I am getting ready to purchase my very first atv and I have narrowed my choices down to the 2012 Polaris Sportsman 400 HO vs the 2012 Honda Rancher 420(FEC) ES. I have my own pros and cons for each of these, but I don't know enough about either one so I'm hoping you guys can help out with your experience.

My budget is $6000. I can go a little over this amount, but it will be coming out of pocket and I don't want to spend too much. This will be used for leisure riding on trails, some mud riding and patrolling during events. I won't really be hauling anything or doing any farm work.

Sportsman
Pros: automatic, 3 headlights, storage, price ($5,200 after discounts), it looks cooler
Cons: carburetor, no digital speedometer


Rancher
Pros: fuel injected, 420cc instead of 400
Cons: price ($5800 after discounts), not automatic, no storage

When I lay it out like that, the sportsman is clearly more appealing to me. Everyone keeps telling me about how their Polaris stays in the shop though. Is there any truth to this?

Thanks for your help!
Matt

 

The Polaris 400 has a 450cc engine if I remember right. Polaris also has the most comfortable ride out there and great on board storage. The Sportsman also has full 4wd while the Honda's front end is a limited slip. It only makes a difference in really nasty mud or steep rocky climbs, and snow. Polaris has come a long way and are good machines, even though I would give the nod to Honda on reliability. The Hondas haven't changed much but are reliable for the most part.

 

The 400 is indeed 450 and as I've said before if I was replacing my 500 with a similar sized machine it would be the 400.

Do you get 2 year warranty in the USA on either machine?

Also very comfortable ride with, as you've said, plenty of storage.

It will also leave you with $800 for goodies, like a mid height screen and heated grips for starters. Possibly rack extensions also.

If however you'd like a plain bike with a drum brake that you'll hardly lift a spanner to then it's the Jap.

All the best

JF

 

My grandson has a 2010 4x4 Rancher with ES and the 420 engine. Pretty fast and dependable but rides rough and hard to turn.

 

The Polaris has a full size chassis while the Rancher is a Mid size chassis. The Polaris is true AWD while the Honda is a 3wd with not diff lock option The polaris also has a low range and more hp then the Honda.

Even My 2001 has a digital speedo ,are you sure the 400 does not? I rode many ATVs with efi and carbs and besides not needing to be choked for the first 3 minutes I can,t tell a carb vs efi apart.

 

well, poliaris is a good bike all around, honda is to, though i have seen elecrtonic shifts mess up on honda, and belt systems on polaris's have a little drag on take off (just not smooth) Have 3 polarises, one honda 2 yamaha's and a canam. the can am outpreforms all of them in every way, i have had to tow the razor and sportsman both out of the woods before with it. the razor bent my back rack though..... but 6000 buget... go with the polaris unless your going to beat it to death, the honda will hold up better in general, but the polaris will smoke it in the mud and up the hills. But on a side note, take a look at yamaha i have a 94 big bear and a 2001 wolverine, never ever had to pull them out of the woods.... ever. If you want a head turning bike the new wolverines are super sharp. everything depends on how your going to treet the bike. yamaha's and canam's hold up, polaris's and honda are lower grade bikes, but polaris is made in usa (that was a big one for me). keep in mind though we hit 4 ft deep holes and run over rocks, tree's and stay out 8-10 hours at a time. both times the polaris broke it wasnt really there fault. oh, and you will not get muddy on the polaris you could wear a white suit in the mud on that thing and come out clean.