I am new to this and i am looking at buying an atv. I think i have narrowed it down to the honda foreman or the polairs touring atv which is better

 

One thing we need to know is what do you plan on doing with this machine?

I would go with the Foreman just because I am a Honda fan.

 

i am a beginner rider and just want to ride trails not super fast just have fun

 

Definitely go with the foreman then, I would actually suggest the Rubicon. Little more power and a better trans

 

I just bought the 2012 Forman manual (which is now liquid cooled) and couldnt be happier. Its a great machine with more then enough power. I also love the manual. Dont rule out the Rancher AT as it has 4 wheel indep suspension like the polaris and a diff lock. Im thinking of picking one of those up too Just to help you out a honda doesnt make this clear....... the rubicon is a foreman with an auto trans and slightly more cc's. The Forman has the manual. The rubicon has slightly more cc's due to the fact that its an auto to compensate. Each machine is putting out the same amount of torc so your not getting any more power out of the Rubicon. The machines are identical otherwise.

My neighbor has a Polaris sportsman 550 and really likes it. He has no problems with his trans.

Hondas are bulletproof tho

 

Had an 09 500 Sportsman sold it and got 2011 500 Foreman. I love the new bike and pleased with the smoothness of the moter and Honda reliability. The Sportsman had more power and rode smoother. Definately a good prices on the Polaris HO's. If you want no trips to the dealer get the Honda

 

RailroadMike, you mentioned that you were thinking of a Polaris Touring. Are you going to be having a passenger along fairly often? If so, a dedicated 2 person machine is the way to go. If it's once a year or fairly unoften (is that a word?) you can get by with some kind of rear box/seat for a passenger. Some states don't allow people to ride 2-up on a 1 person quad so you may want to check out local laws. Honda's are super reliable machines that last a loooonnnngggggg time. My only (very slight) dislike is that the front end is a limited slip instead of a full locker like all the other makers. It isn't a big issue unless you are in deep mud or do a lot of rocky climbs where you'd get a wheel off the ground quite a bit. The Polaris offers the most comfortable ride out there. It also has great on board storage options for carrying gear on your rides. If you can, test them both out and see which you'd like better.

 

the full name for the rubicon is "Honda Foreman Rubicon", so yes, it is a variant of the Foreman. However, when the foreman changed in 2012, the rubicon did not, so for now, there are some differences other than engine and tranny. the new foreman has a single shock in the rear and no low range. the rubicon still has dual shocks in the rear and has a low range. you can also switch to ESP mode on the rubicon, which acts like a 5 speed manual, "shifting" using the handlebar shift like a foreman / rancher / recon ES. the "gears" are preset ratio's in the hydrostatic transmission.

i have a 2009 rubicon, 2010 rancher, and a 2005 polaris ATP (the predecessor to the sportsman X2). the polaris has more power and a softer seat. the honda wins in everything else. i ride the ATP for an hour, then switch to my rubi, and the difference is night and day. granted, the rubi is 4 years newer and has power steering, but the overall craftsmanship and ergonomics are superior on the honda in my opinion. i do use both the rubi and polaris for work, and both pull their weight in that department.

ride them and do your research. good luck!

 

How do you like your Rancher with the indep rear susp? Would you rather have two rubicons or do you like having them both.

 

my rancher is not the AT, it is an FPM (manual shift with power steering), so I have a solid rear axle. i still love the machine, it is nimble as anything ive driven.