1998 to around 2000 i think (they might have had it fixe before 2000 though) they have made them very reliable in recent years but not as reliable as using your big toe

 

Ain't that the truth!!

The main thing I don't like about it is you have to have both hands on the handlebars to switch gears.

What is supposed to be the advantage of this ES shifting? I don't see any advantages to it. in fact, all I see is disadvantages.

Is there anyway to convert to manual shift?

 

i havent had any problems with my rancher ES. its been very reliable and i have had no problems with it even flooding the engine several times.

 

Still have an 01 that was purchased new by the family. Running great after multiple SOS incidents and the upgrade to bigger tires and the terrain to match. Never had a single issue with the ES system. Nor have the 4 ES equipped hondas my family has in TN.

 

u can't see an advantage? lol guess u have no imagination

one i can wear sandles, without my toes looking like i scared them on the ground from shifting

ever have 2 people on the quad? real big pain in the *** when their foot is in the way

ever go through water and need to shift? my feet don't get wet

got someone new who don't know how to shift?

i could go on for like 10 more minutes, and my es has never failed me once, i love it, and i abuse my quad much worse then most people i know

also what you mean you need both hands? lol i could shift the thing with my toe while holding on with my pinkie

 

I like it when I put my wife on the back. We wear mud boots and their is no easy way to shift without ES.

Sometimes in really deep mud istand on the seat and just use my thumbs.

 

yeah, amen to that, big boots and foot shifter dont mix. I have size 13 Sorel Dominator boots for deer hunting, and with my old standard-shift i coulnt get my foot under the shifter. Now with my ES i have no problems.

it's also nice to go riding with sandals on, with the girl on the back and not even really notice a difference. I can sit farther forward on the seat and not get all screwed up trying to shift with my feet.

Then again, my ES is a 2005, so most of the kinks are worked out of it.

 

I have a set of sorels, great boots but not the worst from my experience when it comes to shifting. Try getting your foot under that lever with a pair of army surplus mickey mouse boots on your feet, the ES is invaluable for people in cold and/or wet climates and those with wives or significant others who dont know how to ride. Also when I got the rancher the S model didnt have floorboards and I dont think it had the instrument cluster either so ES wasnt the only reason to upgrade.