My buddy brought one of these up from southern colorado. I don't know a thing about honda. I assume it's a swingarm rear-end. Is this one of the full time 4x4 models? I see it is a carb model, how do I tell if it is jetted for high altitude?
any other items that would be helpful to know, please tell.
shawn

Well short of taking the carb off and looking at the main jet.. riding it at higher elevations will give you an idea if it is jetted correctly. If it has a clean and properly
oiled air filter and still does not run cleanly at altitude I would have to say the jet is too big..

Yes it is a SRA rear, look at the right handle bar by the thumb throttle for a yellow slider switch for the 2wd 4wd selection.

The trans has a high and low it is D1 and D2 on the selector on the left side of the tank I believe..I don't have a Rubi, Catfish had one he is the Expert on Golden Ruby's..

He should be along soon , and give you the scoop on the Rubicon

I read the articles about it when it first came out and it seemed decent. The main complaint was that it didn't have a good as ride as a polaris, but really what does???
I think it will make a good stater quad for him and for when my wife when she rides it. I like how you can switch from auto to manual transmission.
shawn

Hi Shawn Yes it does have a full time 3 wheel drive (or 4 some times} The one thing that you want to remember is that with full time 4 wheel drive it doesn't make any difference which brake you hit it will make all of them work. It has ESP D1 D2 and in ESP you can shift it electrically the other 2 settings shift them self. With the stiff axle you will need to take it slow over the rocks or you will not like the ride at all. The machine is pretty much bullet proof but I don't know why Hondu doesn't wake up and follow progress of the other quads.
Enjoy your ride what ever you have.

The Ruby is truly a wonderful machine.

It has the ability for the rider to switch from auto to manual shift, and unlike most shifting quads with the Ruby the rider does not have to let off on the gas while going through the gears.

The engine braking is the best of all quads on the market today, hands down the best.

On a steep hill with the quad in low and 1st gear I jumped off the quad and was able to walk down the hill faster then the quad was moving.

My Ruby did not have the 2-4 wheel drive switch so I had the Warn424 kit installed. I was very pleased to see Honda introduce the 2-4 wheel drive switch. The 2001 is a full time 4 wheel drive quad as well.

The seat of the Ruby is HARD, the hardest I have ever sat on, some after market foam is a must.

The ride of the Ruby is good for a solid axle but can become great by a simple install of the Perfex Kit. 45 min of work and the ride is night and day difference.

The 4 wheel drive system works as it should being a limited slip system, while all 4 wheels are on the ground the 4 wheel drive will be just that 4 wheel drive, like any limited slip 4 wheel system there is a chance that when 1 wheel is off the ground the one left on the ground might not engage while the one in the air might spin.

The power is good for a 500, the machine will do 50 plus with no problem, the machine will even wheelie if you want it to.

The tranny is what sets it apart from the rest, super smooth with tons of low end grunt power.

I've owned 3 Rubys in my quad years and I still think it is the best quad that Honda has made for someone that wants to work and play.

I say work first as the machine is a work horse and will pull, push, haul all day long, yet it is also a lot of fun on the trails.

The Ruby is a fine fine machine.

Best of luck.

Catfish

you don't know, off hand, how many quarts of oil it holds, do you? I am going to change the oil in it and the King.
shawn

quote:

On a steep hill with the quad in low and 1st gear I jumped off the quad and was able to walk down the hill faster then the quad was moving.

FISHY you are making it hard for me to keep quiet!!!


SHAWN thats real thoughtful of you LET THE WIFE ride the planck while you ride the cushy KING.

It's true I did and DUCK was on the same trail as I was when I did this.
We were both riding the same trails together.

The Ruby has the best hands down engine braking of all quads that I have ever owned or rode.

Catfish

Only the best for my wife . At least I have a chance to see how much she wants to ride with very little financial investment on my part. If she does want to ride I think I already have one pick out for her.
shawn

Plan on putting in 6 quarts and make sure that you drain both plugs. Try not to use to much bad language when you have to take the skid plates off to change oil.

While my Rubys were 03's or newer, I thought the 01 had the removable oil window built into the skid plate........ or was that on the after market skid plate that I had?

Hmmm not sure, it's been so long ago.

Catfish

FISHY have to argue wih that one now that POLARIS has ADC. Someone told me can't recall who but they seen a video where two ppl had a new POLARIS with ADC. They got off put the machine in gear and walked down the hill ahead of the machine as it came down on it's own. Yes they beat it down. OH GAWD mercy me can you imagine I just compared a POLARIS to a HONDU. I hope the POLARIS GAWDs will forgive me for this one time lack of good judgement.

Cob.
We all know that you compare Polaris and Honda all the time.

After all when you have a broken down Polaris sitting in your garage (due to roll over) and a nice and freshly shined Ruby sitting right next to it, it's hard not to compare the two.

But for heaven sake plz take the Gomer mask off when you decide to take the Ruby out for a spin as we all know and understand your love of Honda and there is no need to hide anymore.

Catfish

LIAR!

All kidding aside I have heard good things about the new ADC, and all I can say is good for Polaris, that should be a strong point for them.

I can remember years back when I had my SP500X I feared going down steep hills, that sounds like a thing of the past for Polaris now.

Catfish