I have a magnum 325 and i havent had any problems with it. I even ride it like it was a sport quad because i dont have my raptor yet. Ihave even beat ranchers in drag races many times, it can even keep up with my friends 250ex for a while. I would go with the polaris. mine has been rolled a few times but nothing has bent. it is also very easy to grease the zerks it only takes about5 minutes. although it is a little heavy you cant notice it when your riding.

 

I say stick with the rancher, I rode an ES model and loved it. I would have prefered a foot shift, but that is personal preference. I found it to be very sporty, and it steered really light for a 4x4.

 

I'm not a Honda guy by any means but I'd stick with the Rancher over the 325. All the stuff out there to hop up the Honda out weights the trick 4x4 system or tranny of course this is only my two cents.

 

i have a rancher 2001 and i am love it it is light with plenty of power. it has the straight up motor so it has more torque and should last longer the polaris does not. i would get the rancherES

 

my friend has a 325 and i beat him wiht my 87 200x when i had it now i bought own a 350x and it waxes that 325. that machine is horrible in snow he got stuck in the middle of the road. theonly thing good on them is the breaks. they stop really well. and i agree with the above post it is gutless. it might just be the machine i saw .but if it is like the others there has to be some changes made to that thing. one word TANK

 

Jerms....just becuase you towed out the 325 with your big red, doesn't make the Rancher a better bike than the Polaris....a Rancher wasn't even with you at that time i assume so how do you know you wouldn't have had to tow the Rancher out as well....my buddy has 12 inch wooly boogers on his 86 big red....just a few nights ago i got my rancher stuck in bog TWICE that he just floated over....he towed me out.

 

dude, go with the rancher. the digital display is the bomb, and it's got more then alittle more power over the polaris. the polaris also grossly outweighs the rancher, granted you wouldn't want either of them on top of you, but atleast the rancher won't stick you 6 feet underground if it ever does end up on top of you. i enjoy the rancher suspension also, much sportier. the only downside, if you want to call it that, is the full time 4 wheel drive. it makes powerslides and such a bit more difficult, but then again so does the aenemic polaris motor.

 

I have a 02 Rancher and it is a good bike. I thought I would like the ES better than shifting on the floor but I don't. Anyway I would stick with the Rancher (not because I own one) but it just is a all around good bike. I am personally not a big Polaris fan either. just my .02

 

I would most defenatly go with the rancher. the polaris is fine for utility work, and it's comfortable. my grandfather has a magnum325, and it will by no means beat a rancher. yes, a recon would beat it in a drag race, but someone who is buying either shouldn't be buying it for it's drag racing capabilities. the power of the rancher is indede more fun. snappier, quicker and faster. it is much more nimble, and is a blast on trails. it is also an excelent work machine. comfortalbe. the polaris weighs much more and it will wear more on the drivetrain and parts, althogh they are probably heavy enough for it's extra weight. in my experiences with polaris', the bushings and breaks wear out faster than say a rancher( we have had both on the farm I work on and have the rancher now) there is a nicer speedo on the rancher and even counts the hours( ours has 310h ) a neat feature. maintnence is easier on the rancher(air filter+oil change) and the overall design is better thought out than the polaris in my opinion. I'm not bad mouthing polaris, but I think you will be happier with the honda.

 

Stay,
as far away from PULLaris as you can.If you buy one,make sure they throw in a tow strap in with the deal cause you'll surly need it sooner or later.I have owned two brand new Polaris ATVs since 1999 and both were VERY troublesome.A Honda does not have nearly the features as a Polaris,however,Honda's dont come with ANYWHERE near the problems that a Polaris has either.

Best of luck,

Bill