What Do I Get? - Honda Foreman Forums : Rubicon, Rincon, Rancher and Recon Forum

Travis Ricks · 09-01-2010, 10:48 PM

2011 Foreman 500 manual shift, 2011 Foreman 500 Electric Shift, or a 2010 Rancher AT?

I had an '06 Foreman 500 manual shift and LOVED that thing. I rode my buddy's '09 Foreman 500 ES and loved it too. I have never rode a Rancher AT but love the IRS on a 4-wheeler.

Whatever I decide, I'll buying one this coming Friday. I'll be using it to deer hunt, hog hunt, and trail riding. It will NOT be used for mud bogging.

(Oh and I weigh about 260 lbs.)

TUFF CHOICES!!

h22ate · 09-02-2010, 01:04 AM

If I were you id take a forman. Th rancher is "made" with a 200lb rider in mind that is going trail riding. Dont get me wrong its a great machine but they arent made for the workhorse abuse that a foreman is. If is going to haul deer and work around the yard you want the solid rear axle for towing and hauling, IRS makes it a lil less stable for hauling a trailor. Plus if you've had a foreman you probably know they're bullit proof. As far as ES over footshift, thats all personal preference..... which would you rather have?

red08420 · 09-02-2010, 09:34 AM

Foreman manual shift.

Just my

Rancher AT- Don't trust it, too much stuff to break, hasn't been out for long enough to test the reliability. Look to see if you can find any threads on here about 420 AT transmission failures.

Foreman ES- ES is 1 more thing to break.

Foreman FM- Best Choice, Simple, pretty bullet proof (opinion, never owned one)

I like my 420. Only complaints are that I worry about it more than an air cooled & carbed Honda and it's not great for carving up tight trails, tends to push...although it is a 550 lb 4wd.

mtp-foreman · 09-02-2010, 10:02 AM

Foreman!!!

Dawg Fan · 09-02-2010, 11:27 AM

Foe Man Foe Sho!

TXTee · 09-02-2010, 12:56 PM

I'll agree Foreman....ES is nice from the first one I had but like someone said may be more breakage. Foot shift isn't that bad and the previous owner of the one I just got wired an override fan switch so it can be turned on ad hoc when hauling the kill.....seems like a simple enough mod.

RUMlover · 09-02-2010, 02:02 PM

Have you looked at a rubicon?

faruquehabib · 09-02-2010, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RUMlover

Have you looked at a rubicon?

i was just about to mention this! the foreman manual shift would have been my choice had i not test drove a rubicon. true, the hydro tranny is complex, but it is even more of a workhorse than a foreman manual shift because of the hydro tranny, hi and low range, and the engine is liquid cooled so it can work long hours, even in hot weather.

for work, i would not get the rancher AT...that is a trail machine.

either way you will be happy. good luck!

2003 foreman es · 09-02-2010, 05:31 PM

Foreman es is a good bike.

Travis Ricks · 09-02-2010, 11:11 PM

I forgot to mention that I already have an '08 Suzuki King Quad 750. It is fuel injected, has IRS, and is liquid cooled. Once I get my new Honda tomorrow, I'm not sure yet if I'm gonna keep the King Quad or not.

I don't think I'd like the Rubicon. If I'm gonna buy an automatic, it's gonna have IRS.

Thanks for the replies.

09-01-2010, 10:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Travis Ricks Honda Rider Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: In the South Posts: 64	What Do I Get? 2011 Foreman 500 manual shift, 2011 Foreman 500 Electric Shift, or a 2010 Rancher AT? I had an '06 Foreman 500 manual shift and LOVED that thing. I rode my buddy's '09 Foreman 500 ES and loved it too. I have never rode a Rancher AT but love the IRS on a 4-wheeler. Whatever I decide, I'll buying one this coming Friday. I'll be using it to deer hunt, hog hunt, and trail riding. It will NOT be used for mud bogging. (Oh and I weigh about 260 lbs.) TUFF CHOICES!!

09-02-2010, 01:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
h22ate Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: SW, Pennsylvania Posts: 4,635	If I were you id take a forman. Th rancher is "made" with a 200lb rider in mind that is going trail riding. Dont get me wrong its a great machine but they arent made for the workhorse abuse that a foreman is. If is going to haul deer and work around the yard you want the solid rear axle for towing and hauling, IRS makes it a lil less stable for hauling a trailor. Plus if you've had a foreman you probably know they're bullit proof. As far as ES over footshift, thats all personal preference..... which would you rather have? __________________ 08 Rubicon 27" Bighorns on MSA Reapers 2" SSATV Lift Moose rear pack Moose heated grips, thumb warmer, gun racks and hand guards Custom Polaris Front and Rear bumpers Custom rack extenders Custom GSXR projector headlight Custom Stereo Superwinch 3k Snorkeled front and rear ‚——P--;===±--= <- !‚–’¯ƒ¹¶ Boilermaker L.U. 154 http://youtu.be/U71bn4ZF4K0

09-02-2010, 09:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
red08420 Honda Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 236	Foreman manual shift. Just my Rancher AT- Don't trust it, too much stuff to break, hasn't been out for long enough to test the reliability. Look to see if you can find any threads on here about 420 AT transmission failures. Foreman ES- ES is 1 more thing to break. Foreman FM- Best Choice, Simple, pretty bullet proof (opinion, never owned one) I like my 420. Only complaints are that I worry about it more than an air cooled & carbed Honda and it's not great for carving up tight trails, tends to push...although it is a 550 lb 4wd. __________________ 2008 TRX 420 FM -winch -auxiliary front and rear lights -dog water and bowl -chainsaw 2003 TRX 400 EX -Full aluminum skidplates, nerfs, bumpers -Pro Taper bars & clamps, G2 handguards -Supersprox sprockets, gold RK -Razrs

09-02-2010, 11:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dawg Fan Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Jacksonville, FL. Posts: 625	Foe Man Foe Sho! __________________ 09' Foreman Half Camo / Half Tan Color 28" Outlaws 1-1/2" wheel spacers 2" Perfex Long Arm Travel Lift HMF Utility Exhaust Dyno Jet Kit K&n Filter and Outerware Home Depot Snorkle

09-02-2010, 12:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
TXTee Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,073	I'll agree Foreman....ES is nice from the first one I had but like someone said may be more breakage. Foot shift isn't that bad and the previous owner of the one I just got wired an override fan switch so it can be turned on ad hoc when hauling the kill.....seems like a simple enough mod. __________________ Gone - no time for childish people or games

09-02-2010, 10:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
mtp-foreman Honda Rider Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 22	Foreman!!!

09-02-2010, 02:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
RUMlover Honda Rider Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 38	Have you looked at a rubicon?

09-02-2010, 05:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
2003 foreman es Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Motor City Posts: 3,687	Foreman es is a good bike. __________________ 03 Foreman ES Too much to list...

09-02-2010, 11:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
Travis Ricks Honda Rider Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: In the South Posts: 64	I forgot to mention that I already have an '08 Suzuki King Quad 750. It is fuel injected, has IRS, and is liquid cooled. Once I get my new Honda tomorrow, I'm not sure yet if I'm gonna keep the King Quad or not. I don't think I'd like the Rubicon. If I'm gonna buy an automatic, it's gonna have IRS. Thanks for the replies.

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