I am about to purchase a 2003 Honda Rancher 4x4 with the "standard" shift, not the "ES". I am getting it from a guy I know who bought it new, it has never left his subdivision! Extremely low hours and in PERFECT condition. I am trading my 95 Honda 300 2x4 (mint) along with $2000.00 cash. Does this seem like a decent deal? Now to my main question: I am going to get ITP rims and Mud Lite tires for the bike. Does this stock Rancher have enought power for 26" tires or should I go with 25"s? I am going to go with 10" wide front and 12" wide on the rear. Opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

 

I ran 26's for a while, and I would not do it again. I lost power on the bottom end. It helped that I was running a K&N and MegaMaxII. If one really needs big tires, you should pick a machine with more motor.

 

i dont think you should put the bigger tires on. I have a stock 04 rancher with stock tires on it (24" i believe) and it is sometimes a little weak in 2nd gear in deep stuff. it wont rev past 4000 rpm in most cases, and i fing myself shifting down to 1st once in a while

A pipe/jetting/air filter will probably help, but i have a 3 1/2 year extended warranty to wait.

 

I am now running 25" Holesehot ATR's now on very light ITP rims. Rotating weight on a wheel, can drastically effect performace.

 

I have a 2003 Rancher ES 4x4....I run 26" ITP Mudlite rims and rites. I new have a problem on hills or deep mud. The bike is all stock except the tires. I go through stuff my buddies 2005 Foreman 500 with 27" Mudlites get stuck in. Might just be a strong bike...but it never lets me down.

 

I often hear of owners with 26 inch tires on a stock rancher saying that they have no problem in the thick stuff...i would venture to bet that they ain't really in the thick stuff...if i cross a bog on my rancher i have to rev like he11 in second gear to cross it...forget 3rd....and i've been stuck in the "thick stuff" where the only way to turn the stock tires is first gear...so i wouldn't do what you're suggesting...also, i think i'd find it hard to part with that 300 you have...they are quite a bulletproof machine!..probably quicker than the rancher you're considering due to the fact that the 300 is 2 wheel drive...if i were you, i think i'd hang on to the 300 until you can come up with enough cash to get a rubicon...also, my riding buddy put 26's on his 450 and eventually went back to 25's.

 

Second? Third?

There arent any swamps like down in Louisiana or anything here in Michigan, but the stuff I go through, especially the iced over stuff that you break through on, its first gear or you're swimming. It may have been second with the stock tires, but first gear is super low on the Rancher 350 and it will pull the 26" mudlights throught anything I point it towards. This thing will destroy my Prairie 700 in the thick stuff on our property and often has to be the anchor to winch the Prairie out. The prairie has 25" 489's.

I have lost 3 mph up the local sand hill, but it jumps out of the hole and hooks up better so I get to that top speed faster. The only hills I couldnt climb were ones that I had to roll backwards down because of the angle.