[Rancher OR Foreman???] - ATV Riders Forums - Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Polaris, CanAm, Arctic Cat, Kymco ATVs

Pages:1

Rancher OR Foreman???
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Lowcountrydave

Hey guys/gals.

My big brother is looking to purchase a Utility.
I told him I would post it here. I've ridden a few but really don't know the "best" or "worse" of them.

He has his eye on a...

2008 Fourtrax Rancher TRX420 FM
OR
2008 Fourtrax Foreman TRX500 FM

There is less than a $1000 price difference between the two models. What are your likes or dislikes of these two models???

Thanks Dave

Posted by: jrafter

fuel injection water cooled

and i would get the es model

Posted by: reconranger

see this post: http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthr...threadid=343853

If you need a farm work tractor, get the Foreman. If you need a snappy little trail quad, get the Rancher.

Posted by: Lowcountrydave

Thanks for the replys so far.

You would have to know my older brother a little.....

What ever he buys will eventually turn into a submarine. He likes trail riding but really digs the utes people have made to submerge. He has also enjoyed riding my 06 400EX and wants a clutch, do they make utes that have a manual clutch?

Dave

Posted by: hondaatvrider92

I Would Go With A Rubicon Before I Would A Foreman,But Thats Just Me..Diffrent Strokes For Diffrent Folks

Posted by: reconranger

I am a manual tranny guy myself, so my choices are (happily) limited to just a few models. No, there aren't any fully manual (left hand) clutch utilities, just the autoclutch type.

I think all the manufacturers did marketing research and discovered that what the aging baby boomers want is an automatic with cush suspension. I really think this has taken utility design in a bad direction....large heavy IRS machines with lots of body roll and long travel suspension which makes them top heavy....

Posted by: jrafter

now your bashing old people

Posted by: Lowcountrydave

thanks for the info Reconranger.

Dave

Posted by: RoadRidin450r

I would go for the brand new 500 becuase we have the older model the foreman rubicon 500 and it is a really nice all round quad.

Posted by: reconranger

In another forum I suggested that automatics were for beginners and little girls. One guy replied that he liked an automatic now that he is older, so you guessed it, my list is now beginners, little girls, and senior citizens!

Posted by: jrafter

my ranchers is ES and its great

if i want to shift i get out my 400ex

and if i want to ride i get out the harley

just because that isnt your thing doesnt make it wrong

Posted by: hondaatvrider92

Thats Why I Like My Rubicon..If I Want To Change Gears , I Swap It Over To ESP..If I Don't I Leave It In Manual..I Am 35 And No Where Close To Being A Beginner, I Have Been Riding For 30yrs Now..I Don't Think 35 Is Considered Being A Senior Citizen {If It Is I Am Getting Screwed Over At The Resturants And Other Places By Paying Full Price When I Could Be Getting That Discount} And The Last Time I Checked I Damn Sure Aint No Little Girl Or A Kid. Not To Mention The Fact That Was Anthor Forum Where You Got Your Information And Formed Your Opinion, From One Or Two Feedbacks..Sounds To Me Like You Judge This Forum By What You Have Read Or Your Feed Back From Other Forums. Have You Stop And Thought That This Might Just Very Well Be A Whole Diffrent Group Of Folks Over Here ? OOHH Wait I Second..I Can Read You Haven't...

Posted by: reconranger

Lots of posts all over the internet about problems with the ES shifting system! One component is even the subject of a recall. It's buyer beware for anyone considering an ES!

Posted by: jrafter

quote:
Originally posted by reconranger
Lots of posts all over the internet about problems with the ES shifting system! One component is even the subject of a recall. It's buyer beware for anyone considering an ES!

your so full of sh1t

Posted by: reconranger

Dude, it's all over the place....just like *****! This system does not live up to Honda's traditional reputation for being bulletproof. If you are a prospective buyer and you can live with that, then go right ahead.....

My foot works just fine, and if you don't get ES it's $200 cheaper....that's a no brainer for me!!!

Posted by: hondaatvrider92

I Have On 01 Rubicon..3200 Miles...My Oldest Daughter Has An 02 Honda Rancher 350 ES 4x4..2500 Miles..My Wife Has An 03 Rincon 650..2700 Miles..My Youngest Daughter Has An 05 Honda 90.All Four Were Bought Brand New. I Do The Service On Them Myself..I Have Not Had To Take None Of The Four Back To The Dealer For A Damn Thing.And Believe Me When I Tell Ya, My Daughters Cut Em No Slack. We Have Had Nothing But Enjoyment And Pleasure Outta Ours.. Can I Live With That ??? YOU DAMN SKIPPY I CAN !!!!

