I just sold my tractor and I'm thinking about picking up a used utility quad. Specifically, some version of the Honda Foreman. I need four wheel drive and actually prefer a clutchless transmission in this case.
It would be used to pull a garden trailer, to move a 1000 pound car trailer around the yard and to drag a thatcher around the lawn. Basic utility stuff.
Anybody own one of these? What do you know about them? Odds are, you know more than I do.
My impression of the Foreman is that it is a typical Honda, meaning not too sexy, not too many bells and whistles, but dead-nuts reliable and everything that you actually need and nothing that you don't. A great basic workhorse.
Foreman is work, no sport. It has a limited slip diff in the rear as opposed to the normal spool style most atvs have. This is good information if you are trying to drag race one close to another 4 wheeler and the front end pops up and takes a turn.
Just an FYI
In reply to Woody:
Good all around utility ATV. Make sure you check the oil on the front/rear diffs for leaks and oil level. Many a diff has died due to lack of maint/leaky output seals.
pinchvalve wrote:My impression of the Foreman is that it is a typical Honda, meaning not too sexy, not too many bells and whistles, but dead-nuts reliable and everything that you actually need and nothing that you don't. A great basic workhorse.
That is exactly what I'm looking for.
The farm I keep my horses at has one. They use it every day for pulling around a trailer with hay, hauling jumps around, and general running around the farm stuff. Works great for that. No issues at all in the years they've owned it. However, shouldn't this be in Off-Topic? A dork should know better! And an Ultimadork? Shame!
stumpmj wrote:However, shouldn't this be in Off-Topic? A dork should know better! And an Ultimadork? Shame!
I am truly ashamed, much like when you walk into a liquor store and the owner says, "Good morning", and calls you by your first name.
I promise that this will be the last time that I ever start a thread in the wrong forum. Ever. Starting right now.
Or, maybe tomorrow...
The thread is still young, he simply has not told us how he plans to hop it up and race it yet. Be patient.
I thought I went over the not good for racing because diff allows you to wheelie, turn, and land on your competitor.
Not to mention a very broad turning radius.
The things pull like a semi
Anybody have any experience with the electric shift versions? I don't really need that, but I'd like to know if it's something to avoid if I find a used one with it.
I have a foreman. Got it this last summer from CT. Great machine, though I'm chasing a fuel leak at the moment. It was gifted to me. Never saw a need for one before, but now I wonder how I ever lived without one. It has a plow, tows a trailer. Has a winch. It's great around the house. Things I wish were better: Reverse is a little hokey, I don't think my hands are really big enough to get into reverse easily(but I understand the safety feature. I'll likely change the winch control switch to someplace more convenient. It would be a non issue if it wasn't how you raise and lower the plow. Happy with it. So happy, I haven't put the plow on my truck yet(of course we've had a pretty low snow year too).
Last year we bought a new 2011 Foreman 4x4 with electric shift. This was after our 25 year old Honda Fourtrax 250 finally bit the dust. The electric shift was mainly for my wife, but it does work well. If it ever goes out there is an emergency shift lever you can use which is stored under the seat. When/if it does go out it's usually a simple solenoid iirc.
I do not like Honda cars. That being said I like their powersports division. The atvs are pretty bulletproof and even though the Foreman is a utility quad it can be fun.
The Foreman is underpowered compared to pretty much any other atv in that class, but the power is adequate and because of such mild tuning the engine should last a long time.
The pre 2012 Foremans are VERY simple. Single cylinder, air cooled, carb, solid rear axle, drum brake rear.
I use mine primarily on our property to check the fence line, move cars around, and pull small trailers. if you'll be doing things like that you definitely want 4x4...it helps a lot to get the load moving. We've also used it camping and riding at offroad parks, with jumps, mud, you name it. It really is a great all around atv.
The main reason I bought the Foreman was because of the transmission....it is one of the last utility atvs you can get without CVT.....and I hate CVT, so it really came down to the Foreman or the Honda Rubicon, which has a different transmission (with full auto mode), but still not CVT. The Rubicon almost won out, but in the end I was looking for simplicity and a long life and I felt the Foreman would do everything I need and hopefully last another 25 years.
BTW We started looking at used ATVs.....2004 and up. The good ones hold their value so well we ended up shopping dealers and getting a great deal on a new one.
BTW again....ours tops at right around 55mph.....I think it squeaked to 56-57 once.
FlightService wrote:I thought I went over the not good for racing because diff allows you to wheelie, turn, and land on your competitor.
Not to mention a very broad turning radius.
The things pull like a semi
I'm not sure what Foreman you rode, but these things aren't wheelie machines. I mean the front will come up if you try, but it's extremely predictable.
People race them all the time, although there are much better ATVs suited for that. Think of the chain driven ATVs people normally race with a chain, sprocket, and axle.....no spool or LS there.
Keep in mind the Foreman only has around 20HP to the wheels.
