That's one thing that was a bit puzzling about Honda, not offering selectible 4x4 even in the Rancher 350 while everyone else had it by then. The 300 was a great machine and very reliable but the cult following seems a bit much. If you want an older Honda utility with selectible 4x4, a Foreman 450 is a much better choice. Its one of the more underrated quads Honda built. I had a chance to get one right before I bought the Grizzly. While the Grizzly has a lot more power, it has been less than bulletproof reliable since I've bought it. In hindsight, I wish I had gotten the Foreman 450. I broke my own rule about only getting a Honda when buying used and it has cost me. I'd be about 2 grand ahead if I had gotten the Foreman because it cost a little less initially and I've spent about $1500 in repairs on the Grizzly since I bought it last year. I probably would have only had routine maintenance to do on the Honda. Fluid changes and maybe new brakes and that would have been about it. I would have gotten new tires and a winch for it as well so that would have been a wash there.

 

Early 450s didn't have selectable 4WD either, that came circa 2003. They are just about the most reliable Honda Quad ever built, no rear axle problems like the 300 and 420 have, no gearbox problems, unlike the 500 that replaced it, and the valve seats don't come loose like they do on the 350.

 

I think the one I looked at was a 2003 model. Could have gotten it for $2200 last year. It needed nothing other than probably some new tires. I went for the more powerful machine in the Grizzly but it has proven to be a bit of a tempermental beast. I could have gotten a King Quad 700 with just over 1000 miles with a winch for 3 grand but it was a bit farther away. I think I really dropped the ball on that one. The 4 hour round trip doesn't sound like that big of a deal now.

 

The 700 KQ has it's problems, the charging one which is easy to fix, and the pathetically flimsy frame, which isn't. They are a wonderful machine to ride though.