by Shawn Skipper - Thursday, October 9, 2014
We get to go on our fair share of adventures here at American Hunter, and last week was no exception: I was invited out to southwestern West Virginia for a chance to test drive the new 2015 Honda FourTrax Foreman Rubicon on the venerated Hatfield-McCoy Trails. There was no hunting involved—just an opportunity to put the new machine through its paces for a little bit and determine if it would be a ride that our readers might want to consider adding to their garage in the coming year. The early results? Well, if you're looking for a new 4x4 ... the answer's yes.
Honda says its new model is “Engineered for Comfort and Confidence” and, after having put one to use, I can safely the new Foreman Rubicon lives up to said claim. In outfitting the 4x4 with an independent rear suspension, the choice of a manual transmission or Honda Automatic DCT and programmed electronic fuel injection, Honda has crafted a machine any hunter can grow comfortable with—whether you're a lifetime 4x4 operator or just starting to grow your ATV legs, there's a Foreman Rubicon build that you'll feel in control of right away.
Oh, and yes, that new, thick "Gripper" seat really does make for a cushy place to plop your rear-end.
Our hosts at the Hatfield-McCoy Trails let us put the new model to use on its popular Rockhouse Trail System, one of eight such trails that the group operates. Noted for its length and astounding variety of terrain, Rockhouse let us put our Honda's through the ringer—and they came out just fine on the other side. Each of the two models I took to task proved responsive, easy to handle and as comfortable as the adverts we were provided with claimed they would be. I'd highly recommend the Rockhouse Trail System—and its peers—to any off-road enthusiasts out there, by the way.
If you happen to be the type that's picky about your ride's look, Honda has you covered. There are five color options to choose from, depending on which version of the model catches your eye: Red, Olive, Black, White and Honda’s trademarked Phantom Camo, which you can see in the photo above.
For more information on the 2015 FourTrax Foreman Rubicon, go to PowerSports.Honda.com—and be sure to watch out for a full-fledged "Making Tracks" review in the pages of American Hunter magazine next spring!
Technical Specifications:
Engine Type: 475cc liquid-cooled OHV longitudinally mounted single-cylinder four-stroke
Bore and Stroke: 92.0mm x 71.5mm
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Induction: Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI), 36mm throttle body
Ignition: Full-transistorized with electronic advance
Starter: Electric with optional auxiliary recoil
Clutch: Automatic
Transmission: Five-speed with Reverse
Driveline: Direct front and rear driveshafts with TraxLok and locking front differential
Length: 83.7 inches
Width: 47.4 inches
Height: 49.1 inches
Seat Height: 36.1 inches
Ground Clearance: 9.8 inches
Wheelbase: 50.9 inches
Turning Radius: 11.5 feet
Fuel Capacity: 3.9 gallons, including 1.3-gallon reserve
Suspension Front: Independent double-wishbone; 7.3 inches travel
Rear: Independent dual-arm; 8.5 inches travel
Brakes Front: Dual hydraulic 190mm discs
Rear: Single hydraulic 170mm disc
