Press Release

FOURTRAX FOREMAN RUBICON
Model Year 2001

The Foreman Rubicon, Honda's largest and most powerful

ATV, features the revolutionary Hondamatic transmission-compact, quiet, maintenance-free, rugged, with engine braking. Riders seeking a reliable

automatic transmission and the power and durability of a Honda will find the Rubicon to be the most versatile ATV available anywhere.

Market Position
ATV sales are booming and growing at an annual rate of 25-30% for the second year in a row, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council in Irvine, California. In the predominant multi-purpose ATV segment, which encompasses farming, ranching, industrial, commercial, utility, and recreational uses, automatic transmissions have become increasing popular. Conventional belt-drive systems are susceptible to dirt and water and require frequent maintenance. The 500cc FourTrax Rubicon, with its fully-sealed Hondamatic transmission, offers superior performance and reliability to conventional belt-drive designs.

Engine
The Foreman Rubicon is powered by a 500cc, liquid-cooled, overhead valve, single cylinder four-stroke engine mounted longitudinally in the frame to minimize power losses typical of transversely-mounted engine designs. Liquid-cooling provides a smaller range of engine operating temperatures, providing longer engine life and allowing engineers to specify closer tolerance for maximum power output. As a result, the Rubicon outperforms many larger displacement ATVs.

The engine design is notable for several reasons. Engineers were determined to lower the engine's overall height to improve ground clearance and still maintain a low center-of-gravity for superb handling. A four valve head design was critical for performance, a feature that usually requires an overhead camshaft. By placing the engine's camshaft just below the cylinder head, the overall height of the engine was lowered, and the relatively short pushrods maintain accurate valve timing across a broad rpm operating band.

Similarly, the engine's oil supply traditionally carried in the bottom of the engine, was relocated to an external tank, further reducing the engine's height. The engine oil supply also serves as the hydraulic fluid for the transmission and is triple-filtered to eliminate contaminants.

Hondamatic Transmission
With over 100 patents pending, the continuously-variable Hondamatic transmission is unlike any transmission ever offered on an ATV - or any other motor vehicle, for that matter.

The Hondamatic transmission utilizes a hydro mechanical design that Soichiro Honda first introduced on the Juno M85 scooter in 1962. The Hondamatic concept was quietly 1991, where a specially-equipped CR250R racer won the all-Japan motocross title in 1991. Subsequently, the design team set about perfecting the Hondamatic for consumers. The resulting design is compact, quiet, maintenance-free, extremely rugged, and impervious to external contaminants.

Significantly, the Hondamatic features engine braking, an elusive feature in belt-drive systems that riders greatly appreciate when negotiating hilly terrain.

The Hondamatic transmission utilizes engine power to drive a hydraulic pump. The pump, in turn, drives a hydraulic motor with variable-pitch motor-side swash plate, motor-side hydraulic capacity and pressure are varied. In turn, the Hondamatic design increases torque as output shaft speed is reduced, providing excellent acceleration and powerful job-handling power.

The Hondamatic pump and motor are an integral assembly, fully sealed against external contaminants. The unit is mounted parallel to the crankshaft to minimize power loss. The Hondamatic is extremely efficient, with operating efficiencies ranging from 87% in full-reduction mode to 98% when input and output speeds are the same (1:1 ratio).

The Hondamatic features an equally versatile set of rider controls. A tank-mounted shifter lever selects Drive, Low, Neutral, and Reverse. A dash-mounted knob offers D1 for maximum torque, D2 for maximum performance, and a third position called ESP, Honda's exclusive electric shift program. ESP allows the rider to "shift" the Hondamatic at the touch of a thumb using two push-buttons mounted on the left handlebar.

A comprehensive computer program determines optimum adjustment of the Hondamatic's motor-side swash plate for ideal output power. Honda's exhaustive testing of the electronic controls in extreme riding environments ensures trouble-free operation.


Additional Features
The Forman Rubicon features full-time four-wheel drive and a torque-sensing front differential that substantially reduces torque-steer for improved handling in all riding conditions.

The Foreman Rubicon is Honda's largest ATV, yet extensive weight saving measures-like aluminum wheels-have kept the Rubicon's dry weight below 600 lbs., allowing this workhorse to be highly maneuverable and fun to ride when the chores are done.

More Information
The Foreman Rubicon is a 2001 model shown for the first time as a prototype at the annual Honda Dealer Show in New Orleans on September 8, 1999. Detailed information on the theory and operation of the Hondamatic transmission will be made available in November, 1999.

Preliminary specifications are available below. Final specifications will be set in early spring, 2000 and U.S. production will begin in late spring, 2000.

• Engine:
  500CC liquid-cooled OHV longitudinally-mounted single cylinder four-stroke with four valve head

• Lubrication:
  Dry sump system with engine-mounted oil tank

• Ignition:
  Digital with electronic advance

• Starter:
  Electric with auxiliary recoil

• Transmission:
  Fully automatic hydro mechanical, continuously-variable with electronic controls

• Driveline:
  Direct front and rear driveshafts with AP-type front differential

• Suspension:
  Front - Independent double wishbone; 6.7 inches of travel
  Rear - swingarm with twin shocks, 6.7 inches of travel

• Brakes:
  Front - Triple-sealed hydraulic drums
  Rear - Sealed mechanical drum

• Tires / Wheels:
  Front - 25x8-12, aluminum wheels
  Rear - 25x10-12, aluminum wheels

• Lighting:
  Front - Twin 30-watt halogen headlights
  Rear - Twin 5-watt tail lights

• Instrumentation:
  Digital readouts for speedometer, odometer / tripmeter, oil temperature, transmission mode, clock / engine hours; indicator lights for reverse, neutral, oil temperature warning

• Length:
  81.5 inches

• Width:
  46.7 inches

• Dry weight: 597 Ibs.

• Availability Spring, 2001

• Price (MSRP) TBA

Also read Honda's First Press Release of the New Rubicon, and don't forget to visit Honda's Website

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