– 2016 Honda ATV Model Lineup Comparison Review / Four Wheeler FAQ –
One of the questions I get asked the most is “What does TRX420FM1G mean?” or “What do all of those letters and numbers mean?” etc.
Once you learn how to break the coding down it is very simple. Every letter / number helps determine what features that model has whether it be ES, DCT, EPS, IRS and so on. The most important part is having a key to go off of that helps you with what an “F” may mean or a “1” etc.
Other Helpful ATV Model Lineup Info / Links:
- 2016 Foreman 500 ATV Models Explained – CLICK HERE
- 2016 Foreman vs Rubicon 500 ATV Differences Explained – CLICK HERE
- 2016 Rancher 420 ATV Models Explained – CLICK HERE
- 2016 Honda TRX ATV Models Explained – CLICK HERE
- 2016 Honda ATV Horsepower & Torque Ratings / Performance Comparison – CLICK HERE
We are going to go over the 2016 models right now and I will touch base on the previous model year / generations a little later.
Honda ATV Model Key:
- TRX – Generic prefix for all Honda ATV Sport / Utility 2WD & 4WD models
- 90 – 90 cc engine
- 250 – 250 cc engine
- 400 – 400 cc engine
- 420 – 420 cc engine
- 450 – 450 cc engine
- 500 – 500 cc engine
- 680 – 680 cc engine
- T – Two Wheel Drive
- F – Four Wheel Drive
- M – Manual Shift
- E – Electric Shift – Automatic
- 1 – No Power Steering / EPS
- 2 – Power Steering / EPS
- 5 – IRS / NO Power Steering (EPS)
- 6 – IRS / Power Steering (EPS)
- D – Deluxe
- G – 2016 Model Year
- DCT – Dual Clutch Transmission (Automatic Transmission with Electric Shift option option to manually change gears via the ESP)
- AT – Automatic (Automatic Transmission with Electric Shift option to manually change gears via the ESP)
- EPS – Electric Power Steering
- ESP – Electric Shift Program (Normally referred to as ES)
- ES – Electric Shift
- IRS – Independent Rear Suspension
- FourTrax – Honda uses this as a generic model name for all of their utility ATV models in the lineup. Some confuse FourTrax as a certain model from Honda or that it means 4×4 but that is not the case as even 2×4 models use FourTrax.
Model EXAMPLE:
Now lets put the key above to use… What is a TRX250TMG? It is a 250 cc model ATV that is Two wheel drive and Manual shift – 2016 year model. TRX = ATV / 250 = 250cc / T = Two wheel drive / M = Manual shift / G = 2016.
TRX is what Honda uses to classify their ATV models whether it be a Sport model like the TRX450R / TRX450ER / TRX400X / TRX250X / TXR90X etc or a Utility model like the TRX250 Recon, TRX420 Rancher, TRX500 Foreman / TRX500 Rubicon and TRX680 Rincon. The main difference between the Sport and Utility models though is the code on the Sport models is the only model name it receives. Whereas the Utility models have the details in their model name like TRX500FM1G and then the name Foreman which most people associate with the model instead of calling it a TRX500FM1G as it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue very well like Foreman 500 does.
We’ll start with the smallest Utility ATV from Honda and go up in size:
- 1.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Recon 250
- 2.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Recon ES 250
- 1.) TRX250TMG
- 2.) TRX250TEG
- 1.) EXPLAINED — The TRX = ATV. The 250 in the model “TRX250” = engine size is 250 cc. Then the “T” after the engine size = Two Wheel Drive. The “M” stands for Manual shift. The “G” stands for 2016.
- 2.) EXPLAINED — Everything is the same as the above model except you see it has an “E” which means it is “Electric Shift” or also referred to as ES.
- 1.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Rancher 420 2×4
- 2.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Rancher ES 420 2×4
- 1.) TRX420TM1G
- 2.) TRX420TE1G
- 1.) EXPLAINED — The TRX = ATV. The 420 in the model “TRX420” = engine size is 420 cc. Then the “T” after the engine size = Two Wheel Drive. The “M” stands for Manual Shift. The “1” means no Power Steering / EPS. The “G” stands for 2016.
