Other than Ranger,,,,

[Black Ice]

I know honda has always been very reliable in the past. Honda was all I've ever owned until a few years ago. In my eyes they've almost waited to long to get in the sxs market. In East Texas if you see a sxs 8 of 10 will be a polaris. Like someone else said, there is gonna be more known problems because they have sold so many more. The last honda I had was a 2006 Foreman 500. We used to ride at different parks all the time. Other brands like polaris and canam of the same size would walk all over that honda in almost every scenario. I know even in the Rincon the power was aweful on the bikes compared to others.

I know own a Polaris xp 900. No problems or complaints.

Honda has never been known to be the best mudder or fastest bike. They have their purpose and serve it really well. As a matter of fact they serve it twice as well as polaris other than mudding and pure power. I want to be able to buy a 4 wheeler leave it at the ranch and not do anything to it expect change oil and battery for 10 years. I have an 07 Rincon and it has plenty of power and goes mid sixties mph. It will eat up the Polaris in trial riding from that same time but won't outrun it or out pull it. For people who want 35 inch tires and snorkels honda is not the bike for you but 27 inch tires they are fine.

[Bayouboy]

This would be the exception to the rule then. Sounds like those people need to learn how to properly maintain their equipment. That or quit abusing it.

But, I guess some are going to have problems when you sell 10 Rangers to every 1 of your competitors.

Really? Running all synthetic oils recommended by Polaris, bought, changed, and put in at dealership with each service including filters, adult driven, serviced twice a year, clean gas with sta-bil made for ethanol, engine, battery, and drive train kept clean, is not being serviced? I hardly think so. It is a 2012 model. Now has new rear axle, belt, brakes, bearings, cv joints, and shift cable. Came new with intake valves and exhaust valves improperly adjusted.

You can bet I will not buy another one. I will not even get into what some of the new ones are already having issues with. unreal.

If you like em buy em. I won't own another one.

[CaptainDave]

I know honda has always been very reliable in the past. Honda was all I've ever owned until a few years ago. In my eyes they've almost waited to long to get in the sxs market. In East Texas if you see a sxs 8 of 10 will be a polaris. Like someone else said, there is gonna be more known problems because they have sold so many more. The last honda I had was a 2006 Foreman 500. We used to ride at different parks all the time. Other brands like polaris and canam of the same size would walk all over that honda in almost every scenario. I know even in the Rincon the power was aweful on the bikes compared to others.
I know own a Polaris xp 900. No problems or complaints.

X2

There's no questioning the reliability of Honda, especially the motors. However, over the last 10 years or so, they had gone a bit lazy as their name alone kept them towards the top of the market.

Bottom line is Honda was the last major manufacturer to come out with a UTV, by a few years. It wasn't even until the last year or 2, that they have even seriously tried to compete with the other brands. Lagging behind in the UTV segment was a terrible marketing decision. Do people even realize that Polaris sells more Rangers than 4-wheelers. Seriously, it's like a 3 to 1 ratio. Kawasaki and Yamaha aren't quite as extreme, however, their UTV to ATV sales are pretty much 1 to 1.

Not to mention, Honda was almost dead last also in implementing ride comfort things such as independent front and rear suspension and power steering.

Look, I'm not trying to bash Honda. Hopefully this new machine is everything advertised as I would give it serious consideration on my next UTV purchase. I'm just saying there's no question Honda has lost some market share over the years by lagging behind the times.

[Greenheadless]

If you had the correct tools yes. Tools meaning one socket and an extension. Takes about 20 minutes less if you've done it before

Ok, that is not how I read what was posted. They made it out to sound like if the belt brakes, you just whip another one on there and go about your way. That the belt changeout was so easy, you would not have to walk back to camp and be stranded like you would if the Honda transmission would leave you.

With the Mules, you really need a special extraction tool to get the clutch drive off, not just a socket set. Also there are other things that have to come off to get the drive housing cover off. It is not just a fix on the go type of thing.

[txwhitetail]

Really? Running all synthetic oils recommended by Polaris, bought, changed, and put in at dealership with each service including filters, adult driven, serviced twice a year, clean gas with sta-bil made for ethanol, engine, battery, and drive train kept clean, is not being serviced? I hardly think so. It is a 2012 model. Now has new rear axle, belt, brakes, bearings, cv joints, and shift cable. Came new with intake valves and exhaust valves improperly adjusted.

You can bet I will not buy another one. I will not even get into what some of the new ones are already having issues with. unreal.

If you like em buy em. I won't own another one.

Seems like you had your feelings hurt by Polaris for some reason????

Whoever had all those issues on one unit I would be looking at the operator regardless of the brand.

[Greenheadless]

X2

There's no questioning the reliability of Honda, especially the motors. However, over the last 10 years or so, they had gone a bit lazy as their name alone kept them towards the top of the market.

Bottom line is Honda was the last major manufacturer to come out with a UTV, by a few years. It wasn't even until the last year or 2, that they have even seriously tried to compete with the other brands. Lagging behind in the UTV segment was a terrible marketing decision. Do people even realize that Polaris sells more Rangers than 4-wheelers. Seriously, it's like a 3 to 1 ratio. Kawasaki and Yamaha aren't quite as extreme, however, their UTV to ATV sales are pretty much 1 to 1.

Not to mention, Honda was almost dead last also in implementing ride comfort things such as independent front and rear suspension and power steering.

Look, I'm not trying to bash Honda. Hopefully this new machine is everything advertised as I would give it serious consideration on my next UTV purchase. I'm just saying there's no question Honda has lost some market share over the years by lagging behind the times.

