I am looking at a new 4 wheeler for this spring as some of you may know....I'm now thinking about the Rubicon, but the only draw backs i have is it can not be put into 2WD for slideing around, but that alrite, but what I really want to know about the the Turning radius and the speed (acceleration) No one really knows hows it handles except for the people at honda, but will this be a quick machine.... for a utility? I have a honda 300 4by4, and i want something a little faster, but what really bothers me is the weak turning radius's on the hondas, I hae to take about a 3 point turn on a gravel road jsut to tunr around, I do like the belt-less tranny, and the other innovative features, such as the ESP adn Low and High gearing.

I cant wait untiul may to see it!

Can anyone help me out on the radius and the power?


Thanks in advance!

Chris

 

Their's nothing special about the power of this bike so it should be in the 55 mph range like the rest.The drive system will be new but if anyone can make it work Honda can.Other than that it seem to lack exspected features such as disks brakes'and 2wd mode,you will have to wait for a test ride for the turning radius.

 

Clindst--You know what I told you about 3 point turns on a gravel road. Just run off in the ditch and continue on!

 

If they keep the same reduction ratios as the 450ES it should be pulling 55 fairly easy and toping out near 60. I say this because the Honda matic transmission will get a 1 to 1 gear ratio, where the 450 is at 0.848 reduction. But because they are using a new front differential, and if they use different tires, or if the some people who advise honda don't think a utility atv should go that fast, it might not. The quad should realy be cool if it works as well as honda is claiming. The magazines are gonna be testing the Rubicon real soon, but I don't know how mutch hammering time they are gonna get, and they will probibly be riding it at honda's test area.

The Rubicon is gonna use a 4-valve head, and should have more power than the 450ES, and more torque than the polaris sportsman 500

 

as long as this thing has more spped and power than my 300 4x4, Ill be very -happy, I know it will have more, I am quite puzzled why Honda didnt put disk brakes on the new Rubicon, but I have drums on my 300 and the are awesome, i can stop from full throttle to dead stop in what it seems to be no time


Chris

 

I may be wrong, but I believe .848 is refering to an overdrive ratio, that would be better expressed as 1 : 1.152. Meaning the input to the transmission turns once and the output turns 1.152 times.... That would mean it is higher geared that 1:1.

 

Oh, man! I love this kind of talk!

I believe .848 is the correct deisgnation, given consistency of notation.

For example, the overall drive ratio (top gear) of a Kawasaki Bayou in high range is expressed as 12.037:1 in high range, 15.357:1 in low range. Thus, the higher numerical value means a "lower" gear ratio; an "overdrive" ration, as in ".848:1," would be a consistent expression of this "higher" gear (i.e., lower numerically than "1:1").

Also, the Bayou's gear ratios are listed as: 4th gear, 1:1; fifth gear, 0.769:1; reflecting an "overdrive" by a number less than one.

Tree Farmer

 

hey this is from long time expirence that disc brakes work good when they are dry but when we took my friend's suzuki the didn't work worth a darn and after a while they wouldn't work at all
so ive heard that the HONDA RUBICON will have the sealed drums but the honda peaple are also saying they are tring to make those drum brakes more tighter from the elments and more braking power so the drums should do you good

 

Tree Farmer,
I was sure hoping you would show up here.
Thanks,
Kirk

 

Once disks brakes get wet with a slight squeeze they are back to as dry as thay can be in Ohhh I,d say 10 seconds. We use propane torches to un freeze drums in the winter to get the wheels moving after riding throught slush.Im just glad Honda,s love for drum don't carry over to their EX,CR and XR's.