To the Wright brothers, "That thing'll never fly!"

To Alexander Graham Bell, "Telephone! You can't send the human voice over wire!"

To Marconi, "Radio! That'll never work!"

To Honda, "Hondamatic! Ridiculous! What about the heat! What about the contamination! What about the complexity! What about the access! You intend giving the rider a CHOICE, with an automatic?"

Actually, the Hondamatic has about forty years operation and development experience on the system. Dual-range Hondamatic transmissions were in the Honda 90 trail bikes of yesteryear; also, Honda marketed a motorcycle or two with the automatic transmissions (not great sales successes, I think).

Certainly, reservations, doubts, and skepticism about Hondamatic or any new system are understandable, especially when based upon the critics' past experience with similar systems. Personally, I'd give the prisoner a trial BEFORE he's executed.

Tree Farmer

 

Went to the Long Beach Advanstar/Cycle World Motorcycle Show today and saw the Rubicon - for a prototype (that's what they told me) it sure looks good.

An engineer-type told me Honda did extensive testing on the Hondamatic, even ran it with water in the oil. No problems, the water is a fluid and acts like oil in the trans. I asked, would there be corrosion - He said that the water-contaminated engine would fail long before the transmission, and the engine has several oil-warning indicators.

Ypu can run it as an auto trans all day long. He said it crawls along very slowly, if needed, with no lurching or surging. The "gear-shifting" looked interesting, but I probably wouldn't use it.

 

Petesbween, boy are you lucky that you got to see one of these machines. Anything else you can tell us about it? Did the engineers say anything else about it?

 

Honda Rubicon= One small step for Honda,one giant leap for QuadKind.

 

Tree, Gordon, or Kagey--If you get a non-compressable liquid (water) mixed in with oil and attempt to compress it, what happens?

 

Well I read a short review in ATV mag today.I was very disappointed that the Rubicon is 3 wheel drive.It uses a torque sensing set up that is suppose to give traction to the wheel that has traction,not the one in the air doing nothing.Well that certainly is an improvement,but not what I personally desire in a 4x4.Drum brakes to,That really sucks.Non switchable 4x4 either.I think it's ashame to make such a nice 4x4 quad and leave out true 4x4 and disk brakes.I can live with it being in 4x4 all the time.How about that tranny?I think that is the cats as-.Bill

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Did you read the post about why Honda stayed with drums?

 

TXDOC2,no i did,nt read the reason why Honda is staying with drums.But as an avid mudder,there is NOTHING Honda or anybody else can tell me about drum brakes that will get me to like them.After a HEAVY day of mudding,you ALLWAYS have to remove the drums for cleaning.Im sick of that.BILL

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I was just going to give you the quote from a letter I received from Ray Blank, VP Marketing for Honda of North America. I'll post it tomorrow. It is kind of interesting. I have had a 97 300 4 x 4 that is ridden at least an hour a day and on the weekends is subjected to water and mud constantly. I have had my brakes replaced once and adjusted twice. I really have not had any complaints with the seal. I have come back from riding and removed the plug and seen no water come out. So, for me, I have no problem with the drums. Do you do the work on your brakes yourself? One of my friends who is a loyal Honda owner told me the seals from the factory are the best they'll ever be and once you break that seal, they won't hold water out as well. My dealer has done all of my brake work and my seals do work. I have been in water up to the decals on the gas tank and have not had a leak. Now, this weekend, I probably will. For what it's worth, I really do like my dealer-he will pick up and deliver my bike for service. Had to edit so TF would not have to do it for me

[This message has been edited by TxDoc2 (edited 11-29-1999).]

[This message has been edited by TxDoc2 (edited 11-29-1999).]

[This message has been edited by TxDoc2 (edited 11-29-1999).]

 

TXdoc,I have owned 2 King quads.One being a 87 model,the other a 97.ANYTIME I did any serious mudding,[I dont mean driving thru a mud puddle]the drums HAD to be removed for a thourgh cleaning.I personally have not done Honda drums.But there have been PLENTY of forum users that have the same complaint as me with drums on other model 4x4s.Im happy that things work out on your drums for you.I still MIGHT concider the Rubicon if I can keep my butt out of the mud.Happy Trails----BILL

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