I stick by the 4x4 for the sheer fact that you aren't going to be trying to pick it up and physically move it when you get hung up on a log or bogged out in mud or hung out to dry trying to back uphill in loose leaves or a hundred other reasons. I think honda is ignorant for not offering selectable 4wd on the Rancher too. If the brand wasn't totally important (which for 80% of honda owners it is), I'd look into an Eiger or Big Bear with selectable 4wd and more importantly, disc brakes.

 

Man get the four wheel drive. I mean it's only a couple hundred dollars more, if that and you never have to worry well should I have got the four wheel drive. It is just flat out handier than a two wheel drive. Now if you get the new 2004 rancher 400 then it has two and four wheel drive and if it ain't out yet is should be anytime. Let me tell you for a fact a two wheel drive will not go everywhere a four wheel drive will. I mean on trails like climbling over say a smallish tree or log that has fell in the trail pull up to it with the four by four and those front wheels pull you right over. With a two wheel you have to kind of hit it fast and get a heck of a bump if you make it and while that's fun it isn't practical if say you come to one log then about three feet more is another log and another and so forth. With four wheel drive you can just roll right over this stuff and you don't have to go super fast if you don't want to. I've had a two wheel drive and it was frustrating lifting the back end over stuff I couldn't make it over or lifting and pulling it out of the mud. I know you said you weren't mudding but if you get out and see your friends or someone in the mud pits then you might want to try it. You hit a short deep hole of mud where you have to kind of ease into it you probably will be hung pretty quick. If you have a long long pit then even if you do hit it fast (which is what you have to do) by the time you get less than halfway through you'll lose your momentum and you'll be stuck pushing and pulling it out. Any atv is great and I love two and four wheel drives of course getting one with both is the best thing to do but if you have to get one or the other get the four by four, God bless.

 

Oh I forgot the handling does kind of suck on a full time four by four if you're used to the sportier handling of a two wheel drive. You can pull some pretty cool donuts on a four by four especially in the creek on slate rock, man you'll be dizzyer than Mike Tyson getting hit by Lennox Lewis.

 

Coyote-One of the Recons best features is its relatively light weight (for a utility). My point was that the comparison between a Recon (400 lbs) and even a 2X4 Rancher (500 lbs) isn't quite kosher, and add another 35 lbs for a 4X4. And, these are light compared to most of the other utility BEASTS (is that why Yamaha names them after animals??) which are 600+ lbs.

 

LOL, I never thought about it like that[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

 

reconranger, I understand what you were trying to say now.

So Lodge should either get a 2x4 Recon or a 4x4 Rancher.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I'm guessing that the ones backing the 2wd decision all have 2wd's. I think I used to say "I wouldn't want to take a 4wd anywhere I wouldn't take this". Yeah, that was back in the days of my 200 and 225 yamaha's and my 300 honda. Then around 1998 when I was deciding to get a new quad, there was this hill I could never make it up on that 2wd 300. Tried a hundred times and always spun out and had to back down it cussing. Well, I anted up and got a 500 Arctic Cat 4x4, and buddy it crawled right up that thing with no problems at all. That pretty much set me towards a 4x4. I'll never own anything else when it comes to a utility class quad.

Who was saying yamaha's are heavy? What are you talking about? The grizzly is like 600lbs, and its their heaviest quad. Match up a wolverine or whatever that new 350 is to a rancher if you want to compare dry weight. Either that or start matching up a 450 with a Kodiak or at least use the same engine size class.

As far as 2wd, I have that 660 yamaha which has push button 4wd. I drive 90% of the time in 2wd, but I use the crap out of the 4wd option. And as for lighter steering, a lot of 4x4's steer very easy, even full time ones. Problem is, honda doesn't make any of these except their 450 with selectable 4wd. My 660 steers as good in 2wd as my 89 300 Honda. Even in 4wd, its not bad.

Before you make a decision, find a buddy that owns something, a few different if you can find them, and go driver their quads and get a little feel for it. It would be better than making a $4000 mistake, and I'm not saying that you would be making a mistake either. But chances are, in a year you might wish you got the 4x4.

 

I started out the other way. The first quads that I ever drove much were all full-time 4x4's, a kawi bayou 300, honda 300, and a honda 450. The first time I drove a recon I had so much fun, sliding around and doing donuts and just playing around. The only 4x4 I would get would have to have the selectable 4x4/4x2 option, which the rancher 350 doesn't have.

 

knowing what i know, i would get a 4x4. i have never met anyone yet who rides a 2wd (other than sport quads) that hasn't upgraded to a 4x4. have you ever owned a quad before? im' just wondering cause your very likely to ride that thing far more than you might think, no matter your age! if you ride with friends that ride 4x4's, you'll be limited to the sidelines more times than not. as far as a sporty feel, no 2wd ute will give you a sporty feel, in my opinion & 2wd vs. 4wd. in a rancher, there is very little difference, if any. i would caution you against getting a run at an obstacle with a 2wd, the suspension could easily throw you, as the 4x4 could navigate the same at a lower speed. try to find a dealer that will let you ride both for a while, chances are, i think that you will find that the 4x4 is way to go. let us know & remember. if all else fails, ride other makes, they will all last as long as you care to ride them!

 

WoW--I want to thank everyone who has answered so far.

Your responses are outstanding! Thanks for taking the time to write.

Yes, this would be my first quad. I wish that Honda made a selectable 2-4-wheel drive option on their smaller quads. However from the comments the two don't sound like they would handle that differently. Comments are running way in favor of 4-wheel drive--a trend I respect.

I have nothing but good things to say about Honda quality and reliability. We have a Honda generator at the cottage that is over 15 years old. I maintain it and winterize it properly and it has never been in the shop. Once it sat for two years and started first pull--after I put gas in it!

Thanks again everyone!

LPP