I don't understand one thing, its always owners of different brands that bring up the supposed short comings of Hondas atv line. I bought a new Rancher, and I can tell you that these short comings people claim are not always that. My Drum brakes are flawless after every ride, no maintenance needed, no water or mud in the drums at all. My air cooled 329cc engine puts out class leading power, never has over heated, is quiet, and reliable. My state of the art AP differential works as advertised, the steering effort is lighter than most machines I've ridden with the 2x4 switch, and I haven't been stuck in a place that a machine with the so called "true 4x4" wouldn't get stuck. Which brings me to handling, the Rancher flat out handles with the best of them. I would be willing to bet, if you put riders of equal ability on a Rancher, and any of the competitions sport utility 4x4 bikes,(with the possible exeption of the Yamaha Wolverine, and Kodiak) run them through a hare scrambles course, the guy on the Rancher would come out on top in most situations. I guess what I'm trying to say is, its the way a machine performs that counts, not all these so called necessary features. By the way, I rode alot of bikes before making my desission on buying the Rancher, and the only other machines that come close to the all around package the Rancher offers, were the two afore mentioned Yamahas. The differential was the deciding factor for me. On the issue of new models, What do you guys call the Rancher and Rubicon? I call them two completely new machines in six months. Not bad, not bad at all.

 

holy crap!!!!!! you used solid facts and no bashing!!!!! is that allowed on this forum?!?!?!?!? i agree with all of your observations. i too considered several other quads b-4 i picked the rancher.....never looked back

 

It appears to me that someone is being very defensive about a product they own (Polaris). You know that when someone is unhappy about a product they own they have to put another product (better product) down by bashing it all they can. By better product I'm speaking of Honda. Honda has proven itself over many years and still remains the top atv seller. Did you ever stop to think that maybe Honda does not need to make any changes because they have a proven record. Everyone I know who has a Honda states they would own nothing but a Honda.
I had a 1999 SP500. It was a very good machine. I sold it to a friend so that I could purchase a Rubicon. So far the fellow I sold the SP500 to is still friends with me. We'll see what the future holds.

 

Prices also refect the time and money spent ENGINEERING and TESTING a design. The cost competitively because they are designed and built competently.

 

What were the other new machines that Honda hinted at?

 

Prices also refect the time and money spent ENGINEERING and TESTING a design. The cost competitively because they are designed and built competently.

If I hear this one more time I am going to puke so what did honda do this year for $300 extra see if the engineering and testing of the glue and graphics would stay stuck...this is not a bashing I am doing on this topic fellows but doesn't some of these things kinda make you wonder at the Honda camp

1. Why did Honda put the supposedly great front end on the Rancher and leave the foreman out in the cold, wouldn't it have made more sense to have put the great AP front end on both machines???

2. The thing with the 2x4 switch could greatly improve 3 things on the honda you could then put lockers on it for when you really hit rough terrain, could have fun sport riding with the switch in 2 wheel drive and yes I know if you wanted a sport bike you would have bought one just maybe though you are missing out on some of the 2 wheel riding Polaris owners aren't and last as good as the Rubicon steers you can't make me believe it wouldn't steer better with it in just 2 wheel drive.

3. So I guess the disc brakes are good enough for the sport bikes but not for the ute bikes what kind of marketing is this.

4. And you have to admit Honda in the future is going to have to do something with that solid axle design in the future, to some it may be exceptable but if you ever ride an IRS I really think you will change your mind or at least come up with something like on the Artic CAt.

Every ATV has to evolve if it doesn't it will fall behind the pack yes Honda is very reliable but I would rather have some stuff on an ATV than not have it because of reliability I guess this is just narrowed down to riders choice. I really do think though it would have been more than fair if Honda would have kept its prices down with just adding new graphics...Polaris did, I am really afraid Honda is going to price itself out of the market place. And again fellows this post is not a bashing post it is just an opinion, I just went out and bought a 84 Honda 125 CR because it was one of the best bikes built in that area for a dirt bike to have fun on and guess what its water cooled...well imagine that.

 

As a mechanical engineer, I stand by the previous statement that I made.

 

I concur with AlaskaTRX's statements. Honda is still the top selling atv manufacturer in the country. Do you think it might be due to many hours spent on planning and engineering? Gee, maybe it just might be hit and miss or just plain luck. Yeah,right. I don't know anyone who spends their hard earned money on a product and does not consider reliability and dependability of that product. I for one don't want to buy a product and then have to spend a lot of money on repairs. Of course this could be due to an age gap. Or maybe my money is harder to come by than others.
Honda-reputation-reliable-dependable.

 

We are not saying Honda is a bad bike they just seemed to be priced high.For example a 400 Yamaha Big Bear cost the same as a Rancher up here and has a more powerful motor,disk brakes and larger gas tank,please do not tell us that it's because the Big Bear is junk too like the polaris.

 

Why is it that every time atving bashs on honda,he has to continually state through out his post,that he really isn't bashing Honda.