Foreman ES Shift Kit
Bypasses the angle sensor and ECU on the Honda Foreman — your stock thumb buttons take direct control. Three year-specific versions for the 450 and 500 platforms.
Select Your Kit
The 450 and 500 Foreman use different shift mechanisms. Using the wrong kit will cause fitment issues. If you're unsure, contact us and we'll confirm before you order.
Built specifically for the TRX450 platform. Single-version kit covering all Foreman 450 model years. Matched to the 450's shift shaft geometry and factory wiring.
- Fits 1998–2004 Foreman 450
- TRX450ES and TRX450FE trims
- Plug-and-play wiring harness
- No cutting or splicing required
- Free shipping on US orders
Designed for the first-generation TRX500 Foreman. Matches the early 500 shift mechanism introduced in 2005 before Honda's mid-cycle update.
- Fits 2005, 2006 Foreman 500
- TRX500FE, TRX500TE and TRX500FPE trims
- Early-gen actuator geometry
- Color-coded plug-and-play harness
- Free shipping on US orders
Built for the updated second-generation TRX500 Foreman. This is our most-ordered Foreman kit — covers the majority of Foreman 500 bikes on the trail today.
- Fits 2007–2011 Foreman 500
- TRX500FE, TRX500TE and TRX500FPE trims
- Updated actuator geometry for gen-2
- Weatherproof plug-and-play harness
- Free shipping on US orders
Not sure which model you have? Check the VIN sticker on your frame or contact us and we'll confirm before you order.
All US orders
In-stock orders
Full replacement
No special tools
Not sure which kit is right for your ATV?
Compare HESSK vs. DIY relay vs. ECU bypass — side by side.
Why Foreman Owners Run This Kit
A must-have for Foreman owners who want to eliminate buggy electrical issues for good — manual-style shifting without needing a working electric shift system, so you get a smooth, hassle-free ride on rugged terrain.
Great for diagnostics of the Honda E.S.P. computer shift system — it quickly isolates a mechanical problem from an actual electric sensor or computer problem.
The kit runs on sealed waterproof 5-pin relays, the same style you can pick up at any local auto parts store. One relay powers the upshift, the other controls the downshift — if one ever fails years down the road, you're minutes and a few dollars from back on the trail.
A durable, rugged design that withstands harsh weather — built for off-road, installed with a detailed online guide and videos.
Foreman ES Shift Codes (Blink Codes)
When the electric shift faults, the dash blinks a problem code. Which list and which steps apply depends on your model and year.
Foreman 450 ES (2002–2004)
On 2002–2004 Foreman 450 ES models, the shift system blinks a problem code with the “N” on the gear position indicator when it faults. Per the Honda service manual, 1998–2001 Foreman 450 ES models cannot show the cause of a fault. On those years the electric shift shuts off, and turning the key off and back on reactivates it. Count the flashes:
| Flashes | System | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ECU writing / recording circuit | ECU |
| 2 | Shift switch system (up/down) | Left handlebar shift buttons, wiring, or ECU |
| 3 | Angle sensor system | Angle sensor (or incorrectly installed), wiring, or ECU |
| 4 | Gear position switch system | Gear position switch, wiring, or ECU |
| 5 | ECU motor driver circuit | ECU, or the wiring to the shift motor |
| 6 | ECU fail-safe relay circuit | ECU |
| 7 | ECU voltage conversion circuit | ECU |
| 8 | Angle sensor system | Angle sensor, shift motor, wiring, or ECU |
| 9 | Angle sensor system (short or open) | Angle sensor, wiring, or ECU |
| 10 | Ignition pulse generator system | Pulse generator or wiring |
| 11 | Vehicle speed sensor system | Speed sensor, wiring, or ECU |
| 12 | Gear position switch system | Gear position switch, wiring, or ECU |
Foreman 450 (2002–2004): How to Read, Erase and Reset Codes
From the Honda TRX450 service manual (ESP troubleshooting, after ’01). Erasing the stored codes clears the ECM (shift computer) memory.
- Check battery voltage first (Honda lists 12.4V minimum) and check for blown fuses.
- Turn the ignition switch OFF.
- Put the transmission in neutral.
- Apply the parking brake so the ATV does not move.
- Push and hold both the upshift and downshift buttons.
- While holding both buttons, turn the ignition switch ON. Make sure the “N” appears on the gear position indicator to show the transmission is in neutral.
- Wait 5 seconds, then push both buttons again and hold them for at least 3 seconds. The “N” starts blinking the problem code.
- To erase the codes (reset the ECM): while the code is blinking with the transmission in neutral, push both the upshift and downshift buttons.
- Turn the ignition switch OFF.
Foreman 450: How to Count the Flashes
Every blink is a quick flash (about ¼ second). There are no long blinks on this model. Count the quick blinks in each group. That number is the code: 3 blinks is code 3, 12 blinks is code 12. A 1-second pause comes before each code. The latest problem code shows first, then the older one, then a 2-second pause before the pattern repeats.
