Just thought I'd sign in and say hello. Been lurking for awhile...

Although my wife and I are new to ATVs, we are both 'motorcycle enthusiests' - to use the PC term. I've ridden bikes (on and off road) for about 25 years. She's got about a dozen years of riding experience.

I sold my 2002 KTM 640 Adventure to buy my 2007 Honda Rancher ES. My wife sold her Honda CB750 and TTR225 to buy her 2006 Polaris Hawkeye.

We live in Las Vegas, NV.

Haven't heard/read anything negative about the Rancher. Certainly is fun so far. I'm new to FI. Sure seems better than messing with all the carbs on the motorcycles I've/we've owned. Rancher seems pretty well planted in all the conditions I've found myself in so far. Seems like it might be undersprung a bit though. Since this is my first ATV, the only thing I have to compare it to is my wifes Hawkeye. And that feels oversprung. I guess I'm too used to being able to dial in the suspension on my bikes to fit my weight and riding style.

Well, hello to all. Should be fun.

 

Welcome to the forum. I think the Rancher was an excellent choice. I wouldn't be surprised if High Lifter might have a spring kit out for it...

Have fun with it.

 

Utility quads are not the hot setup for the desert! Should have posted in here before you made your purchases. Maybe you have the wrong tool for the job???

The great desert quads are the great trail sport quads....with modifications. Currently, the king of the desert is the Honda 450R. It (and the Honda CRF450X dirt bike) dominate all the big desert endurance races, like Baja and Vegas to Reno. If you aren't on a Honda, you probably won't even finish the race...much less win!

I too own a Rancher 420...but I ride it almost exclusively at high altitude in the Sierras, not the desert! I also own a 450R for the desert, and a 400EX for riding woods trails in the local mountains (So. Calif.).

Honestly, in the arid southwest 4wd is rarely necessary. The extra weight and bulk of a utility just holds you back. The tactic is to use the light weight and power of a little 2wd sport quad to fly along on top of the terrain....and not to attempt to grapple for traction like on a big heavy 4wd. It's just a law of nature that rookies will always seem to overestimate what they are going to need to tackle the terrain...

Sure, you can go deliberately looking for terrifying terrain where you will need 4wd and high ground clearance (and I often do!), but for the most part those places can be easily avoided. The hot setup for desert is a well suspended sport quad! Imagine flying through desert whoops on a little 350 pound 450R, vs an almost 600 pound ute....

But you have a good start toward a well balanced stable. Save the Rancher for technical trail riding in the mountains and trips to Utah and Colorado, but get yourselves some sport quads for riding around Vegas, and see what you have been missing.......

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: reconranger

Utility quads are not the hot setup for the desert! Should have posted in here before you made your purchases. Maybe you have the wrong tool for the job???

The great desert quads are the great trail sport quads....with modifications. Currently, the king of the desert is the Honda 450R. It (and the Honda CRF450X dirt bike) dominate all the big desert endurance races, like Baja and Vegas to Reno. If you aren't on a Honda, you probably won't even finish the race...much less win!

I too own a Rancher 420...but I ride it almost exclusively at high altitude in the Sierras, not the desert! I also own a 450R for the desert, and a 400EX for riding woods trails in the local mountains (So. Calif.).

Honestly, in the arid southwest 4wd is rarely necessary. The extra weight and bulk of a utility just holds you back. The tactic is to use the light weight and power of a little 2wd sport quad to fly along on top of the terrain....and not to attempt to grapple for traction like on a big heavy 4wd. It's just a law of nature that rookies will always seem to overestimate what they are going to need to tackle the terrain...

Sure, you can go deliberately looking for terrifying terrain where you will need 4wd and high ground clearance (and I often do!), but for the most part those places can be easily avoided. The hot setup for desert is a well suspended sport quad! Imagine flying through desert whoops on a little 350 pound 450R, vs an almost 600 pound ute....

But you have a good start toward a well balanced stable. Save the Rancher for technical trail riding in the mountains and trips to Utah and Colorado, but get yourselves some sport quads for riding around Vegas, and see what you have been missing....... </end quote></div>

Nothin like starting out being (semi) slammed. Nice way to welcome somebody by telling him how he (in your opinion) screwed up on his first ATV purchase. Thanks ever so much for the warm welcome.

Just to clear the air, I did plenty of asking around and spoke to friends & family who have ATVs. I even rode a few before we decided!! I've had years and years of speed joy on all manner of motorcycles and cars. That little portion of my life passed years ago.

A utility quad was exactly what I wanted. Not some huge monster, but something powerful enough to tote me anywhere I wanted to go. BTW - it's the 2WD. See, I knew 4WD would be overkill for the kinds of riding I'd be doing.

Another point - The rancher actually has pretty low clearance. A sport quad is way too low. I'd be banging rocks every other foot on the trails I like to ride. Have you ever actually ridden anywhere around here?? (Other than Nellis Dunes??)

Oy. 'nuff said. We're good & happy with our choices. Best to you & yours.

 

Well, if you want sweet talk...see your wife. As for me, I'll just give you the good, the bad...and the ugly!

I had a 2wd Rancher once, and they are actually a fairly sporty machine. You don't have the extra weight of the front axle and such up front where it will do the most harm. Might work for you...

 

Dont Worry about it Velocibiker, reconranger knows everything about everything and he is never wrong, that's why my mouse has a scroll button [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] Welcome to the forums.

 

If you wish, go ahead and take the advice of a mud wollowing easter trail rider....about what works out here in the bone dry southwest desert.........

This sport is all about having fun, and you would just plain and simple have more fun on a sport quad! Could have told you that if you had asked before you spent your money. Utilities absolutely do have their place out here, but that place is very limited compared to the rest of the country. Still, the 2wd Rancher is probably the best utility choice you could have made, so you aren't that bad off!

But remember, it was you that was complaining about the Rancher's suspension. My 450R has 6" ground clearance over the back skid plate, and that's only 0.5 inches less than your Rancher. And....suspension that is what dreams are made of!

 

From another "mud wollowing easter[?] trail rider", welcome to the forums! I'm sure you'll love the Rancher!

 

Scroll wheel/blocking/ignore button. All work well.

Thanks to all for the warm invite.

 

LOL as always you right RR. I didn't grow up in Arizona must have been some other dry desert country [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]
What's funny here is I actually agree with you, If I still lived down there I would have a 700R in my garage but just because you or I would have more fun on a sport qaud and that is the choice you would have made does not mean that that everybody should do what you would do. And not eveything is wrong if it is not your way. I am sure he will have a great time on da rancher.

mud wollowing easter trail rider &lt;----- LMFAO now that was good [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]