hey here is a nother vote i would like to know is the es or the s model vote so put you'r vote in know and be sure to put WHY YOU VOTED THAT ONE thanx see ya

 

I vote for the ES.
#1-Because I don't have trouble shifting with my big winter boots on.
#2-I can shift while in deep water and not get my feet wet.
#3-Full running boards.
#4-Same running gear as the S model just a little brain box and shift solenoid extra.
#5-Can maually shift if need be.
#6-No shifter to get ripped off or bent by small stumps or brush.

 

ES.
I had a Recon with regular shifter and now i have the Rancher ES, just gotta love it.

Also, it seems, at least to my friends and myself to be just a bit faster.

ES - S does it matter as much as the fact that it's a Honda the reliability is built in.

 

I would go 450s all the way.

S is cheaper, more reliable and better for mud riding since the buttons get filled with mud on the 450es.

 

S. Had to wait two months to get a green manual shift Rancher 4x4 and am pleased with the wait. I like ES better but wanted the reliability that comes with the manual shift.

 

I've never had a mud problem with the buttons, in fact, I can shift without loading up my boots.

 

I have a Rancher 4x4 ES. Love it when it works. BUT, right now my Rancher is in the back of my pickup truck heading back to the dealer AGAIN. The first time it was the speed sensor that went bad. Would not shift once I hit a certain RPM until I turned it off, then on, shift to N, started the thing again, then I could shift.

This time the only way to shift is use the manual shift wrench. The service department told me to check the fuse and the battery connections. Bothe were fine. Last time it took almost four weeks to get it fixed.

Everyone else on these forums seem to have no problems. I am wondering how may miles they have on theirs. My odometer reads 670 miles. I know I put about another 250 miles on it when the speedometer and odometer were not working. I recieved my Rancher on Nov 6, 1999. I hope this doen't surface for the rest of the Rancher owners after there 6 month warantee is up. I am getting alittle nervous because I now only have about two months left on mine.

About now the S model is looking better all the time.

 

I do not have these bikes but how can shifting with your thumb be any better than shiftin with your foot? I would think the foot is better so you can always hang on tight to the handle bars.

 

ES all the way, for the vary same reasons as bigred450, I have never had any problems with mine not working, or with mud getting in the buttons. I LOVE IT!!