just rode my rancher the other day after not riding for 2 months because it wouldn't shift. i finally got it fixed as you all know if you have followed my posts. now my lower back is a little sore from the ride i had the other day. what i'm looking to do is soften my ride, my rancher has a seat like a rock and the monoshock in back is very stiff. my question is, is there a way to replace the seat foam with something softer(like my fourtrax 300)? can the monoshock be replaced with another shock?(a much softer shock). thanks for your help - dana

 

I doubt changing any of that will make that much of a difference. Riding just stresses out your back. I used to get that all the time, so I started wearing a kidney belt, and it did wonders.

 

Take your seat to any decent upholstery shop, and they can add or change the padding. As for the shock, most shocks are pretty stiff when new. They do tend to "soften" up after you get a few miles on them. You may also consider a "Back Buddy", and make more frequent rest stops.

 

The ranchers get much softer after riding about 600 miles,mine has 2700 km and rides like caddalac compared to my freinds with 200km,I would not even recommend touching the seat either because his feels like your sitting on rock compared to mine.I imaging they are little stiff when new so when they start to get older they end up just perfect.

 

Check your air pressure in your tires. Even a pound of pressure can make a big difference.

 

Kidney belts will work wonders try that first its the cheapest way to solve your problem

 

After his back surgery, my brother-in-law had the same problem you do. He went a different route, though. He got a Polaris Sportsman. The ride is unbelievable! Hit a hole with only one wheel & ther is no side-to-side lurch. That & a belt cured him. Find someone with a Sportsman & ask to drive it, or find a dealer who will let you test drive a used one. They ride best after about 1000 miles to loosen them up.

 

I rode with a guy with a Rancher and he would stand up before hitting anly large bumps to smoothout the ride.I tried his bike and it is the best way to ride a bike like that over the bumps.He is selling now for a new SP by the way.

 

You and I have the same exact problem and that is a sore back after riding the Rancher. I called Hi-Flite as they make a 'Desert Seat' that has thicker, softer foam but they said to check back in January as they expected that they would possibly have an application for the Rancher then. I did ride a friends Polaris 400 and have to admit it rode extremely smooth. Let me know if you find a solution as I really use the ATV on the farm and do not need this sore back.