Electric Shift Honda's-I wan't your facts!!!!
 

All personal preferences aside, I would like to hear a few reliability stories on ES model Honda's. I don't need to hear anything like "buy what you like" or "ride what suits you", I just wan't the real poop on how reliable the ES really is. I have heard some bad experience stories here and there and just wan't the honest input from some owners. Especially from riders in the 2000miles and up club who ride a lot of mud and swampy trails as I plan to keep this bike for awhile. Thanks for your input!!

Electric Shift Honda's-I wan't your facts!!!!
 

Don't buy an ES! I have one with 100.1 hours and 470 miles and am having to replace the $370 Electronic Control Unit that Honda says will never go out. This is on a 2000 Rancher that doesn't get riden very often and Honda did not want to work with me on replacing this part at all. They (Honda) said the warranty had expired and they were not interested in how little it was used. This was my forth Honda ATV/motorcycle and I am through with Honda. I will not recommend buying a Honda nor will I buy another Honda. Now I don't know what to do with the one I have, because I don't want to sell someone a piece crap like Honda did me.

Electric Shift Honda's-I wan't your facts!!!!
 

Wife has 2001 350 es 4x4, 4899 km i believe that works out to 3061 miles, good reliable machine, she rides it hard and rough. we go out in rain snow and damn cold weather, lots of muskeg and cross a river behind house, just about every run she is up to the seat in one river or another. had to replace seals in brakes once allready and will have to plan another transplant soon.
glacial sand and water are hard on seals and gets into every thing
She has had no problems with the electric shift to date, seems to work good but noisy shift, like its slaming into gear.

Electric Shift Honda's-I wan't your facts!!!!
 

I've got 2k + miles on my Rancher and have had a couple problems, but that's what happens when you use your quad as a boat. I was splashing around in a creek about 2.5 / 3 feet deep and got the connections to the shift sensor wet. I took the connection loose and dried it out. I put some dielectrical grease in the plug where it connects and have had No problems since and I still use and abuse it in deep water. The other problem was mud and dirt got in the shift buttons and caused them to stick. That was easily remedied by taking apart the housing to the shift button and cleaning. It was a freak thing that only happened once but it can happen. All in all a good quad for all around riding. I sure the Foreman will have more get up and go than my Rancher but I see you have owned a Scrambler and Banshee. That will be a big step down from the Scrambler in terms of acceleration / top speed. Good luck with what ever you choose.

Ranch0rider
00 Rancher 4x4 ES
02 Prairie 650
02 Sporttrax 90

Electric Shift Honda's-I wan't your facts!!!!
 

i had a 450 es with 950 miles no problem with the es,then got stolen.my rubicon has over 3000 miles mostly in es mode and no problems,so what do you think?pretty good to me..

Electric Shift Honda's-I wan't your facts!!!!
 

My good bud has a Foreman ES and has had so much trouble with the ES it isn't even funny. He has had it to the dealer several times and can't resolve it. It locks up, he has to stop, turn off the engine, restart, then take off. 10 minutes later it does it again. Another friend with a Rubicon has had no problems, really likes his quad.... I think the manual shift is the way to go, at least in the Rancher and Foreman lines. What's the big deal of shifting with your thumb instead of your foot?

Electric Shift Honda's-I wan't your facts!!!!
 

I have four Honda 250cc Recon ES and NO problems with any of them ever.I also work for a Honda dealership and not a single problem with ANY ES ever sold.I would highly recommend the ES that Honda makes

Bill

Electric Shift Honda's-I wan't your facts!!!!
 

3 Honda ES machines in the group I ride with.
1 new Rancher - no problems

1 2000 Rancher - acted up once, never left anyone stuck in gear, dealer fixed under warranty, no problems since in over 4000 miles

1 Foreman 450es - something goes wacky in the es system what seems like every couple hundred miles. Been to the dealer numerous times, works for a while, then locks in one gear again. Usually, shutting off, wiggling the wires behind & under the seat for a while, then starting up again gets it going. Tried everything obvious, tightened all terminals, cleaned connections. About all that is left is replacing the sensors/components of the es system one by one until it quits acting up (or could it be in the wiring harness???) This machine has a little over 4000 miles. It has not seen the inside of a shop except for the es problems.

My old, tired Fourtrax continues to plod onward, trouble free. It is a manual shifter, though.

Electric Shift Honda's-I wan't your facts!!!!
 

I don't think anyone can argue that an S model is going to be less troublesome than an ES model. Mechanical is more dependable than electrical, its a fact, period.

I like the instrumentation, floor boards, and shifting with my thumb more than foot pegs, no instrumentation and shifting with my foot. If the Electric Shift malfunctions, I will manually shift (shifter included at no extra charge) untill I get it repaired. This is the decision I made before I bought the ES model. I think it is alot nicer ATV. If I have a problem I will have it repaired and pay for it with a smile.

I prefer the ES model myself.

Electric Shift Honda's-I wan't your facts!!!!
 

Thanks very much for everyones input. I only really wan't the ES for the full floorboards, otherwise I would probably buy the S model as that is really the only difference right, with the exception of the thing telling you what gear you are in. And like Specta said, if the ES acts up, I can always use the manual shifter. I think I will buy a 450ES and hope they have worked the bugs out over the last 3 or 4 years so it will give me many miles of troublefree riding![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]