I recently made the switch from Polaris to Honda, and decided on a Rancher. This quad is ultimately going to be my wifes ride only. Right now it is mine until I can get a sport quad.

I understand your desire to get her an automatic...I had the same desire. But I felt the Rubicon was a bit much for my wife, plus it was quite a bit more money. We opted for the ES, not necessarily for the electric shifting as much as my wife loved the full floorboards because she was used to that on the Polaris. The digital display was nice as well.

My wife was totally against the Rancher until she rode it. After about 15 minutes figuring out the shifting....she has loved it ever since. I feel this is the PERFECT wife quad. Here's why:

It has a lower center of gravity than the Polaris and even the Rubicon. You kind of sit down in it as compared to up on top of it. This gives confidence on hills, going up and down, but especially sideways or off-camber.

Another thing I like is it's full time 4wd. Now for me, I'd like to switch it off and on at will. But I like knowing my wife can't turn it off and get into trouble. This gives me confidence about her riding.

After going to the manual transmission, I don't think I'll ever go back. It really gives confidence going downhill when you can just put it in gear and let the engine to most or all of the work. I'm not sure about the Yamahas or Kawasakis, but the Polarises can be a definate handful going down steep hills. Mine had EBS(engine braking system) and it was still ugly going down steep hills. Not something I want my wife riding down. With the Rancher 4x4ES, my wife has creeped down hills that would scare me on a Polaris.

We ride with some Yamaha Kodiaks and a Prairie 400 Kawasaki......and I think they have a tendency to not be as stable as the Honda or Polaris going around turns.

I know everyone has there own opinion, but I strongly suggest the Rancher 4x4ES. The only way I would put my wife on anything else is if the rumor is true that Honda is coming out with a Recon 4x4. I don't have anything against the 2wd but I don't want my wife on something that is wheelie happy.

Sorry for being so long winded. Good luck in your search.

One more suggestion. Buy a set of Chatterbox FRS helmet mounted radios so you can talk her through the tough stuff while you ride. They go for about 300.00 for two. I know that's high, but it will be worth every penney. After all, it's nothing compared to the 10 grand you'll have in quads.

 

Yes riding double does get boring, My wife started out with the recon and she was afraid of shifting. After 3 trips she loved the recon! The only yhing that really bothered her was steep grades because the recon's 1st gear was not low enough. Sold the fun recon and got her a 4x4 rancher es. Alot heaveier but she loves the full floorboards and the push button shifting. She says its almost as easy to steer as the recon . Just remember not to get a quad that is to heavy or tippy. Women don't like tippy!!!!!

 

Get the Kodiak 400 it's a nice size, smaller than your Rubicon and larger than a Rancher in physical size as well as motor size. And if you do not want 4wd she just does not have to ever hit the button and stay in 2wd as long as she wants.

 

the 325 Mag by Polaris I know a few woman that have them and realy like them, also the 300 Prairie nice machine, we have one in our riding group. The Kodiak is nice. My personal pic for a woman first ride would be a 325 2x4 Magnum or the 2x4 Prairie 300. 4x4's can be heavier to steer. they are both relatively cheap and have shaft drive. Trust me buy her something she won't like and she won't ride. I was going to buy my girlfriend a Trail Blazer she tried one did not like it, I was going to surprise her good thing I did not. she really liked the 325 Mag 2x4. best thing to do is let her pick it out. Buying her something that is to big to fast or to hard to steer will turn her off. I had to ask my self who am i buying the quad for me or her? Many woman like the easiness of the auto even women who can drive an shifter opt for the auto's. I have a couple women friends who traded there shifters in for auto's. Like my girlfriend says she doesn't want a kiddy quad, that is her term for the Trail Blazer the Recon and the Bayou 220 I wanted her to try. But she doesn't want a tank like my Sportsman. she did not like the Scrambler or the 400EX she did not drive them but sat on them did not like the way they felt. she drove th3 325 mag and the 300 Prairie and was very pleased with them, her assesment was full size can ride double, fully auto floor boards very easy to turn. She did not feel overwhelmed by the power or the size. she is 5 foot 3 inches and 120 lbs or so.

 

Hi, I have to wade in here and agree with the Rancher ES. My wife and I had Honda Trail 90 trail bikes and she hated the shifting. Sold all 5 of them and got 2 Rancher ES 4x4's.
She had NO PROBLEM using the electric shift, liked the full floorboards. At first she thought it would be too big of a machine, but that quickly passed. In fact she has mentioned a bigger quad!!! She would not have a 2x4 'cos then she would be left behind when the trails got rough.
Physically she is 5'3" 112 lbs. Tho her forearms get tired after a long day of riding...SO DO MINE. Oh yeah, she now wants mud tires. I've created a monster!!

 

Hi--this is "the wife" here! Thanks for your input. Right now I have narrowed it to the Polaris 325 or the Kodiak. I want automatic just because I want it--not because I can't do it! I like to go fast but we don't do that a lot (50mph is fast enough). We like going on trails. I am leaning heavily towards the Kodiak--I like the 2wd/4wd option and it seems more comfortable. The Polaris seemed to do a lot more vibrating. However, these were just test drives. Any more feedback on these two?

 

Well, since my Rancher 4x4ES got voted out....sniff,sniff.....I would vote for the Kodiak. I think either of these machines will be good quads, but I still like the idea of having four wheel drive. And with the Kodiak, you get both, two or four wheel drive. I have seen two wheel drives go places that I thought only a four wheel drive could go, but it took a little effort. To me, it is a good feeling knowing in your mind that you can push a button and get those front two wheels turning.

Good luck with whatever you choose. I hope you have as much fun with your quads as my wife and I do ours.