Long a staple of the Honda utility ATV lineup, the venerable 433cc FourTrax Foreman 4x4 finally received some attention from the engineers at big red. As the push to give its utility range SUV styling in line with the appearance of the FourTrax Rincon continues, the Foreman was given more than a shiny new exterior wrapping and a 42cc bump.
Underneath the angular plastic, the 2005 Foreman sports an entirely updated chassis, with revised steering head and suspension geometry. Also new are beefier KYB shock absorbers in front and rear that offer more-robust damping while providing a plush ride around the ranch. When moving at a relaxed pace, the Foreman is easy to maneuver and should provide daylong comfort for those out in the field. Turn up the pace, and a new nasty habit-body roll-has developed. At intermediate speeds, the Foreman exhibits an intimidating body roll, something that's not present in Honda's own FourTrax Foreman Rubicon. Oddly enough, it only takes some more rider confidence to get things to smooth out again. If you turn up the pace a bit more and get the Foreman sliding around, once the rear end gets loose, the front end is leveraged back to a more-level demeanor, and the Foreman can be ridden pretty aggressively before overwhelming the utility's suspension. However, during fast riding the Foreman also has a very light-feeling front end, with little direct input into the direction of the machine, making gross adjustments to the handlebar a necessity.
Inside the new frame, the motor is an improved design and a revised bore and stroke combination. Mounted longitudinally and rubber-cushioned, the motor can more efficiently transfer power to the differentials via the directly-connected drive shafts, netting a claimed 10 percent gain in transmitted power. Although it has a new cylinder head design, a hemispherical chamber with canted valves compared with last year's antiquated flathead arrangement, the Foreman still feels as if it's lacking a little in the acceleration and top-end departments. The new cylinder head is a good update, and the extra displacement helps, but it doesn't seem as though it is going to be enough to keep pace with some of the water-cooled overhead-cam models it will be stacked up against.
A welcome addition to the driveline is Honda's TraxLok system, which allows for easy switching between two- and four-wheel-drive with just the flick of a switch. While we're on the subject of technical gizmos, Honda's ESP (Electric Shift Program) is a bargain for only a $200 premium over the standard Foreman 4x4. With the option to choose between two fully automatic programs or control shifting of the auto with the handlebar-mounted buttons, we found the ESP stands head and shoulders above the clunky auto clutch manual shifting. Now if only Honda would add the slick gear selector from the Rubicon to the Foreman, we wouldn't gripe about the reverse mechanism that is similar to a parking brake on a sport quad.
Part of the substance of the Foreman's updating comes from patent-pending new disc brakes up front that feature dual-level internal scrapers. Sound confusing? In practical usage, there are two small protrusions from the caliper body that help scrape down the buildup of mud or snow on the inside of the rim, preventing the sludge from displacing the caliper and reducing unwanted brake drag. The Foreman has slightly soft-feeling front brakes and fairly mushy rear brake levers and pedals. Hopefully, Honda's engineers can bring this consistency up to par with their Rubicon model.