According to the manufacturers website the ground clearance for the 2009 Rancher is 6.5 inches. However, I have read various reviews, and checked out various other dealership websites, which claim the ground clearance is 9.1 inches........

What is the deal? Is it 9.1 inches, or 6.5 inches. This will greatly influence my decision to buy a Rancher, or a Big Bear as I will be riding on rocky terrain. Thanks.

 

I'd go out and look at it for myself and bring a tape, that way you know for sure. They moved the rear brake out from the wheel so you may have lower ground clearance in that one spot.

 

I wonder if you are comparing the 420 manual shift with the new 420 auto. The auto is to be independent rear suspension, where the manual and ES is solid rear axle... so I'd expect the 09 auto to have considerably more ground clearance.

 

The standard Rancher 420 with SRA is 6.5".

The new Rancher 420AT with IRS is 9.1". The new one isn't on the dealer's floors yet, and we have yet to see a review of it in the media.

Look at the "specifications", in these links:

http://powersports.honda.com/a...009&ModelId=TRX420FM9


http://powersports.honda.com/a...2009&ModelId=TRX420FA9

 

Didn't we cover this issue already????

http://forums.atvconnection.co...tid/17/threadid/551349

 

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

Didn't we cover this issue already????



http://forums.atvconnection.co...tid/17/threadid/551349</end quote></div>

Nope, we sure didn't. This question was more specific to the exact measurements.

 

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

The standard Rancher 420 with SRA is 6.5".



The new Rancher 420AT with IRS is 9.1". The new one isn't on the dealer's floors yet, and we have yet to see a review of it in the media.



Look at the "specifications", in these links:



<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://powersports.honda.com/atvs/utility/model.asp?ModelName=FourTrax+Rancher+4X4&ModelYear =2009&ModelId=TRX420FM9
">http://powersports.honda.com/a...delId=TRX420FM9
</a>


http://powersports.honda.com/a...2009&ModelId=TRX420FA9</end quote></div>



That must be where the writers of the articles got there numbers. Thanks.

 

I think you need to just buy something, and quit thinking about it so much!

All I can say is that my Rancher is a real peach!!! Handles great, wheel spinning power, reasonable price, and it is super stable. It takes me anywhere I want to go, and my buddies on their huge "feature laden" big bores, have absolutely no advantage over me ever! In fact, I have the advantage in nasty off-camber stuff because I have a lower center of gravity and no body roll.

If you can wait and also if you can tolerate an automatic, the new Rancher AT has more ground clearance. It looks like it will have a new "twin clutch" transmission that will be totally unique (????). On paper, it looks to be awful heavy for a 400 class machine however...but like I said nobody has ridden one yet.....

 

the new at rides incredable well. i think the tork and power is right on. i was impress with it.

 

Went out and actually measured the ground clearance on my Rancher 420. Tires/rims are stock and moderately worn, cold and inflated to the recommended 3.6 psi. I measured something closer to 7.5" than to 6.5"!!! The Rancher 350 was around 8.5".

Road in some nasty rock gardens yeaterday, and never bumped the rear diff even once! All this obscecion about "numbers" is just unnecessary......