top speed 52, 05 rancher es

 

well what i would do it either get the rancher 4x4 manual shift, or maybe the yamaha big bear. i have both and must say they compeat great.. love them both. but the big bear is great in your price range.

HR

 

Craw, as far as speed the manual and the ES have the same gears. No difference at all. The ES is just an electric motor that shifts the gears instead of your foot.
With a $5000 limit you can look around for a leftover 05 Foreman 4x4. A 2wd Rancher can be found for around $3600.

 

Well we have an 04 Bruin 4x4 here at the house plus an 05 Rancher 4x4 manual. I have rode both under the same circumstances and have formed two opinions on the atv's. The Bruin was more fun to drive at first in 2wd until I installed a Warn 424 on the Rancher.
The Rancher will outpull the Bruin and outrun it in a flat out race on top end. The Bruin is quicker on acceleration but the Rancher catches it and pulls away. With a GPS unit, top speed of Rancher is 54 mph....Bruin is 47mph.
The Bruin starts quicker from a cold condition than the Rancher does and the fit and finish seem to be on par with each other. The Bruin has disc brakes up front, a plus, selectable 4wd, and has the Camo finish that is peeling off in places. It started burning oil on start-up but a switch to Amsoil synthetic stopped that. It also has adjustable shocks front and rear where the Rancher doesn't.
All in all, both are good machines and you can't go wrong with either one.