I am in the market for a new atv to replace my 10 year old Yamaha Kodiak which is a great machine in itself. I can get a new TRX350FM for a great price at a local Honda dealer because of a slight rub mark on the right front fender from packaging when it was shipped. I would like to know what everyone thinks of this machine. I won't use it for anything other than riding the 230 acres that my girlfriend's mom owns.
I don't mind the manual shift or the fact that it has no instrumentation such as a speedo etc..
I was also told that there was very little difference in power over the 400 series.
Anyone care to give me their opinions on this machine? I'm almost 53 years old and all I want it for is for weekend riding.
Thanks.

 

The Rancher is a sweet little machine! Dead solid reliable, and just big enough to do the job, but not the huge hulking beast that the big bores have become. It's no powerhouse, but with a few mods you can milk some extra power out of the engine. You will want to add a Warn 424, to give it selectable 2wd/4wd.

I have not ridden the 400AT, but it has a reputation for being gutless, on the low end. I am in the market for another 4X4, and I considered the AT (for a moment), but couldn't see why I would want to pay $1,000 extra for an automatic transmission that I neither need or like.

 

They are a sweet machine, and they are known for being almost indestructable.
It probably has the same subjective power as the 400, because of the gearing. If youre getting a good deal, then it makes it that much better...go for it.

 

Thanks for the reply guys. I may wind up getting it next week if my neighbor buys my Kodiak. I kind of hate to get rid of the Kodiak to my neighbor because I know inside of a month....he will have it tore up. Man is he rough on vehicles.
Thanks again!