Ok Honda Guys/Gals....

Himark · Jun 7, 2012

Might have a stupid deal on a 08 Ruby with only 390km's on it. Good friend of mine is thinking of selling it. It is basically stock with the exception of ss rims and 26" mud bugs.

Questions:

how are they to snorkel

anyone here run a 2" lift on them...highlifter?

what size tires are you guys running with just the 2'' lift?

clutch kits...they worth it on the ruby? i ahve a buddy with a rincon and it didnt make a huge difference...at all.

not looking to make it a mud pro...there is some mud holes that i will have to go through to get to some of my hunting spots. just want to beef the thing up a bit. for the price im getting this quad for i just cant go wrong. throw a g note at it and make it more capable.

TheMuffinMan · Jun 7, 2012

Never owned one but everything I've heard says that the rubicon is basically the worst Honda you can get if you want to do any playing at all. Hydrostatic transmission slips a lot under heavy loads (like in mud) and they don't respond well to larger tires at all. It was Hondas first crack at an automatic tranny and they didn't use it on any other machine after that, with good reason. Heavy, unresponsive, difficult to work on, and impossible to tune.

Himark · Jun 7, 2012

not playing with it much at all. it will be the hunting quad. i have a couple deep mud holes at the one spot i go too quite a bit. im sure it can handle it the way it sits...just want a bit of a lift and snorkel kit for early spring water. a clutch kit maybe....im getting this quad for 3 grand. almost 400km's on it. winch tires and rims already on it. i have some serious seat time on the ruby's and rincons for i worked at a honda dealership. just never did any mods to them...never owned one...

reliable as fawk, comfy ride, and when i pick up the sxs, the ol lady can drive it...lol

no mud boggin weekends will be had with it.

brianwmcdonald · Jun 7, 2012

I have an '06 Ruby with 2600km on it. 2" lift (highlifter), highlifter lift springs (another 1" of lift) clutch kit, mud buster cam, pipe, jetted, etc, etc. I run 26" MudZillas which are very aggressive and heavy and no issues turning them. I think the muffinman should not comment on something he apparently knows nothing about. The transmission I've found very solid with no problems turning heavy tires in thick soup. The clutch kit did help out, but the best bang for your buck on the ruby is the mudbuster cam, makes a totally different machine. As for a snorkel, I think you'll be fine as is, the air intake is right at the gas cap, and if you're going that deep you should probably turn around any way. I've never had an issue and I go where everyone else does. If I were to buy new I would still consider another Rubicon, just waiting for them to put it's tranny with the 680cc engine and add IRS. But for 3 grand you be stupid not to buy it. The rubicon isn't the most powerful or smoothest riding quad on the market, but it is for sure one of the most reliable Automatics you'll ever buy.

TheMuffinMan · Jun 7, 2012

TheMuffinMan said:
Never owned one but everything I've heard says that the rubicon is basically the worst Honda you can get if you want to do any playing at all. Hydrostatic transmission slips a lot under heavy loads (like in mud) and they don't respond well to larger tires at all. It was Hondas first crack at an automatic tranny and they didn't use it on any other machine after that, with good reason. Heavy, unresponsive, difficult to work on, and impossible to tune.

Apparently I heardwrong, sorry. I never said I knew anything about rubys. Thank you for correcting me regardless, it's always better to get first hand info on these things. If they're as good as you say then you're right, it would be a steal.

kbrunlees · Jun 7, 2012

This might be a stupid statementn but if they are a good unit to jazz up , why aren't there more of them?? Sorry Brian but I think you have a rarity of a quad. Hondas are relieable and sturdy but not much of a mud machine and that is what I have seen. If it works for you great, but as a machine to jazz up, not my cup of tea.

rzrgade · Jun 7, 2012

3 grand is a great deal.......keeping in mind you could spend that again in it and it still will be the worst quad in the mud..........
Leave it stock,or buy a REAL mud bike..........otherwise your just throwing good money into something that you can not change......IMO

Himark · Jun 7, 2012

not a stupid statement...and i appreciate all the replies.

i will clarify one more time tho...im not trying to turn this thing into a mud bogger. i know that they arent the best in mud. they get center hung easily. so i figured throwing a grand at it cant hurt and will assist me in some of the mud holes that i have to go through to get to my hunting spots. i just got back from our griz hunt and 2 of the quads got high centered in the one mud hole...had to get out the winch. i figure if i get this thing for 3 g's, throw another g at it...it will be much more capable. i was thinking of a snorkle due to the one river crossing being just over 3ft deep. it has a couple deeper sections that have me worried with how low the ruby is.

even at 4 grand into this thing i am WAY ahead. some on kijiji for 6gs!! same year more k.

thanks again for everyones input

rubirose · Jun 7, 2012

Tranny's are great. I had an '07 and loved it. But because it did not have IRS and I was always carrying the dog on the seat I had to ride slower, so after a couple of years I sold it and bought a grizz. That is the only reason. If Honda would only please put IRS on the rubi I would buy another one right away. You can see how I got my name, Rubirose. Great quad.

jbb · Jun 7, 2012

had a rancher and it was a great little quad. if it was me himark. buy it and flip it. make some money off it and get what ya really want. thats what i did.

