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2012 Honda Foreman ATV First Ride Photo Gallery

Honda has been in the ATV game since the beginning. The Foreman sport-utility quad came around not long after, in 1987.

See photos of the Honda Foreman sport-utility quad in action in our 2012 Honda Foreman ATV First Ride photo gallery. Read the full riding impression in our 2012 Honda Foreman ATV First Ride review.

The Foreman sports more aggressive lines than its predecessor, shrugging at the utilitarian nature of its sport-utility calling.

While many sport-utility competitors have opted to go for independent rear suspensions, Honda sticks with the traditional single axle based on customer demands.

A revised 475cc longitudinal Single powers the Foreman.

Power from the Single, while not overwhelming, proved bullish enough to get the claimed 644 pounds (curb weight) of our test unit around the Carolina Adventure World trails with some gusto.

In terms of handling, Honda has retuned the suspension for comfort on the 2012 model, softening up the five-way preload adjustable front shocks.

Work and play mix with Honda's Foreman ATV, a sport-utility quad build for farms and trails.

The riding position on the Foreman proved amenable to long stints in the saddle. With a cush seat, wide footpegs and floorboards, standing up and moving around on the quad is both easy and comfortable.

The Foreman comes with a standard one-year warranty, as do the official Honda Genuine Accessories, including the Warn Winch (above) - an handy gadget for the trail.

Engineers bumped up compression on the liquid-cooled oversquare powerplant from 8.5 to 9.5:1, netting a claimed 10% increase in rear wheel horsepower and 6% more torque.

The 2012 Honda Foreman represents the first complete model redesign by the Japanese company's Ohio-based R&D department - the Foreman designed and built in the U.S.

Power from the Foreman's 475cc liquid-cooled Single was more than capable of handling the trails at Carolina Adventure World.

Our biggest handling praise, however, we’ll reserve for Honda’s electric power steering system. Smacking into rocks and rolling into ruts at speed didn’t result in harsh bar yanks and tiring corrections, instead riders enjoy manageable feedback through the bars.

Retuned for working comfort, the Foreman's rolling chassis, including a new single shock/single axle rear, proved worthy of getting the Foreman in and out of some fun jams.

Sampling accompanying test ATVs without the EPS on the Carolina Adventure World trails illustrate that the system is more than worth the extra $600 asking price.

The LCD display is easy to read at speed, with a useful gear position indicator on the left, digital speedometer front and center and a fuel gauge on the right (the Foreman sporting a 4-gallon tank).

A waterproof 12V accessory socket is located below the steering column on the front left-side of the rider interface.

Honda has retuned the suspension for comfort on the 2012 model, softening up the five-way preload adjustable front shocks.

The single-axle rear end is completely refreshed this year, with a wider swingarm and a single shock replacing the dual-unit on the previous model.