I am about to make a decision on one of two atv's for my wife.Honda vs. Yamaha,Kodiak 400 vs. Rancher 350.

Any opinions?

I have owned both manufacturers before with good experiences.

thanks,M/M.

 

I've been riding my Honda Rancher TRX350TE for almost 1 1/2 years and have had reasonably good luck.I just had to change a angle sensor that went out,and they re-called for front end tie rod end boots that may have to be replaced(depends on year/vin#'s)

But i have had it about everywhere and its a tough atv,a few times riding i surprised that i even made it out of the woods.Its Honda tough!!!!!!

Heres some tech on the bike:

Engine The air-cooled, 329cc engine is fed through an electrically heated, 32mm, constant-velocity Mikuni carburetor, identical to the one on Honda's Foreman 450 machine and a plus for cold-weather riding. The Rancher comes standard with an oil-cooler and thermostat-controlled cooling fan, thereby assuring proper engine temperatures. The Rancher was the recipient of something Honda calls "mass centralization." Theoretically, it's a design form emphasizing the machine's weight and center of gravity, as close as possible to the center and low points on the chassis. It makes the machine more stable and is in keeping with Honda's safety features incorporated into the Rancher. Two engine configurations help with the "mass centralization." The overhead cam system, such as was seen on the TRX300 lineup, was replaced with an overhead-valve design, maintaining a broad, easy-to-use powerband, and is the same design as that on Honda's 450 machines. The camshaft is located in the crankcase and activates the valves through cam followers. Lightweight pushrods made of aluminum tube and steel ball contribute to reduced reciprocating mass and offer virtually bounce-free valve operation at very high rpm. Using this pushrod valve actuation, the OHV design carries its camshaft down in the crankcase, rather than up in the cylinder head, to reduce engine height. The room that would have been taken up by an overhead cam is put to better use--lower center of mass, lower seat height and a nice 9.7 inches of ground clearance. The engine is completely waterproofed Another aspect of "mass centralization" is incorporating an internal crankcase dry-sump oiling system. In simpler terms, the oil for the engine is now held inside the cases on the side of the engine. The closed crankcase vent system is a safeguard against engine oil contamination. The combination of the overhead valve design and internal crankcase results in compact engine dimensions and lowers the center of gravity. Most importantly, mass centralization offers better handling, almost 10 inches of ground clearance and a stable feeling when in extreme terrain. One noteworthy item was the 34-inch, super-high air intake for the carburetor. The 329cc machine accelerates quickly (indicated top speed on our machine was 51 mph), although not with the same pull-you-off-the-seat power as the big-bores. Nonetheless, it exudes a certain confidence and has the same capable trail demeanor as the big-bores; it went wherever we took the 500cc and 600cc machines. The entire Rancher series takes its styling cues from the Foreman lineup, giving it a certain tough-guy appeal. The gas tank holds 3.4 gallons, but on an extra-long trip (over 60 miles or so), take some extra gas with you.
Chassis / Suspension Honda knows that every ATV rider is unique in body and shape, so the Rancher chassis was designed to fit all but very large or very small ATVers. Our test riders were between 5'7" and 6'2", and none reported any long-term riding discomfort. The distance from seat to floorboard and the handlebar width makes this machine just about perfect for any size rider. Triple skidplates underneath protect vital components from rocks and stumps. The 24x8-12 front and 24x9-11 rear tires provide good ground clearance while offering precise handling. Triple-sealed front hydraulic drum brakes and a sealed rear mechanical drum help stop the 535-pound machine. The seat is nicely padded and comfortable and the standard over-fenders offer excellent mud protection. Both the front independent double-wishbone suspension and the rear single-shock swingarm have 5.9 inches of travel. Metal cargo racks front and rear carry payloads of 66 and 133 pounds respectively, while the trailer hitch offers 850 pounds of towing capacity. We never came across terrain where the Rancher felt out of place, and the overall body structure feels solid. As with other Honda ATVs, rattles and squeaks are non-existent. The suspension is good but not great; for utility purposes, though, it's more than adequate.
Transmission The Rancher's ESP (Electric Shift Program) features push-button upshifting and downshifting. The rider shifts simply and precisely with a press of the upshift or downshift button mounted on the left handlebar. An onboard electronic control unit (ECU) monitors information from four sensors--engine rpm, countershaft speed, shift drum angle and shift spindle angle sensors--to control the speed of the electric shift motor's gear and clutch engagement. Gear engagement speed varies according to rider style; the transmission shifts more quickly when riding style turns sporty. A neutral lockout at speeds greater than 2 mph ensures available engine braking when descending hills. To ensure smooth shifting, the transmission cannot be shifted from neutral to first gear or reverse gear at engine speeds above 3000 rpm. ESP is not battery-dependent, operating whenever the engine is running. Should the rider ever need to shift manually, the Rancher 4x4 ES is equipped with an auxiliary shift lever in the tool kit. Changing gears is an effortless thumb press, thanks to the ergonomically correct shifting. The 4x4 Ranchers are not 2WD-selectable, nor do they have a true locking front end. However, the torque-sensitive, limited-slip front differential does reduce torque steer for less steering effort. The floorboards add a nice touch to the Rancher and are better designed than most.
Instrumentation The multi-function LCD digital instrumentation (the first thing you notice) is compact, tough, waterproof--and cool! It features large readouts for gear position, speedometer, odometer, resettable tripmeter and hourmeter/clock. Instrument housing includes LED lights for reverse, neutral and oil temperature warning indicators. A nice feature for cell phones is the waterproof accessory socket providing 12-volt, 10-amp power with a built-in temperature-type fuse. The Rancher also has electric starting and a backup recoil system.
Specifications
Model: TRX350FE Engine Type: 329cc air-cooled OHV dry-sump longitudinally mounted single- cylinder four-stroke Bore and Stroke: 78.5mm x 68mm Carburetion: 32mm CV Ignition: DC CDI Starter: Electric with auxiliary recoil Clutch: Automatic Transmission: Electric, five-speed with reverse and ultra-low first gear Driveline: Direct front and rear drive-shafts with limited-slip AP-type front differential Suspension: Front: Independent double-wishbone; 5.9 inches travel Rear: Swingarm with single shock; 5.9 inches travel Brakes: Front: Triple sealed hydraulic drum Rear: Sealed mechanical drum Tires: Front: 24 x 8-12 Rear: 24 x 9-11 Length: 78.1 inches Width: 45.0 inches Height: 44.3 inches Seat Height: 32.4 inches Ground Clearance: 9.7 inches Wheelbase: 49.1 inches Turning Radius: 10.8 feet Dry Weight: 535 pounds Fuel Capacity: 3.4 gallons, including 0.8-gallon reserve

