I found a place that has a 2013 Honda Rancher that was bought by a company as a giveaway to its employees. The employee who won it kept it for two months, and decided he didn't have a need for it, so he sold it to the local dealership. It has 2 miles on it, and the warranty started the date it was given to the employee, so it has 10 months remaining on the warranty. They said it would be a person to person deal, since the previous owner already paid the tax. They said they would take $4200. It was listed for $4500. But, a honda dealer in Chattanooga said he could get me a leftover 2014 for $4679 out the door.
Honestly, I was trying to keep my price at $3200 for a used 2007-up Electric Shift 2wd, but have been letting it creep up. I'd love to snag a new or near new one. What do y'all think?

 

The old model 420 was a totally different bike to the new one. I'm not sure if the engine is the same, it looks similar, but the new frame is reputed to be from the 500 and a lot bigger, some think the bigger the better, this may be true for towing but the smaller more nimble bike will be better for other jobs. The old one had that axle problem, but the new one hasn't been out long enough for faults to show up. Once you do use it, the old model's value will drop more rapidly.

 

Motors on the 420 have never changed and the chassis is just a touch bigger, still has those odd ball small 24" tires with rear 11" rims. 2013 Honda FourTrax® Rancher® ES (TRX®420TE) ATVs If I can't trust a machine with only 2 miles on it then I think I would just stay out of the sport.

 

I've ridden both, and the old 420 looks and feels smaller than the 350 it replaced. The new one looks and feels like the 500.

 

Looks like your right, same dementions for the new Rancher and Foreman for width, wheel base and length 2015 Honda FourTrax® Rancher® ES (TRX420TE1F) ATVs just the height is shorter for the 420 due to its shorter suspension travel and smaller 24" tires.

Why a 420cc 4x4 Utility would come stock with little tires like that is beyond me. Cost saving?

Even the older 350 Foremans from the early mid 90s came with 25" tires.

 

Bigger isn't always better. I wish they still made one the same size as the 350 rancher but with the 500 engine. Bigger engine and more power in a smaller chassis=more fun. A Recon is a bit small but anything bigger than that is plenty big enough for most people unless you're really tall. That's one way Honda could make something more sporty without having to up the hp, put the 500 Foreman engine in a smaller chassis. It would feel like a lot more power in something weighing 75-100 lbs less.

 

I agree the Mid size chassis are more nibble through the narrow twisty trails then a full size Chassis. That's why I bought a 350 Grizzly and I seem to ride it more then my 500H.O now.

But a 350 or 450 Mid chassis even with 25 or 26 tires do not lose much maneuverability I find.
My old 350 SRA Grizzly had 26" Zillas and was still very maneuverable I found, I just could imagine 24" tires you would be getting hung up everywhere.

My IRS 350 has 25" from the factory and that would be my very limit in smallness.

 

Imagine if Yamaha would put the 550 engine in the same chassis as the 350, that would make for a very sporty machine. I could see something similar to the old Wolverine to compete with the Polaris Scrambler and Can-Am Renegade. Put smaller racks on it(perhaps only a rear rack) and you would have a formidable challenger. The lighter weight would make the 550 engine feel a lot peppier than it does on the Grizzly. Keep the dry weight under 550 lbs like the original 500 Scrambler so probably leave out low range just like the original Kodiak 400. It would be a huge hit. If only Yamaha would build it. They could simply call it the Sport 550 4x4, no fancy name needed and couldn't rehash the old Wolverine name anyway since they've already assigned it to the new side by side.

 

Does the dealership in Chattanooga happen to be Southern Powersports? I just bought my 400ex from them and had a great experience.

 

Sill would not make a difference for us since our trails are to narrow and rough to allow for much more then 30 mph in any section for long. Even my 350 can't come close to being open up.
There is a guy in our group with a 800 Outlander who can not do any faster pace then the rest of us.
Speed comes into play only if we pop out back onto the gravel road and go a mile or two to get to another long section of ATV trails.

Here's what we deal with and this and this is a smooth fast section. Even SXSs can't fit through some parts because they are to wide. They are off season sled trails that go for hundreds of miles.