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 For
2006, Honda’s flagship ATV, the FourTrax® Rincon®,
takes on a whole new persona thanks to a wealth of improvements,
including a larger engine with programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI),
new chassis elements and new colors that include NaturalGear™
Camouflage.
Revolution on four wheels
 In
2003, the Rincon broke new ground with more Honda firsts than
any ATV in recent history. It boasted Honda’s largest liquid-cooled
four-stroke ATV engine, first automobile-style automatic ATV transmission,
SUV-style radial Dunlop tires, a new rear center hydraulic disc
brake system mounted on the rear propeller shaft and Honda’s
first fully independent rear suspension system. And that’s
just the short list. The Rincon also boasted Traxlok®, enabling
riders to switch between 2WD and 4WD with a simple thumb-operated
switch, Electric Shift Program (ESP®) that allows shifting
by simply pushing buttons on the left handlebar and a torque-sensing
front differential that reduces torque steer for lighter steering
effort in 4WD.
The following year, Honda added a Rincon GPScape™ model,
featuring a GPS unit contained within the standard meter assembly
and featuring storage for up to 100 waypoints, digital compass
function indicating travel direction and an automatic compensating
clock.
Nothing else even came close to the Rincon’s technical
sophistication.
Bigger. And better.
 Now,
in 2006, the Rincon models take another great leap forward with
an engine that grows in displacement from 649cc to 675cc, reflecting
the new TRX®680F model designation. This boost comes by way
of a larger bore in the single-cylinder powerplant, growing from
100mm to 102mm. Also, the cylinder is now of cast-sleeve design,
which permits cylinder boring to an oversize of plus 0.25mm should
the need ever occur. In addition, the Rincon now sports a new
camshaft for added power, a new exhaust system to ensure quiet
running, a rollover sensor that cuts engine power in the event
the machine overturns, plus another Honda ATV first--a PGM-FI
system with 40mm throttle body that replaces the carburetor used
in previous Rincon.
These changes result in eight percent more torque at a higher
rpm peak--up from 4500 rpm to 5000 rpm. Meanwhile, the horsepower
peak remains at 6000 rpm, although peak power jumps approximately
seven percent compared to the 2005 Rincon, changes that yield
a higher top speed than before. More durable crankshaft bearings
and beefed-up transmission gears ensure durability over the long
haul with the Rincon’s additional power.
PGM-FI makes the world a better place
 The
Rincon’s PGM-FI system boasts a high-tech 12-hole split-pattern
fuel injector to maximize fuel distribution to both intake valves.
There’s also a high-pressure fuel pump with a built-in reservoir
to feed the system.
In general, fuel injection brings a wealth of smart-think benefits
that can adjust to real-world variables in a seamless, automatic
fashion--all of which makes the riding experience that much more
enjoyable. In addition to increased power output, some of these
other benefits include improved fuel consumption; the elimination
of the choke circuitry for easy cold starting; automatic altitude
compensation to 12,000 feet; automatic temperature compensation
from -13° to +104° Fahrenheit; faster engine warm-up;
and smoother idle control, thanks to the idle air control valve
(IACV), which establishes a basic idle setting of 1400 rpm, plus
or minus 50 rpm.
And to improve overall drivability, the Rincon’s automotive-style
torque converter also features improvements in 2006 that allow
for faster warm-up to better accommodate cold-weather riding.
As would be expected, the shift from carburetion to PGM-FI dictates
the deletion of a fuel petcock with a reserve setting. Now the
PGM-FI-equipped Rincon incorporates a fuel gauge, and when the
fuel level reaches the E symbol a low-fuel warning light begins
to blink. At that point, about 1.1 gallons of fuel remain in the
tank, enough for approximately 28 miles of reserve range.
More innovative thinking went into the Rincon’s high-pressure
fuel pump. For a fuel pump to provide consistent fuel delivery,
it needs to be submerged in fuel. Other manufacturers place the
pump in the main fuel tank, but this can reduce fuel capacity.
For the Rincon, Honda designed a separate aluminum tank to house
the fuel pump, mounted out of harm’s way in front of the
engine between the top shock towers. This allows the Rincon to
maintain its fuel capacity. The sub tank also works as a trap
for contaminants, and includes a drain in the tank to purge any
particulates that worked their way into the system.
Battery capacity also has been increased significantly in 2006,
from 14AH to 18AH, but if at some point the battery becomes discharged
to the extent that the electric starter will not function, the
Rincon still offers an auxiliary recoil starter, which incorporates
an automatic internal decompression system for easier starting.
Tougher. And smarter.
 For
2006, the Rincon also features a reusable urethane air filter
that can be washed, unlike paper filters. Also, should the filter
become immersed in water it can still be reused; paper filters,
by comparison, are destroyed by water immersion.
This year the Rincon also gets new dual front disc brakes for
added stopping power. These 180mm disc brakes feature Honda’s
self-centering collet-style brake calipers first introduced to
the ATV line in 2005. These calipers also feature patented integrated
scrapers to eliminate buildup of debris such as mud or ice.
In addition, new valving in the rear suspension make the Rincon
more adept than ever when the going gets rough, and other enhancements
make the shock action smoother in operation than in the previous
unit as well.
A big difference that’s hard to see
 To
top it all off, this year the Rincon sports a camouflage pattern,
one scientifically designed by NaturalGear Camouflage. For riders
who are looking for a machine with a highly effective camo pattern,
this new option will certainly become a favorite.
Let’s see: With more power, better drivability, improved
rear suspension and stronger brakes, plus the option of camouflage
bodywork, you could say Honda’s flagship has only strengthened
its grip at the top of the big-displacement ATV ranks.
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