I need help in deciding between Vinson manual and rubicon. how are these bikes holding up and any
advantages or disadvantages?

 

Of course I'm biased, and I'm doing this from memory so some points may be incorrect but here goes:
1. More suspension travel on the Vinson
2. Much faster than the Rubicon - the 5 speed Vinsons have newer sportier engines than the 2002 Vinson autos
3. Less expensive
4. Better looking
5. Bigger gas tank (5 gal) - My Vinson gets 25-30 mpg and can easily go 100 mi. on a tank
6. Very reliable - I have > 1000 mi. on one of my Vinsons - no problems - I've beat the hell out of it in all types of terrain except mud. It's pretty dry in Utah. It has a sticky shifter and a squeaky rear disc but those quirks were there when I bought it. You can't hear the disc when you're riding and it gets better after a few miles
7. Very cushy seat
8. Aftermarket parts are becoming available - DynoJet kit, HMF exhaust, UniFilter, etc.

The Honda tranny is lower maintenance since you'll never need to change a drive belt.

Hope this helps.
Mark

 

The Honda has drum brakes, a low tech pushrod motor, and a transmission that has to be sent to California if anything goes wrong with it. And many have had problems, with a long California vacation.
The Vinson's manual gearbox, along with everything else, make it a rock solid selection. You gotta go with the Zuki!