Himark · Jun 7, 2012

jbb said:
had a rancher and it was a great little quad. if it was me himark. buy it and flip it. make some money off it and get what ya really want. thats what i did.

ya i have debated this as well. good point. we are getting a sxs next year so may just keep it for the hunting trips. some of the trails are really tight on a quad. buddy ripped off his fender flares on his sxs and gave up for the rest of the way. so i can take the ruby in there and not care. we'll see. i know they are a damn good quad for what im gonna use it for. just want the confidence to cross a creek or a good mud hole....

thanks for the replies.

rubirose · Jun 8, 2012

Himark said:
ya i have debated this as well. good point. we are getting a sxs next year so may just keep it for the hunting trips. some of the trails are really tight on a quad. buddy ripped off his fender flares on his sxs and gave up for the rest of the way. so i can take the ruby in there and not care. we'll see. i know they are a damn good quad for what im gonna use it for. just want the confidence to cross a creek or a good mud hole....

thanks for the replies.

Creek crossings no problem, can go pretty deep. I have crossed the Mcleod River in the spring when the water came over the racks and I got across to the other side. Mud holes, more then enough power, but the lack of diff lock means you might have to pick and choose which way you go.

Murminator · Jun 8, 2012

TheMuffinMan said:
Never owned one but everything I've heard says that the rubicon is basically the worst Honda you can get if you want to do any playing at all. Hydrostatic transmission slips a lot under heavy loads (like in mud) and they don't respond well to larger tires at all. It was Hondas first crack at an automatic tranny and they didn't use it on any other machine after that, with good reason. Heavy, unresponsive, difficult to work on, and impossible to tune.

brianwmcdonald said:
I have an '06 Ruby with 2600km on it. 2" lift (highlifter), highlifter lift springs (another 1" of lift) clutch kit, mud buster cam, pipe, jetted, etc, etc. I run 26" MudZillas which are very aggressive and heavy and no issues turning them. I think the muffinman should not comment on something he apparently knows nothing about. The transmission I've found very solid with no problems turning heavy tires in thick soup. The clutch kit did help out, but the best bang for your buck on the ruby is the mudbuster cam, makes a totally different machine. As for a snorkel, I think you'll be fine as is, the air intake is right at the gas cap, and if you're going that deep you should probably turn around any way. I've never had an issue and I go where everyone else does. If I were to buy new I would still consider another Rubicon, just waiting for them to put it's tranny with the 680cc engine and add IRS. But for 3 grand you be stupid not to buy it. The rubicon isn't the most powerful or smoothest riding quad on the market, but it is for sure one of the most reliable Automatics you'll ever buy.

TheMuffinMan said:
Apparently I heardwrong, sorry. I never said I knew anything about rubys. Thank you for correcting me regardless, it's always better to get first hand info on these things. If they're as good as you say then you're right, it would be a steal.

I think you thinkin of the rincon....

Himark · Jun 9, 2012

so i went to look at the quad today and i was wrong about the km's and tires...lol. i had only seen it once before so i was going off memory. snapped a couple pics.

315kms and 32 hours...lol

i dont think i am goin to do a thing except the trunk with seat and foot pegs for the ol lady. it looks pretty sharp and i think it will suit the huntin quad role well.

thanks for all the help.

LBZ · Jun 11, 2012

Himark said:
not playing with it much at all. it will be the hunting quad. i have a couple deep mud holes at the one spot i go too quite a bit. im sure it can handle it the way it sits...just want a bit of a lift and snorkel kit for early spring water. a clutch kit maybe....im getting this quad for 3 grand. almost 400km's on it. winch tires and rims already on it. i have some serious seat time on the ruby's and rincons for i worked at a honda dealership. just never did any mods to them...never owned one...

reliable as fawk, comfy ride, and when i pick up the sxs, the ol lady can drive it...lol

no mud boggin weekends will be had with it.

That's a solid deal. I'd go for it.
And I wouldn't do anything except maybe the lift. If you keep the water below the front rack, you should have no problems.

HotShotHarry · Jun 12, 2012

I'd buy that in a heartbeat! Had an 01-put 6500k on it, sold it and bought an 04. It now has 6700k on it- front end needed rebuilding-thats it. Still have it and when it comes time to drag the moose in,I leave the can-am in camp and use Ruby. Awesome workhorse! Put a 2" body lift on and you are good to go. I even mounted a winch on the rear-it gets more use than the front winch. Good buy

Fallen · Jun 14, 2012

Buy THAT! lol. Good deal man.

Himark · Jun 14, 2012

lol...deal is dead. wifey wants a sxs

Ok Honda Guys/Gals....

Himark

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TheMuffinMan

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Himark

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brianwmcdonald

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TheMuffinMan

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kbrunlees

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rzrgade

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Himark

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rubirose

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jbb

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Himark

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rubirose

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Murminator

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Himark

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LBZ

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