Another which quad should I get question
May 18, 2008 | 02:11 AM
#1
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Weekend Warrior
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Another which quad should I get question
I ride 80% in Rocky Mountains the rest to work. Usually the mountain trips are easy to intermediate trails, (family trails) However, a couple of us make one difficult trip which includes rocks, steep grades, ocassional stream and winching is sometimes involved. I currently own 01 Rancher 4x4 and 04 Rancher 2x4. Initially had planned to buy a new Rancher, but have been looking at the Rincon. Then a friend of mine mentioned the Rubicon and another friend mentioned the Foreman. Now I'm undecided and hoping that with the help of everyone here I'll be able to make an informed decision. thanks in advance
Jason
Jason
May 18, 2008 | 04:19 AM
#2
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Another which quad should I get question
I ride the rocky mountains of CO all the time and the one thing that I will tell you is that if you are doing this style of riding you want something w/ IRS one ride w/ a IRS machine on rocky terrain and you will know why. Since you are on a Honda forum I assume you want a Honda but this will realy limit your choices I belive the only IRS utility that Honda has is the Rincon but if you are willing to go to Yamaha or Polaris allmost all there utes have IRS and are all worth a look at!
May 18, 2008 | 05:48 AM
#3
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Another which quad should I get question
Take a good look at the new Rancher 420!!! If you like your Rancher 350's, you will love the 420! It has much improved suspension, it is fuel injected (nice for altitude changes!), and it is water cooled. Way faster, and you get throtle response right off the bottom....I do wish they had made it lighter however. Ground clearance could be better, but most folks put on aftermarket tires anyway, and can get an extra inch or two that way.
Unless one needs a work quad, I don't see the Foreman 500 as any kind of improvement at all over the Rancher. One of the magazines did a Foreman review, and they had a Rancher 420 along at the same time. They said the Rancher was way more "fun"! I think I would always prefer to have more "fun", whenever possible!!!
Even Honda calls the Rincon an "SUV", and I think it is aimed at the aging baby boomer market. It is more of a comfy couch cruiser than a technical trail quad, and has no engine braking at slow speeds (that's a killer for me on any type of technical descent!). One of the mag reviews said it has the best suspension in the business, but in general most folks reviewing it say it seems underpowered!
IRS got mentioned. Personally, I like the stability of SRA in technical terrain. I just don't like that body roll you get in turns and especially in off-camber situations. If I was just looking for a cruiser like the Rincon, it would be fine, but that isn't how I use my utilities. I ride with guys who have the huge top of the line big bore IRS machines, and when it gets highly techinical, my Rancher runs circles around their huge sloppy machines!!!
Unless one needs a work quad, I don't see the Foreman 500 as any kind of improvement at all over the Rancher. One of the magazines did a Foreman review, and they had a Rancher 420 along at the same time. They said the Rancher was way more "fun"! I think I would always prefer to have more "fun", whenever possible!!!
Even Honda calls the Rincon an "SUV", and I think it is aimed at the aging baby boomer market. It is more of a comfy couch cruiser than a technical trail quad, and has no engine braking at slow speeds (that's a killer for me on any type of technical descent!). One of the mag reviews said it has the best suspension in the business, but in general most folks reviewing it say it seems underpowered!
IRS got mentioned. Personally, I like the stability of SRA in technical terrain. I just don't like that body roll you get in turns and especially in off-camber situations. If I was just looking for a cruiser like the Rincon, it would be fine, but that isn't how I use my utilities. I ride with guys who have the huge top of the line big bore IRS machines, and when it gets highly techinical, my Rancher runs circles around their huge sloppy machines!!!
May 18, 2008 | 11:00 AM
#4
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Weekend Warrior
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Another which quad should I get question
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: WhitehouseLV
I ride 80% in Rocky Mountains the rest to work. Usually the mountain trips are easy to intermediate trails, (family trails) However, a couple of us make one difficult trip which includes rocks, steep grades, ocassional stream and winching is sometimes involved. I currently own 01 Rancher 4x4 and 04 Rancher 2x4. Initially had planned to buy a new Rancher, but have been looking at the Rincon. Then a friend of mine mentioned the Rubicon and another friend mentioned the Foreman. Now I'm undecided and hoping that with the help of everyone here I'll be able to make an informed decision. thanks in advance
Jason</end quote></div>
IRS is why I'm considering the Rincon. I've only ridden SRA. I'd consider other brands (Grizzly or King Quad), but have family connections in the Honda business, plus they have proven to me to be very reliable quads over the years.
