I hope you don't take me wrong, I do think the Outlander is an outstanding ATV. It has a lot of innovations that are great. Yes, it is faster and rides better than a Rancher AT, but an Outlander doesn't have a Hondamatic trans in it. I will take the Hondamatic trans, Honda dependability that I have become accustomed to, ergonomics, and over all feel to any other 400 ATV. I like the way the way a Rancher feels and the new 400 AT provided everything I would want in an ATV that the 350 Ranchers didn't.

I am not saying that the Rancher is a "better" ATV than the Bomb, just that I prefer the Honda.

 

I agree with Spectra, It's just something about the way a Honda feels it seems more stable than others,I feel more secure on my ForeMan than any other ATV I have owned or ridden it just seems Honda's have a better center of gravity to them and to me that means alot.
HilBilly

 

Put the old air cooled pushrod engines away.. please, honda's realibility isnt what it used to be either. They have many problems with there engines. As far as the tranny is concerned there is no better than bomds trans. Nothing in it's class, nothing. Get out of the rut man, and buy one of the best 400ss atv's ever made. I would buy one but I am holding out for the 650 or 700 outlander. By the way do you guys know where I can get an after market ignition box for the piece of crap 2001 350 rancher my friend has. I'll tell you like my buddy says, it is sucky, air cooled piece of junk. His words not mine, but they do sum up my felling about Honda after my 300 ex and 400 ex. Never again, bomb all the way. Here is one my granddady would would tell people "you can lead a horse to water , and stare at his dumb a**, or you can kick him in the a** to get him to drink." I put three motors top and bottom rebuilds in the 300 ex a 93 model when that was all honda had. Six monthes into the 2000 400 ex and i drotted the bottom again, and my buddy dropped his while mine was getting fixed, na, no more. I am sure honda is glad to have you as a customer. 3200 miles on the ds 650 not one problem yet. go honda go- down the road that is. I do ride hard and it's hard on the machine, it fells good to have something made as well as the bomb line. Just never make the mistake to realy look at how well they are made ir it's curtins for all the rest. Pay attention to the details and you will see what I am talking about.

 

My buddy is a Honda man all the way. He owns a Crf450, Accord, and a 350 Rancher. He went riding with us two weeks ago when he tried my Outlander. He couldn't believe the difference in ride and power he was completely impressed. Guess what he purchased this last friday a new yellow Outlander XT I was shocked, this now makes 8 Outty's in our group.

If you ride one all day long you to will see the advantages.

My next purchase a 2004 Crf 450, (the best in it's class) see I like Honda's

 

You guys have shown me the light!! How could I have been so blind? First thing in the morning I am trading my Rancher in on a new Outlander!! How many do you think they will give me for it? You guys are right and I have been wrong. Boy, that has to make you feel better. How could anyone be so dumb? I should have gotten your "opinions" before I ever considered buying an ATV! I bought a couple Hondas. What was I thinking? I could have had an Outlander and a Traxter too!! And all this time I thought over 5000 trouble free miles was good. God bless the people with enough insight to buy “one of the best”. I am going to buy "one of the best ATV's!! Wait! - I already own two of them.

Why haven't I ever thought to buy "best in class" ATVs, boats, and every other thing I have ever purchased or wanted? Think of all the time it would have saved me. I guess I will just never get it.

Someone should publish a "best in class" magazine for all products. Then people don't have to shop or buy what they like. Something for "intelligent" people to buy from.

Some of you guys sound a “little short”.

I am changing my way of purchasing from know on. My next personalized license plate will be “BSTNCLS”.

I have been looking at new trucks. Anyone know what is “best in class” in the 1-ton class? I don’t want to bother to see what else is out there.

There are a lot of people out there that are going to be disappointed when they find out they don’t own a “best in class” Bomb. I will keep it under my hat, the one with the wings on it.

You guys have a nice ride next time out.

 

Hey Specta,when you go to trade all that stuff in you might as well go ahead and buy the Chevy Avalanche and an OutLander than you will have the ugliest pair of "Best in Class" vehicles.
Sucky air cooled piece of junk?? You have got to be kidding me!! Why do you think Honda has stayed with the same design,because it works!! Honda and Yamaha will always be the top 2 in reliability.When I got stranded by a Polaris 2 times in the same month 20 miles from nobody I decided to buy an 03 Arctic Cat another mistake,it was in the shop no kidding,, two times the first week for the radiator overheating THAN we finally got to take a trip with it and guess what?? OVERHEATED again because the rad got plugged up with debris from ridding than I got stranded in a creek that was only deep enough to cover the tranny housing because the factory gasket let water fill my belt housing and caused my belt to sit there and spin and not engage in the middle of a creek. That was enough for me so I went back to the old reliable shaft driven air-cooled design and have had 0 problems
So I will take my, let's see , "Old air-cooled pushrod and Sucky air-cooled piece of crap." Any day over something that look like it was bought off the shelf of a TOYS-R-US store. To bad they couldn't make the OutLander look more like an aggressive ATV which is what it is than a Tonka Toy they have the right idea just the wrong look.
HilBilly

 

Sorry to hear that Specta, I hope you don't regret it. There are definitely better machines out there but hey, it's your money.

You'll like the power and "innovation" until it breaks, then you'll be wishing you had the good old Honda.

 

Some people are just brand name loyal I guess. Personally I would only buy yammy and honda for the sport utility capabilities that they have. Sure you were right, bomb has the right idea but the wrong plastic. I wouldnt be able to get excited looking at it before i rode it. I mean i couldnt look at it everyday. thats why i dont have one.
Now, If I were to buy a sport machine it would be the suzuki 400. I read that it has 2% less horsepower than the raptor 660! and is cheaper to boot!

 

The outlander is ugly and that's it. I love my kod and could not see myself owning the outlander, I would have to leave it in garage so people wouldn't laugh. As far as reliability Honda and Yamaha has that down to a T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well maybe we can come to a conclusion here. The bomb looks funny, and always pick a yammy over riding a scrammy.
Also, Like they say,After you have ridden the best you can't compare it to the rest! (Honda and Yamaha that is)