I'm guessing that you have a Rincon?

 

I have both a Rincon 650 and a rubicon. I love the rubicon and would probably say its a better ATV all around but it doesn't have EFI or IRS leaving the rincon as the only Honda ATV over 500 cc with those options

 

Thanks guys for the entertaining debate on EFI vs Carbs, it passed a couple hours of my long night shift at work LOL.

All I'll say on that topic is I hope you get a good EFI or Carb setup which ever you end up with. I definitely love EFI if it's working properly but certainly don't mind a carbureted bike \ quad that starts easily and runs smoothly either.

I had two different 2001 Harleys with the same stock, other than mufflers, Twin Cam 88 motors, one was EFI and one was carbureted and I actually liked the carb and would choose a carbureted model again in that particular year model. The EFI system used that year just wasn't that great and had limitations with tuning that could be done on it. I had a power commander on it and the bike was remapped several times but always had a spot in the fuel curve that never could get right.

That said I've also had some carbs that I couldn't get jetted, after mods, to run exactly right all the way from idle to WOT.

OK to the OP if his dad hasn’t already gotten a quad by now, LOL, for “general trail riding (forest service roads) and general use around house” there are tons of great reliable pre 2007 models, mostly with carbs, that would be very well suited for that purpose and provide many years and miles of trouble free riding. If the price of a newer model isn't an issue then there are many great choices with EFI to choose from as well, or at least I guess because I haven't owned anything newer than a 2007 yet, well I did have a 2008 Rubicon but it was carb and I think still is.

What ever you get just don’t let it sit too long especially with the modern ethanol fuels. If you’re going to let it sit long enough for the gas to go bad in it though it’s just time to sell it as you’re not enjoying it enough to keep it around LOL.

 

The EFI debate made me forget why I opened this thread to begin with LOL. The title "Best Honda ATV", now that's a great question.

I’ve never been a brand specific man myself but I do keep finding myself going back to Honda, probably for it’s simplicity and ease of maintenance. I keep venturing out and trying different models though. I’ve bought 7 different ATVs since last October, not new of course, and I guess I keep comparing them to my all time favorite the Honda Rubicon.

My past 7 ATVs

07 Grizzly 700 power steering: Great performing quad and I liked about as good as the Rubicon but just looking at the frame I don’t feel it could stand much of a roll down a hill as I did with my old Rubicon, which survived with little $$$ to fix. I sold the Griz, kind of a love hate relationship with it.

99 Kawasaki Bayou 220: Tough little wheeler from my younger days experience, cheap, easy maintenance, bought for a loaner to get some friends back into riding.

07 King Quad 700: Didn’t keep long as it was in rough condition but I rode it enough to tell I wouldn’t mind having another in better condition. The frame much more stout looking than the Griz but the rear swing arm bushings I feel wear quickly on these due to their design. Mine were worn out and E-bay had tons for sell vs bushings of other models LOL.

04 Arctic Cat 400 4x4 CVT: I’m not a fan of a CVT just don’t like my engine revving 100% of the time when I’m putt putting around 90% of the time. This CVT revved it’s butt off anywhere above 8mph on this quad. It was a very stiff ride too for having IRS but looked to be built like a tank. A huge sized quad especially for a 400cc.

97 Honda TRX 300 2wd: Man does this ATV bring back memories. I’m loving this quad for my putt putting around the farm with. I would have to have 4wd for taking off serious trail riding but I’ll keep this quad for many years I feel. Bought from original owner and the original tires still look new.

06 Yamaha 450 Special Edition 4x4 IRS: I’m liking this quad pretty good, looks a bit more durable than the 700 Griz, frame wise, and it doesn’t feel that I’ve lost all that much power from the griz, feels like a 100cc smaller not like 250cc difference but maybe that’s because I don’t stay in the top end of the power band much. The CVT isn’t nearly as bad as the AC 400 I had but does rev a bit for my liking. The larger 700’s I had seemed OK which the motors make enough torque to where they can be tuned to run lower RPM’s. I’m going to ride this quad a little for the next couple months but I think I’ll sell it shortly down the road. I don’t like the parking break on this or the Griz being in the transmission, only because riding with others on technical terrain I have many times needed to set the brake on steep hills and run to assist someone else with wheels in the air and a park brake is much quicker than going from one end of the gear selector “low range” to the other “park mode” after having to come to a complete stop then rock the bike through H, N, R then to park.

