Yeah it sounds like the new Kawi could be one awesome machine and it could shake things up even further. I'm not sure whether it was the connection article or another magazine article that gave the H.O. the win but the categories tested were went like jumping ability and top speed which are hardly 4x4 specialties or for that matter concerns of mine when buying a 4x4.

 

ATV action also gave the win of suspension to the Honda even though it,s just a straigh axel with short travle like most of the rest were? They gave the Suzuki 500 2nd after the honda in being the most comfortable bike to be on all day long?? I ride my dads 500 Suzuki and for the life of me could not figure how they could come up with that.

 

Now you know that high speed jumping is the real reason why you got your guad.

 

Because Honda pays the bills!

 

A lot of negative comments from folks who seemingly have never ridden a Ruby, especially on trails and/or over jumps. The suspension, while not having mind-blowing travel numbers (on paper), works extremely well when ridden. If you go back and re-read the original article mentioned (which the Ruby came in second), it mentioned that it was a close second. And that even though the suspension was not an IRS, it never-the-less worked almost as well, without the weight, maintenance, and cost.

 

I think alot of the people who read these articles just read them looking for what they want to hear, and not for any real information.
As far as suspension goes, all the quads were within an inch or so of each other in terms of travel, and it is possible to have a better feeling suspension with slightly less travel.
As for the jumping; They didn't give the Honda the win because it could jump the best. It got the overall win because it could do everything the others could do at least as well as they could do it, plus it could do other things better than they could.
I really think people should stop taking it as a personal insult everytime a magazine gives a win to a competitors brand of quad. It is possible that the Rubicon is actually a better quad. Even IF Honda did have more ad's in the Magazine, it is still possible that the Rubicon is a better quad.
This is not a bad thing, it just means that in a year or two Yamaha will have to improve their Grizzly. (I think they have to improve it anyway, even if Honda didn't build the Rubicon)
And I'm not saying all this because I have a Rubicon and think that my quad is the best. I have a '99 Wolverine (and think that my quad is the best)

 

I agree generally with the last post, although I was not personally bothered that the Ruby did not win in the first test. It doesn't matter, I still love my machine! But in the first shoot-out, they rated the Rubicon ahead of the SP500, and just behind the SP500HO. The testers were amazed that those big bikes were handling the jumps as well as they were. And they mentioned that they were suprised that the Rubicon could stay with the IRS SP500's. Like any owner, I am proud of what I ride. But I don't need to put down another bike to feel bad about my ride. I do find it interesting that no one disagreed much with the first test (especially with the results), but now that another group did the test, and the results changed slightly, there is serious hell to pay! I just spent a day riding with 2 SP500 (no HO's), and they were truly awesome machines. We rode around all day in nasty mud, and had a blast! My (supposed 3-wheel drive) Ruby went everywhere as easily as the Sportmans, and the main difference was that on muddy downhills, my rear wheels weren't sliding as much as the Sportmans. But I also admired (and maybe lusted after) their increased ride height, but it didn't stop the Ruby. On teh test, don't worry, the Ruby won't stay there long. The Kawasake 650 will soon take top honors (those Prairie's are tough, too), before Polaris responds, as we all expect them too. And you know what? I'll still love my Ruby! Just like you and your bikes. So let's quit gnashing our teeth about someone else's impression, and just ride!