All I ever read is how a Honda can't do this or that...I say its all B.S. If you know how to ride this machine you can make it do anything you want it to do.

Just wondering if there are any fellow Honda owners in here who know how to ride this machine, and show everyone else what it can do, instead of bashing it

Yeah, but they won't ride with me.

People I ride with here have Honda's. A '00 Rancher, and a '07 Rincon.

I own a Honda motorcycle, does that count?

I don't have anything against Honda riders (I ride with a few 400EX's and 450R's). Just think that there are better machines out there for less money. Their sport quads are great but their utilities leave something to be desired, especially for the premium price Honda is asking for them.

It doesn't matter what you ride, it's that you like what you ride.

What??? Honda makes ATV's? Since when did this happen?
Last time I heard they were making motorsickles.

Wow the times have changed,,,, Honda making atv's who would a thunk it.

quote:

Originally posted by CATFISH:
What??? Honda makes ATV's? Since when did this happen?
Last time I heard they were making motorsickles.

Wow the times have changed,,,, Honda making atv's who would a thunk it.

They invented the Atv Along with the hand brake locker. Just like Can Am created the no delay throttle control visco lok

Not to take sides in any brand wars, but . . .

How big a deal is drivetrain design, anyway?

Are the boonies littered with the corpses of Hondas and their riders, because Hondas have no front differential lockers?

Similarly, are rusting Can-Ams, human skeletons astride their saddles, cluttering the landscape because Visco-Lok doesn't lock INSTANTLY, when one front wheel spins?

"Four-wheel-drive" pickup trucks, SUV's, etc., often had NO lockers whatsoever; and . . . have differentials BOTH front and rear . . . how can these vehicles claim any traction or mobility?

Thus, the anti-Honda faction taunts, "Nya-nya-nya-nya-nya, nya! THREE-WHEEL DRIVE!", as Hondas and their riders disappear forever into the wilderness, unable to return . . .

Maybe that's why Honda sells more ATVs than any other manufacturer, REPLACEMENTS for the doomed machines disappearing because of inadequate drivetrain design . . .

Front-differentialed four-wheel-drive vehicles, WITHOUT lockers, have been around a long time, since 'way before the World War II Jeep, etc.; differential action (incorrectly, in my view, called "three-wheel-drive") notwithstanding.

Is traction improved with a locker? Certainly.

Would a locker, automatically locking instantly, improve mobility? Of course.

But, even without any locker at all, should a four-wheel-drive vehicle get the death sentence?

Don't think so. I imagine Hondas will somehow muddle through, not unlike their WWII Jeep predecessors.

Drivetrain design, I'd think, is only ONE factor when choosing an ATV. For those who find a front locker a "litmus test" in choosing a quad, lots of choices exist.

Regardless, lots of folks choose Hondas for a balance of factors favoring that brand to them. Otherwise, Honda would not enjoy its market share dominance.

Be kind to Honda riders and share the trails with them. If nothing more, Honda riders permit the riders of other brands an opportunity for demonstrating design superiority, right? Be humble, when your wisdom triumphs!

I have a '05 Rubicon with just a tad over
6000 trouble free miles

One rack & foot peg bolt were the only
issues,However I do maintain mine extremely well
as with any ride it will last

In my Extreme Desert conditions including Mountains and dried up river beds & washes in
temps well over 110° I've NEVER had to be the reason for a short day or a tow



And after 5284 miles a New set of 'HORNS'

Hawk that is one sharp looking Ruby

Nice Ruby Desert Hawk and don't you just love those Big Horns in the desert. Well, anywhere actually. I sure like mine.

I am a big Honda fan, but they need to pull their head out of the backsides. I ride red, but soon to ride Orange as in KTM525XC baby!!!!

Thanks Annie & Catfish

It's Great to have you both around

quote:

Originally posted by #1HondaMan:

quote:

Originally posted by CATFISH:
What??? Honda makes ATV's? Since when did this happen?
Last time I heard they were making motorsickles.

