REVIEWS
THIS IS A REVIEW I FOUND ON THE 'NET. I'LL POST MORE AS I FIND THEM.
Honda 350 ES
Middle Of The Road Workhorse or Versatile Playbike?
In the past three years the ATV business has gone through so many changes, trying to keep track of them makes our heads spin. We have seen extreme growth, new bike classes and tons of new technology. With so much change two questions beg to be answered: Is all this technology improving the sport, and if so, do I really need it? If you were to ask Honda's product planners these questions, they might answer yes and no.
What?
Yes it's true, as you peruse Honda's 2001 ATV's you'll notice a lack of new technology. They've landed a new ATV line-up that delivers improved performance but utilizes technology we've seen before with some significant updates. However, if you go back to the question asked in the previous paragraph, you'll see this isn't a bad thing.
We had the chance to test Honda's 2001 Fourtrax 350 ES not too long ago. What we learned is recycled technology does not make an unacceptable ATV. Remember, this new 350 4X4 from Honda replaces what is felt to be the largest selling ATV in history, the Fourtrax 300 4X4. When you've had as much success as Honda has had with the 12 year old 300 4X4, you want to make sure you don't re-invent the wheel and alienate a heard of happy customers.
Where's the Beef?
The Fourtrax 350 ES is powered by a longitudinally mounted, 329cc, overhead valve, air cooled, dry sump single. This averaged sized thumper is fed by a 32mm CV carb and is mated to Honda's own electric shift, semi-auto tranny. One complaint we never heard about the Fourtrax was its power delivery in the 300/350 class. This, like many other Honda ATV offerings, is a great motor which is ideally matched to the power requirements of 4X4 ATV's. It has oodles of torque down low and revs out nicely in the midrange to a top end curve that feels stronger than all competitive bikes in this class. There's no reason for a person to worry about a lack of technology mumbo-jumbo here, this motor is simply all good. This is the only overhead valve ATV in its class.
In the chassis department the Fourtrax might leave a little to be desired. The double wishbone, independent front suspension with steel bodied, non-preload-adjustable hydraulic shocks put forth a mere 5.9 inches of travel. The rear swing-arm with a single, non-adjustable, steel bodied hydraulic shock yielding the same 5.9 inches of travel as the front left us, on more than one occasion, questioning the integrity of our vertebrae. As with so many ATV's these days, the suspension on the Fourtrax is acceptable for working and utility purposes, it's when you decide to go on a trail ride or wick up the throttle and run at faster speeds that the limitations of relatively short travel suspension systems show through.
One thing certainly becomes clear when riding the 350ES fast: this is one tough and sturdy ATV. The chassis on the ES can take just about any abuse you can throw at it, on it or throw it on. This is good, we doubt most riders can take the same abuse!
What is ES?
Honda believes that people who buy ATV's still want to shift them - manually, or semi-manually. The result is Honda's own thumb operated electric shift set up. This system works via an electric servo mated to the standard gearbox/auto-clutch found on non-ES models from Honda. When you push the up-shift button, the servo spins the shift shaft up and the bike shifts up. As if I need to say this, when you push the downshift button, the servo spins backward and the bike shifts down. This sounds great. Compared to a foot shifter it is. However, if you were to immediately get off a fully automatic ATV and onto an electric shift model, you might conclude ES is not convenient enough to compete with fully auto bikes. One other interesting point that must be made is this: The shift buttons on the Honda are often awkward to use. Occasionally when a rider is standing up and attempts to up-shift he/she may accidentally hit the downshift button and find himself/herself participating in a blind taste test of Honda's rack paint. Mmmmm, good. Better placement of the buttons would greatly improve the ES system.
Another area in which the Fourtrax confused us is the braking department. Honda continues to use sealed drum brakes on all of their utility ATV's. While these hydraulic up front and cable operated out back units stop well when dry, after dunking, substantial brake dragging is required to dry them out.
Honda has decided full time fourwheel drive with a limited slip differential up front is the way to go on their utility bikes. The Fourtrax 350 does not suffer from extremely heavy steering from this system but it's certainly not as light as it would be with the option of shifting between two or four wheel drive. While the differential eases steering effort, keep in mind you'll experience three-wheel drive in some low traction situations. Ergonomically, everything on the 350 ES is well laid out. The driver's seating perch is comfortable and corresponds well to the handle bar position. All switches and buttons are easy to use and understand. Reverse actuation on the Fourtrax ES, like on all Hondas, is silly. Having to push the little red button, then pull in the brake lever then push the downshift button seems highly unnecessary. If other makers now have simple reverse gear actuation, some with no safety lockout whatsoever, Honda could simplify theirs and receive a standing ovation in the process. Other mentionables include sturdy steel racks with a carrying capacity of 66 lbs. in front and 133 lbs. at the rear along with a maximum towing weight of 1,870 lbs. These numbers prove the Fourtrax 350 ES is a capable hauler/workhorse. The dual headlights mounted under the front rack light up enough terra firma to get you home after dark. Also, a nifty, high tech feature which is definitely upscale on the Fourtrax 350 ES is the full digital readout. This TV sized display contains everything from trip distance and time to speed and gear position. The gas gauge is a small but functional mechanical unit mounted on the top of the tank.
The verdict we quickly came to on the Honda Fourtrax 350 ES is this. It is a good ATV. It performs most chores well and with a few changes it would be at the head of its class. If you're a person who knows and understands the Honda name and how important that can be when the miles and years pile up, you won't be disappointed with the Fourtrax 350 ES. If you're a person looking for an ATV which scores well in most every category and has a class-leading engine, you'll be fine here too.