I want to buy a new ATV in the 400 - 450 range and I've narrowed it down to the Honda Rancher and the new Polaris Sportsman 400 HO.

Any tips, hints or suggestions would be awesome



THANKS!!!!

 

Polaris!The 400 is actually measures out to 455cc's!!The sportsmans have the most legendary ride of any 4x4 quad!!If going in the direction of the honda DON'T GET THE ELECTRIC SHIFT! There are at least 2-3 threads every two weeks about problems with this system!

 

Both good midsized machines. I believe the Rancher is a solid axle. Great for powersliding, not as comfortable as an IRS machine. Also, the IRS probably has better ground clearance. Polaris has real AWD. Probably about equal in power and top speed. Polaris has great on board storage. Honda is a bit more reliable.

 

My buddies Polaris is tall, and sloppy with a lot of body roll. Coming off my IRS Rancher, his bike seem absolutely ludicrous on technical sidehills!!!

The Rancher is low and tight and stable! Handles more like a sport quad, than the current generation of sloppy long travel utilities that are so popular. If you feel like you need IRS, there is the new Rancher 420AT.

 

I've ridden both my son's ATP and my X2. I can tell you that overall a straight axle rear is sportier in the corners. But, that being said, my X2 is sprung stiffly enough that body lean isn't really an issue. I can keep up with him fine in the corners and can go alot faster over the rough stuff due to the better overall ride and greater ground clearance. Maybe, with a back injury, I'm slowing down some, but the ride on the IRS machines is like riding a nice comfortable chair on wheels. I don't think I could take a rough ride with the disc problem I have. I've had both straight and IRS. I'll take IRS anyday for 95% of riding. The only thing I liked a little better with the straight axles was powersliding in the corners. I can still do it, but have to concentrate alot more.

 

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

My buddies Polaris is tall, and sloppy with a lot of body roll. Coming off my IRS Rancher, his bike seem absolutely ludicrouls on technical sidehills!!!



The Rancher is low and tight and stable! Handles more like a sport quad, than the current generation of sloppy long travel utilities that are so popular. If you feel like you need IRS, there is the new Rancher 420AT.</end quote></div>

Here talking about the new 400 H.O not the full size Sportsman 455 of a few years ago.

400 H.O vs 420 Rancher specs.

They only weigh 10lbs differance but the 455 OHC is 32hp while the 420 OHV is only 26hp.


The 455 used to make the big heavy 700lb full size Sportsman400 haul AS#. I can magine what it does in the little Haweye chassis.

The Honda advantage would be its super low 1st gear which acts as a low range while the 400.H.O has no low range at all.

The H.O has true AWD and super high ground clearance even with small 24" tires.

 

Again and again....those "at the crank" CARB horsepower numbers that are next to useless, get quoted when someone needs to make their favorite quad seem to look better than it actually is!

There are a hundred factors that make those at the crank a comparison of apples and oranges. The Rancher has a much more efficient gear-on-gear transmission, which right there is going to give it an advantage over any belt drive....

 

I think that this this comparison is more fair as they both have IRS!
http://www.powersportsnetwork....1&vehicle2=99174&go=Go

Here is another between the Honda and a Yamaha kinda funny how close the #'s are.
http://www.powersportsnetwork....&vehicle1=87176&go2=Go

 

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

Again and again....those "at the crank" CARB horsepower numbers that are next to useless, get quoted when someone needs to make their favorite quad seem to look better than it actually is!



There are a hundred factors that make those at the crank a comparison of apples and oranges. The Rancher has a much more efficient gear-on-gear transmission, which right there is going to give it an advantage over any belt drive....</end quote></div>


I line up a drag with a 500 Foreman OHV 26hp while my OHC H.O is rated at 36 H.O. many times.

Even though My ATV weighs 100lbs more it greatly out accelerates and has a much faster top end 55mph vs 50mph.

I also have much more low end pulling grunt.

That is what a 10hp advantage does. When does the Foreman's efficient tranny come into play? When I ride the Foreman I just cant belive how much weaker it feels. I can,t even fishtail the rear end for trail powerside you turns,it just wont brake the rear wheel loose enough.

Honda are good ATV but all there Utilitiy ATVs are the lowest power in there cc Class and its due to that old school OHV motor they will not give up making.

You would'nt find a OHV motor on Honda;s sport ATV or EX though,that tell you something there.

I even rode a 680 Rinco and it only felt a little more powerful than my 500 and much less powerful than a 660 Grizzly.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DODGE57HEMI

I think that this this comparison is more fair as they both have IRS!

http://www.powersportsnetwork....1&vehicle2=99174&go=Go



Well according to that the polaris seems to have the advantage in a bunch of categories.Though fuel injection on the polaris would be cool in the winter.