Hello everyone. I just sold my wifes' 2004 Honda Rancher ES. She is looking to upgrade in size. She wants something with ES or totally automatic. We would like something that is not full time 4-wheel drive. So I guess that would exclude the basic model Rancher 4x4 and the Rancher AT. If so that would leave the foreman? and Rubicon? I have read that the foreman has a ES model, does this have model have 2WD/4WD mode. I really don't know anything about the Rubicon except that is much more expensive. Does anyone know if the Foreman has a better ride than the Ranchers? Anyother details or comments
would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

the Rancher 400 AT has Trax-lok, so you can shift it out of 4x4. It also has automatic and esp modes. It would fit your wife perfectly

beware, however, that it seems the 400AT has a few problems with the automatic trans. It's your call.

 

are you totally set on a honda? i know you posted in the honda forum but would you ever consider any other brands? i have been around many atvs. it seems to mea polaris sportsman would be a good atv for her. unless your set on a honda and if your set on the honda have youu looked at a rincon?

 

Goose, check out the AT. It is selectable esp/auto and 2/4 wheel drive. My dad has one and I've spent some time on it with no problems. I noticed you live in Asheville. I live in Hickory. I was checking out this forum a while back and saw a post about a dealer in TN with incredible prices. www.abernathycycles.com Check out the website. I like the Rancher AT, the GPS on it is a nice feature if needed. When you say upgrade in size, does she just want to go faster or just get a bigger (body size) machine?

 

wanna be i see tour in north carolina richies powersports in athens tennessee would be closer to u and they have the same if not better prices www.ritchiepowersports.com i just bought my trx450r for 4999.00

 

quicksilver, you are right. I was wrong, the AT does have all those features. Cool. Thanks for the heads up on the few problems. I will probably do another post to get reliability info from others. Thanks.

King, we are not necessarily set on a honda but a polaris from my experience is just a little too heavy. Don't get me wrong I loved mine and will probably end up buying another one soon. But when you get your self into those hairy situations that we all get ourselves into sooner or later (intentionally or not) it can be a handfull. Cons- top heavy, a little aggravating to turn around. Pro- awesome utility machine, best ride around, the seat and suspension are just incredible. If other companies would put half the seat that the polaris has on their atv, they would have a more comfortable ridding machine. IMO.
The rincon is just a little to expensive an atv for as little of ridding as she will be doing.
Thanks for your reply I appreciate it.

wannabe, hickory your pretty close. I remember spending many a long weeks working in Hickory and heading to the silverbullet. Its probably closed now but those were fun days. Anyway back to the subject. I'm glad to hear your dad has not had any trouble. Has he had it long? I have looked at abernathys web site and they are very close to the prices in a dealer in chattanooga. Check out their prices, southernhonda.com We actually went in 2004 to buy my wife's previous atv but called another dealer there (no website unfortunately) and they beat southernhonda by a hundred dollars. He it was on the way home to so we bought from them.

When you say upgrade in size, does she just want to go faster or just get a bigger (body size) machine?

We just want something with a more stable ride. She loved her rancher ES, but at speeds say roughly above 35 it started to feel a little uneasy. I'm talking about logging roads, gravel roads, or even paved straight aways. I know some people will say you shouldn't go that fast. Well sometimes you just do. So to go a little faster, yeah. Increase in Body sized machine, yeah I guess so, providing the ride is more stable.
Thanks for reply wannabe!

 

have you considered polaris the ho 500 is good

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]My wife decided she wanted to see the world I spend so much time in. She decided a 4 wheeler was the way to do it. She shopped, ask friends, read articles, searched all the literature she could and decided the Rubicon was the way to go. We bought two of them. We ride rough trails, we ride open forests and ridge tops, we ride abandoned roads and stock driveways. In a year we have traveled 1400 miles on the machines with an average speed of about 4 miles per hour. We spent the first few months on good trails and easier ground to learn the machines and to learn the safety and travel skills needed to stay out of trouble. At no time was I afraid some quirk in the 500cc machine was going to cause injury to my wife. Use of the electric shift gives maximum control of the machine with little use of the brakes, the engine with the transmission in low range and 1st gear gives total control of the machine even on the steepest of slopes. No downhill runaways or heavy brake useage with these machines. Change the oil, adjust the brakes, set the valves and keep the air cleaner clean and you are in business. Check the spark plug once in a while and use good fuel. I have no experience with any other of the large machines but if your wife wants to upgrade in size and power I feel she could do no wrong by selecting the Rubicon. Stability and comfort, steers well even at low speeds........................I am confident she will enjoy the ride and be safe............Tass

 

Goose, the Silver Bullet is still shooting. It hasn't let down. Actually it's about 2 miles from my house. I don't know if they had it when you were around but they have a motorcycle burnout pit with a "garage" where they will sell you a new tire and install it after you trash yours. Anyway, the reason I asked about the ride...I have a Kawasaki Prairie 360 and love it. It is auto with selectable 2/4. It is a little bit larger than the Ranchers and has a more "forgiving" ride when riding terrain. The Rancher is a little more rigid. I do some winding out on the trails and open areas, however, 95% of my riding is on the hunting land...no mx. Speedwise comparison. My P360 is neck and neck with the 400AT in auto with the Rancher pulling slightly ahead at around 25mph but not pulling away. (We used to straight drag 'em at dad's with no helmet, then we were just riding one day and he had a freak accident resulting in a flipped quad, all ribs on right side broken, punctured lung, and concussion with me right behind him. ALWAYS RESPECT YOUR QUAD B/C IT MIGHT NOT RESPECT YOU--AND WEAR A HELMET) Anyway, a hunting friend of mine has the Rancher 350 ES and he pulls away between 3rd and 4th on a drag. So the speed is not quite that of a Rancher but the size is bigger and ride is more forgiving...and price is good. 35+ on pavement or hard gravel is going to be wobbly on any ute without a tire change.

King, thanks for the heads up on dealer. I'm going to check 'em out.

 

I would think that an upgrade in size would rule out the Rancher in any form. My Rancher 350 has as much pull and just as much power as the 400 Rancher....maybe slightly more. I didn't buy a 400 because the sales guy told me that the 350 was just as powerful...plus it was cheaper.

I would think that an upgrade in size would warrant going to at least a 450 cc to 500cc and up.