hello

to start a have an 02 scrambler 500 4x4 and hate it . also ride my inlaws 98 450es and like it but it is slow and rides like a dump truck . i have narrowed it down to three quads ( not looking to turn this into one of those bs my dad is bigger and better than yours things ) all 2004's . suzuki vinsion 500 auto limited edition black , honda rincon , and rancher 400 at . i do ride with a lot of sport quads on our club rides but i like to ride last in line , dont need to ride like i am a cross country racer , like to play in the mud ( not nearly mud nationals deep ), snow and normal trail rides , also do chores around the house , plow snow , fire wood , trail breaking and clean up . i have a bad back so ride and comfort is important so far i like the seating position and feel of all 3 machines . as far as the transmissions belt drive is ok ( dont like the airplane sounds ) but am leary of the ranchers trans because of the lack of being able to fix it if it went bad , and i work in a car dealership so i see car trannys go bad all the time and wounder about the rincon a little . the tires on all three i think stink and would run 26 inch mud lites and 25 inch bighorns or hole shot atrs ,the suzuki has the best looking wheels of all and why did they put different size wheels on the rancher ( stupid ) . a lot of people dont like honda's drum brakes but i newer have had them freeze up like the disks on my polaris in the snow . dont really feel the need for a engine larger that 500cc but i still look at the rincon because or the irs . i will get the extended warrenty on what ever i get . yes i have looked at other brands but i am set on these three machines and i dont feel like i will be making a bad mistake like i did on my last purchase ( i like to ride more than working on them and i do take very good care of my things and probably do matainance and oil changes too often but dont want to have anything this many problems again ). help what do i do i dont have a three sided coin to flip to decide .... thanks [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

I have been on a Vinson quite a bit and they are pretty sweet. The Rincon is said to be a bit more sporty. I would say with either of those you cant go wrong. Don't really know much about the AT though.

 

don't want to your choices, but I hear good things about the outlander 400. The Vinson is faster and sportier in the 5 speed, but it's not offered in the LE black.

 

The Rincon and the Rancher are newer so it's ard to say how reliable they will be. I like the Rancher 400at more than the Rincon. My neighbor has two Rincons and he's had one of them back to the shop two or three times. (Something with the radiator and shifter or transmission. Can't remember which.) The Rancher 400 probably doesn't have much more of a top speed than the Foreman. I would choose between the Vinson and Rancher. Either would probably be good, I'd probably get a Rancher.

 

I have an AT and love it. BUT, if I had to do over I would buy a Vinson. I have always wanted a Honda and I am glad that I bought it. Suspension is a little rough at high speeds, but better than the old ranchers. It is nice to be able to choose between shifting and auto. I would bet that the front differential on the Honda is better in technical riding than the Suzuki. But I don't know if the Honda has enough power to be a serious mudder to take advantage of the differential.
Knowing how I really ride and how little I use the shifting on the quad, I would buy the vinson. Cheaper, Faster,Smoother Ride. Can't beat it

 

quote: "not looking to turn this into one of those bs my dad is bigger and better than yours things"
by any chance have you been reading my and bigbearfx's posts under king of the utilitys??
but really, each and every person has diffrent tastes when it comes to quads, my advice is to go to your dealer and test drive and many diffrent quads as you can and choose the the one you like best.

 

Boy are you missing some fine machines from your list, the eiger, kodiak 450, any sportsman, and kawi has a nice one also.

 

Sounds like a Yamaha Rhino would fit perfectly for what you're looking for!!!!

 

What about Arctic Cat? Nice riding machines.

 

hello all and thanks for your comments


haymaker : i am not bashing anything but i will never own a polaris again . i sat on the 450 yamaha and dont like the way if feels . the 650 kawasaki is nice but i dont like the looks of the wheels , color of the racks and bumpers ,and the fact that there are 2 of everything in and on the engine ( 2 times the things to go wrong ) . thanks for your comments

johnNsatx : the rhino is neat but i want a quad and if i didnt i would build a jeep so i could use it on the street . if i had a working farm i would own one ... thanks for your comments


memento : i looked at the 500 ac and it is a good bike . i come from a family of die hard ac riders and i was floored when my cousin bought a new rincon and not an ac and he loves it . thier warrenty rocks , 2 years factory that says a lot . i just dont know i keep thinking about the 500 in the back of my mind. thanks for your comments



thanks