JUST CAN'T DECIDE B/T THE GRIZZLY 450 OR THE 420 RANCHER. I WILL BE USING IT FOR EVERYTHING IMAGINABLE UNDER THE SUN AND THEN SOME. I NEED A LARGER MODEL FOR WORK BUT I HAVE TO GET MY WIFE BACK INTO RIDING FIRST BEFORE I GET TO DROP THE CASH. REASON FOR THE SMALLER SIZE (SHE'S ABOUT A BUCK TEN RINGING WET). I HAVE SEEN EVERY COMPARISON BUT THESE AND ANY COMMENTS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

 

Got to say that my Ranchers have been superb machines! I like a manual transmission, and coming from a sport quad background, I like the stable tight solid feel of an SRA and a low center of gravity. I do wish the Rancher was lighter!!!

I really thing IRS is overrated, but I have to say that all the IRS machines I have ridden have been the huge tall heavy monster top of the line type machines that have a lot of sloppy body roll. Perhaps the 450 is lighter and tighter and doesn't suffer so much in this area???

 

The 450 Grizz would be a good machine. It's fully auto with the IRS (not overated...believe me). It is also low and with aftermarket wheels it will widen the stance even more.
Test drive both first (if possible somewhere bumpy and not a parking lot) and take it from there. Nothing like seat time to compare.
Buck

 

OK LET ME ASK YOU THIS. WITH ONLY 6.5 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE (420) COMPARED TO THE 10.5 (450) HOW DO YOU GET THRU THE TRAILS?

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: FLOYD987

OK LET ME ASK YOU THIS. WITH ONLY 6.5 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE (420) COMPARED TO THE 10.5 (450) HOW DO YOU GET THRU THE TRAILS?</end quote></div>

They just do somehow. I ride with two chain drive ATVs with only 4" of Ground clearance and they make it but those rear sprockets take some good hit along the way,you just do alot of zig zagging one the trails to avoid rocks and thing with low ground clearance ATVs.


The 450 Grizzly main advantages are IRS, Diff lock true 4wd,auto no shifting and a low range for those work days and rock clawling. You do pay for it though is the 420 Honda not alot less money?

 

AFTER YOU FIGURE THE WENCH AND 2" RECEIVER FOR THE 420 THERE IS ONLY ABOUT $375 DIFF IN COST. I KEEP LEANING TOWARD THE 450.

 

go with the Grizzly

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: FLOYD987OK LET ME ASK YOU THIS. WITH ONLY 6.5 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE (420) COMPARED TO THE 10.5 (450) HOW DO YOU GET THRU THE TRAILS?</end quote></div>

First off, I ride in the southwest and mud is nonexistent here (thank God!)....so I have no experience with that.

Most of the 4X4 type riding I do is tight semi-technical woods trail and rock crawling type stuff. This is big rock crawling country, and nobody seems to think it's a big deal when a solid axle Jeep skids its way over a rock (it's part of the tactics).....so why should it be any different with a quad??? This is the stuff I ride ( http://jeep.off-road.com/jeep/...leDetail.jsp?id=330535 ), and believe me I do way better than those Jeeps ever do!

The old Rancher 350 had the brakes out of the way and tucked into the wheel well. For some reason, they relocated it back to the middle, like it was on the old 300 (go figure?). Still, it's a mistake to get hung up on that number 6.5"....it's just something that exists on paper...sure doesn't hold me back any....

 

6.5" ground clearance ATVs will always hit a 6.51"Plus boulder on the trail unless you drive around it,with 10" clearance you just keep her straight and enjoy the ride. Sure the are boulder higher then 10" that IRS ATVs also have to steer around but they usually come up less than the below 10" high rocks.

I follow right behind straight axle ATVs down our rocky Northern Ontario trails and just cringe when I see that big pumpkin (Rear Diff) nail those rocks that I just straddle over with room to spare.

 

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



First off, I ride in the southwest and mud is nonexistent here (thank God!)....so I have no experience with that.





I just can't imagine no mud. Don't you miss the mess and constant maintenance!
On the other hand it is a blast to dowse my teeage son with mucky rooster tail.


Floydd, it seems funny you think 450 is a small bike, times have changed. My wife and daughter are 5'9" 5'11' and follow my 660 around on old 250's.

I have several Yammys, and the Big Bear has the features on paper, But I just rode my neighbors 420 Rancher and I liked the bike. Ride them and cut a better deal on that Honda if you want it.