I ride 80% in Rocky Mountains the rest to work. Usually the mountain trips are easy to intermediate trails, (family trails) However, a couple of us make one difficult trip which includes rocks, steep grades, ocassional stream and winching is sometimes involved. I currently own 01 Rancher 4x4 and 04 Rancher 2x4. Initially had planned to buy a new Rancher, but have been looking at the Rincon. Then a friend of mine mentioned the Rubicon and another friend mentioned the Foreman. Now I'm undecided and hoping that with the help of everyone here I'll be able to make an informed decision. thanks in advance
Jason</end quote></div>
IRS is why I'm considering the Rincon. I've only ridden SRA. I'd consider other brands (Grizzly or King Quad), but have family connections in the Honda business, plus they have proven to me to be very reliable quads over the years.
May 18, 2008 | 11:09 AM
#5
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Another which quad should I get question
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: reconranger
Take a good look at the new Rancher 420!!! If you like your Rancher 350's, you will love the 420! It has much improved suspension, it is fuel injected (nice for altitude changes!), and it is water cooled. Way faster, and you get throtle response right off the bottom....I do wish they had made it lighter however. Ground clearance could be better, but most folks put on aftermarket tires anyway, and can get an extra inch or two that way.
Unless one needs a work quad, I don't see the Foreman 500 as any kind of improvement at all over the Rancher. One of the magazines did a Foreman review, and they had a Rancher 420 along at the same time. They said the Rancher was way more "fun"! I think I would always prefer to have more "fun", whenever possible!!!
Even Honda calls the Rincon an "SUV", and I think it is aimed at the aging baby boomer market. It is more of a comfy couch cruiser than a technical trail quad, and has no engine braking at slow speeds (that's a killer for me on any type of technical descent!). One of the mag reviews said it has the best suspension in the business, but in general most folks reviewing it say it seems underpowered!
IRS got mentioned. Personally, I like the stability of SRA in technical terrain. I just don't like that body roll you get in turns and especially in off-camber situations. If I was just looking for a cruiser like the Rincon, it would be fine, but that isn't how I use my utilities. I ride with guys who have the huge top of the line big bore IRS machines, and when it gets highly techinical, my Rancher runs circles around their huge sloppy machines!!!</end quote></div>
thanks for the response! very informative. My uncle has the new Rancher and loves it. I haven't ridden it yet, but he says it drives like a sports car. I've ridden an 04 Rincon and didn't like the engine braking, but heard they made some improvements on that. I don't need a work quad so I probably could rule out the Foreman & Rubicon. Is there someone here who has both the new Rancher & Rincon?
Take a good look at the new Rancher 420!!! If you like your Rancher 350's, you will love the 420! It has much improved suspension, it is fuel injected (nice for altitude changes!), and it is water cooled. Way faster, and you get throtle response right off the bottom....I do wish they had made it lighter however. Ground clearance could be better, but most folks put on aftermarket tires anyway, and can get an extra inch or two that way.
Unless one needs a work quad, I don't see the Foreman 500 as any kind of improvement at all over the Rancher. One of the magazines did a Foreman review, and they had a Rancher 420 along at the same time. They said the Rancher was way more "fun"! I think I would always prefer to have more "fun", whenever possible!!!
Even Honda calls the Rincon an "SUV", and I think it is aimed at the aging baby boomer market. It is more of a comfy couch cruiser than a technical trail quad, and has no engine braking at slow speeds (that's a killer for me on any type of technical descent!). One of the mag reviews said it has the best suspension in the business, but in general most folks reviewing it say it seems underpowered!
IRS got mentioned. Personally, I like the stability of SRA in technical terrain. I just don't like that body roll you get in turns and especially in off-camber situations. If I was just looking for a cruiser like the Rincon, it would be fine, but that isn't how I use my utilities. I ride with guys who have the huge top of the line big bore IRS machines, and when it gets highly techinical, my Rancher runs circles around their huge sloppy machines!!!</end quote></div>
thanks for the response! very informative. My uncle has the new Rancher and loves it. I haven't ridden it yet, but he says it drives like a sports car. I've ridden an 04 Rincon and didn't like the engine braking, but heard they made some improvements on that. I don't need a work quad so I probably could rule out the Foreman & Rubicon. Is there someone here who has both the new Rancher & Rincon?
