Look at this for new ride ?

7264 Views 20 Replies 11 Participants Last post by DirtKurt, May 21, 2006

Foreman2

Discussion Starter · May 14, 2006

I'm looking at the 500s to replace a 2005 Outlander . Looking for a ride that is as good as my 450s is but i here to many things bad about the 500s so far. I have had very good luck with Honda in the past and want the same with what i get. Might wait untill next year and see if honda gets the 500 as good as the 450 or i will have to look at other rides.

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

fkoney_99

· #2 · May 15, 2006

Look at this for new ride

I have a 2006 forman 500 S I bought in december and have 1000 miles on it and 100HR. It is boan stock. and I ride it like i stole it I have drounded it 4 times i ride in a loat of water & mudd, sand @ suberan estates in fl. I love my Forman I have not done enything to it but change my oil, filter & air filter. I change air filter every weekend ride and oil & filter every outher ride and check difes no water yet. great bike I am thinking of trading in my wifes rancher 2wd on one

big_daddy_bigfoot

· #3 · May 15, 2006

Why do you change your air filter and oil and filter so much?

2foremen

· #4 · May 15, 2006

Hi Foreman2,

I own a 2005 honda foreman 4x4 500 S. My foreman currently has around 500 problem free miles.

Foreman2

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 15, 2006

Good to here that some people are having good luck with them. Could it be that those people with mods are giving this 4 wheeler the hard time, might not take mods like the 450 has. I still like the 500s.

snowman

· #6 · May 16, 2006

5500 HARD kms on my 05 foreman
done wheel bearings at about 3000 kms
and just now going through it and doing ball joints and brakes.
id buy another in a heartbeat !
love it!
believe me this thing takes a beating !
winter pushing snow all season and summer at the bottom of the pond.

DirtKurt

· #7 · May 16, 2006

About 99 percent of the problems on this bike are caused by lift kits and huge tires. I've got 1600 miles on my bike about 1000 of which are on 27in 589's.
I ride the bike hard and rarely hold back and have never broken a thing. I've done wheel bearings and brake pads 1 time. Its also been sunk once and still doesnt smoke or burn a drop of oil. Now with that being said if i had a lift kit on it i could see breaking alot of parts. You gotta ask yourself if the 1-2 inches of extra clearance is really worth the risk. I would say overall the 500 is a well built strong bike and as long as you do your maintenance you can expect a long trouble free life.

muddin500

· #8 · May 16, 2006

1900 miles the only thing done is recalls on the clutch messed up the crank some how so they replacing that too

wvyankee2

· #9 · May 16, 2006

I've talked to 2 people that I met out on the trail with new 500 Foreman's. One had a 2002 Foreman that he traded on the new one, and the other had a 2004 Foreman that he sold to buy the 05 500. Both guys told me that they liked their old Foreman's better than the new 500. Funny thing is that neither one could really tell me why. They just said that the older model felt better to them riding it. Both mentioned that they did'nt like the racks as well and overall they felt that the new one felt like a cheaper machine to them. That really disapointed me because I always felt like Honda when making a change would definately make improvement. I have been considering moving up to a new Rincon for more power and a better ride, but those 2 guys scared me. I really like my 04 450, and would hate to put out $3,000.00 and say I wish I did'nt. Anyone else recently trade up from a late model 450 that can convince me that it is a good move?

See less See more

DirtKurt

· #10 · May 16, 2006

Just ride one. That will make your mind up quicker than anything else. you can talk about it all day but theres no replacement for seat time.