- 2.) EXPLAINED — Everything is the same as the above model except you see it has an “E” which means it is “Electric Shift” or also referred to as ES.
2016 Honda Rancher 420 4×4 ATV Model Options. You start to have more options in the 420 Rancher ATV model lineup like an Automatic Transmission (DCT) and Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) from here on:
- 1.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Rancher 420 4×4
- 2.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Rancher EPS 420 4×4
- 1.) TRX420FM1G
- 2.) TRX420FM2G
- 1.) EXPLAINED — The TRX = ATV. The 420 in the model “TRX420” = engine size is 420 cc. Then the “F” after the engine size = Four Wheel Drive. The “M” stands for Manual Shift. The “1” means no Power Steering / EPS. The “G” stands for 2016.
- 2.) EXPLAINED — Everything is the same as the above model except you see it has a “2” which means it has Electric Power Steering / EPS.
- 1.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Rancher ES 420 4×4
- 1.) TRX420FE1G
- 1.) EXPLAINED — The TRX = ATV. The 420 in the model “TRX420” = engine size is 420 cc. Then the “F” after the engine size = Four Wheel Drive. The “E” stands for Electric Shift / ES. The “1” means no Power Steering / EPS. The “G” stands for 2016.
- 1.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Rancher AT / DCT 420 4×4
- 2.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Rancher AT / DCT / EPS 420 4×4
- 1. TRX420FA1G
- 2. TRX420FA2G
- 1. EXPLAINED — The TRX = ATV. The 420 in the model “TRX420” = engine size is 420 cc. Then the “F” after the engine size = Four Wheel Drive. The “A” stands for Automatic / DCT. The “1” means no Power Steering / EPS. The “G” stands for 2016.
- 2. EXPLAINED — Everything is the same as the above model except you see it has an “2” which means it has Power Steering / EPS.
- 1.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Rancher 420 AT / DCT / IRS 4×4
- 2.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Rancher 420 AT / DCT / IRS / EPS 4×4
- 1. TRX420FA5G
- 2. TRX420FA6G
- 1. EXPLAINED — The TRX = ATV. The 420 in the model “TRX420” = engine size is 420 cc. Then the “F” after the engine size = Four Wheel Drive. The “A” stands for Automatic / DCT. The “5” means IRS with no Power Steering. The “G” stands for 2016.
- 2. EXPLAINED — Everything is the same as the above model except you see it has an “6” which means it has Power Steering / EPS.
2016 Honda Foreman 500 4×4 ATV Model Options. The Foreman model lineup for 2016 only give you a few options. You either buy a Manual Shift model or an ES model. Then you have the option of EPS or no EPS. Below will break down their codes and model differences:
- 1.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Foreman 500 4×4
- 2.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Foreman 500 EPS 4×4
- 1. TRX500FM1G
- 2. TRX500FM2G
- 1. EXPLAINED — The TRX = ATV. The 500 in the model “TRX500” = engine size is 500 cc. Then the “F” after the engine size = Four Wheel Drive. The “M” stands for Manual Shift. The “1” means no Power Steering / EPS. The “G” stands for 2016.
- 2. EXPLAINED — Everything is the same as the above model except you see it has a “2” which means it has Power Steering / EPS.
- 1.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Foreman ES 500 4×4 / EPS 4×4
- 2.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Foreman 500 ES / EPS 4×4
- 1. TRX500FE1G
- 2. TRX500FE2G
- 1. EXPLAINED — The TRX = ATV. The 500 in the model “TRX500” = engine size is 500 cc. Then the “F” after the engine size = Four Wheel Drive. The “E” stands for Electric Shift / ES. The “1” means no Power Steering / EPS. The “G” stands for 2016.
- 2. EXPLAINED — Everything is the same as the above model except you see it has a “2” which means it has Power Steering / EPS.
