Encorepete,
I bought a 450 ES last October and put a 60" Moose plow on it. Will this thing move snow. I love it! I chose a 450 because of my size 270 lbs. I compared it with a yamaha 450 and I can say the 450 fit me alot better the yamaha was just to small for my body frame. I never rode a 350 it may be the same width and hieght of the 450, but if I was you I would sit on a 450 to compare the way they it fits. If the 350 is smaller in size you will notice it right away.
Another thing I would recommend is going with a 60" plow. I though about a 50" also because of the small areas I have to work in, but I can say I am very happy with what I have. The bike will handle the bigger blade with ease. One word of caution, if you are going with a winch, which I recommend also, be carefull where you mount the toggle switch. I had my dealership mount mine and they put it on the plastic that is between the handle bars where the key is. The toggle switch sits to deep underneath the plastic and shorts out on the frame, (blowing the fuse) if I happen to push down on the plastic to hard when using the toggle switch. Another thing I would recommend is the heated grips, boy are they nice!

 

I don't understand. I think I might have lost my sense of humor or something. I don't have a truck. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img] I could be tired or is it that I'm getting up in age? The recent snow storms have really brought me down. Could it be the snow? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

just letting you know how powerful the foreman is thats all [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Not that your probably not already convinced, but I'd just like to add my 2 cents worth on the long term reliability of the 450 forman. Mine is a 1998 which I've owned since new. I use it to plow with a custom 50 blade, haul large moose ~400lbs, get through many rough bog and mud holes, technical rock crawling and fast trail running. Over the years, this machine has never left me stranded (except for the time I lost the key and had to hotwire mu own bike!!!). Regular oil and Dif fluid changes and I replaced 2 wheel bearings. All of this is while running 27" Blackwater XT's since 1999!!!

Ive also installed a warn 424 kit to have selectable 4wd like the newer models, and last year my limited slip front differential finally stopped limiting and started slipping after years of abuse, so I installed a locker.

 

hellbilly- My Foreman does do pretty good. I use it to pull my 16' boat around my property. At first it made me a little nervous because they rate the tongue weight so low. I just need to figure out how to have it pull itself to other locations. (I sold the vehicle I use to pull my trailer.)

 

yea i know what you mean, i have heard of peple pulling 1200-1500lbs loads with the foreman without a problem, mind you i havnt SEEN this... only heard of it [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] bottom line, get a foreman and you wont look back IMHO

 

I bought the foreman. thanks for the help. pete

 

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!


BTW, I dont put much stock in weight ratings. They seem a lil arbitrary. I think they're just trying to cover their butts. I've towed over 2k with my Eiger, but its hard to stop!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

 

the honda slaesman said that the reason for the low honda towing ratings has to do with the ability to stop a weight rather than towing it. The salesman put it this way....you could probably pull 2000 or more with a foreman without trouble, but if that much weight got rolling down a grade behind you, you wouldn't be able to stop it. The load would go out of control causing a crash......so they limit the weight ratings accordingly.

 

It is ugly and scary when you have a boat bearing down on ya and all wheels are locked!!!!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]