First- The electronic shift system on the Honda ES system won't leave you stranded because you can put it into gear and shift it manually with the manual shifter that comes in the tool kit.
Second- 1st gear on most manual machines is lower than the automatics cvt clutch lock up, even in low range, so the automatics can't crawl like the manual trans.
Third- No thumb fatigue from shifting the ES ,not even after a 2 day ride.

Jeff

 

Just a quik note on "make them shift like a Honda". If I do recall, one of those Honda loving Magazines said that the Xpedition 5 speed was the smoothest shifting quad made. Now why would they want to make it any different, or as you say, like a Honda?

 

I just wanted to point something out: A Car automatic transmission operates completely different than an ATV automatic. Car automatics have gears, and you can manually shift if you want. ATV automatics have belts, they don't have gears, they behave nothing like a car automatic.

 

what is this topic trying to prove?? think about it guys, it doesnt matter what you ride or where you ride, all that matters is that you kick some ACE when riding and racing, its all fun and games, talk later

 

I currently own a 450ES and I have to say I liked my older 450S better. The ES has let me down too many times in cold weather. Not being able to shift in cold weather sucks. It has been my experence that I have to let the machine warm up at least 5-10 min before I can use reverse gear. My ES also had the battery drain recall. Both the ES and S model Hondas are cold blooded machines that require more warm up time than other quads. If I where to buy another Honda again it would be a manual shift S model. The ES is nice but not a very good way to ride technical trails.

 

There"s really no "point counter point" to this topic,not trying to Flame or insult,just get some feedback by various owners ,with different models,in different locations in the country.I could be riding but my 17 yr. old daughter is out shifting in the cold rain...
Hopefully any information given here can help someone on their next purchase.

Waiting for Sunshine in Minnesota!!???

 

I have read a few posts in this thread that indicated shifting is more fun but not worth the effort. Well, in my opinion the whole point of riding a quad is for fun.

Too often, I have seen guys hauling or pulling something with their quad when they had a perfectly good Jeep, pickup or tractor and they were using it to do this utility work in a location that didn’t need the small size of the quad.

So, since I think quads are for fun, I prefer manual clutch type transmissions just like a motorcycle. I think they have less loss, so if I can use the gear that keeps it on peak torque I get more of that torque to the rear wheels. As to the interruption of power to the rear wheels, who says I have to throttle back to shift or fan the clutch.

I also think the lighter and simpler the machine the better and if you want to ride in snow get tracks.

 

Who is paying 7k for a polaris I paid 6k for mine out the door...

 

Second- 1st gear on most manual machines is lower than the automatics cvt clutch lock up, even in low range, so the automatics can't crawl like the manual trans.
As I can see you have never ridden a Polaris sportsman 500cc with EBS there is no way that the first gear is lower, I have rode my buddys 450 and there is just no way the sportsman in low with EBS is so low you have to give it gas going down straight up hills...

 

Yes I have ridden a Sportsman many times so I do speak from experience. Read the review by ATV Connection regarding the Cycle Country implement system. They even state there that the belt drive units do not go slow enough to make these implements work properly. Read it for yourself.
As for the ES freezing in the winter- I live in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Thirty to forty below zero is common up here and the ES has "NOT" let me down yet! Hard to start in the cold you say.....since when... I haven't even needed to use the primer button yet to start in 40 below weather.

Later Jeff