Sounds good guys. Maybe pubs show state "New ATV of the Year" as some of you suggested.

 

I personally ride Polaris, But I have test rode the Rubicon and it is awesome we went to moab for the weekend and i gotta say this is one tough quad. also there has been several tests and comps done between the ruby and the 500,the grizzly, kawi's 400 prarireand suzuki's king quad. There is still a thing such as a magazine all these test's have been done in the last year you guy's need to stay on top of this if your gonna say the 500sportsman is the king. Well sad to say since the Ruby the 500 is # 2 Now before you get your undies in a bunch i am and always will be a Polaris nut but give honda credit the ruby is a tough *** machine. I mean it conquered the infamous Rubicon Trail and survived with only damage to the rear rack frame cracking.
NUFF SAID!!!!!
4-wheel ,Atv action,dirt bike,quad racer,and that t.v. show on the outdoor channel had a test between the ruby, 500, griz, king quad.
don't have specific dates on the mags but will dig em out and post the who, what and wheres at a later date. I kinda keep up on this stuff cuz i get to test ride a lot of new quads my buddies fathers own the dealerships in town and we all get to do the first ride reviews on all of them Honda,suzuki kawi,polaris, artic cat,cannondale in 2001,yamaha,bombardier,husabergs. it's all good just ride

 

"SIMPLY PUTTING AN AUTO TRANNY IN AN OLD CHASSIS IS NO MORE INNOVATIVE THAN POLARIS INSTALLING THE HO ENGINE IN THE EXISTING SPORTSMAN"

I'm sorry but this has to be one of the dumbest things I have ever read, take you head out of your a**, 800twin. I'm not necessarly a Rubicon fan, just think your ignorance is shining through. Did the hondamatic tranny exist in a honda quad prior to this year? What about the HO motor on the sportsman? That should just about clear it up wouldn't you say.

 

What mag did a shootout with a sportsman, where the ruby won????

 

i have not read a thing were the Ruby beat the Sportsman. It doesn't matter to me, if they picked the Ruby. The mags have there own odd way of deciding which machine is the best. As for new innovations the Ruby is tops for that. I have not ridden a Ruby yet, hope to in the spring. Consumer Reports usally won't rate a vehicle again unless it has changed allot, the SP has not changed allot. Polaris in my opinion needs to make some all NEW atv's.

 

Thats what they are rating it on is new and different just like the Kawi, will be for next year cause of the "RAD" braking system and swingarm design it doesn't mean everything else is junk it is just sayin Hey Honda thanks for a new spin on the old Foreman.

 

TEXMUD,Several diehard honda fans that try to ride with us bought rubicon's and attempted to install aggressive tires(outlaws,vampires,triclaws in 27"and 28" versions)In the mud holes where I could barely turn my tri-claws over the only thing the rubicon could manage to do was let out a loud squeeling noise from the tranny while the tires sat motionless.Makes you wander why Honda will not except polarises challange to a sled pull.

 

I believe they are absolutly right...although I would have put the Traxter in front. Why?
Why not talk about the HO? It has nothing very inventive...IRS, ok, what more? nothing. Putting more agressive cams or whatever has been done to the engine isn't the toughest brain work.
Why would I put the Traxter in front of the Rubicon? Because it has similar features, but also has a different engine layout (right under your butt).
But I wouldn't get any of these machines. I want IRS and manual...only one is left (if I'm right) the Arctic Cat 500 "Manual".

 

800twin, It sounds like there is something wrong with your friends rubicons. I have 27 inch bugs on mine and I have ridden with people with 28 inch outlaws. None of us have ever had that trouble. A tranny run on hydrolic pressure should never let out a "squeel". What makes you say that Honda will not accept their chalanges? Do you mean the company Polaris challenged the company Honda? If thats the case, then I am not surprised. Ford, Chevy, and Dodge would all never do that either. If you are talking about specific people not accepting the chalenge, then that is a personal decision.

 

Just a coupla things. I drive a self loader(pulp truck) for a living, and yes, when I try to pick up to heavy a load, the hydraulics "sqeal". Why, I dunno, and as far as the honda going down the rubicon trail, I WOULD HOPE SO!!!! If you ever look in an off-road magazine, they show jeeps and fullsize trucks going through there all the time. WOOPITY-DOO!!!!