I have been looking at buy my 1st utility quad. I've got it down to a Honda Rancher 420AT, Suzuki 450AXI and Can Am 400 EFI XT. While they are all EFI and IRS machines the all have different traits. All these models can still be found as left overs, so there are some pretty good deals. I don't plan on doing any work with the quad, only trail riding in the midwest. Since I don't plan on doing any deep mud bogging, is the non locking diff. of the Honda and Can Am going to make that much of a difference. I've ridden a older Yammi Bruin with out locking, but never put to the test in 4x4. Any feeback would be greatly appreciated, as many of the dealers seem to steer me towards their something different at each time.

 

Rancher is very reliable. Probably top of the heap. Suzuki 450 is a good machine also. Does everything well and the Suzuki and CanAm will have a little better fording ability as the Rancher is a little lower than them. But, if you don't go in the deep stuff it shouldn't be an issue. CanAms 400 is probably about as powerful as the other two quads. CanAm's system for 4wd before this model year was a little slow in locking up the front end. The new model year has a much quicker engagement.

 

test drive each quad. they are all solid choices specs-wise. the honda has the option to switch into esp mode and 'manually shift' via push buttons to maintain one gear if you do want to tow something.

 

My SRA Ranchers go everywhere in yard deep snow that my friends do, on their $10,000 top of the line big bore machines that have IRS and lockers! In truely technical terrain (especially off-camber), I run circles around them! Do more with less!!!

The IRS Rancher AT will be really smooth in rocky situations, but unless you ride rocks constantly, I can't see that the extra weight and money are worth it. It does however have a cool dual-clutch transmission!

 

Thanks for the input. As much as I like the Honda, I kind of leaning toward the Suzuki. I can get one as a new left over for about 1K less than the Honda. That goes a long way towards accessories. I wanted a reason the Honda would justify the extra bucks I would have to spend. Sounds like a toss up.