Not sure whats so innovative about this bike except the EFI and 2wd/4wd select? Here is a side buy side comparison with my old 450 Foreman 450 vs 420

They both still have swing arm suspension,air cooled motors rear drum brakes. the 420 is only 24lb lighter, has smaller 24" wheels and less ground clearance.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

I think your a little hard on Yamaha with this Rancher 420. First off, no 4x4 will be a true sport bike but I would have to say the 350 or 450 Wolverine and 500 Scrambler is about as good as it gets for now. The 450 Wolverine is much lighter than a 420 Rancher (516lb vs 562lb),has more suspension travel (7.1" vs 6.3"). and a liguid cooled motors stays cooler than a air cooled if riden sport style hard.

Weight on a Utility quad is no big deal, what is a big deal is, true 4x4 (diff look), at least 25" wheels, ground clearance, and low range. All of which the 450 Grizzly offers.

A 500 Sportsman weights 700 lbs but still hits close to 60 mph. I imagine the 420 is close to the 450 Grizzly in acceleration and speed, and it gets beaten by a 500 utility thats only 80cc bigger and over 110lbs heavier! Read the shootout 450 vs heavy 500 Utilities.

 

For some reason, there is a tendency with utilities for everyone to mix classes when comparing machines. Folks here in the forum are enthusiasts, so they are going to want the latest and biggest thing out. Not so with the average buyer!

But first some factual corrections:
The 420 is WATER COOLED! (TLC, how in the world did you miss that one?????) The Rancher 420 has disc brakes up front and selectable 2wd/4wd. The Rancher has a "torque sensing" differential, not the pathetic "open" diff of the old 450. The 450 is a "work" quad, where the Rancher is a "trail" quad.

Suspension is the big thing! I don't have the mags right in front if me, but one said the 420 was the best suspended of any solid axle machine!

Why do you think the Honda Rancher 350 is the best selling machine of all time???? Because it is just a simple little solid axle trail machine at a good price, and that is precisely what most of the world wants! And the 420 is a huge step up from the 350, for just a bit more money. The world will be beating a path to Honda's door.....again!

 

Sorry I was just going by these specs click here is this the bike we are talking about? You would think they would mention liguid cooling, but I guess they did not.

I was just replying to your statement No you don,t need a 800cc on a 700lb bike ,a 500cc will do as long as it has a high duration cam and a big 40mm carb is what I found out.

I ride my friends new 05 TRX500FM which is over 100lb lighter than my bike yet it still can,t accelerate or top out at as high of a speed.

 

One of the guys in the Honda forum said his 500 just sits there unridden, since he got the 420!

 

when are you people going to under stand that 420 is the cc and it is still a 450

 

sherk-Please explain what you are saying??????????

The Wolverine is actualy a 421, just for the record!

 

Good report and glad you like your new rancher. I will consider it when the wife wants one. I only wish they put a low range on it. The ESP is great, but if they had a low range in ESP like a D1 and D2 found on the rubicon, that would be wonderful. And it would be nice to put a diff locker. But, from the magazine reports and yours, it seems the new 420 is just about a home run. Enjoy and keep us posted. What is the top speed? I recond it is in the mid 50's.

 

WHAT I MEAN IS THAT THE RANCHER ONLY HAS 420cc. the 420cc stands fo 420 cubic centemeaters. wich means the mototer has 420 cubic centermeters in it. so if you had 420 and 420 lilttle centemeter cube they would fit in the moter of it . but honda still calls a 450 becuse they round up to the next size of quad does that explain it a little more for u bub.

 

this is off topic but i have 1998 timberwolf and i have a problem with the rear end bolts backing out of where the shaft connets to the rear end i was wondering if you have ever had truoble with this if you have had any troulbe with this if so and have a soulshin let me know
thanx

 

A blot? What the heck is a soulshin??
Also the Rancher is a 420cc quad. It is also called the Rancher 420 not the 450.This is what Honda calls it. Maybe you should contact Honda about their mistake.