<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: reconranger

Got to laugh about this one. My buddies who have belt drives, have to stop at the bottom of what seem to be every good size hill and put it in "low range", before they can tackle the incline.



Me, I just fly up it is 3rd gear. Never can figure out what the big deal is.........</end quote></div>

Are you flying while pulling a big load up that hill in third gear with a Rancher? I did not think so.

Who said any thing about Belt drive? A Eiger comes in Belt and shift.In either case, belt or shift a low range equipped ATV will out pull a ATV without the option. If I tie on to my 450 Foreman with my BELT drive Sportsman while its in low range I would drag the 450 backwards untill the rope broke or I ran out of gas.

The person who started this post said he does" farm work ,Hunting and log pulling" and you think a ATV with no low range will do those things better than one that has?

If your buddy needs low range just to get up a hill while general riding than he has something wrong.

 

I think I'm leaning towards the Eiger. Talking to dealers that carry both they seem to say the eiger is slightly better. I thought if anything they would be saying the Honda is the better machine but they're not. One dealer said they're selling 5 suzukis for every honda, which really suprised me.
thanks for all the replies

 

Dirtwheels magazine has these exact 2 bikes up against each other.

Test One: Drag Race
Winner- Rancher Destroyed it

Test Two: Hill Climb
Winner-Honda "King of The Hill"

Test Three: Power Delivery
Both were very smooth through the gears. The Honda shiftes way quicker with help from overall power,ESP and EFI.
Winner-Honda

Test Four: Transmission
The Honda's electric shift is really easy to use. and it's matched with an excellent transmission. The Suzuki's tranny was good as well. We preferred the automatic feature to Honda's ESP while to doing household tasks. For everything else, the Honda was best
Winner - Honda

Test Five: Top Speed
Honda 60mph Eiger 56mph
Winner- Honda

Test Six: Suspension
The Suzuki offers an overall plusher ride. You can whip the lighter Rancher like a sport quad. but the suspension is stiff at best. In 4WD in where the Eiger shined, handling much better the Rancher in 4WD mode.
Winner- Suzuki

Test Seven: Braking
Quality braking on both machine
Winner-TIE

Test Eight: Turning Radius
Honda Radius = 9ft
Eiger Radius = 8.1ft
Winner-Suzuki

Test Nine: General Trail Riding
Suzuki's plusher ride, and more comfortable seat, makes it victor as far as general trail riding.
Winner-Suzuki

Test Ten: Technical Trail Riding
Rancher's 30lbs lighter, sleek design make for a better "sport" atv. Plus it's snappy EFI makes you accelerate faster and whip it around with ease.
Winner- Honda

Test Eleven: Downhill Decent
Both machines have great engine brakes.
Winner- TIE

Test Twelve: Rider Comfort
Suzuki is plusher and more comfortable all around
Winner- Suzuki

Test Thirteen: Special Features
Rancher has electric shft,EFI,full digital gauge are just a few
Winner- Honda

Test Fourteen: Gas Mileage
Both get great mileage but the Eiger has 4gal tank to Honda's 3.7
Winner Suzuki

Conclusion:

According to feedback from staffers and a handful of test riders who spent several days evaluating each machine, the shootout winner is the Honda Rancher 420 ES 4x4. The machine offers a good compromise betwwen work and play, and received little complaints from our testers. At $5499.00, the Rancher rings up $100.00 more then the Suzuki's $5399.00. However that $100.00 brings you ES, EFI and digital components not seen on the old scholl Eiger. Mot taking anything away from the Eiger, it is one heck of an ATV, but Honda did a top-notch job renovating their Ute. You can save $200.00 and get the foot shift for $5299.00


Seems you can't go wrong on either one if you ask me. Good luck with your choice. I have a 420ES and love it. Fun little machine. Like my Rincon better though.

 

Dirtwheels LOL!!! The ATV with a smoother ride and higher ground clearance loses the trail ride test?? I have a old DW witch called the 329cc Rancher the winner over a 350 Wolverine and the wolverine was way faster had more suspension travel and was lighter. They also called the slow old 500 Rubicon with full time 4wd straight axle and Drum brakes the best ATV of the year.

Yet in other reviews against any other 500 it comes in last.

Exhttp://www.atvmagonline.com/output.cfm?id=1220599

I think Honda is just Dirtwheel #1 advertiser.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: TLC

Dirtwheels LOL!!! The ATV with a smoother ride and higher ground clearance loses the trail ride test?? I have a old DW witch called the 329cc Rancher the winner over a 350 Wolverine and the wolverine was way faster had more suspension travel and was lighter. They also called the slow old 500 Rubicon with full time 4wd straight axle and Drum brakes the best ATV of the year.
</end quote></div>

Test Nine: General Trail Riding
Suzuki's plusher ride, and more comfortable seat, makes it victor as far as general trail riding.
Winner-Suzuki

Looks to me it won.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Night Raider

I think I'm leaning towards the Eiger. Talking to dealers that carry both they seem to say the eiger is slightly better. I thought if anything they would be saying the Honda is the better machine but they're not. One dealer said they're selling 5 suzukis for every honda, which really suprised me.

thanks for all the replies</end quote></div>

Ask anyones advise but the dealer, he's simply trying to sell you what he makes the biggest profit on. Honda has the biggest share of the ATV market but he thinks Suzukis are selling 5 time better than Honda. When a dealer starts trying to feed me a line like that, it's time to go!

 

I have an 06 eiger.. its totally *****ed don't buy one they're pieces of ****, the first time you hit anything with the front bumper or pull too hard with the winch, it bends EVERYTHING and you'll have to get both new front bumper and rack, and if you're unlucky enough you'll go through 2 front plastic fenders within a year.. DON'T BUY THE EIGER!!!!!! PLZ!!!

 

sounds like tlc needs a lil tlc. sounds like a honda hater. the 420 is the best bang for the buck hands down. with the exception of the deep rutted mud holes it would smoke that 500 sportsman in your sig!!!

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>with the exception of the deep rutted mud holes</end quote></div>

What else do you expect from a Utility ATV?

 

A buddy of mine had an Eiger. It had a pretty plush ride for a midsize solid axle machine, but not a whole lot of snap. Overall it is a pretty well sorted machine, and his belt drive never gave any hint of trouble.

My choice between the two would be the Rancher. It's a bit physically smaller, but more powerful, EFI, and Hondas do hold their resale value well. Like the Foreman, it's first gear is plenty low. Crawling big rocks, it might be nice to have a touch more ground clearance. Upgrading tires would likely be a worthwhile investment.