I rode them both Today. Power difference between them is a joke. Just posted my obersavations and got Honda guys sayin all this and that about break in and the Rincon will take it on the trails yada yada. All I know is what I rode of them both Today right in the streets behind the dealers the Praire's power wopuld smoke anything I have ever ridden.

I do like the Rincon though as I love all Honda products they are of the highest quality in terms of detail and realibility. But nothing can deny the performance aspect of the Prairie either. Will probably not overall be as a high quality built bike as the Honda but in pure performance it will outperform it. I don't know about on the treails but I don't see a Rincon keeping up with a p700 anywhere.

Both are nice bikes but the Rincon I rode today couldn't even come close to doing a wheelie although I have seen other Rincons that did wheelie. They said it needed break in But the one I rode today had no where near the power or torque of the p700. It was torquey right after take off and thats it. Once it shifts out of first it loses alot and the first seemed high anyway. Also after it gets up to speed once you let off it just free wheels with nothing but the brakes to slow you and then after slowing it downshifts. Seem too long in between the downshifts to me.

Just my opinion but I rode them both today so they can say whatever they want. Also on the bumpy grassy areas beside the street the Rincon didn't seem that much smoother or plush than the Prairie. Certainly not a big a difference in ride as there was in the amount of power the p700 had that the Rincon did not. But Honda never designs their stuff for pure performance in those terms anyway.
The tranny just seemed funny to me with lagging downshifts and no low end pull.

 

ATVBoy1,
I also believe is this case, that Honda doesn't offer the quality and reliability Kawasaki offers with the Prairie 700. I think I have clearly stated my opinion at the beginning of this forum on what I thought about the quality Honda offered with their new Rincon compared to what Kawasaki offered with the Prairie 700. Honda was the ATV of the 90's for reliability, but things have changed in the 21st century. And around here, new Honda owners have been known to have problems with the new automatic Honda Rubicons, Rancher400s and Rincons. Maybe, it's our cold weather, but other quads and older Hondas are doing fine at low temperatures.

 

A buddy of mine has a rincon, he helped convince me to get the prarie. He always whines about no low end power and no engine braking. He says the ride is great, but he feels way underpowered, mostly due to the trans.

 

I will probably never believe that it is ANYWHERE near as relaibable as a Honda. Much as I will never believe the Honda will compete with the P700 in terms of performance anywhere. I would say that Honda motors are some of the best and most durable long lasting engines ever made. The whole quad shines of quality and the fit and finish are better.

I have seen numerous faults to the P700s. Over and over swing arm bearings are prone to failure and diff seals leak. And don't care how odd the Honda trans is it should be more relaiable and less prone to failure simply by there being no belt.

I don't doubt what you say about the Rincon's problems. To tell the truth I think after evaluating both again if I had to get just one it would be the 700 not because of it having better brakes, locker or any of that stuff but it just flat out performs. But I know there are problems and faults with both quads as there are with anything I just don't like it when Honda guys make all these excuses for the Rincon and also the Kawi guys doing the samething.

Anyone don't believe the performance difference then just go to a dealer and ask for a simple test spin.

 

The trans is something never seen in a mainstream atv before. It has a torque converter, just like a cars automatic trans. Its an all new design and seems to have held up for the most part. Part of the lack of speed and low end is probably due to the 3 speed gearbox.

 

AtvBoy1, you really need to break in the Rincon before you can judge the power. Granted, the power won't be anywhere near the P700's, but you will be able to wheelie after 400-500 miles. Also, believe me, there is a place where the Rincon will beat the P700; rough trails. Just like there is no denying the Prairie engine is light years ahead of the Rincon's in terms of power, the Rincon's suspension/handling is light years ahead of the Prairie's. Both great machines, just depends what you want to do with them.

LittleBoy, three Rincon transmissions replaced and two 400AT trannys replaced? It's possible I guess, but I haven't heard of any real tranny problems with the Rincon or 400AT. Maybe your dealer just doesn't know how to diagnose these things and just assumes the tranny is at fault. One thing is for sure; the Rincon and Rubicon/400AT trannys are far more reliable than any belt tranny. However, the catch is that if you do need to fix one of these Honda trannys and your warranty is up, be prepared to pay big time. It all depends on what you want. Some people are really immature on these boards, that's for sure.

 

[quote]
Originally posted by: LittleBoy The Rincon is equiped with a transmission that can't be maintain (except for oil change) or fixed, if there is a problem with it, it has to be completly changed.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the fact that the Rincon's tranny can't be maintained except for changing the oil a good thing? That means the only required maintenance on the tranny is a simple oil change, pretty good in my book. Also according to your logic, if one of the shift solenoids on my Rincon fails, I have to disassemble the engine and ship the entire tranny to Honda for a replacement because the transmission can't be fixed. Honestly, you need to think before you post on these forums because you're obviously uninformed and are making yourself look bad. Both these quads are excellent, both have things they do better than the other and both have their weaknesses. But just because you own a P700, that doesn't make it better than the Rincon or any other ATV out there. You know what, the Rincon won the Baja 1000 two years ago while Kawasaki didn't even enter the P650, so I guess that makes the Rincon the best ATV right? Wrong, it all depends on what your needs and priorities are.

 

I loved my Rincon so much, I bought another one the next day for my wife! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

IS there even a comparison between the 2?!??!?!?! Go with the P700 its a beast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Boy oh Boy... I have been away for a while and the crap has come rolling... The YZF will NOT beat a VFORCE in a drag race of 300'. As far as the Rincon trany being so great...Let' sink both quads...fill the motors with water. Drain everything and put new fluids in..Do you think the Rinny is going to move? Nope...Just like your car tranny..If it gets wet it is toast and seeing how it shares the oil with the motor this will become a bigger problem when you realy get into playing. IRS better? LOL.... We had a guy down here in our riding class and everytime he had to turn one wheel would come off the ground...I gusee it is what you like and want... I love my Prairie and VFORCE...I will be glad to drag race any of you sport quad guys with my prairie down the middle of a creek.....