I was thinking about getting one for trial riding. Should i get the es or s model? I heard problems with the es.Or i was to get the manual and put a cheap gps on it. What is mpg? How many miles to a tank? What was the price out the door? Any good things to say about it?

 

There are several threads on the 420.....and a quick search will turn them up...........

I love everything about it, except I wish it was lighter. Magazine reviews have been excellent as well.

I haven't had a chance to run a tank out yet, but I estimate that mileage is going to be fairly good.

You can see my comments about ES here: http://forums.atvconnection.com/mess...did/512694.cfm

 

I didnt want the ES cause I was worried about having more things to break.

But I wanted the gauge cluster with speedo and hour gauge so I went ahead and got the ES.
Now that I do have I do like it.
Time will tell if it holds up ,but so far with 130 miles its been great.

The ES shifts very quick and supposedly adjust shfiting patterns depending on how your riding.
It has a sport mode that kicks in automatically when your riding briskly or so Ive read.
Seems to work great.

I did purchase a extended warranty for $370 ,and that covers it for 4 years.

You wont be dissapointed if you chosse a new 420.

 

Don't be afraid of the ES just because it might break. I have a Recon ES and it has lost its mind on the trail recently (recall on the famous ANGLE SENSOR), but I got out the manual tool and shifted it back home. The dealer fixed it and it is running fine now, as it had from day one. That is the only problem I have had with it in three years. I was aware of the issue and the recall, but I just wanted to see how long it would take for mine to act up.

I was a skeptic at first, but I got the ES anyway and I enjoy it. The main reason that I bought the ES model was because it had full floorboards ( even the foot shifters have that now on the the Recon line). It is cool when you are rolling thru hip high water and mud and you can shift without getting your toes wet!

Honda has probably done nothing but get better with the ES models since my 2004 was released, especially on this highly marketed new model. Give it a try, you might like it too. From a mechanical standpoint, I would be more afraid of liquid cooling than ES, but that doesn't stop many people from buying them. If the water pump quits, you can't "hand-crank" it back to the truck!

 

I got about 34 miles on tank...until I had to go to the reserve that is. But that was not trail riding...mostly just bumping around the yard and around the neighborhood.

 

The 420 is a sweet improvement over the excellent 350 rancher. More power, smoother etc. The ES system has been perfect for me and my wife. I have had 3 rancher 350's and the 420 with the ES system and have had no problems whatsoever. The only time I found a better system is after I bought my Rincon last week with the auto or ES shift system.
Enjoy!

 

34 miles to a tank?? I know riding in the yard will drink up gas, but man. My Rincon will go over 80 to a tank.

 

Yeah...I thought that seemed a bit slim. I'll have to keep an eye on that. That was the first tank I ran through it. I wonder what other folks are getting on the 420 FE.

 

The most I have done is ~2.5 hours non stop riding on half a tank. That was at medium altitude, half fast fire roads and half tight woods trails.....all the kind of stuff where you can't expect good mileage anyway.

I think for sure it is more thirsty than my 350 is, but you also get higher preformance.........