I am looking to buy my first ATV, I plan to tool around some trails around the house & push snow with it in the winter. (about a 150ft drive & parking area 40X40 ft). I also have a 12 1/2 year old daughter that will be riding whatever I decide to get! I really like the foreman 450 because of the 2wd/4wd option but don't know if the foreman will be too much machine for my daughter to handle. On the other hand, if I can live with strictly 4wd, will the rancher be enough machine for what I want it for? For some reason when I think of strictly 4wd only, I get the vision of less fun to ride because of noy being able to let the rear end hang out and such!

What to do????????

(Note that I have only drove 1 atv in my life before and that was a 2003 Kawasaki Prairie 360 about a week ago!)

 

I would go with the 450 and I did.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] There isn't that big of a difference with the top speeds of the two. There also isn't a big difference between weights. I think the biggest difference would be the working power for pulling or pushing. It is also nice to be able to switch in and out of 4 wheel drive.

They recommend a person be 16 to operate. So whatever you get, your daughter should be taught the proper way to use an atv. She could get hurt on a 125cc just as easy as a Foreman 450.

 

Same here, Foreman 450ES. My wife likes it, she's about 100 lbs, 5'7" and can handle it no problem. We really like the 2/4 select, ES shifting, and it can plow snow with no problem. I wouldn't consider anything else after owning this one. Very happy with it.

 

I agree. I think the Foreman ES is hard to beat for a do-everything ATV.

 

I love my 450 ES.

 

go with a vinson, or a rubicon, they outproform the 450es in ever way shape and form.

 

ForeMan ES 4x4 for sure especially with a 13 year old, it will do everything you need it to do and be reliable, it's slow (top speed45-48) and low to the ground(7.7 inches) but strong as a bull with a Super low first gear, you will need that for pulling Suzuki Vinson's out of the mud hole's. Rubicon is to big for a young person but a great atv. My friend has a Rancher and it's good but he wished he had gotten a ForeMan instead only because of the extra pulling power, Rancher is more fun for mainly trail riding, ForeMan is designed to work.
Just my two cents;
Mike

 

I would get the Foreman. But also look at the Suzuki Eiger or Vinson. If I were to get another one, I would probably get that. The Foreman is great, low gearing and really short shifting points though. The thing will climb a tree and push snow. Weight a lot also, can remember the weight on the Suzuki.

Good Luck

 

I think he has bought a Ranger since his original post.