 

oops i'm sorry just read the post and it sounded so much like a TRX350TE i copied and pasted without reading all of it as i was looking at that bike on ebay.but they have alot in common.......happy trails

 

only negative, is real hard suspension, if she wants comfort go with the kodiak they ride amazing, it also has permenta 4x4 which makes steerin hard u can get a 424 unlocker,other then that bike runs real good

 

whoops, the 04 comes with two plastics red/yellow,warn2.5 winch, and warn 424.thanks for the help!!M/M.

 

HUH?

 

Rancher is a good bike. Engine is reliable, solid rear swing arm, easy to operate, very mellow power, decent handling, good mud protection for rider, decent OEM rubber, not as many moving parts as other models, I like the FM model and tend to steer away from anything "electronically controlled" on a vehicle that your going to kick the **** out of in mud, water, rocks, sand, etc. Change the oil and filter frequently, as the clutches will slip a lot with hard riding. Jetting, pipes, and filter don't show a real big difference in power, I wouldn't even bother. This is a great bike for adult beginners, work or job sites to taxi a guy around the site or farm, or anyone looking for a nice mellow ride down a normal trail.

Couple of cons, nothing big

typical harsh utility suspension, not too much skid plate protection, no way to disengage four wheel drive without aftermarket parts (warn 424), front limited slip does just that.....slip, floor boards around foot pegs love to eat your boots when your foot slips off the pegs, very mellow power (no wheelie action or roosting on this machine).

Still, I recommend this bike for the money. Ever look into the Suzuki Eiger?