Your Complete Guide to Honda Rubicon ATVs (Explained in Southern)

May 18, 2026

Honda’s Rubicon lineup hits you like a bowl of alphabet soup dumped on a red-clay driveway. All those names run together, engines humming like they rolled off the same assembly line at quitting time, and those transmission codes? Might as well be moonshine recipes for all the sense they make at first glance. It’s tempting to think every Rubicon is just a carbon copy with a new sticker slapped on. But peel back the layers, and you’ll see each one’s got its own swagger and a job it was built to handle—like cousins at a family reunion, each with their own story and a little dirt under their nails.

Honda doesn’t crank out cookie-cutter ATVs. They build rigs for sunrise ranchers, mud-slinging weekend warriors, trail hounds, and anybody who wants to glide over ruts like they’re riding a recliner straight out of Mama’s living room. The Rubicon name might be everywhere, but every flavor is tuned for its own kind of wild—no two rides are the same, and none of them are boring.

This guide is your backwoods map to every Rubicon Honda’s got parked and ready. We’re talking engines, transmissions, and why some of these machines chew up mud like it’s Sunday supper, while others are built to float down a trail all day without breaking a sweat. No bolt-ons, no tricked-out tires, no snorkels—just the bare-knuckle truth, straight off the lot. By the end, you’ll know which beast is ready to raise hell before you even thumb the starter.

FourTrax

FourTrax is the family name—if it’s got four wheels and a Honda badge, it’s wearing the FourTrax jersey. Don’t expect this name to spill any secrets about muscle or fancy shocks. It’s just the big circus tent where all the other models come to swap stories and show off their scars.

Foreman

Foreman means business, plain and simple. See that Foreman badge? You’re staring at a workhorse that wakes up ready to haul, tow, and get filthy before breakfast. These rigs are all muscle and grit—forget about cushy rides, this is about yanking stumps and dragging feed sacks through the kind of mud that’ll eat your boots if you stand still too long.

Rubicon

Rubicon is Honda’s secret handshake for trail luxury. Every Rubicon rolls with Independent Rear Suspension, so each back tire gets to two-step over rocks and ruts like it’s got rhythm. That means smoother rides, more grip, and a whole lot less trail beating on your tailbone. Spot a Rubicon? Think comfort, control, and a machine that treats your spine like it’s worth something.

Foreman Rubicon

The Foreman Rubicon is the best of both worlds—Foreman muscle with Rubicon comfort. It’s for folks who need a workhorse to earn its keep all week, but want to hit the trails on Saturday without shaking their fillings loose. If you want one ATV that’ll punch the clock and still raise a little hell on the weekend, this is your sweet spot.

Rubicon 700

The Rubicon 700 is the big-bore trail boss, the one that used to answer to Rincon before Honda gave it a family name. This rig is all about gobbling up miles, floating over trails, and cruising like you’ve got nowhere to be till sundown. Don’t expect it to tow a barn or wallow through the kind of mud that’ll swallow your boots—it’s built for folks who want to lean back, twist the throttle, and let the world roll by.

518cc Engine (Foreman Rubicon Models)

Honda’s 518cc engine is the backbone of the Rubicon clan. It’s a single-cylinder, two-valve, pushrod bruiser that lives for low-end grunt. Need to tow, crawl, or slog through mud thick as biscuit gravy? This motor’s got your back. It’s not here for speed runs—it’s here to work hard, pull steady, and never whine, no matter how long the sun stays up.

675cc Engine (Rubicon 700)

The 675cc engine in the Rubicon 700 is built for smooth, easy power that’ll carry you down a trail till the fireflies come out. Where the 518cc is all about low-speed muscle, this big boy is tuned to keep things relaxed and comfortable when you open it up and let it breathe.

The secret to why the Rubicon 700 handles so well on the trail is actually the shape of the engine itself. Honda uses a "pushrod" design for this motor. You don't need to be a mechanic to understand why this matters: a pushrod design makes the top of the engine physically shorter.

With a shorter engine, Honda tucks it deep in the frame, dropping the center of gravity like a sack of feed in the bed of a pickup. That keeps the Rubicon 700 glued to the trail—no top-heavy wobble, just rock-solid stability when you’re carving corners or bouncing over roots. That’s why this machine is the king of comfort and long rides, not mud bogs or heavy hauls.

Manual Foot Shift

Honda’s manual foot-shift transmission is the simplest, toughest setup in the Rubicon lineup. Five gears, no clutch lever—just stomp and go while the automatic clutch does the heavy lifting. Because it’s mostly old-school mechanical, it shrugs off deep mud, water crossings, and the kind of rough stuff that makes electronics cry uncle. If you want a transmission that just works, no matter what you drag it through, this is the one built for the job.

ESP (Electric Shift Program)

The ESP system runs the same 5-speed steel-gear transmission as the manual, but instead of stomping with your boot, you just tap buttons on the bars. Handy if you’re wearing boots big enough to stomp snakes or riding technical trails where you’re up on the pegs and don’t want to fumble for a shifter. Even with the electronics, it’s still tough as a two-dollar steak, because the guts are the same old-school mechanical setup as the manual.

DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission)

Honda’s DCT is the fanciest transmission in the Rubicon family. It’s fully automatic but still runs steel gears—no rubber belt to slip or snap when you’re knee-deep in the slop. The DCT shifts quick and smooth, thanks to two clutches that swap gears faster than a short-order cook flips pancakes. It’s got a Low Range, too, which is a lifesaver for mud, towing, and crawling slow over ugly ground. If you want the most capable, most versatile transmission Honda’s got, this is it. And if you want to take the reins, just flip it into ESP mode and tap your way through the gears.

