Thanks Knowsalot, I knew about the 600 lb agreement.

I have ridden the big over-weight ATVs and don't care for them, to me it's like driving a Suburban through the mountains. I know a lot of folks like that but I don't.

Several of my friends that have owned one of the heavy-weights and switched to lighter ATVs swear they will never go back. I prefer the "sportier" feel of the lighter ATVs and don't care to wrestle the big ones through the tighter trails that we enjoy riding.

If it never snowed here having something bigger than a 500 cc would not be an issue but in deep snow a big bore with a locking front diff is really the way to go.

We still have a few years left in our Rubicon so we'll wait and see what's on the market then. As much as I don't like belts and love the Hondamatic today I would have to look elsewhere.

 

Not sure it the leftover inventory story is true, maybe, maybe not. IMO if Honda drops the rubicon, antiquated or not, it will be a huge loss. I'm 55 years old and slow learner. I bought my fisrt brand new ATV in 1983, it only had three wheels but it was great. Since that time I have been fortunate enough to experience almost all make and models. Granted they were not the hopped up race quads but almost all utlity models. I worked my way up through all brands with the exception of Suzuki. Not sure why but out of the 20 or so quads, they were not in the mix. My trek included working up to a 700 Polaris sportsman, might as well have been a 1938 9N ford tractor. Dropped back to a 600 grizzly. Nice power but wicked handling. [ Not the good wicked ] Had 4 other Polaris quads ranging fron 250 to 500 cc. The two stroke 400 was the closest to my favorite but could not keep the carb tuned. Moved up to the 400 HO in 08, great power but the front end was too light for my taste. Had a couple older foretraxs with full time 4WD and a couple Kawasaki Bayous and Prairies with the same set up. Finally got my hands on an 05 Rubicon. It was love at first ride. Incredible smooth transmisson with a gear or mode for anything from back roads, to trails , to plowing dirt. Hondas reliability. good ride and enough power to keep most sane people content. Rode it for a few months, sold my wife's 400 HO and bought an 09 with PS. If I get my way, see will never ride the 09 to see how great I have it with PS. Too late to make a long story short but the Rubicon is the last model I will ever own. I am old enough to be set in my ways and this is one quad to keep me smiling.

 

Like I have mentioned before; I'v ridden some 09s and 10s from 550's to 800s and they have some things that I really like but I still enjoy climbing back on my 9 year old 11,000 mile Rubicon.

 

Rubicon is back with power stearing for 2011

Honda Media Newsroom Release: American Honda Announces Four Early-Release 2011 Models

 

I really liked the PS on the Suzuki that I rode, it had a really feal to it, not too.

The PS on the Polaris that I rode lacks "feal", it felt mushy to me.

I haven't ridden a Honda with PS but have been told that it too is mushly and lacks road feel like Polaris's and that Yamaha also has a nice PS.

I question if the PS is worth trading for a pull-start on the Suzuki, is there a trade off on the Honda??

 

my 09 rubi has pull start and PS, so no trade-off. i havent tried any other manufacturer's PS, but I can vouch for honda's being nice. that might be because its better than no PS, but i don't ride on roads much, and im usually going at a slower speed towing a trailer or plowing, so for that type of stuff the PS is really nice on the rubicon.

 

Honda does not need to make larger displacement Utility ATVs they just have to move from OHVs that make less power then same displacement OHC motors.

Nothing wrong with a 500cc Foreman its just that it make 10hp less then other 500cc utility ATVs same goes with the 39hp 680 Rincon the new 550s make that much power now.

If honda came out with a new 800 but stays with it OHV motor it will just get smoked by a 600 OHC ATV anyways.

Also time for Honda to offer diff lock (stock) not some afermarket company to offer one on there behalf,and put rear drum brakes in the history books,I do not think anyones else offers those anylonger.

 

Good points.

IMO, they should quit making the Rubicon....Give the Foreman its liquid cooled motor, add EFI, keep the same great tranny but still offer the manual and just call it a Foreman.

Or give the Rubicon EFI and quit making the Foreman....they are both great bikes but i dont see the sence in making two nearly identical models. Combine them and there you go.

 

OHC engines do develop more HP than a OHV engine and especially at higher RPMs, I'm more interested in more power at lower RPMs and a low center of gravity is very important to me.

I seriously doubt that any one of Honda's engines are anywhere near their potential without compromising reliability.

I seriously doubt that Honda needs a totaly new engine if all they’re after is a few more HP.

 

If they gave the Rincon more air and fuel and advanced the timing, it would be alot closer to the big twin motors, not as fast but it would be equal probably to the Grizzley and King Quad. I love mine but i wish it had the Rubicon tranny because the Rinny is not at its best while pulling.