Honda Foreman w/power steering.

[loknlod]

I am interested in one of these machines and was wondering if anyone has one.  I would like to know your opinions good or bad.  Thanks.

[RonO777]

We had one on demo for a while. I got to ride it for the better part of a full day. After the first five or ten mins of riding you notice it has power steering anymore till you get back on another one without it. It really soaks up the bumps on trails that would normally try to yank the bars out of your hands.
Its nice, would I buy one probably not. I would get a Rubicon Ive seen the least problems out of them and buy problems I mean they will take the most abuse and still keep going.
Ron

[loknlod]

Hey Ron0777, thanks for the reply.  I was starting to wonder if anyone had even been on one lol!  What kind of problems do you see with the Foreman?  I guess I thought they were pretty much bulletproof.  What else do you like about the Rubicon as compared to the Foreman?

[RonO777]

Most of the problems I see are caused by abuse. Maybe the people that buy Rubicons use there's more for work and not for seeing how deep they can get stuck in the mud. Most of the time they will get water in the electrical connections. That will cause shifting problems on the ES models. It is from cleaning them with a pressure washer and spraying right on the connections.
Ron

[BlkHawk73]

  First time I heard about power steering onan ATV I had to laugh.  Just how soft have riders gotten that this is a necceccity?  C'mon Now!

[loknlod]

Blkhawk73,
               I know what you mean.  I felt the same way until I started hauling firewood through winding narrow rough trails.  According to what I have heard the power steering option will make my job of hauling 6 cord of wood a lot easier.  If you figure how many trips it takes to cut and haul that much wood, it only makes sense that I try to get the machine that works best for me.  Is this a necessity?  No, but since I am upgrading my machine it only makes sense to get one that does the exact job that I want it to do.

[Old Syko]

I honestly don't know anything about power steering on a quad since I haven't ridden one that had it yet.  I've heard others claim that the best part of it wasn't that it made steering lighter as with a car, but it absorbed shock as when you find that hidden hole that wants to jamb the bars one way or the other when you least expect it.  I believe Yahama may have been the first to implement such a design a year or so ago but I'm not sure.  It will be interesting to see how it works.

Most of the problems I see are caused by abuse. Maybe the people that buy Rubicons use there's more for work and not for seeing how deep they can get stuck in the mud. Most of the time they will get water in the electrical connections. That will cause shifting problems on the ES models. It is from cleaning them with a pressure washer and spraying right on the connections.
Ron

Honestly, Honda is the only manufacturer I've ever heard of that considers running in water as abuse.  How else would I clean the thing up if I didn't use the pressure washer?  Doubt if my drycleaner would even give me a price.  

[Drilling Man]

I believe Yahama may have been the first to implement such a design a year or so ago but I'm not sure.

  Yup, Yamaha was first to have it and i'm not hearing of any complaints about it from owners...  Folks that buy Mattracks or use snow plows really like having it!

  DM

[RonO777]

Yes sometimes riding in water is not covered under warranty.

But you can always tell what caused the damage.
There is nothing wrong with using a pressure washer to clean your atv, if you know how to use a pressure washer. The ones that dont put the tip about a inch or so away from what they are trying to clean.
Ron