Wow the times have changed,,,, Honda making atv's who would a thunk it.

They invented the Atv Along with the hand brake locker. Just like Can Am created the no delay throttle control visco lok

Actually Honda invented the ATC or All Terrain Cycle. You probably don't remember the good old three wheeler days, but I still do. Suzuki invented the modern day, four wheel ATV.

I'm going to get flamed for this next paragraph, but here goes:

As an owner of a Honda motorcycle and the former owner of a Honda quad and two three wheelers. I feel I can make this statement without prejudice. Honda ATVs are the most reliable machine on the planet, simply because they don't go fast enough, aren't powerful enough or aren't capable enough to break. Honda deliberately under engineers the motors (from a horsepower stand point) on their utility machines so that they won't get someone into too much trouble if they get going too fast (because they can't go fast). This is also evident by the distinct lack of suspension they put on their machines. Hey, 6.7" of travel may have been the hot set up in the early or mid 1990s but it hardly cuts the mustard today.

By the same token, they are also reliable because most Honda owners won't take them into 3' deep mud holes or up steep, gnarly cliffs because of the poor design of the front differential. If you keep the machine on a broad flat surface 95% of the time anything will last forever. Owners of other brands of machines who don't choose to ride on broad flat surfaces, but tend to push their machines to the limit, sometimes to the breaking point and beyond generally tend to have more problems.

I know I'm going to get grief for this post, but as I've said before I am / was a Honda owner.

they don't go fast enough, aren't powerful enough or aren't capable enough to break. (because they can't go fast).
By the same token, they are also reliable because most Honda owners won't take them into 3' deep mud holes or up steep, gnarly cliffs because of the poor design of the front differential. If you keep the machine on a broad flat surface 95% of the time anything will last forever. Owners of other brands of machines who don't choose to ride on broad flat surfaces, but tend to push their machines to the limit, sometimes to the breaking point and beyond generally tend to have more problems.

First the R ran circles around the comp. on the national level for 15 years There are still honda 3 wheelers out there that have never been opened and still running most rode by farmers and most farmers can't check the oil for sh!t And as everyone should know it's not the machine that makes it go to all the tough and crazy areas IT'S THE NUT JOB RIDING IT Just because some little sissy can't go big doesn't mean the quad doesn't want? Maybe I'm wrong 2

quote:

By the same token, they are also reliable because most Honda owners won't take them into 3' deep mud holes or up steep, gnarly cliffs because of the poor design of the front differential. If you keep the machine on a broad flat surface 95% of the time anything will last forever. Owners of other brands of machines who don't choose to ride on broad flat surfaces, but tend to push their machines to the limit, sometimes to the breaking point and beyond generally tend to have more problems.

I like that, we have FLATLANDERS that come out to TAYLOR PARK every year. They are die hard HONDU FANS. What the HELL one week a year you can be. But for the long haul here in the hills they will beat you to death. You are right about the beating that machines take, we put more abuse on our machine in one season than their machines see in their entire life time.

3 things that turn me off to HONDU. The lack of power the harsh ride and the lack of a decent 4x4 system. The RINCOB duz have a great ride but no EBS no low range and is lacking in power and last but not least no 4x4.

Well there is one other reason the most important one of all. CATFISH is a HONDU LOVER!

OK OK OK, Honda doesn't have a locker, or a comfy seat, or a low gear for the Rinny.

But all I really want to know is since when does Honda make a 4 wheeler?

I see that our very own, the one and only, TRUE HONDA lover has already spoken,,, nice to see you still sticking up for us Honda fans there COB.

quote:

Originally posted by longtravel:

First the R ran circles around the comp. on the national level for 15 years There are still honda 3 wheelers out there that have never been opened and still running most rode by farmers and most farmers can't check the oil for sh!t And as everyone should know it's not the machine that makes it go to all the tough and crazy areas IT'S THE NUT JOB RIDING IT Just because some little sissy can't go big doesn't mean the quad doesn't want? Maybe I'm wrong 2

You are talking about racing machines when you're talking about the "R". I specifically mentioned Honda's UTILITY machines. Yes there are still plenty of three wheelers out there. My first two machines were a three wheelers (1984 ATC 200ES Big Red and 1985 ATC 250SX). I have no doubt they are still running today somewhere.

