Hi all I am looking to buy a used 4x4 atv. I am looking for something around 500cc 4x4. I would really prefer selectable 4x4 water cooled and manual transmission with an auto clutch. I am wanting to use this atv for trail riding and dragging or trailering firewood out of the woods maybe a snow plow later. I have been riding for over 30 years so I am some what experienced I currently ride a 2001 Kawasaki mojave. Most of the trails I ride on are in hilly areas fairly tight trails blazed by a Suzuki LT 185. I am taking a hard look at polaris xpedition 425 and suzuki LT500F and Vinson with manual trans. I also like the honda 420 rancher with foot shift but they sell higher than the other two. Any advice or input on this thanks.

 

If you consider the Honda your going to want the foot shift as Honda has had issues with there auto transmissions. Polaris has more repair issues than other brands, but then they sell a lot more machines. Suzuki makes good stuff but replacement parts tend to be much more expensive than other brands. Hondas cost more up front for there reputation...
Most any brand name machine that was taken care of should do you well. I would go with which machine fits you best, comfort while riding is everything!!

 

When you compare the 420 Rancher to the 425 Xpedition keep in mind that although the engines are about the same size, the Rancher may have the horsepower of a 325 Xpedition but definitely not a 425. Whenever you compare ATVs always go a size up in displacement on a Honda utility model if you want HP similar to what everything else has. Also keep in mind that there weren't a lot of Xpeditions sold compared to most other ATVs. Factory parts will be harder to get and there's not much aftermarket compared to something like my Sportsman 500 that they made their millionth one years ago.

 

The Honda Foreman or Rubicon would be 2 others to consider if you really want a machine with an auto clutch. Everything else is cvt auto unless you buy something much older. Suzuki did make a foot shift Vinson 500 but they stopped making those over 10 years ago. I've owned both cvt auto and auto clutch machines and I just prefer the ease of a cvt auto. They still have low range for low speed operation work duties like heavy hauling or pulling a trailer. Belts usually last thousands of miles before they need replaced and aren't that expensive when they do finally wear out, most are in the $100 range. But I guess for some, its just not quite as exciting as shifting your own gears. It comes down to what you like best. Something like a Yamaha Grizzly 700 or my Suzuki King Quad 750 ride much better and have considerably more power than anything Honda makes.

 

It looks like like the 425 xepedition and the 420 rancher have about the same horse power. 26.6 on the rancher and 27 on the xpedition if the 420 rancher is anything like 2mthe 250 recon its low rpm torque and slow revving compared to overhead cam engines. As far ad the cvt trans I have rode a few the newer ones are a lot better than the old polaris from the early 90's but still not as much fun as a manual. Hell I don't even like automatics in my cars. I prefer manual clutch but that's out on a 4x4. The Suzuki Vinson has better power to weight ratio than the xpedition and a low range but they seem trucky, I rode an auto Vinson once. The polaris looks like its sporty and are more available, affordable. I need to ride the xpedition any xpedition owners that can weigh in on this?

 

On a Honda forum it says the Foreman 500 is 26.9 hp. I don't know why the 420 and 500 would have nearly identical horsepower. Or why the Xpedition 425 would also be about the same. Every other Polaris I've found numbers for had a lot more power than a similar size Honda. My 500 H.O. EFI has more power than the Sportsman 500 in this chart. It's way more than the Foreman 500 and close to the power of a Rincon 650. Here's another example: the 570 Sportsman is 43.7 HP and the Rincon 680 is only 38.1 according to the chart shown in the video. That's 5.6 less HP out of an engine that's 108cc bigger. That's why I said go up one size on the displacement if you get a Honda, but if the 420 Rancher and 425 Xpedition are the same HP, never mind.

atv horsepower chart
AC 1000_________65.84 hp
Can Am 800______61.7 hp
Can Am 650______55.4 hp
Brute 750 Carb____50.1 hp
Polaris 800_______50.1 hp
Brute 750 EFI_____49.8 hp
King Quad 750____49.6 hp
King 700_________48.5 hp
Grizzly 700________45.6 hp
Polaris 700_______44.3 hp
AC 700 H1_______41.4 hp
AC 700__________41.4 hp
Grizzly 660_______40.9 hp
Can Am 500______40.4 hp
AC 650 H1_______39.3 hp
Rincon 680_______38.5 hp
King 450_________36.7 hp
Sportsman 500____36 hp
Foreman 500 _____26.9 hp

https://www.hondaforeman.com/133-off...wer-chart.html

ETA: The video disappeared when I posted and I'm trying to get the Honda Forum link working.

 

I found the video again.

 

The video is much more recent, that other chart was about 10 years old. Arctic Cat did make a foot shift auto clutch 500 4x4 atv too but finding one of them used might be hard.

 

According to topspeed.com the 420 rancher is 26.2 in 2007 this is fuel injected. I think later it was bumped up. A few tenths 26.6 or so
https://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles...r-ar17748.html