I thought that I was set on getting a Rancher 350FM, until I stumbled upon info on the Big Bear 400.......Now I'm a little confused. The Big Bear 400 is said to be ultra reliable as well, and some say it has more power..........it has selectable 4x4/ 4x2 option..........
Basically I want a mid size quad that will last for many years to come, and won't keep me in the garage fixing it all the time. Any honest help would be greatly appreciated.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

My father in law has had his since 1998. But that is when they were full time 4x4 and had a 350cc engine. I hove always heard great things about them being reliable. They are nto a speed demon but can pull and cruise just fine.

 

i was thinking about getting one.. but they look outdated to be honest.. i love my rancher

 

I bought the BigBear over the Rancher for a few reasons. One, more power. Two, higher ground clearance. Both machines are real reliable and will give you hours of pleasure. When I sat on a Rancher I felt like it sat to low for me. I have friends with both and have had time on both before I bought mine. Like I said both are great machines that are tough as nails, so its really all up to you. Go sit on both of them, and get a feel for them, maybe even drive them around a little.

 

Well, I went to a Yamaha Dealer today to look at the Big Bear and the Kodiak 400. While looking, a man walked in looking for a Kodiak. He said he has a Rancher to trade in........He was so disgusted that he was going through frozen over 10-12" deep puddles, and when he broke through the ice, the Rancher was struggling to push it's way through the unbroken ice. He said how trouble free the rancher was, but he said the power issue was a big problem for him. BTW, he was about 5'10" @ around 155lbs.......No heavyweight..........
Intresting what you can learn when out shopping around.......[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

 

I have a friend who rides the 400 rancher with the esp. It looks like a toy next to the king quads, grizzlys, and polairis, that the rest of us ride. I'm unimpressed with the rancher, especially when you look at the price. I would really compare the specifiactions between the bikes. I think theres alot of useful info, that will wean you away from the honda......

 

I am in the market for a new quad and my old yamaha grizzly was disappointing when the belt-driven automatic would take on some water and slip.This was in the swamp and several years ago when the grizzly first came out,but nothing as bad as the polaris'.To my knowledge hondas have a true automatic transmission,and we know there rep as a car builder.Still i am undecided,and if you dont go in the swamp alot the yammy should hold up.

 

I will say that sitting on the Big Bear was good......But, I'm a dyed in the wool Honda guy and just can't bring myself to pass on owning a Rancher 350FM or FE..........Just gotta do it!

 

Ahh spend a little more and get the kodiak 450 and it has all the features that the big bores have in a small nice package. IRS, Auto, Low/High, Selectable 4X4/4X2, Locking Differential( that feature has paid for itself a few times!!). I went throught a pond with water almost up to my racks and had no problems. Water got in no where (checked all the drain plugs ) and the belt never slipped once. I plow with mine plus ride some technical trails. Pull a trailer full of wet grass with no problem. Whatever you get have fun!!