Okay, I decided to take a better look at the Ranchers today. What Honda is releasing, is a Foreman 400 with new plastic, auto tranny and a different name.

Changes from the old Rancher,

About 35 more lbs
397cc engine
2wd/4wd switch
new plastic like the Rincon
Auto tranny

Same, but should have been changed:
Drum brakes
Still has a 32mm Carb.( from 327cc's up to 397cc's??????)
Same 24" tires
Still only 5.9 inches of suspension travel


I would have considered one if they would have beefed it up some for sport/ute riding. I'm looking for a poker run/extra quad. But, it's still a work quad with low speed trail riding capabilities. They should have upped the suspension travel to atleast 8 inches and put a larger carb on to feed the engine. A 400ex has a 35.5mm carb, that would have made more sense.

A 03 Rancher is set at an MSRP of $5199. So, if they set the MSRP over $5,600....I think they'll have a hard time trying to convince people they need this quad.
The automatic Suzuki Eiger sells for $5199, and offers the same package, minus the Honda tranny.
The Yamaha Kodiak auto sells for $5499, offers more suspension travel, liquid cooling and front disc brakes...and the best 4x4 sytem in it's class in my opinion.
The Kawasaki Prairie 400 sells for $5999, offers more suspension travel and front disk brakes.

It's going to be interesting to see what Honda lists the new Rancher at for prices. I see alot of competition in the class, and it's going to be pretty hard for them to compete with what they're offering. I do not see the new Rancher leading the class...

 

do you have any pics of it?

 

Go to: http://www.hondamotorcycles.com/prev...ATPREVHN7A.htm

 

This isn't really a Rancher, except in name. They call the 450 and the Rubicon "Foremans" and there is nothing similar between those. It has to be a completely new engine. The old 400 engine isn't a dry sump. They seemed to go to some lengths to get the weight down, even if it was only like 50 lbs. I remember the magazines saying that this transmission would show up in other models down the line.

 

You got me thinking about the new rancher being a 400 foreman with new skin. I looked the specs up on both.They are different.

The thing i cant figure out is how they lost allmost 3" of ground clearence from the old Rancher.

 

They measured it at the bottom of the rear differential instead of at the frame.

 

Chassis wise, it's a Foreman! It's still a utility quad with no sport in it.