[bcsman]

Just purchased a 1998 Foreman 450ES last weekend. Will have numerous questions to ask as its my first quad.

 

[shadetree]

welcome to the forums. is it too late to take it back, and get your money back ??..lmfaoo. no..really...I mean it !..lol.

 

[fishfiles]

Welcome to the forums bcs, I have a couple fo 450's , might be able to help you out some , except for the ES as mine are FM's , I am with Shade on the ES subject , if it is not too late , bring it back , I ain't kidding or trying to be mean --------

some people love them and have no problems ( so they say ) , everyone I have ever been around has problems -----one thing I have learned about them is the battery has to be 100% and if you don't have the emergency shifter on your bike , get one , no two , incase you loose one on the trails

The biggest problems I hear on the trails are , I'm stuck in 3rd gear or it won't go into reverse , when they are stuck in gear you can't pull them home too well ---- it is usually no fun when a ES bike rides with us , seems especially at night where they seem to draw more juice for the lights

 

[bcsman]

Well thanks for all the positive news, maybe not. So far so good but I won't be doing any trail riding it's strictly for snow plowing and hauling firewood. Not saying I won't have any problem but wont be stuck far from home if I do.

 

[wheelsquad]

Well thanks for all the positive news, maybe not. So far so good but I won't be doing any trail riding it's strictly for snow plowing and hauling firewood. Not saying I won't have any problem but wont be stuck far from home if I do.

I have read the battery needs to be charged well for the ES to work, good news I rarely plow at night and I won't be using a winch for the time being.

Welcome to the forum.

Maybe I should go buy a lottery ticket, cause our original battery in our 2004 Recon ES just finally died. Bought the machine new in 2005. And even with the bad battery, if we pull start the machine the ES still works fine. Which is a complete opposite experience of what all the die hards here have with ES. New AGM battery going in tonight. Highly doubt this one will last 13 years. Wish we had an ODO on this Recon; God knows how many miles are on it. Never a single ES issue. But no mud riding either.

 

[SamUK]

Welcome to the forums, great choice for a first ATV.

 

[_Wilson_]

Welcome to the forums!

 

[bcsman]

I don't feel quite as depressed now thanks for the news there are ES that work well. This one does have an odometer and has 5,000 miles. The engine has been replaced with a rebuilt about a year ago so not many miles on that. I did do the clutch adjustment and will keep an eye on shifting.