3‑Speed Automotive Automatic (Rubicon 700 Only)

The Rubicon 700 runs a whole different setup from the 518cc crowd. It’s got a 3-speed automatic with a torque converter, just like you’d find in a little pickup. This thing is smooth as sweet tea and tough enough for all-day trail rides and lazy cruising. But there’s no Low Range, and it’s not built for mud wrestling or hauling the farm. This transmission is all about comfort, not brute force—which fits the Rubicon 700’s laid-back attitude just right.

4. The Models: What’s Actually Available Right Now

FourTrax Foreman Rubicon 4x4 EPS (Manual Foot Shift)

This Rubicon packs Honda’s 518cc engine and the manual foot-shift transmission—simple, tough, and stubborn as a Georgia mule. That’s why mud riders and hard workers swear by it. The Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) smooths out the ride better than a regular Foreman, and Electric Power Steering (EPS) saves your arms when you’re muscling through tight turns or rocky messes. It’s got a locking front diff, too, which is a lifesaver when one tire’s spinning and the other’s just along for the ride. If you want full control and bulletproof reliability in the rough stuff, this is your huckleberry.

FourTrax Foreman Rubicon 4x4 DCT EPS

This one runs the same 518cc engine but throws in Honda’s automatic Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). It’ll shift for you, or you can take over with the buttons if you want to play boss. The real kicker is Low Range, which gives you extra grunt for towing, crawling, and powering through mud thick as grandma’s gravy. Like the manual, it’s got IRS for comfort, EPS for steering, and a locking front diff for when things get slick. This is the Swiss Army knife of the lineup—works hard, rides easy, and handles mud or trails without breaking a sweat.

FourTrax Rubicon 700

The Rubicon 700 is built around Honda’s big 675cc engine and a 3-speed automatic with a torque converter—smooth as butter, especially when you’re eating up long trails. It’s got IRS for comfort and stability, but no EPS or Low Range, so don’t expect it to tow the barn or wallow through the swamp. The 700 is the cruiser of the Rubicon family—perfect for folks who want comfort, easy handling, and a laid-back ride that’ll go all day.

Trail Comfort: Why Rubicons Ride Smoother

One big reason Rubicon models ride smoother than a greased pig is their Independent Rear Suspension (IRS). Instead of both rear wheels being chained together on a solid axle, each one gets to dance up and down on its own. That single change makes a world of difference when you’re bouncing over bumps, ruts, rocks, and whatever else the trail throws at you. With IRS, the ATV doesn’t buck as hard, the tires stay glued to the ground, and you don’t get tossed around like a sack of feed. It also means better control at speed, since the suspension can actually work with the land instead of fighting it.

The Rubicon 700 takes comfort up a notch by dropping its engine low in the frame. That puts the center of gravity down where it belongs, making the whole rig feel steadier in corners, more planted on off-camber trails, and less likely to tip when you’re crawling over roots and rocks. Paired with IRS, the 700 serves up one of the smoothest, most laid-back trail rides Honda’s ever built.

Mud and Water: What Each Model Can Handle (Stock)

When it comes to mud and water, the Foreman Rubicon models are the heavy hitters straight out of the crate. Both the manual foot-shift and DCT versions run sealed steel-gear transmissions—no rubber belt to slip, stretch, or snap when things get wet and wild. They’ve got a locking front diff, plenty of low-end grunt, and IRS to keep the tires digging in deep ruts. If you’re the kind who finds mud holes, creek crossings, or swampy messes on purpose, these are the rigs you want in your corner.

The Rubicon 700 can wade through light mud and shallow water, but it’s more about comfort than mud wrestling. Smooth power, IRS, and decent clearance make it a solid trail cruiser, but no Low Range and no EPS mean it’s not built for the ugly stuff. That 3-speed automatic is tough as nails, but it’s not meant to bulldoze through deep mud like the 518cc models. It’ll handle casual mud or wet trails just fine, but don’t expect it to swim through deep holes or long water crossings.

In stock form, the Rubicon 700 just isn’t the right tool for serious mud. It’s not that it can’t make it through—it just wasn’t built for that fight. Its strengths are comfort, smoothness, and eating up long miles, not clawing through thick mud or climbing out of axle-deep ruts. If you want a machine that’ll tackle mud and water without blinking, you’ll be happier with one of the 518cc Foreman Rubicon models.

7. Quick Comparison Chart

The Bottom Line

If your main goal is tackling mud holes, water crossings, and rough ground, the toughest picks in the lineup are the Foreman Rubicon Manual and the Foreman Rubicon DCT. Both run sealed steel-gear drivetrains—no belts to slip, snap, or leave you stranded. They’ve got the low-end grunt and traction to push through muck that’ll make other brands cry uncle. These machines are built to survive the kind of riding that chews up CVT belts for breakfast, which is why mud riders and working folks trust them most.

If comfort’s your top priority, the Rubicon 700 is the smoothest trail machine Honda’s ever built. Big engine, laid-back transmission, and a low center of gravity make long rides feel like a Sunday drive. It’s not meant for deep mud or heavy towing, but if you want to cruise forest roads and rack up miles without breaking a sweat, nothing in the Rubicon family rides easier.

If you want one machine that can do almost everything — work, trails, mud, towing, and daily riding — the Foreman Rubicon DCT sits right in the middle. It has the comfort of IRS, the strength of the 518cc engine, the convenience of an automatic, and the extra torque of Low Range. It’s the most versatile option in the lineup and fits the widest range of riders.

Back to blog