Foreman 500 ES (2005–2011)
The “N” on the gear position indicator blinks the code. Count the flashes (see how to count below).
| Flashes | System | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ECU writing / recording circuit | ECU |
| 2 | Shift switch system (up/down) | Left handlebar shift buttons, wiring, or ECU |
| 3 | Angle sensor system | Angle sensor (or incorrectly installed), wiring, or ECU |
| 4 | Gear position switch system | Gear position switch, wiring, or ECU |
| 5 | ECU motor driver circuit | ECU, or the wiring to the shift motor |
| 6 | ECU fail-safe relay circuit | ECU |
| 7 | ECU voltage conversion circuit | ECU |
| 8 | Angle sensor system | Angle sensor, shift motor, wiring, or ECU |
| 9 | Angle sensor system (short or open) | Angle sensor, wiring, or ECU |
| 10 | Ignition pulse generator system | Pulse generator or wiring |
| 11 | Rear vehicle speed sensor system | Speed sensor, wiring, or ECU |
| 12 | Gear position switch system | Gear position switch, wiring, or ECU |
| 13 | Throttle position (TP) sensor system | TP sensor or its wiring |
2005–2011 Foreman 500: How to Read, Erase and Reset Codes
From the Honda 2005 TRX500FE service manual. Erasing the stored codes clears the ECM (shift computer) memory.
- Check battery voltage first (Honda lists 12.4V minimum) and check for blown fuses.
- Turn the ignition switch OFF.
- Put the transmission in neutral.
- Apply the parking brake so the ATV does not move.
- Push and hold both the upshift and downshift buttons.
- While holding both buttons, turn the ignition switch ON.
- Before the letter “N” appears on the gear position indicator (in about 2 seconds), release both buttons, then push them again for more than 3 seconds. The “N” starts blinking the problem code. If you don’t release and re-push within 2 seconds, the code will not appear. Turn the key off and start over.
- To erase the codes (reset the ECM): while the “N” is blinking the code with the transmission in neutral, push both the upshift and downshift buttons.
- Turn the ignition switch OFF.
2005–2011 Foreman 500: How to Count the Flashes
Every blink is a quick flash (about ¼ second). There are no long blinks on this model. Count the quick blinks in each group. That number is the code: 3 blinks is code 3, 13 blinks is code 13. A 1-second pause comes before each code. The latest problem code shows first, then the older one, then a 2-second pause before the pattern repeats. Code 13 is 13 quick blinks.
Foreman 500 ES (2012 and Newer)
| Code | Blinks shown | Electric shift fault (Honda manual) |
|---|---|---|
| 8-1 / 8-2 | 8 | Throttle position (TP) sensor circuit low / high voltage |
| 11-1 | 11 | Rear vehicle speed sensor, no signal |
| 21-1 / 21-2 | 21 | Shift angle sensor circuit low / high voltage |
| 22-1 | 22 | Shift angle sensor response (control motor lock) |
| 22-2 | 22 | Shift angle sensor response (control motor stuck) |
| 23-1 | 23 | Shift angle sensor response (voltage variation) |
| 24-1 | 24 | Shift control motor drive circuit |
| 32-1 | 32 | Fail-safe relay circuit |
| 33-2 | none | EEPROM malfunction (not shown by blinking) |
| 41-1 / 41-2 | 41 | Gear position switch circuit short / open |
| 42-1 | 42 | Gearshift (up/down) switch circuit short |
2012 and Newer Foreman 500: Reading and Erasing Codes (Honda Service Manual Procedure)
The 2012 and newer fuel-injected Foreman 500 uses a different procedure. The handlebar button method does not apply. The gear position indicator shows a dash (“–”) that blinks the code.
Counting: a long blink (about 1.3 seconds) counts as 10 and a short blink (about 0.3 seconds) counts as 1. Two long blinks followed by three short blinks is code 23. The display only shows the first number of the code, so 21-1 and 21-2 both blink as 21. If more than one code is stored, they show from the lowest number to the highest.
Current problem: turn the ignition switch ON with the engine stop switch on RUN. If the dash is blinking, count it. That is the current code.
Stored codes:
- Remove the seat. Remove the DLC (data link connector) from its dummy connector.
- Short the DLC terminals (Brown/red to Green) with the Honda SCS service connector, part number 070PZ-ZY30100.
- Turn the ignition switch ON with the engine stop switch on RUN, and count the blinks.
Erasing the codes (reset):
- With the DLC shorted by the SCS service connector, turn the ignition switch ON with the engine stop switch on RUN.
- Remove the SCS service connector from the DLC.
- The indicator lights for about 5 seconds. While it is lit, short the DLC terminals again with the SCS service connector.
- The memory is erased when the indicator goes off and starts blinking. If you turn the key off before it starts blinking, the codes are not erased.
Erasing the electric shift codes this way also erases the fuel-injection (PGM-FI) codes. If the engine MIL is blinking, read and fix the fuel-injection code first.
A code points to a circuit, not a guaranteed bad part. Most of the time it is a wiring problem: a stick pulled a connector loose, or water got into a plug. Check battery voltage (12.4V minimum per the Honda manual), then the connectors and wiring for that circuit, before you buy parts. Turning the key OFF and back ON also resets the ES system, but if the ECM still sees the fault it shuts the electric shift down again and blinks the code. Disconnecting the battery for a while can sometimes reset it too.
See every model in one place: Honda ES Blink Codes: Electric Shift Code List by Model.
The Last Fix Your Foreman Will Ever Need.
Stop replacing parts. Start bypassing the problem. Free shipping, 2-year warranty.