Just ready to buy a pair of Honda's atv's 350's. I would really appreciate it if i can get some help on weather i should get manual or electronic gear shift.
I am new to the game but have ridden many dirt bikes. My son has one and also myself Honda 100 and 80 xr's, but i am lost when it comes to atv's so far. I am going to buy them in the next 4 or 5 days so if someone out there knows the mechanical pro's and con's about them it will be great help to me . Lots of expense for these units so i hope i make the right choice with the help of you all.
Been to the Honda shop several times and they keep telling me electronic shift is good for begineers but we have been on motocross bikes for several years. I think maybe they are having a hard time selling them or something or maybe they are as good as they make them out to be..WHO KNOWS (maybe salesman trying to get 1 by on me).

PLEASE HELP A.S.A.P.

From new ATVR. JaxBak....

 

i like the S (shift) model myself. i have heard of people having some problems with shutting the machien (ES) off well in gear and not being able to get it back nutrel to start it again. i'll trust my foot over a battery anyday. ES is nice in mud and deep water, keeps ya high and dry. i never mind getting dirty so i like the S. being that you have been on motocross bike all your life ES might be a little hard to get used to, i suggest the S model.

 

Can't go wrong with either model.

 

I grew up on dirtbikes, so I was very used to a clutch and shifting, but now I don't want to go back after having the ES. This bike hasn't had any problems whatsoever, so I can't speak about problems with the electric shifting (so far, it has 1600+ miles on it). It has been great to have full floorboards and BONEshock is right, it is very nice for deep mud and water...I have been in both and like that I don't have to get wet or super muddy...just my preference. It didn't take me long to get used to the ES, and I can still jump on a machine with a clutch and not confuse the two! I didn't think the S model had the same electric dash as the ES? Is that correct? I really like having that dash. It is so easy to look down and read. Either way, I think you will enjoy your machines! Mine has been indestructable!!!!!!!!!

 

A buddy of mine has the ES model and it's a great machine. He has had troubles sometimes with getting it to shift, but a good wiggle of the machine back and forth gets is fixed. Personally, I like using the good ol foot, less to go wrong.

 

Thanks for the advice guys . I just hope i can get more input so i do not make the wrong choice. You all had a lot of good pointers on the subject.....

For now keep the pants dry and the mud outta your face. CHEERS HAPPY NEW YEARS ALL!!!!!!!

 

If you want trouble free shifting, do not buy an ES. There are alot of little electronic devices which are very expensive that can go wrong with the ES such as several sensors, shift motor, electronic control unit, shift buttons, and wiring connections for each of these. The only advantage in the ES that I can see is floor boards, but how many of your motorcycles had floor boards?

 

Great points TxRox. This is what i need to no. Anyone else come up with anything Couple of the other guys had some great pointers also....

Thanks again all EYE'S GOEN ATV SHOPPIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I do not see any plus to the ES. It seems distracting and cumbersome to me trying to shift with the same hand also used for braking steering, etc.. Not to mention you pay extra for that pleasure and add one more thing to the machine you probably can't fix yourself.

 

JaxBak, I too am in line to pick up a new Honda in the spring and am trying to pick between the ES and S models. I posted a topic a couple of weeks ago called "Electric Shift Honda's-I Want Your Facts!!" and got quite a few excellent responses on the reliability of the ES. Maybe check it out if you haven't already. It is a couple pages in on the Honda forum. I still haven't fully decided but am leaning towards the ES for floorboards and the keeping of the feet drier. I remember riding my old 250 fourtrax in the mud and not being able to downshift as I was high centered in the mud and don't really feel like getting myself into that situation again. Not sure if it could happen on the newer S models but......