05 Honda Foreman 500 4x4 ES: I haven’t rode this one that much but had one before and I’m not crazy about the electric shift as they are a little harsh on down shifts when decending steep hills. I really would like to try a foot shift 500 but they are rare to find used. The 500 is much smoother than the older 450 ES models though. I bought this hoping I can learn to like it about as much as the Rubicon. I’ve been looking another Rubicon but the used prices around my area have been a bit ridiculous and I got to reading some horror stories about the trannys if they do have problems. I had a 2002 and a 2008 Rubicon and no problems out of either of them.

Well work shift is over now, time to go hit the bed and dream about the trails LOL.

 

Your going to like the E.S when your up to your seat in muddy water and find out your in the wrong gear and need a gear change.
Nice keeping your feet dry and out of the water some times.

I found out the hard way.
I was up to my seat in water with my feet on the front rack high and dry but needed to go into reverse on my Grizzly. Turns out you have to hold down the foot brake to shift into reverse on this thing! Stupid set up.
Rode the rest of the day with a soaked right leg and boot which sucked.
I was riding with a 500 E.S foreman and his leg never got wet.
I think the E.S idea is great myself.

 

I'll agree on that advantage of it and even though I've had 2 500 ES models now I have yet to get them out to the mountains and ride my favorite trails but from experience with the 450ES it just shifted so abruptly under engine breaking. To smooth it out you'd have to hit the throttle quickly then down shift which an increase in speed isn't what you want descending a steep loose rocky slope. The foot shifters are a little better as you can slowly ease up on the shifter and use it sort of like a vehicle clutch which is much smoother but best yet for that stuff is the Rubicon. I always ran my Rubicons in ESP unless I had a beer in my hand at the time, then that auto option was certainly convenient

The 500ES does seem to shift smoother than the 450ES I had or the one my friend currently owns so it seems they have been refined some what over the years. I just need to get it to my favorite technical trails to find out if I can accept it or if I'll still be wanting another Rubicon

I had a 2007 Rincon for a year or so and I really loved it for faster pace trail riding and the 3spd wasn't too bad, it left me wanting a lower gear if I was attempting the really extreme slow speed climbs and lacked the really low speed engine braking but was capable of tackling it. I just wouldn't recommend to anyone of going up in tire size on a Rinny. Leave it stock and it's a fine trail riding quad.

 

The resident EFI guru (in his own mind), will be very up-set with you. You've stated that you like your carbed TwinCam better than your EFI TwinCam.

Think I'll have a beer and watch my waistline expand .......

 

I felt the same way about my 05 & 06 Rincon's- absolutely hated the ES and how they shifted while descending.

again- couldn't agree more. the lack of a low gear and locking front diff was enough to make me throw in the white towel with Honda 4x4 atv's-


Some people in these threads actually pay attention to other's experiences and advice, while others just have big mouths, have little experience to add and just like to "have a beer and watch their waistline expand"....

 

I'm staying out of these debates I think everyone made some good valid points in all these post but people tend to take some statements to the extreme and then like to argue about it, buy hey if we didn't do that then life would be rather boring wouldn't it?

If we all agreed on which quad was the best then there would only be one sold which would lead to only one model being produced and again life would get boring if we didn't get excited about wanting to try out a different model every so often.

 

Agree with you ltrmco02 ..... Some know-it all's will blame carburetors for everything ..... from the cause of baldness to bad breath. on and on. That's o.k. though. To each his own.

The same know-it -all(s) just has trouble accepting that some people prefer carburetors over efi, and tries to beat you over the head with all his supposed 'credentials' ...... again, that's o.k.

Beer time .... eh!