anyone have any opionions about hondas new 400 with hydraulic transmission as apposed to yamaha belt


transmissions?
top speed?

 

Go with the Yamaha.

 

um, what are you gonna do with the quad? Need to know that to give a educated opinion [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

Id go with the yamaha , the honda tranny is not one you want to have to work on . $$$$$$ but thats mostly on the rubicon.

 

mostly dense bush riding, lots of steep hills going over logs but also some open trails(old railway beds) where you can easily cruise @ about 40 mph all day
are either these bikes capable of running this speed without screaming the motors

 

Well the belt drive is cheaper but you have to deal with wet belts. The Hondamatic is buttery smooth and they work like nothing else on the market. You HAVE to drive one to appreciate it. I did about 3 trips on the Rubicon(slightly different tranny) and it took me about 30 mins of riding to actually like the bike. It is nothing like a belt drive or the manual shift but once you get used to it you won't go back. I like the option of button shifting or full auto. It is the best of both worlds IMO. The kodiak is a great machine and I am trying to get a used one at the moment. They have great power and they ride nice. Reliablity has been pretty good with them and they also have the 2X4 mode which is a must on any machine.

I would buy the 400AT if I had the cash but the Kodiak 400 is no slouch and still a great choice.

 

They both are good choices but I'm sure you could get the Kodiak 400 for a lot less than a 400at Rancher.

 

I would go for the Kodiak hands down because of the crap that I have heard of going wrong with the honda's at the time, and the amount of money trown into there bikes for repairs. Plus for the off road part I would much rather have 9.6 inches of clearance than a crappy 7.2 inches. Then when you get on the open roads you can pop it into 2 wheel drive and it moves, much faster than any of the honda's in its class. I personally like the kodiak 400 modles that were out before the new 450 because Yamaha has now made the 400 a cheaper quality but still better that honda. Plus if you go for a 00 kodiak or so you get a hi and low range which the honda's dont have. finally the belt drive and honda's hondamatic transmittion are the same for riding sake and the worst thing that can happen to the yamaha is that a new belt must be bought or water has the be drained from the belt. but if the honda tranny breaks thats more than likely means that you will be diggin into you wallet. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

i would choose the rancher because of the transmission alone. it is buttery smooth and does not have to wind up like belt drive machines.the new kodiaks 400 have no low range. the ranchers have a low 1st gear. the kodiak has better brakes. handling is probaly very close. and the 9.6 inches the kod has is at the highest spot while the honda is measured at the lowest spot. i rarely here of hondas having major problems but do have some just like all other machines do just not as many

 

i heard top speed is around 52-53 for rancher and around 54-55 for kodiak