The problem is clear when you look at the power of each specific class of utility machine that Honda makes. They are dead last in every catagory. Suspension is the same way. Other makes have gone to IRS for even their smallest utility quads, Honda only has them on the top of the line models. CVT trannys are the norm. They been tried and proven to be reliable, yet Honda still refuses to use them (Honda did use a CVT on their Odessey and Pilot buggies). Instead they prefer to go with a complicated hydrostatic system that even the dealers can't fix (Rubicon) or an automotive style (Rincon) or push button (just about everything else). Honda is simply "Behind the concept curve" when it somes to it's utility market.

MCBallpeen,

I must agree with you on some of the issues that you brought up, but I disagree on others.

While the Ruby has IMO the most verstile tranny on the market it is also one of the most difficult to work on. I have done a number of write ups on the tranny, I for one love it.
The biggest difference between the Ruby tranny vs. a CVT is the low RPM response, and what I mean by that is this..... it takes less RPM's to achieve movement. Having been the proud owner of both a Polaris SP500X and 2 Honda Ruby 500's, I can say with out a doubt that the Ruby tranny is better for MY application, to pull the plow or the seeder while in low 1 was far better then trying to pull the same applications on the SP500X, to much concentration was spent on keeping the speed and throttle consistant while seeding food plots.

Where as the Ruby was much easier to control, and I firmly believe that it was the results of the hydro tranny that allowed such a flawless performance in the field.

Engine Braking SUPERB!!! Regardless of the condition or terrain the engine braking was always so sure and 100%, I never had to wonder if it was not going to work, it just did and I took it for granted that it was going to. Now early years of the Sportsman 500's were prone to engine braking issues, to the point that too much brake lever had to be used. Now Polaris has corrected this issue from what I have heard and read, but I can honestly say that I myself would rather put my trust in a hydro or geared tranny rather then a belt system. I am sure that some would argue with my statement and that's fine, my words typed are only MY opinion.

The down falls of the Ruby tranny and there are a few are the following,

Complicated, yes indeed they are complicated to work on, but I have not come across a case where the dealer was not able to solve or rectify any issue, I am sure there have been cases, I just have not heard about them, the first year models were prone to a D2 error but that has since been fixed.
Sensors going out was also another known issue, but most of those issues were from riders trying to make their Ruby into a boat and taking them into uncharted waters therefore creating electric issues, which as most of us Ruby riders know a little dab of dilectric grease solves that issue.

Top Speed with the hydro tranny top speed is limited to approx 50-55mph, anyone that says they are able to achieve a greater top speed is going down hill with the wind at their back, both of my Rubys were consistant at top speed and that was between 50-55 mph, plenty fast in my opinion, but there are always those that want more, and sorry to say but obtaining that kind of speed on a stock Ruby just doesn't happen.
So top speed becomes an issue with a hydro tranny if your looking for more then 50-55 mph.

Beyond those two issues and in my opinion the top speed is not an issue but none the less beyond those two issues are the only issues that I can think of after owning two Ruby's.

Another flaw that I can think of with the Honda Rubicon would be the seat foam that Honda continues to use on their Rubys,,,,, the break down time of their foam must have a self life of more then 5 years which in my opinion is way to long, you see foam used in car seats, boat seats, motorcycle seats, furniture and even ATV's varies in density, and I think that Honda is using a way to dense of a seat foam.
On both of my Rubys the very first thing that I did after getting them home was to take apart the seat, cut out almost half and replace the cut out part with a softer less dense foam, giving a cushy and comfy seating.

