Well you could be right.... I am going on my dealer's word to me... They have been straight shooters in the past... so I don't have any reason to doubt it.. Maybe he was wrong.. I don't know... When you sell 4 lines of products, it can be hard to keep them all straight...

 

I would be surprised if Honda ever puts a locking front diff in any of their ATVs, maybe he was refering to the Trax-Lok.

Lockers are more agressive, period. I have yet to have another ATV go or climb something I cant. 20% machine, 20% tires, 60% driver.

My daughters love the trans in our Rubicon, but still prefer riding our Rancher just because it is a little smaller and easier to manuver. If I was to buy my wife an ATV for her, it would be a new Rancher AT.

I personally don't like riding snowmobiles in the dirt.

 

Yeah you are going to have to ask someone much smarter than I am about how the mechanicals all work in the front ends. I know in cars, there are many ways to get posi traction.....it wouldn't surprise me if manufacturers have some sort of proprietary way of doing it... I can however vouch that the 05 Rancher AT I sat on last weekend had a electric switch on the bars for what I refer to as Diff lock... but that may not be the correct term... nor can I vouch that it does the same thing without riding it.. But the sales manager indicated that it did.

 

I wish Honda would get a better grip on their pricing...having said that I do think they make a very good quad. I would not feel to bad spending $ 700 more for a Foreman Vs whatever..because I would feel confident that I spent the extra $ to get a very reliable and proven wheeler...



PINKMOON

 

Well, there is an intrinsic value to having the infrastructure in place that Honda enjoys. It all comes with a cost. Like you I look at my Honda (Or my Yamahas for that matter) more as an investment in my time. Time spent turning wrenches, sourcing parts etc.. all take me away from my more enjoyable pursuits... and there is a cost associated with being able to get a part the same day you need it.. or in the worst case, a couple days via FED-EX. The reliability.. even if it isnothing more than a perception.. makes me sleep easier at night.

That is not to say that teh big three do not know any more than everyone else, or that their machines are better than the others.. but history has shown that they are known entities. Some of the new stuff on the market have a ways to go before earning the same kind of respect and brand loyalty. I put Polaris and Arctic Cat in between somewhere. Although extremely reputable lately and right up there technology wise, their first editions were not quite up to the same standard. So the jury is still out on them.

When you are not number one, you have to work harder to earn peoples respect and their business. So I think that is why you see pricing below the top headliners... You can bet however, that if they were to invest teh same mountains of cash that the big boys do into R&D, or sponsorship of the many events that bear their names... I think their prices would have to reflect that investment, and put them right up there as well.

 

W/ the KQ getting great reviews, the price on Vinsons is going down. The Vinson has all of the features you originally sought out. I am more than satisfied.

 

I have a 04 Rubicon 500, 03 polaris sportsman 700, and a rancher with the electronic shift. the polaris stays broke down all the time. the places my friends and i ride have lots of water, hills and rocks and the polaris belt drive does not do good on any of these. its fast and looks the best but does not perform well. My rancher is what my girlfriend drives and its good for her because its easy to turn and easy to shift. The one i like best is my rubicon because i have never had a problem with power or comfort and i love the auto tranny it has. my friends have yamaha big bears and they do all right except that the stearing is loose on them. in my opinion that i have gathered from riding the hondas are better atv's and if you are trying to watch what you spend the rancher should be good for you.

 

Ah we can debate this all day and not get anywhere... The original question was are Honda's worth the extra money.. the answer is maybe.. Their reputation is pretty much established... you be the judge.. since it is your green stuff that has to be laid on the table.. Our opinions are not the best to use as an example.. Make a decision you feel comfortable with, and go ride...

 

Your points are all well taken. As Dragginbutt put it, it is ultimately my decision. Having little experience with ATV's I appreciate the feedback from all. After reading the posts, it sounds as thought Honda is worth it (to me, that is). My choices have been narrowed down to the Kodiak 450, Suzuki Vinson and Honda Foreman ES or Rubicon.

Now that the premium of Honda vs all others is not as big a consideration as it was when I originally posted, it comes down to fit, form, function and features.

Thanks all. Keep posting.

JT

 

Vann,

You say that the Yamaha steering is loose. Maybe it is a misperception, but I think you made it sound almost like loose steering was a bad thing. Non Yamaha riders might not know what you mean by "loose steering". IMO it is one of it's better comparitive features. I actually think it makes the steering and general handling better, it just may take some getting used to for a person who normally rides a different brand. One of my friends who is a hardcore polaris guy jumped on my wolverine and was amazed (in a good way) the difference. I think Hondas a step inbetween as far as touchy steering is concerned.
Everyone has a preference on how touchy they want their steering and as much as everyone likes their own machine(and likes to recommend it to people looking to buy) I think a new buyer should test drive multible brands and see what feels the most comfortable. IMO all the features in the world don't make a difference if the machine isn't comfortable to the specific buyer.

Jaytree,

I have ridden the kodiak for a ride and it was very nice. Both hondas I briefly rode, they felt like a good ride, but I didn't really have to opportunity to really test them. The vinson gets great reviews, but I have never rode one. I think if the opportunity presents itself ride all four then look in your wallet. As to the actual question, "is honda worth it" to me no. I can get want I want for my $5,000 out the door wheeler.
When you do decide let us know how you like your final decision.

Ryan