Posted by: reconranger

quote:
Originally posted by hondaatvrider92
I Have On 01 Rubicon..3200 Miles...My Oldest Daughter Has An 02 Honda Rancher 350 ES 4x4..2500 Miles..My Wife Has An 03 Rincon 650..2700 Miles..My Youngest Daughter Has An 05 Honda 90.All Four Were Bought Brand New. I Do The Service On Them Myself..I Have Not Had To Take None Of The Four Back To The Dealer For A Damn Thing.And Believe Me When I Tell Ya, My Daughters Cut Em No Slack. We Have Had Nothing But Enjoyment And Pleasure Outta Ours.. Can I Live With That ??? YOU DAMN SKIPPY I CAN !!!!

Got to ask if you are keeping up on your valve adjustments????

That is probably the most neglected piece of preventative maintenance there is! You would be surprised at how many people have never even heard of adjusting the valves. When somebody says "I do my own maintenance", usually all that means is changing oil (once a year at most!) and keeping the air filter clean....and being oblivious about valves!!!

ES owners....A whole batch of angle sensors (made in Mexico) on the ES system were bad. Be sure to check with your dealer to see if your quad is involved in the recall....

Posted by: hondaatvrider92

Why Yes I Most Certainly Do... That's Why They Make Shop Manuals..And If That Wasn't Enough , My Brother Is A Mech. At A Honda Dealership.

Posted by: reconranger

Most people never ever do a valve adjustment. That first one at 20 hours, just after it is broken in, is the most important. Precisely why I never buy a used vehicle!

Posted by: TheNewn

Yeah i agree you're kinda full of sh*t about the ES models. Around my town there are lots of old school 350 ranchers with ES on them with thousands of miles on them, all work great. a friend of mine owns 2 of them and neglects the piss out of it, always runs great.

The ES is fantastic, i'm 19 and i'd love to have an ES rancher or an automatic rincon.

I'm not a little girl either, heh, i have a 250R and 400EX i enjoy as well.

Posted by: SGMGSG9

This is my first post here, nice to meet you all. I'm the submariner my little brother's speaking about when it comes to Jeeps & ATV's. I appreciate all the Input you folks have contributed to this post. As you all know anytime you part with this kind of cash, you do your home work first. My philosophy has always been keep it simple, rugged, & reliable. ES (electronic shifting) is nice I'm sure, but as RECONRANGER puts it, "my foot works just fine too." If I remember right, the four wheeler I rode last time was a automatic. You shifted with your foot up & down range & it had a thumb throttle. I don't remember clutching like on my little bro's 400EX, i.e. with the left hand clutch lever. None the less I was comfortable on the borrowed four wheeler. It looks like I'm leaning towards the Honda Rancher 4X4 420cc (None ES) model after LOWCOUNTRYDAVE gets married next week end. Thanks again folks for the input keep it coming, I'm still open to suggestions.

Sincerely, SGMGSG9

P.S. What do you guys know & think about Polaris's Sportsman as compared to the Honda Rancher?

Posted by: TheNewn

Can i ask why you're limiting yourself to the foreman and the rancher?

Really should consider other brands as well. take a good look at the Grizzly 450. A very nice machine with all the features of the big bores.

Posted by: RoadRidin450r

quote:
Originally posted by TheNewn
Can i ask why you're limiting yourself to the foreman and the rancher?

Really should consider other brands as well. take a good look at the Grizzly 450. A very nice machine with all the features of the big bores.

Haha you make me giggle.

Posted by: SGMGSG9

Well, TheNewn I'm new to the ATV seine. So my base of knowledge is limited to what I've read & seen. I know about Honda's reputation for quality & parts availability. So that's why Honda's the front runner at this point. This will be my first ATV/four wheeler purchase, so I want to do it rite. I'm not the track racer type, I'm more of an explorer, trail rider guy. That's why a utility is more my style. In my mind I don't need power steering, GPS, or electronic shifting, or do I? I don't want to limit my self to only Foreman or Ranchers, that's why I'm asking the questions. This is the sixty four million dollar question: WHAT & WHO WILL GIVE ME, THE BEST QUALITY, RUGGED RELIABILITY, & SERVICE. All & any input is welcome & appreciated.

Posted by: TheNewn

Before you plop down 5+K on a quad, you really should do your research on everything there is out there.

The grizzly 450 is a great quad. It has IRS, CVT with high and low range, reliable liquid cooled motor, and a locking front differential. No it doesn't have power steering or GPS or electronic shifting.

Brand loyalty is really a dumb thing in my opinion, a lot of honda fans claim they're quad is better because it says HONDA on the side. It will just get you less for your money in a lot of cases if you only look at one brand.

As for you buying your first quad, i'd approach it trying to find the best quad i could that i'd want to KEEP for years to come. A lot of people buy a starter quad, get bored with it after a year, and sell it to get another one. Leaving them out more money in the end.

As for service, you really should find a good DEALER who wont screw you on warranty work. A lot of people might claim that Honda warranty sucks, or yamaha warranty sucks, when its really the dealer themselves who are just being pricks.

ANYWAY, the Rancher is a great quad, but i'd look into the Grizzly. No matter what quad you buy, buy it from a dealer you like and you'd think isnt out to just get every last cent from you.