Suspension It is what it is and it works, while the ride may not be that of the IRS, it was not intended nor should it mimic a ride of the IRS, we must think about the word UTILITY and think about all of the utility machines that are used in everyday life, I am not 100% positive on the number but I would be willing to bet that more then 95% of utility machines be it Semi's, heavy industrial, or military machines that are designed for and around the utility part of life do not have IRS, why is that?
Well a straight axle has an easier time hauling, pulling, working then a non straight axle.
I know that when I used to seed my food plots I never liked having to use the SP500X due in part to the squatting rear end while under a load, the squatting rear end made the front end light and loose to steer, where as the solid rear axle of the Ruby or for any non IRS does not have the squatting effect therefore making it IMO much user friendly in the field.

Now I know that someone is going to come along and say "Well then why does the SP500 pull more then the Honda Ruby?" and to that I will say this, engineering plain and simple, the SP500 and the Ruby are not the same machine, even though both claim to be a 500cc machine the SP500 is more powerful.
If we were able to build two dead even machines with regards to motor and tranny and the only difference being IRS vs. solid axle, I would be willing to bet that the solid axle would do a more effective job then that of the IRS model.

Ok got a little off track, the ride of the Ruby is tolerable, stiff yes, but still tolerable.
The ride can be greatly changed by a wonderful invention of the Perfex Kit, a kit that changes the angle of the shock from a slanted postion to a more up and down, providing more use of the shock. A kit that in a little under an hour can be installed.

One can only guess why Honda has not changed their current Ruby suspension system, I for one would love to see a Ruby come out with the same tranny and IRS.

I think that truth be told Honda has to many irons in the fire, with all of their products being made, cars, trucks, bikes, boat engines, lawn mowers, tillers, weed eaters, and I think that somewhere along the line they are either choosing not to come to terms with what the public wants in an atv or they are falling back on their "It's tried, It's true, It works" method.
Or it could be that they are overly cautious, either way they are sure to loose out on market share as they have started to do.

One thing that I am 100% sure of is this, If Honda was up on the times and made a machine like Poo Poo or Bomb then what would we have to talk about? and I am being serious when I pose that question, if all makes and models were the same then we would not be here, we would be at the Polaris forum instead of the ATVQUADSQUAD.


Having said all of the above, it doesn't matter what you ride, if you like rocks, mud, suicide hills, flat ground, the small slow ride through the woods, the so fast my eyes water through my goggles speed run, or the ever so fun COBaPOKE as long as YOUR happy with YOUR machine is really all that matters, not what I say, or what he said, or what COB says, YOU the owner are the only one that has to live with your purchase and if your a smart buyer you will have done your homework, you will have taken the time to research each mahince therefore giving you the much needed information to help you decide and determine which machine best suits your desires and need.

Now get out there and ride already.

Catfish

FISHY thanks for a great reply. You and I have talked about it many times each machine has it's place. As you say a IRS machine wouldn't serve you as well as the PLANCK I mean the RUBBY duz. In the flatlands the SRA will work just fine and give a tolerable ride. It will do better pulling implements such as you like to do.


We rag on each other and I'll bet from the time that man has been able to communicate with each other the MINE IS BETTER THAN YOURS has been going on. Just a part of being a man.

whew catfish you said a mouthful there. but i will agree 100 percent. now lets all just go ridin

quote:

Originally posted by Cob:
FISHY thanks for a great reply. You and I have talked about it many times each machine has it's place. As you say a IRS machine wouldn't serve you as well as the PLANCK I mean the RUBBY duz. In the flatlands the SRA will work just fine and give a tolerable ride. It will do better pulling implements such as you like to do.


We rag on each other and I'll bet from the time that man has been able to communicate with each other the MINE IS BETTER THAN YOURS has been going on. Just a part of being a man.

COB it's not mine is better then yours,,,,, it's mine is BIGGER then yours is the issue that has perplexed man from the dawn of time.