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Re: How Does Big Red Compare to others?
The big red when cold, before you warm up the fluid, makes for more engine noise and a little sluggish first gear and a harder shift between gears and results in loud operation until warm. But like any machine you need to allow it to warm up , especially in the colder months. Once warm (5-10 mins) if you are in the correct rpm range when cruising, cabin noise is not bad at all. If you stay in the mid to high rpm range of second gear it will stay in second and ofcourse be louder. For example when riding a dirt road at 16-18 mph you should accelerate enough to allow red to shift to third gear which is about 17-19mph. Once it shifts to third you are in a lower rpm range which is quieter. It will stay in 3rd gear down to 12-14 mph unless up hill. Same applies to 1st to 2nd gear in lower speed cruising. This is just something you get a feel for while riding, its not something thats in the manual or anything.
As for vibration, its not too terrible, but IS there! If you have a top and windshield, be sure it was installed with the rubber weather strip where any parts that just rest together and not fasten tight with each other. also make sure your doors are properly adjusted to where you have to shut them kinda hard(not slamming) because a loose door has a lot of vibration. its like a car door that if not fully shut it will still lock but it has a second click. you can move the striker in untill you get a snug fit between latch and striker.
But all in all, for riding dirt roads drinking a silver can, and hauling some fire wood, you cant beat knowing your turning the key of a beltless HONDA. As i mentioned in a earlier reply, i have broke three belts on a rhino and been stranded. That kinda broke me from the belt drives. I used it to pull some rather heavy loads and did cross some water and the belt slipped and probably caused damage to cause the later belts to break while just cruising. But i do the same stuff with my big red. I have pulled my 2200+ pound Suzuki Samurai on a trailer behind the honda and had no problem.
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