Have the opportunity to purchase a 2002 2wd rancher 350 with about 30 hours for $3200 or a brand new leftover 2002 Kawa Bayou 300 4x4 for $3600. Mostly trail riding/hunting, little bit of pulling a trailer with some wood, maybe a little bit of snow playing. Any suggestions. Is first ATV.

 

I have an '03 Rancher and it is bullet proof. It has been rolled, swamped, and run wide open all day. Can't break it.

 

I had a 98 bayou. It was my first ATV and I thought it was great. I was amazed at the abuse that thing was able to take. I did mostly trail riding with mine and plowing during the winter. I rode with 2 kodiaks and I dont think they went anywhere I didnt. Its a great little machine I think, never had any problems with it. But I will say that I hear hondas will last forever.

 

The Kaw. Bayou 300 is the better machine sounds like for what you want to do. It will out pull and push the Honda because it is 4-wheel drive. Also alot harder to get stuck than the Honda. Now if the Honda was 4-wheel drive I'd go for it over the Kaw.

 

I would go with the Rancher,my friend (sams) has one and it has been put through everything imaginable,it is leaking oil out of the header,the rack mounts are busted off etc.The mud is basically holding it together and it still runs strong.

 

HEY!!!....your gonna get me thrown in jail for atv abuse. It is true that the rancher is bulletproof. My poor machine has been through anything u can think of. From looking at it you would think it was 15 years old, but it still has the performance it did the day i got it. Its been flipped, wrecked on pavement wide open flipped up in the air and took out some tree limbs and everything and only bent racks and brackets and handlebars. The throttle was pinned every time it was rode and i honestly believe the machine serioulsy is bulletproof. I dont think i could blow it up if i tried and the only way i could warp the frame is if i killed myself trying. If you want somehtin that will hold up to abuse GO WITH A RANCHER. Put some dirt devils or itp 589s on it and it will go pretty much anywhere that bayou will go. and a 2 wheel drive is more fun when you wanna goof off. Now the snow plowing deal i would go with the bayou. 4 wheel drive is always catching more traction than 2 but the rancher is still the overall better machine.

 

OH...by the way. even though my rancher has been through H$ll..i dont recomend treating one like that...lol. it just kinda happens. Now my rancher is just a work horse and hunting machine. The kfx400 takes the abuse.