May 18, 2008 | 06:57 PM
#6
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Another which quad should I get question
I would say that you might enjoy the Rincon.
It's IRS rides much faster over rough stuff than you would want to on a solid rear axle. It also has a ground clearance advantage. On technical rocky mountain trails, I find I bash the bottom of the Rincon less than I smack the axle on the Foreman. It doesn't really have much for engine braking below 10 mph or so on a really steep trail, so as Rincon Ranger pointed out you do end up having to use brakes in those situations.
In the 680 they changed the shift program a little bit, but the mechanical ratio of 1st is the same, so 1st gear braking isn't much improved.
On the other hand, the Foreman power slides around corners better, and is a bit more planted. The Foreman also has a pretty low 1st gear, which is nice. Actually, I enjoy the Foreman quite a bit as a recreational 4x4 trail quad.
The Rancher is also a nice machine, one of the most sporty feeling 4x4's out there, but also one of the lowest to the ground.
Rumor has it Honda will introduce a new machine this fall, which is supposed to be IRS with low gears that puts power to 4 tires (locker?). If this is true, it could be worth waiting for.
It's IRS rides much faster over rough stuff than you would want to on a solid rear axle. It also has a ground clearance advantage. On technical rocky mountain trails, I find I bash the bottom of the Rincon less than I smack the axle on the Foreman. It doesn't really have much for engine braking below 10 mph or so on a really steep trail, so as Rincon Ranger pointed out you do end up having to use brakes in those situations.
In the 680 they changed the shift program a little bit, but the mechanical ratio of 1st is the same, so 1st gear braking isn't much improved.
On the other hand, the Foreman power slides around corners better, and is a bit more planted. The Foreman also has a pretty low 1st gear, which is nice. Actually, I enjoy the Foreman quite a bit as a recreational 4x4 trail quad.
The Rancher is also a nice machine, one of the most sporty feeling 4x4's out there, but also one of the lowest to the ground.
Rumor has it Honda will introduce a new machine this fall, which is supposed to be IRS with low gears that puts power to 4 tires (locker?). If this is true, it could be worth waiting for.
May 18, 2008 | 07:45 PM
#7
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Weekend Warrior
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Another which quad should I get question
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JeffinTD
Rumor has it Honda will introduce a new machine this fall, which is supposed to be IRS with low gears that puts power to 4 tires (locker?). If this is true, it could be worth waiting for.</end quote></div>
is this true?? Is there an article, Honda news, etc. confirming this?
Rumor has it Honda will introduce a new machine this fall, which is supposed to be IRS with low gears that puts power to 4 tires (locker?). If this is true, it could be worth waiting for.</end quote></div>
is this true?? Is there an article, Honda news, etc. confirming this?
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May 19, 2008 | 03:24 AM
#9
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Another which quad should I get question
Every year there seems to be the "big new things coming from Honda" talk, and in the end Honda announces another color plastic, or different wheels, or some other minor change.
I think this time talk of a new 4x4 might be credible, but who knows.
Right now if a person wanted a 4x4 with IRS, a locker, and low range with Honda's refined engineering, Yamaha's 700 Griz is probably as close as you can come...
I think this time talk of a new 4x4 might be credible, but who knows.
Right now if a person wanted a 4x4 with IRS, a locker, and low range with Honda's refined engineering, Yamaha's 700 Griz is probably as close as you can come...
May 19, 2008 | 06:15 AM
#10
Red Rider
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Another which quad should I get question
What do most people want and need and are willing to pay for???
With every manufacturer, everybody fusses about the top of the line big bore machines with all their "features".....yet what continues to be the best selling quad of all time....the lowly little Rancher!
This is just a solid little manual tranny/SRA trail quad at a reasonable price! Along with its predecessor the 300, Honda has sold more than a million of these medium bore units!!!
With every manufacturer, everybody fusses about the top of the line big bore machines with all their "features".....yet what continues to be the best selling quad of all time....the lowly little Rancher!
This is just a solid little manual tranny/SRA trail quad at a reasonable price! Along with its predecessor the 300, Honda has sold more than a million of these medium bore units!!!