Rubicons

[duckhnter2003]

Just lookin for info on the rubicons, anybody that has one and would like to share info I would appreciate it.

[dukdawgn]

info on a rubicon..... don't get the puter into water for very long. don't seem to like shifting gears once that happens. That, or they decide to shift gears at free will. A new computer only did worse, so did the third one. Never had a problem until it got wet hunting.

Do yourself a favor, and stay away from the electronics. If you want an automatic, go Polaris or Kawasaki. Lots of power, and little maintenance.

[mallardshooter]

haven't heard anything good bout the rincon/ rubicon for duck hunters. the automatic doesn't like the water. Good for deer hunting, but not bird hunting.
I have hunted on a Honda 450 Electric shift since 98 without any problems. had water almost over crank case loaded with guys & gear, & it never missed a beat. Electric shift works fine wet.
I would stay away from a Polaris for the same reason as the Rubicon. It is a belt drive & once that belt gets wet, there it will stay. the constant need to shift makes the belt slip. Seen it with my own eyes.
For the money, can't beat a Honda. Had too many of them without any problems, to say other wise. Can't go wrong with a Foreman.
Just my thoughts..

[mallardchaser]

I've got the 350 rancher, honda. It's the electric shift on the handle; I love it. I've had it parked in water for hours a bunch of times this year, no problems. The only problem with the shift on the handle is when Wildfowler or Softcall and I take a summer ride to the river, it's hard to shift and hold a beer at the same time.

[Super Black Eagle]

MC - I know what you mean about not being able to shift and hold that frosty Miller Lite. I have had a Rancher for about 3 years now, and that is the only complaint I have with the Electric shift. Been in water up to the seat, parked for hours in water half way up the crankcase-- no problem. It is really hard to shift and hold that brew, but if you think about it, when you are actually holding the can how fast are you really going? I just put it in second or third and leave it.

duckhnter2003 - About the Rubicon, I have a friend who is a fourwheeler/ motorcycle mechanic, and we say, "If it will last him 6 months, then it will last a normal person a lifetime." This theory hasn't failed us yet. He had a Rubicon for 3 or 4 months before it fell apart. Hubs were popping, a pin fell out of the shift linkage, and the shift handle fell off. Plenty of power, just not very dependable.

For the $$$, I would definetly recommend the Rancher.

[TODO]

My buddy had a rubicon and got it wet all season with no problems. It was kinda hard to crank in real cold weather . His only real problem was that it got stolen from his house. As far as a kawasaki, i'd stay far, far away. The 650 has bad problems with it's belts slipping.

[SoftCall]

SBE - mallardchaser doesn't know what you mean by "frosty miller lite". He drinks the beast lite! Only the finest .

MC - they are referring to an automatic shift as opposed to an electric shift. I hink that the rancher has solid electronics. It's when you throw that belt driven automatic in the mix that the problems start.

A member in my camp has a rubicon and the bike shifts funny after driving through flooded fields. It self corrects in short order though . Get a rancher.

[Wildfowler]

MC - they are referring to an automatic shift as opposed to an electric shift. I hink that the rancher has solid electronics. It's when you throw that belt driven automatic in the mix that the problems start.

A member in my camp has a rubicon and the bike shifts funny after driving through flooded fields. It self corrects in short order though . Get a rancher.

I was wondering about that, if the Honda rubicon was belt driven or not. I'm still skeptical of even the electronic shift. MC, didn't you have a problem with your's not shifting during the hard freeze?

I think if I were to buy a new one, it would be the Honda 450S, which still has the manual shift 5 speed tranny. That is assuming it has enough power to turn taller than stock mud tires. Dunno about that.

Although another buddy of mine has a Yamaha 660 automatic. That thing is really nice and has plenty of power to turn 27 inch mud tires. This fellow doesn't duck hunt, so I have no idea how well it will hold up in the water.

That bike in particular has a lot of nice features. Any duck hunters have one? I'd like to hear your opinions on that Yamaha.

Thanks.

[duckhnter2003]

thanks to everyone that has posted info.

[mallardshooter]

my 450 has the bigfoot kit and 29" tires & turns without any problem. if you hunt ricew fields, you just aboiut have to get larger than stock tires, or spend most of the time unhanging a high center. the bigfoot kit won't turn as sharp, but I'd give up a little turning radis to get the ground clearance..
As far as hard freeze & the ES, used mine to break ice, and it refroze to the trailer that night, & the shifting worked fine. brakes were a different story, but the ES was fine. took a solid week of being parked in the garage with a heater to completely thaw out. still running along. Was skeptical of the ES feature, but love it more with each passing season. the latest is that it doesn't matter what side the "back seat" drivers are on, and the shifter won't tear the top of your waders....
Just my thoghts..

[Bullie]

The rubicon doesn't have belts just alot of pumps to move all that oil.

I have a rancher like alot of you guys. The best thing I ever did for it was to buy a warn 424 to make 2wd optional. Makes this little bike alot more fun and easier to drive. (Help with the miller lite problem maybe )

My friend and fellow duck hunter went from a polaris 500 to the Rubicon (we also put a warn 424 on it), he likes to put 3-4 ppl on it, 2 decoy bags, and drive thru knee deep water and mud to the pit. His opinion is that the power of the polaris is much better, but he has had to do nothing other than scheduled maintainence to his honda. Though, he gripes about the power constantly, specially with the above situation or when pulling a disc with it, it cranks and doesn't clank.. he likes that. Try the Warn 424.

How many old polaris, have you ever seen?

[Super Black Eagle]

How many old polaris, have you ever seen?

That is a good point.

We used my wheeler one morning when everyone else's was broke down. We were 4 deep with gear and guns, 1 bag w/ about 3.5 doz. blocks, no mud, just up and down hills through an old cow pasture. Rancher did just fine. Got all of us in there and out w/ no problems.

I was wondering if anyone had tried the Honda 424 system. Is it any trouble to install? Any complaints? I think it would make the bike more fun to ride in the summer time.

[Bullie]

SBE,
I have a 424 on my rancher. I love it. Makes it handle alot better. Well worth the money in my opinion. It takes a couple of hours to install, but the hardest part is deciding where to mount the switch. The instructions included with the unit are detailed enough to follow without much problem. Only other suggestion I would have is buy the moly grease before ya start , both times I have been in on installing a 424, we had to try to find the right grease at 9pm.

On the rubicon, same benefits... more fun, better steering... I know the power is the same, but the bikes scoot around alot faster.

[DuckyDan]

Wildfowler, about the Foreman 450S.....I love mine. I didn't go all out with the super duper digging gripper look like they'll cut you to pieces mud tires on mine. I put a set of 27X10X12 Kenda Bear Claws on the front and back ones are 27X12X12. That's 2 inches taller tires all the way around, 2 inches wider on the front and the back, and a lot more lug. It still rides and handles good. The only place I feel any sluggishness is tapped out on the road at about 45 to 49. I don't care about that. As far as sloshing through stuff, it'll go good, but the ride won't kill you on hardpack like vampires or mudzillas will....of course, mine don't dig in the mud as much either. It's a trade off. I opted for something in the middle......It does have the power to pull them though.

[mallardchaser]

There is a great looking rubicon for sale on hwy 471 down from fannin mart restaurant across from the old taxidermy place. It has larger than stock tires. It's at a little used car lot. Looks like it's in pretty good shape, I'll stop and ask a price if anyone is interested.