Hi - this is my first post.

I have an 85 TRX250 that I've had for close to 20 years (relatively light use). It still has original tires (though they're pretty bald now). I live in a place now where I can get on the trails from my backyard, which is great and I'm riding a lot more.

I'm thinking of buying an 08 Honda Rancher 420FM 4x4. It's the foot shift model - my buddy told me about issues with ES (and I've read that on this site too), so I'm staying away from that + it saves some cash.

Most seem to love this model - but I've read a complaint about lack of IRS and low ground clearance. The trails I ride tend to be rocky. I'm experienced enough to know what my ATV can handle, but just about every time I go out at least once I find myself cringing as I scrape some part of my undercarriage on a rock. Sometimes I think I could have made it, others there's no other path. Luckily, I haven't done any noticeable damage yet. Looking for other rider's thoughts on the solid rear axle vs IRS on this Honda. Is IRS a must have? I'd like to hear from rancher owners and others pros and cons that would be great.

Nearby dealers are selling these for about $1k under list price ($5400). That's the out the door price (about $4400) with title etc - seems like a good deal. I'd like to get into it for $4k, but I don't think that will fly - what do you think? It looks like Honda is offering $600 off in the form of two $300 rebates, but that's what the dealer told me, I didn't see it on their site. Anyone know where I can find the current honda incentives? All I see on their site is the financing deals. I think these rebates are in lieu of the financing. I wonder what will happen to prices in January...

Is there another ATV I should consider? I want a 4x4 utility for mostly trail riding. I rarely even use 5th gear on my 250, so top speed is not an issue. I mainly want something that can handle rough terrain and is sporty enough to open up and have fun in the few places where I can do that. Keep in mind I only have 'permission' to spend around $4k.

Thanks!

 

I ride with a person with a 420 on very rocky trails also and the 420 does not hit objects that bad to bother worrying about it. Once the tires were out get some 25" tires on the ATV and it will be better yet. The ATV does 50 mph easily we have yet to find a trail or logging road that we would be comfortable going faster than that.

 

Thanks for the info TLC. Is that the only major issue with not having IRS - the ground clearance - or are there other handling issues I should think about?

 

if you are looking at spendinf 4k (ish) you have alot of models to concider, mostly used but good ATV's. for the price though $4,400 is good on a new 420 4x4! i would buy that in a heartbeat if i had that kinda cash lol. you can always look at a good used atv for under or around $4,000. like an older polaris, mabe a kodiak, eiger, or even a rancher 350. all of those are in your budget (or below).

i REALLY would not worry about ground clerance, i think its overplayed on the hondas.... yes they have less ground clerance on paper, but there have been few time that i have seen a (stock) honda not make it where other models have. i would not worry about hurting it on the rocks, plus they have plastic engine guards for those close scrapes lol.

like TLC suggested get 25" tires when you can, honda uses 24"tires stock because it is cheaper than 25" tires... cost-cutting. no real issues i have heard with the 420s. they seem like an awsome mechine!

good luck

 

IRS isn't a must for most people. It is for me because of my arthritis. I can't ride a SRA quad on rough terrain without it causing me severe back pain. If you ride an IRS machine on the same trails you normally ride, you can decide if you like it or not. The hard part is finding someone willing to give up the Cadillac ride long enough for you to try his quad while he has to ride yours. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] On the other hand, if you don't try it, you won't know what you're missing and you'll be happy with a SRA. Good luck with whatever quad you get. The 7 major brands all seem to be okay. There are lots of used ones within your budget.

 

There is a brand new Rancher 420AT out with IRS and a slick totally unique dual-clutch transmission, but it is more money and a fair bit heavier than the SRA model.

IRS has its advantages and disadvantages, but not really necessary in most places. This is where I ride my SRA Ranchers, and it's no big deal.....

http://jeep.off-road.com/jeep/...leDetail.jsp?id=330535

 

If you are worried about the ground clearance, you can always buy a skid plate for under the engine. I have one on my LTR, my dad has full plates on his Outlander. It's just peace of mind when you are out on the trails, knowing that scraping a rock will only scrape the plate, not your engine, and possibly damage something.

 

cherokee99 - Thanks for the insight. Based on yours and others replies I think the ground clearance shouldn't be too big of a deal. I'm still fairly young and can handle a rougher ride - especially if it means better stability.

As for my other options - in this price range I don't see anything NEW that competes. I have seen some very nice used models from other makes that have more features like IRS and automatic, but they are used. There's an unknown factor on a lot of these used models, like number of hours/miles - many don't have electronic dash (420FM doesn't either, but I can assume that's got about 0 miles).

I'm pretty close to going with the Honda. I'd consider the Yamaha big-bear 400 or grizzly 350 if I could find a new one in the same price range.

Thanks all for the replies.

 

iv been trying to keep up with the "mid-range" cc models. i think the bigbear 400 is a great mechine...EXCEPT, when they first came out with IRS in 06-07 they have HORRIBAL rear diff leaks [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] idk what it is about the bb's but 07-08's seem to be very prone to haveing that problem...the only solution that i have heard from dealers, customers, and people on the forum is to keep replaceing diff seal's until it stops. that gets expensive after the first 2-3 seals... i have not heard of any 09's with the diff seals leaking, but they are the same mechine. idk, just an FYI. i think the bigbears are great mechines but i would not want to keep pumping money into something that the manufacturer has yet to fix.

the grizzly 350(bruin) has been around for years and is a good mechine as well, no major problems with the engine/tranny that im aware of.

the bad part is yamaha has priced themselves about $1,000 over there compedators in the class. i find it hard to justify spending the extra grand JUST for IRS, i mean even the honda 420-420AT's have more features for the money.

hope you buy what eveer mechine makes you happy. after all, thats what counts[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I realy think the ES get to much of a bad rap, 3 ATVs in our group are ES,a 2000 450 forman,2005 500 Fourman and a 2008 420 Rancher, never seen the ES act up and the 450 has 3000 miles on it. I hear Honda improved on the ES later on also.

We hear about the few ES problems and there usually fixed easily, but you will never hear about the thousands of ES model not having troubles of any kind.