Which one do you prefer? I like to mud, hill climb, trail ride ect. I currently have a 03 honda recon 250. Main concern is reliability.

 

Both the Grizzly and the Rancher are very reliable. The Grizzly has more power (good for spinning tires in the mud) and better ground clearance. Also, the Grizzly allows you to fully lock the front end where the Rancher doesn't. I've been in some bad mud holes where that little extra bit of traction has gotten me through. Also, a fully locked front end is much better on rocky hill climbs where you are in low gear going slow. I've seen a few times where guys with limited slip front ends couldn't get up a rock face that others with full 4wd got up with ease. One guy had a Suzuki Vinson and simply forgot to push the button that locks the front end up. Once he did that he had no problems.

 

Ok thanks. I've heard that Hondas are pretty much "bullet proof" In reliability and my recon pretty much proves that (being the third owner). So I guess my question is how does the grizzlys reliability compare? I definitely like the diff. Lock and IRS on the grizzly, I'm not too sure on the automatic trans though.

 

Check out the king quad 500axi.,very smooth engine and better engine brake than that grizzly 450..the 450 grizzlies are very noisy and loud motors..i would not even look at the 450 class..check the kq500 or grizzly 550.. Get eps..either way..much better machines..test drive all..seat time will tell.

 

How is the reliability on the KQ? And what about the 400 KQ, trying to stay under
7k (for new).

 

The Grizzly 450 has more options then the Rancher ,that's why its a more expensive ATV. It has larger 25" tires ,low range, diff lock ,hydraulic rear disc brake and taller suspension travel.
When the 450 Grizzly is in a shootout it goes up against the larger more expensive 500 Foreman.
All Grizzly are reliable right from their 250 up to the 700.
In fact I do not know of any unreliable Japanese utility 4x4 ATVs

The Grizzly 450,Rancher and KQ400 are smaller "mid chassis" ATVs.
You have to move to the 550 Grizzly,500 Foreman or Rubicon and 500KQ to get a "Full sized" chassis ATV.
If you want a higher tow/load rating and more sitting or carrying space.

 

King quads are very reliable..the best thing u could do is test drive them..if you choose between the grizzly and rancher..

 

i got a grizzly 450 and love it. i would buy another one in a heartbeat. i don't need anything bigger as this quad does everything i need it to do. it climbs, it don't get stuck, it cruises, it hauls butt, i don't think it is very loud, at least not to me, good quad, easy to maintain, super reliable. more bang for the buck in the 450cc. my grizzly is a 2007 and i have had ZERO Issues with it. matter of fact, i still have my factory battery running strong.

 

Be careful with the naming of ATVs also.
A Full size 450/500KQ with IRS have nothing in common with Mid size 400KQ straight axle with rear drum brake which is just a renamed 400 Eiger.

Yamaha did it as well , they changed the 350 Bruin name to 350 Grizzly but it's no way the same class of machine as the 450 Grizzly.

 

Thanks for the replies guys I think I'm leaning towards the gizzly 450 but will definitely check out the KQ 500and Grizzly 550.