What are your opinions on the honda 420? So far, all i've seen is problems. I think honda needs to make the 420 a larger overall fourwheeler, And have it as a 450 class. the chassis seems too small for the engine. And also, from a 250 to 420 is a big jump. I think they need to bring back the best fourwheeler ever built. The 350 rancher. (still not as good as the 300, but the next best thing) lol My buddies had 350's who ran the HELL out of them, but they all upgraded to 420's and have had nothing but problems. Get back to me in this with your opinions. Thanks!


Also, did they make a 350 with a hondamatic?...

 

What were the problems?

 

In my opinion, it all boils down to the HP wars, just as the snowmobile industry have gotten themselves into. People still like a middle size, simple to operate, affordable ATV, but in the same breath they want HP. Grant it, the 420 isn't a brute, but against the Yami 450 or Suzuki 400, it is and at the base price is affordable to most.

As far as problems...........don't know what your talking about.

 

Part of it is emissions. The 420 seems to be a very reliable, and very popular model, and it is probably the most punchy and strong feeling of the 400-450 class.

As with all things, as time progresses small models tend to get bigger and more full featured. Look at the early Honda Civic, or the now larger Rav 4. Diesel trucks these days produce torque that no one would have ever believed a few years ago, Harleys are much more powerful and smoother...

 

I have both!!!

The 420 is SUPERIOR TO THE 350 IN EVERY WAY! I love my 10 year old 350 which has never had a single problem, but have to say that I can't wait to get rid of it and get another 420! What I love about the Ranchers is their medium size frame. My only complaint is that the 420 gained to much weight. I would gladly pay more money for a lighter machine (things like nmore alloy parts, alloy wheels, etc.)

One of the magazines said the 420 power is actually in the 500 class. Still, I don't think someone coming off a Recon isn't going to be able to handle it if they take care at first.

Problems??? I am betting your buddies are idiots who don't maintain their machines properly...unless they bought the pepetually troubled ES model!

 

Where you been all these years???

They made a 400 Hondamatic called the 400AT. It was only made for a shot time, then they discontinued it...probably for good reason. There are frequent porblem posts with this model in all the forums (but nothing compared to ES posts).

The new Rancher 420AT with IRS is a whole different animal. It has a gear-on-gear dual-clutch transmission, that will shift itself or it can be pushbutton shifted. It got way way to heavy, however! Its weight is now up there with the Foremans.

 

Not much of a Honda fan but will say the 420AT looks like a nice machine and one I would love to test ride!

 

the 420 is a pretty agile quad for what it is. i was suprised when i got mine. the 420 is a peppy engine and can do a reasonable amount of work. best bang for the buck quad ive bought and probably best bang for the buck on the atv market still.

about my only complaints are the weight, the brakes (has decent engine braking so this may not be a full complaint), and the shifting is a little notchier than what i expected. also, the plastic overs on the sides of the engine trap allot of heat and the fan gets annoying if going on a slower trail ride.

 

Problems: Friend 1 (a 60 year old man) Both front axles went out, front driveshaft went out, and he had to have the rearend rebuilt. All in less then a year. (and his machine would over heat for no reason, probably his fault tho)

Friend 2: Had to have his motor rebuilt, Has an extremely loose rear axle now, And something pops in the front end in 4wd.

Friend 3: Same as the first one, but just one front axle went. and his rearends still good.. I think..

My yamaha 350: Been rode 4 years before they bought their new honda's and has about 13,000 miles on it. New front wheel bearings, brakes, and a clutch pulley. And outran one of their 420's. I'm a honda fan, but WTF? Thats alot of problems considering they all just had their machines one year. And..why is the 420 EFI when the 500's carb'd? lol I personally don't like EFI, but oh well, its what all the manufacturers are going to. Just like they ruined American cars and trucks, making them into popcans that wad up when you hit a mailbox. (Although, I must say, polaris is pretty junk, to be american made) well.. also--- Friend 2 traded his 400 rancher AT and 650 rincon for a 420. yeah. Bad idea. the 400 never gave no trouble, and the 650 never did either...

 

forgot to mention, friend 4, His stripped 4th gear for no apparent reason.. :\