I own a 1998 Honda Forman 450ES also and use it a min. of 4 days a week for my hut rentals operation. Yes I have had problems with the ES but only in extreme cold conditions and the problem was with the battery. Honda thought this out and the bike has a backup manual shifter just in case. The key to using any ATV on the ice is traction, a set of chains is a must have. If you are fishing where the snow is deeper, ground clearance can be a problem. A freind has a 650 Cat and he can go through deeper snow than I can. I am sure that all makes & models have their + & - but the end result for me when I baught my honda was resale value. Yes they are a little more $ at the start but in the long run you won't regret it.
