I agree with you JRM, the Hondamatic was great too. But even back when the Rubicon was introduced in 2001, it was already behind the competition in hp. That engine has basically been unchanged since then other than efi introduced. It doesn't produce any more power than it did back in 2001. Its even been reduced in displacement to 475cc. Honda needs to take the Pioneer 1000 engine and create an atv engine that makes competitive hp. Even if they scale it down a bit to say 750-800cc, it would still be light-years ahead of the Rincon 680 engine. Making an efficient and bulletproof drivetrain is only half of the equation. You need a powerful engine to mate it too to make everything work. Honda has yet to do that in an atv. Its like putting a V6 in a sportscar. It looks cool, has a lot of cool features but falls on its face when you mash the throttle.

 

Hello? Nissan GTR?

Not exactly a V6 that falls on its face

 

The original rubicon (01-14) actually has a entirely different engine than any foreman and the new rubicon. The original ruby engine was a 499cc 4valve pushrod carbureted single that made 34hp. Not blistering by any means but it was actually competitively powered for the 500 class, especially when it first released. The 05-11 foreman 500s had a 475cc air cooled 2 valve engine that made 26hp and the new 475cc liquid cooled EFI foreman/rubicon engine makes 29.

 

You get the point lol. Most V6s are the base engine. That's kinda how I see the Honda Rubicon 475cc engine. Its a nice base engine. There just needs to be a more powerful option for those that want it. It doesn't exist. Give me a Rubicon 800 with a twin cylinder making about 60hp and then you would have something. Implement the new 6 speed dual clutch auto from the Pioneer with the manual option as well. Honda needs a machine like this in their lineup if they want to keep their market share. It still wouldn't be the most powerful but it would be a start. If Honda had something like this, they would sell thousands of them.

 

Honda actually detuned the newer Rubicon by just sharing the same 28hp 475 of the Foreman and dropping the Rubicon's 33hp 499cc motor in 2009 ,I think.
Even the 499cc was still not the class leader for a 500 4x4 power wise.

I just went for a ride yesterday with my cousin with his 2015 Rubicon EPS, it sure did not have the acceration or top end of my 14year old SP500 on the wide long gravel roads.
I have to admit Power steering is nice on the trail though, but it better be it was almost a $1000 option.

 

I was talking about the trans, power wise the Rubicon has always been a huge let down, last winter in 30" of deep powder it wont pull above 3rd in high range so I was unable to get enough speed to float, so it bogged down got stuck while my friends Grizz 700 flys past me in a huge roost of snow. I agree with everyone that the new Uni-cam twin must be used in at the very least the Rincon, and hopefully Honda will build a 600-700CC class Rubicon II with a dual range box- 3 headlights like the original (very useful on long winter nights) and modern suspension.
I use my Rubicon pretty hard around the house so the Rincon wont work. I really should post up some pictures of my Rubicon hooked up to my field disk set, I can disk plow 10 acors in quarter the time the Kubota can!

 

I,m sure your friends extra 15hp over you also has something to due with that.
Put any 4x4 ATV in low range and they will all lose traction well before wheel turning power when pulling.

 

As I have said before, I believe the Rubicon should take over as flagship model of Honda's fleet. The Rincon was an experiment gone wrong, I can't believe Honda still builds that thing. The only thing it needs to be a great big bore quad is the big bore engine. Pair that up with the dual-clutch transmission with low range as well and electric shift manual option. Diff-lock, irs, and power steering all would be requirements as well. A scaled down version of the Pioneer 1000 twin making way more power than anything Honda has had up to this point in any atv. This would be the recipe for an atv that would get customers to change their mind about Honda. Honda has shyed away from building high hp engines in their utility quads for well, forever. It has almost been an irrational fear that they couldn't guarantee Honda reliability in a high performance utility 4x4. So they just didn't build it. Performance can still be reliable, they're not mutually exclusive.

 

Indeed I do

However, in this day of continuing to step up the performance factor along with concerns of fuel mileage, today's performance V6 will not be the same when comparing it to V6's of the 200 decade and earlier.

It's really cool what some manufacturers are starting to do. Back to the original topic...


But absolutely, your point was made


It is going to be interesting to see what Yamaha has up its sleeve come September for their new SxS launch.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't be upset about the hp a lot of Porche's make either. Turbos can make a v6 make just as much or more hp than a lot of v8s. I look forward to a real review of this new Honda Pioneer. Maybe Honda will let Dirt Trax Television test one. Their opinions aren't biased so I trust what they're saying more than a video put together by Honda. If the machine has any flaws or shortcomings, they will tell you.