Okay...my friend, who owns a Racher, and myself, owning the Kodiak, have been at each others throats (not literally) saying one is better than the other. From what I figure it depends on what you have in the two michines.

What he has:
'01 Honda Rancher
350cc Engine
Manual Trans
2WD

What I have:
'01 Yamaha Kodiak
400cc Engine
Automatic Trans
Push button 4WD

I am posting this in an attempt to stop our little arrgument. I would like to know which one you believe is better and why?

From my expirences this is what I have gathered...

1) Rancher gets stuck more (only has 2wd)while Kodaik only gets stuck in snow when the floor boards are allowed to sit on the snow.

2) Kodiak is more manuverable because it is not as wide as the Rancher.

3) Kodiak has more towing capacity and weight so it won't do wheelies when pulling heavy loads.

So what do you guys think? Kodiak or Rancher...which is better? Why do you think this?

 

Click here to see why I like Kodiak

 

Kodiak

 

I would say that the rancher is better because it has the better name, "HONDA" and can take alot of abuse.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

EVIL,

I HAD A 2000 KODIAK 4X4 ,NEW. I NOW HAVE A 2001 RANCHER 4X4,SAME QUADS YOU MENTIONED . NOT TO P.O. YAMAHA OWNERS BUT THE RANCHER IS NOT AS TIPPY, MAINTAINANCE IS WAY CHEAPER, AND 2-4 SWITCH ON KODIAK IS A JOKE! TOO EASY TO GET DIRT INTO I HAD MINE APART DOZENS OF TIMES.
AND THE HONDA COST LESS ALSO

 

The Rancher is more sturdy, but not much. The Kodiak is by no means a tipsy ATV. It is very stable in all the conditions I have had mine in. The Kodiak keeps the front end on the ground better than the Rancher because the engine is canted at a 45 degree angle towards the front to lower the center of gravity. The Kodiak will also turn inside the Ranchers turning radius, I know this because my friend just got a 2002 Rancher ES and I have a 2001 Kodiak and he always has to backup a sharp turn. A word of advice too, the first model of a new designed ATV is not something to jump all over because it means that YOU will be seeing alot of problems that the manufacturer will fix on the next years quad. So, if you get an ATV in its first year of production, make sure you get an extended warranty. My 2001 Kodiak has no problems and I could not have made a better choice.

 

hey fourman i got a big bear that has out lasted out bogged and overall beat any honda around here it's an 87 and i would kill anything u put in front of it!!

 

dont think its quite fair in compareing a 2 wheel drive against a 4x4, but i ridden with these two bikes (but the rancher was 4x4) and i have to go with the ..................kodiak
but thats just my choice.
ninjazx

 

I ride with a buddy that has a rancher and the thing cant mud worth sh*t. I have a polaris explorer 400 and i have gotten up to the racks in mud and snow is also no problem. I have my bet on the kodiak. but I think the honda will last longer




Explorer 400
Explorer 250
Magnum 425
Sport 400
Polaris number1 UTILITY

 

Honran01,
What do you mean by the switch being a joke. THat is an awesome feature. Have you even test drove a Kodiak, or did you hear that from someone else?

Fourman,
My friend has a Rubicon and here is a list of what hisHondahas gone through:
1. 15mph wreck. Broke frame. Cost-$1500
2. Top end fried out, carboration problem-$500
3. Broken Radiator-$600
4. Broken boot guard-not fixed yet.
I would just like to add that the wreck involved me on a polaris and I had a scratch, while his frame broke. Is this the Honda name you were speaking of?