Ok all the machines above I want to discuss are straight axles. Iknow there are 420's with IRS but those appear to be out of my price range right now. Soooooo I want to know if anyone has compared two of the three or all three as far as ride comfort goes. I am 42 yrs old and have ridden my 300 4x4 for many years. After the last ride, my low back refuses to ease up very quickly. I realize that since all 3 are straight axles, they will ride very rough. However are there any newer technologies on the rancher 420 or Foreman 450's or 500's that will make them at least ride a LITTLE smoother than the 300. What everyones thoughts on this. I had a Foreman 400 one time and it appeared to ride smoother than my 300.

 

Well, in my opinion, which isn't worth much, there are advantages to each. With IRS, when you hook something to it, it will sag. Not so with a solid axle. You can power slide a solid, but not an IRS. As far as ride, my guess is that a newer quad, like a Rancher or Foreman, even with solid axle, will ride much better. IRS is definately a better ride. And there is nothing that beats a Can Am suspension. Outlander or Renegade. Wish I could afford one. Honda's are second. But that's just my worthless opinion.

 

I know what you mean. I mainly trail ride with mine. Don't ever care to powerslide it. I should have added that although I have owned and loved over a dozen hondas, my favorite atv of all time was my 2000 Polaris Sportsman 500 HO. MAN I LOVED THAT MACHINE!! Wife got laid off and bills piled up, so by by Sportsman. I wish I could get another. So I do have some IRS experience. Loved it. It just appears to expensive to be a possibility right now.

 

Well, solid axles are cheaper, and I think they will give you a fine enough ride. Suspensions have come a long way since the 300. But, there is no doubt that the IRS is nicer, but whether it is worth it or not I guess depends on where you ride and how hard you ride. I'm 55 years old and ride a Honda Recon. Love it. I can ride all day and be sore the next day, but not so sore that I can't ride again. Maybe it's because it's a light quad, I dunno. Or maybe it's because I'm not a hellion.

 

I am actually a fairly tame rider. I only go through the mud I have to go through on the trail, no more. I dont power slide. I am a go slow and look at the scenery rider. BUT i enjoy riding the mountains of east ky. I dont know my way around so I always take these guided rides. Then you are at the mercy of whatever speed the group is going. Thats when I really get beat up.

 

well i have both a 2010 rancher and my father who is older has a 09 forman and my brother has a 2012 forman both theirs are the 500 well what i can say is iv noticed this the rancher was meant to be more of the in between wheeler its lighter more nimble and more snappy but the 500s were workhorses that were built to last now i have had my atv for about i've pulled trees rode trails jumped it mudded it but its never given me a hard time now that being said the foreman is really heavy but its got 4 shocks even though its not independent in 09 the foreman had 2 shocks in the back but now the have gone with the one like the rancher so that you don't have that sway in the back it also is put in at a 26 degree angle so that when you hit a bump the shock compresses with the force of the axle moving up instead of straight up and down so that its force put on the rider the rancher to me if you not going to work the crap out of it is the better atv for a casual rider its light not hard to turn its not a tank and over all the best cuser now the foreman is a beast its heavy and to me its a stiffer ride but its all on preference i would say go rancher cus its lighter and on those days you're riding hard its gonna take more of a beating then your body where as with the foreman its built to haul not leasure around if you know what im saying so your body takes some of the beating with it

 

Even though there all straight axles some ride smoother and all should be smoother then the 300 since Honda's always increased there suspension travel on newer models.

The 350 Rancher replaced the 300 and has more travel and the 420 has even more. The 500 has even more yet plus had twin rear shocks. I hear the newest forman in single rear shock now.

I ride my friends 2006 500 Foreman alot and sure can not call it a rough riding ATV,it sure is smoother then my old 450 Foreman and 350 Grizzly which are straight axle.

 

im not sure about what might be the most comfortable, but i have driven several honda's. one was a 2006 honda foreman 500 and it was extremely comfortable. i have also driven the honda rancher 420 and the honda rancher at. in my opinion, the honda rancher 420 is the most fun machine i have been on because if can do whatever you want it to! and it is pretty comfortable.