I posted this in the buying section, thanks for the two reply's. Anyone have any other comments? I like to get comments from actual owners before I buy something. The dealers tell me what I want to hear.

I have never owned an ATV and am looking to purchase my first one. Because I want a dealership that is somewhat close, I have narrowed it down to a Honda Rancher 4x4 ES or manual and a Yamaha Grizzley 450 4x4. I will be using it for trail riding and some mud and for a little farm work. I have seen these prices posted online.

I guess you get locking diff, Auto and IRS with the Grizzly. Rancher you get Honda reliability, no belts and a cheaper price? Reliabilty is a big thing with me. I woulden't mind a locking diff for those few times I might need it but I am not going to be doing extreme riding. I can't make my mind up between auto, ES and manual.

FourTrax® Rancher® 4x4 ES Price $4,983.00
FourTrax® Rancher® 4x4 (manual) Price $4,833.00*
Grizzly 450 Auto. 4x4 Price $5,294.00

Which of these would you buy and why?

Are these prices rock bottom or have any of you negotiated a better out the door price at your dealer?

 

Just using two ATV's I've had in the past I'd go with the Yamaha. Instead of the Ranchers I had the 500 Rubicon and it didn't stand up to the previous 450 Kodiak I had.
The benefits of the Yamaha was IRS, diff-lock, and ground clearance. As far as heavy pulling, the only experience I had was pulling ATV's out of the mud (not a knock on other ATV's) and pulling smaller trees off the trail. With 2600 miles on it when I traded, I had never replaced the belt.
The Honda I felt had better insrumentation and with the SRA had a little more predictability when riding although a much rougher ride.
I hope this helps.
Buck

 

OF THE TWO YOU LISTED I'D GO WITH THE YAMAHA W/ A AUTO TRANS. IF YOU CHOOSE THE HONDA STAY WITH THE AUTO THEY ARE MUCH EISER TO USE IF YOU ARE WORKING AROUND THE FARM. WITH THAT SAID THOE IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE USEING YOUR QUAD FOR MOSTLY WORK I WOULD REALY CONSIDER A POLARIS 400 I KNOW IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE MORE TLC BUT I THINK THE ARE THE BEST WORK QUADS AVAILABILE. ONE MORE THING TO CONSIDER IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE USEING YOUR QUAD IN THE WINTER OR COLD TEMPS ID CONSIDER A QUAD W/ EFI. JUST MY THOUGHTS!

 

If you go with the honda, id choose the manual shift, its cheaper,and there is less to go wrong.
Something else to consider, the grizz is gonna need more maint(repack primary pulley every now and then),and the IRS is more for ride quality, and Solid axle is more durable for work.
Id say its a coin flip, for reliability, but the honda resale is higher. When you are done with it, there will be guys standing in line for the honda, but not the kodiak. Just my experience.

 

I doubt you would be unhappy with either of those two.

The 420 Honda is probably the snappiest motor in it's class. It's solid rear axle will slide around corners well, but the trade off is that it won't ride as well over rought stuff, and it limits ground clearance. If you were to go Rancher, foot shift would be my preference. I just like the feel of a foot shifter. The disadvantage is that if you have to shift mid-mudhole, you are going to have to dunk your foot if the mud/creek is over the floorboards. I have a foot shift Foreman, and when I'm heading into a riding area with those kinds of conditions, I just wear boots anyway, or start out in a gear that I know the machine will pull.

Though I'm a Honda fan, the 450 Griz is an impressive machine with more features including IRS, low range, locker, more ground clearance. I think the belt drive will be reliable as long as you don't abuse it, like sitting there slipping it in high range trying to pull something, and if you inspect it and keep it clean and replace when the manual suggests... I saw one of the 450's claw it's way through a super-nasty mud hole and up the rutted other side that was very impressive (combo of good rider, and capable machine).

Anyhow, I'd say test ride both, then buy the one you like better, and I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: hondabuster

Id say its a coin flip, for reliability, but the honda resale is higher. When you are done with it, there will be guys standing in line for the honda, but not the kodiak. Just my experience.</end quote></div>

Not always true about resale. I had my Kodiak for 2 years and 2500+ miles and got $3200 and the Rubicon I had for 4 months and only got $3000. Now..That may be an area thing too.
Buck

 

I can vouch for the Rancher. I've worked mine hard, winching logs and pulling a trailer around loaded with firewood. The photos on my page (camera icon) are of last summer, but this past weekend it really impressed me. There were a number of large maple limbs which had snapped off along the creek from the weight of winter snow. Wanting to clear them out, I cinched a tow strap around the larger end of the branches, one and sometimes two at a time, then hook the other end over the 2" ball on the rear hitch, engage 4wd, and pulled them up the bank and out across the pasture. With this accomplished, I was able to cut them up with the chain saw, separating the firewood from the small limbs which I just pile and burn. The Honda 4wd system performed so well in this situation, putting horsepower to the earth, who needs lockers? Aside from the Rancher's capability to do real grunt work, I've actually used it more for recreation, riding trails, logging roads, sand dunes, and I'm quite happy with the way it performs in this department as well.

I might add that I would recommend this as a first ATV for any adult who might be using one in a similar way, this is my first one, and I don't anticipate needing any other. It seems to fit my needs perfectly.

 

That "Honda reliability" thing just isn't a factor anymore. Make no mistake, the Hondas are just as reliable as ever - it's just that the other major brands are reliable too. Especially since the 2000 model years. All brands will have some machines with a few problems but in the last six or seven years there's not been any major turkeys from the main brands.

Jaybee

 

Your not going to find a better all around atv than the Kodiak. Reliability is Kodiak's middle name. Best transmission, locking differental, I could go own and own. I love my hondas but nothing is a better all around quad.

 

The Honda reliable thing is a just getting old now. I have seen old Suzuki,Yamaha,Kawi and Polaris ATVs out on the trail also. Resale has to be a the lamest reason for buying a ATV. Buy what you feel you will enjoy.

I sold a very reliable 450 Foreman to a friend for a 500 Sportsman and a day of riding between the two is Night and Day from each other. I get stuck less I have much,much more power and speed do not have to shift gears any longer,I have a much smoother enjoyable suspension and better brakes than with my reliable, high resale Honda.

I could not go back to the Foreman,even if my Sportsman blew up tomorrow I would look for another one,the ATV is that much more enjoyable to ride.