2016 Honda Rubicon 500 4×4 ATV Model Options. This is where it can get confusing as Honda throws the Foreman name in with the Rubicon. Technically it is called a “Foreman Rubicon”. Typically I leave the Foreman name out of the equation when speaking about the Rubicon as it just confuses people and they are two completely different models – only sharing the engine. The Rubicon model lineup for 2016 gives you a few more options to choose from than the standard Foreman. You can get a Manual Shift or DCT (Automatic) with the option of using the ES module so technically on the DCT model you have (2) ways to go through the gears and you also get the added low gear too. Below will break down their codes and model differences:
- 1.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Foreman Rubicon 500 4×4
- 2.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Foreman Rubicon 500 EPS 4×4
- 3.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Foreman Rubicon Deluxe 500 EPS 4×4
- 1. TRX500FM5G
- 2. TRX500FM6G
- 3. TRX500FM7G Deluxe
- 1. EXPLAINED — The TRX = ATV. The 500 in the model “TRX500” = engine size is 500cc. Then the “F” after the engine size = Four Wheel Drive. The “M” stands for Manual Shift. The “5” means IRS with no Power Steering. The “G” stands for 2016.
- 2. EXPLAINED — Everything is the same as the above model except you see it has a “6” which means it has IRS and Power Steering / EPS.
- 3. EXPLAINED — Everything is the same as Option (2) except for the fact this adds the Deluxe package to the Rubicon. With the Deluxe version of the 2016 Rubicon you also get Red Painted Suspension as well as Aluminum Wheels.
- 1.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Foreman Rubicon 500 Automatic / DCT 4×4
- 2.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Foreman Rubicon 500 Automatic / DCT / EPS 4×4
- 3.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Foreman Rubicon Deluxe 500 Automatic / DCT / EPS 4×4
- 1. TRX500FA5G
- 2. TRX500FA6G
- 3. TRX500FA7G Deluxe
- 1. EXPLAINED — The TRX = ATV. The 500 in the model “TRX500” = engine size is 500cc. Then the “F” after the engine size = Four Wheel Drive. The “A” stands for Automatic Transmission (DCT). The “5” means IRS with no Power Steering. The “G” stands for 2016.
- 2. EXPLAINED — Everything is the same as the above model except you see it has a “6” which means it has IRS and Power Steering / EPS.
- 3. EXPLAINED — Everything is the same as Option (2) except for the fact this adds the Deluxe package to the Rubicon. With the Deluxe version of the 2016 Rubicon you also get Red Painted Suspension as well as Aluminum Wheels.
- 1.) 2016 Honda FourTrax Rincon 680 Automatic 4×4
- 1. TRX680FAG
- 1. EXPLAINED — The TRX = ATV. The 680 in the model “TRX680” = engine size is 680cc. Then the “F” after the engine size = Four Wheel Drive. The “A” stands for Automatic Transmission. The “G” stands for 2016.
Check out what the differences are between the 2016 TRX500 Foreman vs Rubicon 500 in this ATV comparison review here. Which is better – Foreman or Rubicon?
2016 Honda TRX420 Rancher ATV Review / Model Lineup Comparison of Specs & Features can be found here. Confused by all the multiple FourTrax Rancher 420 four-wheeler models? Here’s the answers to all of your questions.
Looking at older year model Honda ATVs? This is how they are classified with the last number / letter in their model ID. # 1-9 or a letter “A” “B” “C” “D” “E” “F” etc:
1 – 2001 Honda models
2 – 2002 Honda models
3 – 2003 Honda models
4 – 2004 Honda models
5 – 2005 Honda models
6 – 2006 Honda models
7 – 2007 Honda models
8 – 2008 Honda models
9 – 2009 Honda models
A – 2010 Honda models
B – 2011 Honda models
C – 2012 Honda models
D – 2013 Honda models
E – 2014 Honda models
F – 2015 Honda models
Example: TRX250TMC = Honda Recon 250 Two Wheel Drive Manual Shift 2012 model.
Not every website will include the specific model code online as they will use the generic code more often than not. Similar to finding a model specified as TRX500FM. Technically it’s not giving you all of the detailed and important model info.
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