SASQUATCH

· #11 · May 17, 2006

Lol in kinda traded my old 2000 es foreman. It was jacked out of my driveway at 4am. It had 26inch laws, aluminum products skid plates, warn 3.0 winch, all the performance mods. Preflex kit. lift springs. warn 424. And it all had about 50 miles on it haha. O well I love my new foreman compaired to the old one, more power, more ground clearence, beter gauge pod design and a beter over all feel.

big_daddy_bigfoot

· #12 · May 17, 2006

I don't have a lot of seat time on a 450 but I have rode my buddys a few times and I would not trade him for nothing. The ride and power is way better and the seat is way nicer. The seat is bigger and to me feels softer.
I was like you, wondering what if, and I got tired of it and just went out and bought one. No matter what you wont be sorry. If its really that big of a deal just keep the 450, whats wrong with it? Do you have to got a new one?

dirtyrider6104

· #13 · May 17, 2006

I love my 500 foreman but as far as strength compared to the 450 the 450 is a much stronger bike

wvyankee2

· #14 · May 17, 2006

Well folks I appreciate the feedback, but I'm still confused. The 500 seems like the same design as the 450, with new skins, and the Rubicon 500 motor which is a stronger motor. The motor design and driveline are essentially the same are'nt they? Is the suspension geometry the same also? Besides the skins and motor, what is very different on the 500 vs. the 450?

big_daddy_bigfoot

· #15 · May 17, 2006

QUOTE ("wvyankee2":1vxl2nrt)

Well folks I appreciate the feedback, but I'm still confused. The 500 seems like the same design as the 450, with new skins, and the Rubicon 500 motor which is a stronger motor. The motor design and driveline are essentially the same are'nt they? Is the suspension geometry the same also? Besides the skins and motor, what is very different on the 500 vs. the 450?

Dude you have it all wrong, it don't have the rubi motor for starters! The Rubi motor is a 499cc and the 500 Foreman is a 475. And it's ALL new, it's longer, wider, and I think its taller! I'm sure others can tell you more, I have to leave for work now .

wvyankee2

· #16 · May 17, 2006

Your right, I was just assuming they put the Rubicon motor in the foreman. Guess i need to go to the dealer and check them out. Always feel it's better to talk to the owners instead of the salesman though. That really surprises me that they developed a new 475 for the foreman. They should have just gave the Rubicon motor to the Foreman and developed a new 600 for the Rubicon.

ForeWOMAN450

· #17 · May 17, 2006

QUOTE ("Foreman2":3gzaxp96)

:? I'm looking at the 500s to replace a 2005 Outlander . Looking for a ride that is as good as my 450s is but i here to many things bad about the 500s so far. I have had very good luck with Honda in the past and want the same with what i get. Might wait untill next year and see if honda gets the 500 as good as the 450 or i will have to look at other rides.

Why are you looking to get rid of the Outlander???

Foreman2

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 20, 2006

Im hearing to many things going rong with them, the fram braking is a big ? to me. I have had one problem that left me in the woods. The VR went bad and it would not start. Becouse the pull start will not pull over the motor ( no deconpresion on it) had to walk out and get the Honda and jump start it. I and my wife like the Honda better the only good think about the outy is the ride. And the $$$ might be right for me to spend right now.

big_daddy_bigfoot

· #19 · May 20, 2006

QUOTE ("Foreman2":u2wii4x5)

Im hearing to many things going rong with them, the fram braking is a big ? to me. I have had one problem that left me in the woods. The VR went bad and it would not start. Becouse the pull start will not pull over the motor ( no deconpresion on it) had to walk out and get the Honda and jump start it. I and my wife like the Honda better the only good think about the outy is the ride. And the $$$ might be right for me to spend right now.

First I have heard of the frame breaking.

2foremen

· #20 · May 21, 2006

Well I own both the 450 and 500 foreman so i will try to help. Both atvs have been problem free (450 has 400 miles) and the (500 has 500 miles). The foreman 500 has a better suspension, ride, and bigger seat than the foreman 450. The foreman 500 also has a gear indicator on the pod to remind you what gear you are in (nice feature). The foreman 500 seems to start easier and warm up quicker than the foreman 450. Both atvs have stock exhaust and the foreman 500 is quiter than than the foreman 450. I can not comment on bigger tires since both atvs are running the stock tires. Hope this helps.

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.