I have experience with the Rincon but only here and in steep mountainous areas. An issue with the Rincon in this area is being able to climb the steeper ground we ride at a slower, more controlled speed and then when going down the steep terrain being able to control the decent with low gearing and just a little brake added. The Rincon can absolutely handle the ground but not with the same ease and control present with the Rubicon. The machines are built differently for different purposes so an absolute comparison is probably not possible. The majority of the riding we experience here is an attempt to keep the front wheels on the ground...............Tass

 

Well I finally found a few minutes after work today to go by my local honda atv dealer. I test rode the honda foreman 4X4 ES first in the large parking lot. Man that thing never really warmed up. Granted it was about 30 degrees this morning but when I rode it, it had warmed up to about 55. I kept in mind that day after day these atv's are cranked in the morning and ran just long enough to get up to the front of the store and then immediately turned off. So first impressions were really not justified. It may have also not been tuned up properly after being removed from the crate? The tires were also low in air. Besides all that, It rode fine. Definitely a step up from my wifes old rancher es 2wd. It handled well and stopped well. I liked it. Next I test rode the Rubicon. One word, Sweet. It will spoil you when compared to the foreman. But hey the same could be said about sports cars. Anyway, like I said I liked the Rubicon's smooth transmission, it's like everyone says it is like silk. It was quite when shifting through it gears, but it had a pronounced sound when slowing down? It's hard to describe. Not bad or anything but just different. My only concern is if that transmission ever went out $$$$. It would cost a bundle I bet. But hey wouldn't they all! It handled really well and when turning it felt controlled and safe. You know it's making me think twice about buying another Polaris. Granted the Rubicon does not have anywhere near the raw power my old 500 HO had but it is easier to control. You can get yourself in real trouble quick with a top heavy atv. I sould know my last one is history.

Sorry if this post doesn't make alot of sense. This started out for my wife and now I'm definitely having second thoughts for myself. I just wonder if the Rubicon will be able to do the work my old Polaris could do around the hunting camp. It was stout! Oh I'm glad my wife didn't get a chance to ride the Rubicon today or she would probably be wanting it. I told here she just needed to go test ride a rancher like she once had and then test ride the foreman.

 

I believe you have tasted just a bit of what my wife and I have experienced with our machines. My 13 year old (weighs about 60 lbs) granddaughter often gets to "drive" while grandma sets behind and she can handle the machine just wonderfully. She gives it her highest words of praise "sweet poppa, real sweet". As far as work I am not sure what your Polaris was capable of but I have often drug 250 lb pine stumps to a site more suitable for burning and cooking the beans. The man that introduced us to the Rubicon has had his since 2002 and uses it to pull a trailer and feed hay to his horses. Moving 15, 60lb bales on the trailer is no problem at all unless its muddy and then the single axle trailer sinks. He has over 2000 mountain miles on his machine with no problems at all. Our machines already have over 1500 miles and mine has had a spark plug problem but my wifes just runs, and runs, and runs, and......................................... you get the idea..........Tass

 

Tass, wow we are a few miles apart aren't we. I've never been to Oregon but always wanted to visit. I had a friend that moved out that after college about 15 years ago. Not heard much from him since he is obviously liking it.

Glad to hear your enjoying your Rubicons I can understand why you like them after riding one today. Are you happy with the 4wd on it. Any short cummings of the atv in your opinion. Yeah my old Polaris like I said was stout. it could easily pull my atv trailer that could hold 2 atvs with ease. The trailer was made out of tubular steel and weighed a little over a 1000#. Now I don't need an atv to do this on a regular basis. It's jsut after hunting season I leave my trailer at the hunting camp and use my atv to pull it up into the woods for out of site placement, from possible theives. I also like you mentioned, pull stumps and dead trees etc. to help clear for food plots and what not around the camp.

You know I just wish dealers had better areas for you to test ride. It's like anything else...once upon time some idiot ruined it for everybody by getting out of hand and getting hurt while test riding.

Thanks for all your replies by the way.

 

New Honda for wife?
......When I first read the title I thought it sounded like a fair trade.....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]
My wife just came in and didn't see the humor in it [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]
My 15 year old daughter wants to know what model Honda you traded your wife for? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]
I need to get out for a ride, I'm goin' stir crazy.

 

wolverine,

Don't get me started on that, sometimes I think they would get the short end of the deal.
Tell your daughter that a Rubicon might be a fair trade. Seriously I think my wife is leaning towards the Rubicon. I will post her final decision in the upcoming days and then give a review of her new ride.

 

Good morning Gooseman,
My wife and I ride almost every weekend. We are at about the 4000 foot level in NE Oregon. Last year we had almost no snow and all our winter riding was in 2" or 4" of snow. This year the situation changed. We still make it into the mountains but the areas are limited and the snow is as much as 18" deep. The weight and stability of the Rubicon (I suppose it would be the same with other machines of similar weight) is able to travel untill the machine high centers and the wheels are denied traction. My son travels with us and rides a 1988 300 4-trax equipped with oversized Dirt Devil tires, we have to break the trail for him but his machine also travels quite well but is defenitely more work to ride. We ride almost entirely in low range and the ESP shift mode. Great power and the ability to select the gear needed for the situation really fits the need................Tass

 

Well, it's official I went this past saturday and picked up the wife's new ride. A '06 Rubicon, honda red of course. I rode it and what a nice riding atv. Makes me wonder if I shouldn't have gotten one too? We plan on doing a little breaking in type riding this weekend on the hunting club property. Our goal is to get back up to the Hatfield-McCoy trails sometime this spring. What a great place to ride. We've not been there since 2004 so I'm sure it's changed some. Thanks again for everyone's input.