Looking to buy a new Honda Foreman and have been debating on the electronic shift versus manual shift. I was reading and noticed the ES models also have an auxiliary shift lever.

Questions
1. By having the auxiliary shift lever, could I use it all the time if I didn't like the electronic shift?
2. What do you have to do to enable the auxialiary shift lever? Do you have to diable the ES unit some how.

Sorry for the dumb questions but I want to make sure I don't by an ES and regret it or have issues with it.

 

The lever that comes with it has no means of permanently attaching it to the machine. It is just intended so you can get it into a suitable gear and limp home. Obviously Honda does this on purpose. I don't see why you couldn't get a regular shift lever that will attach, and try it out just ignoring the ES and see what happens??????

 

1. No

2. It's only to be used so you won't get stranded if, or should I say when, the ES has a malfunction.

Sounds like you are really wanting the foot shift. Go test ride both.

 

Hey reconranger... late night, or early morning?

 

none

 

If youre like most owners of ES models...you might use it once, but honda has done a good job of making the shifter mechanism, and its gotten to be very troublefree. Its meant to be a backup...thats why it wont stay attached. And once you use the manual shifter, the ES function will be disabled until you turn the key off and back on.