Help, I want you all to compare and contrast these two ATV's based more on facts and experience vs. brand loyalty. I am looking to purchase a utility ATV with no bells and whistles (more to screw up), therefore have ridden both and tend to be leaning toward the Big Bear 4x4 because of lighter and tighter steering, more peppy take off and mid range, larger gas tank, higher ground clearance, and free plow. If you believe I am making a bad choice, please tell me why but do not use "brand loyalty" as your reason because between these two, it just won't fly. Thanks.

 

if you ever owned a yamaha or a honda before-you would't be asking.THERE'S NOTHIN LIKE HONDA!

 

Sounds like you already made your choice.

 

Go with the Big Bear it is just similer 2 my 99 kodiak and wow is it an awesome machine

 

go with the Yamaha, Honda makes a good machine too, but obviously from the specs in your post the Yamaha is better. I have owned Yamaha and Honda and i enjoyed the Yamaha much more. As do the people I know that ride. I only have one friend left that has not switched from Honda to either Polaris, AC, Yamaha or Kawasaki, and he has a Recon and wants to trade it in next year.

 

They are both fine machines, however the big bear is not even the machine the Honda Rancher is. So i wouldn't compare the Big Bear to the 450s. The 450s is a very good quad. The Kodiak hardly beat it(450s) in a shootout and the Big Bear lost to the Rancher in a Shoot out. Personally i would go with the Kodiak before the Big Bear or 450s. Check out a Kodiak or a Rancher S, they might be better values and suit your needs a bit better.

 

I agree with Alaskaweasel in the fact the Kodiak is the better machine of the two you listed. If I had to go with one it would be the 450, it has more power, better lighting system, 3 headlights, more reliable, it has a top speed of 50 mph.

 

As far as the post about people switching from Honda to something else. In our ATV club we only have 3 Polaris quads, we have more Suzuki's. There are more Hondas in our club followed by Yamahas then Kawasakis. The people changing brand isn't really relevant.

In the future if you want to trade in your quad Honda has the best resale. Some dealers won't accept certain brands because of there resale values.

Bottom line try both & ride them a couple of time. You must be happy with the choice after all its your money.

Both are good quads, you can't go wrong.

 

I too agree with alaskaweasel, I have ridden yamaha, suzuki, and honda and I love my Honda. The Yamaha Big Bear is a fine machine and I have friends who ride Big Bears, but I honestly feel that the Rancher is a much better machine than the Big Bear. I have buried mine handlebars down, in the mud," by the way,not intentionally " and my electric shift never gave a problem, and I'm pleased with its power. I did notice some power loss when I added my 26" tires but you will with any quad and with that Honda Super low 1st gear power is unbelieveable. My suggestion would be test ride the RancherES, and judge for yourself and if you want to save a couple of hundred try the RancherE without all of the frills. The Foreman is also a good machine, but the Rancher has a better front differential than the Foreman and the Big Bear and has a higher ground clearence than both the Big Bear and the Foreman.

 

but I said no brand loyalty, that is just like blind love, no reason for it other than I said so which is not a reason that can pursuade me one way or the other. Now if you could tell me why,from your experiences,Honda is better, then I would listen. Whattya say?