So Honda lagging on entering a market means they should be discounted? Why not let the others rush to market with the new idea and learn from their mistakes? I have seen this time and again with manufacturers in general. Being last to the market is not always a bad thing.

[txwhitetail]

So Honda lagging on entering a market means they should be discounted? Why not let the others rush to market with the new idea and learn from their mistakes? I have seen this time and again with manufacturers in general. Being last to the market is not always a bad thing.

Im really interested to see how this type drive train/tranny will handle the abuse and terrain. If it holds up it would be sweet.

[Quackerbox]

Ok, that is not how I read what was posted. They made it out to sound like if the belt brakes, you just whip another one on there and go about your way. That the belt changeout was so easy, you would not have to walk back to camp and be stranded like you would if the Honda transmission would leave you.

With the Mules, you really need a special extraction tool to get the clutch drive off, not just a socket set. Also there are other things that have to come off to get the drive housing cover off. It is not just a fix on the go type of thing.

I carried an extra and the tools with me when I went to Colorado. Ive done the belt on my 09 and 2 other machines for other folks. Its not that hard and Im confident I could manage a swap away from camp if I had to. Actually harder to get the new one on than the old one off for me. That said if I went back to ATV Id get a Honda. If something happened to my ranger and needed replacing Id look at the Honda for shear reliability alone. I just don't see the chances of breaking axles/transmissions (or belts for that matter) if youre not rolling through 3 feet of mud and 4 feet of water with over sized monster truck tires.

For reference on belt change this guy does it in 5 mins...

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. Posting of objectionable material in text, attachments or embedded links is grounds for immediate suspension.

I AGREE, PLAY EMBEDDED VIDEO

[Bowtech32]

Im really interested to see how this type drive train/tranny will handle the abuse and terrain. If it holds up it would be sweet.

I don't see why it will not hold up, the tranny in the 700 and 500 is doing really well so far. I look around on the Honda forums and have yet to see an issue with those tranny's. Honda is giving everyone another choice, and to tell you the truth being able to select your own gear when you want on a SxS is long over due. We win when the competition is strong. For the ones who want a Ranger, this new Honda will be good for them as well. Maybe you will be able to get a Ranger for a better price.

[txwhitetail]

I don't see why it will not hold up, the tranny in the 700 and 500 is doing really well so far. I look around on the Honda forums and have yet to see an issue with those tranny's. Honda is giving everyone another choice, and to tell you the truth being able to select your own gear when you want on a SxS is long over due. We win when the competition is strong. For the ones who want a Ranger, this new Honda will be good for them as well. Maybe you will be able to get a Ranger for a better price.

They are all a ripoff for what you get.

[Bowtech32]

They are all a ripoff for what you get.

Yes they are, we have to pay to play. I bought a brand new ford ranger in 93 (ordered it) 4x4 with the bigger tires and it had the works. It was about the same price as these SxS are now. I will be one of the dumb A's that will pay to get one. But I am not dumb enough to buy one every year or 2. My last ATV I bought was in 2000, and now I am married with 2 small kids.

[Bayouboy]

Seems like you had your feelings hurt by Polaris for some reason????

Whoever had all those issues on one unit I would be looking at the operator regardless of the brand.

The operator would be me. And, when the $$$ I spend comes out of my pockets I take care of eqpt. People that know me also know I buy top quality or nothing at all.

Feelings hurt? Not really. Loss of confidence? Better believe it.
Not sure what brand will be purchased next. But, I know what it will not be.

[CaptainDave]

So Honda lagging on entering a market means they should be discounted? Why not let the others rush to market with the new idea and learn from their mistakes? I have seen this time and again with manufacturers in general. Being last to the market is not always a bad thing.

Lagging behind is an understatement when it comes to Honda and UTVs. Kawasaki launched the Mule in 1988. Polaris launched the Ranger in 1997 and Yamaha followed shortly. When did Honda even put a UTV on the market? 2007, 2008? Probably 10 years after the first Ranger. There's no question that if Honda would have entered this market much earlier that they would have a greater market share. Even to this day, this is the first Honda UTV that is actually comparable to a Ranger as far as power and payload are concerned.

As for ride comfort improvements, Honda could have easily kept up with newer trends like independent front and rear suspension without sacrificing reliability. They simply chose not to.

[DaveC]

Other than Ranger,,,,

Really? Running all synthetic oils recommended by Polaris, bought, changed, and put in at dealership with each service including filters, adult driven, serviced twice a year, clean gas with sta-bil made for ethanol, engine, battery, and drive train kept clean, is not being serviced? I hardly think so. It is a 2012 model. Now has new rear axle, belt, brakes, bearings, cv joints, and shift cable. Came new with intake valves and exhaust valves improperly adjusted.



You can bet I will not buy another one. I will not even get into what some of the new ones are already having issues with. unreal.



If you like em buy em. I won't own another one.

I'm curious if you happened to have one of the Made in Mexico models. I know they built a factory down there a few years back and were making rangers and razors.
(Among other items I suspect ).

The quality control was a question when they made the move.

My 2009 has been well used and has had some wear items replaced, but nothing too drastic... Except for the fuel pump.

[Greenheadless]

I don't see why it will not hold up, the tranny in the 700 and 500 is doing really well so far.

It is my understanding that the tranny in the 500 is manual shift and the 700 is automatic, so that would be apples to oranges to be fair.

That being said, the automatic has been used all the way back to the Big Red days, so it should have a track record.

I was also told (and would like to confirm, but have to do so yet) that the 500 is the exact same setup as the Fourtrax Foreman 500 ATV, and that has a definite track record for quality and dependability.