This is just for the people that have Honda Rubicons. I know that the shift selector is difficult to change from drive to rev. and back to drive. I was wondering how much of an problem is this? Is this a real problem or is this something that gets better with time. I hear most everyone that own a Rubicon say that they really like the bike, but is this just something that you lean to live with? Do you have to force it in the position that you want?

 

yes, my shifter can occasionally be 'notchy', but mostly when it isn't running, sometimes when you have it loaded with power against the brake. it has not failed or gotten stuck. it's just like trying to find neutral on a bike when it isn't running, give it a little rock and it moves easily. just don't grab it and force it and I don't see it ever being an issue

 

You will learn to live with it its not a major problem.I have heard to people spraying all the shifter rods and where it mounts to the motor with some wd-40 to make it slid easyer.Haven`t tryed it yet.

 

So what you're saying is it isn't that big of a deal. It's just a little notchy and it doesn't get stuck. It's not a situation where you can't move it at all, or you have to shut it off to get it in gear right.

 

you've got it. it's not bad, just not as effortless (sometimes) as you would first expect - given how easy and precise everything else on the Rubicon works. but all shifters to a gearbox (or sub-trans) can be like that now and then, regardless of brand. i've never had to shut it off to get it to shift, but if you shut it off in gear (like on a hill) and you want to shift it to N, it may seem hung up (imagine using your car or truck standard transmission as a parking brake and trying to take it out of gear without pushing in the clutch), but you can just grab the front brake and start it in gear and it will then move freely

 

So it seems that you're pleased with everything else on your Rubicon. How do you feel it stacks up against other quads? Besides the shifter, is there anything else that you would change? How about power? Speed? Acceleration? Do you have issues with any of these things?

 

The rubicon stacks up pretty good, 450 kodiac can`t accelerat off my line as fast,400 outlander can`t accelertafrom as fast from a 40kmh rolling start.tons of power had only one thing that i tryed to pull that i couldnt and thats was because i didn`t have the traction.

 

kmdad, you've asked a very controvertial question, so realize this is only my opinion and leave it at that as I'm done defending it to (other) brand loyalists and 16 year old know-it-alls.

power - 500ccs has enough power to surpass traction. I was pulling some pretty good size ash trees ( 40', 12" diameter at the base) off of a rock and tree infested mountainside this weekend. Never did I feel "I'm running out of power". I appreciated the predictable stiff suspension and transmission being as controllable as it is for this task too.

transmission - if this thing continues to hold up, I cannot understand why everyone wouldn't prefer this type of hydro on a utility machine. It is an engineering marvel (that Honda didn't invent, but made it work on an ATV) compared to a belt, and the performance is precise, tight, and smooth with 2nd-to-none engine braking. Compared to a semi-auto it shifts seamless, smoothly, and without hesitation in ESP and is always in the right gear in the D modes. But you never feel "disconnected" to the engine as with a belt.

speed - I got it up to 54 Sunday. It wasn't going much faster if I had the room, but I have seen 58. If you want speed you shouldn't be looking at the Rubicon or any other 500 ute, although the belt drive models are going to be able to shift out more. The Rubicon runs out of gear before power.

acceleration - nobody on another 500 ute is going to blow you away. if someone "beats you" it isn't going to be by much - and who cares, it's a utility quad

sub-trans shifter - I'd leave it alone, the only way it would be as smooth as everything else on the machine would be to make it electronic

brakes - I haven't ever had a problem with the drums. I like the rear drum as you can use it as a parking brake for trailering without having to worry about it bleeding down. The fronts work well, but it is a pain in the **** to service. Now that there are discs it's not an issue.

suspension - rides better loaded than some others I've driven, but the 04 and under is stiff unloaded. there are some advantages (predictable handling, sidehilling), but I wish it rode smoother on the long rides. Now that all of the 05s and up have a better ride, it might be not be an issue anymore. I'd really like to try a CTE.

ergos - everything fits me well, but the King Quad was close

fit and finish - Honda has them all beat, Yamaha is the closest

GC is rarely an issue (except on paper). aluminum skid plates suck (UHMWPE on 05 and up?). oil filter access stinks. I wish I could shift from the different modes without having to come to a crawl or stop. I'd like to have a factory switch that shuts off the 3rd headlight. Wish it had a larger gas tank (improved in 05?). No locker does not bother me, the torsen works well. No 2wd really doesn't bother me as much as some weaker people.

I've had the same luck with the Rubicon that I've had with the dozen+ Honda 4 strokes over the past 30 years. Doesn't miss a beat. It is not the best in many areas, but it is an excellent all-around performer - and this is the key part - for what it was intended to do. If the electronics hold up it's a real winner. So far, so good and I haven't seen that many issues on the forum, most of them probably caused by misuse and abuse.

 

Seems to me KMDAD was asking these questions on APRIL 10TH.... Go do a search on "ATTENTION RUBICON OWNS" and youll see how how many people have tried to help him with his rubicon questions.... (a total of 52 replies)

KM DAD did you ever go get that issue of atv action that did a nice 5 page review of the rubicon. Like I mentioned to you in april.... (may issue)

as for the sticky shifter? Look behind the black plastic and get something like lithium grease in a spray can or some graphite in a spray can and spray the linkage... it works wonders keeping that thing lubed up.... WD 40 not so much of a lube but will work...

 

How did you that rubicon that you test drove in the snow back in march do when it came to shifting KM DAD???