[Cutter]

I now have 800 miles on my Rancher AT and I am very satisfied with it. I really like the auto shift mode but also use the electric shift mode often. My only complaint is the fact that it has two different size tires and wheels. When will Honda finally just go with a 25 inch tire all the way around? Has anyone else had any problems? By the way, I will never go back to an ATV without power steering, it really does work and cuts rider fatigue.

 

[Pain]

Can't answer the question on tires [but my foreman's both have the same size tires], but I agree on the power steering.

I wanted one of those ranchers with AT and PS, but I found a sweet deal on an 08 foreman with PS so I bought it instead. I plan to get a AT-PS rancher at some point in the future.

 

[yotaguy]

I too love my 09 AT, but don't have PS. But I do know will not have an other solid axle. god bless IRS. To solve the wheel prob., I got on ebay and bought 27" Maxxis zillas. with 12" alum. rims set of 4 mounted, balanced and shipped cost $615 hands down best tire I have used they are so light you don't know they r there. but if I get tired of them I still have the option to pick I wider aray or tires having 12" rims. Check out tires cheap on ebay they have great prices on tire and rims.

 

[atvfun]

I love my 09 Rancher 420 FPE solid axle, electric shift with power steering. I thought Power Steering was a gimmick on ATV's when I first heard about it as an option but after riding it I would never own one without it. What a great option, sucks up all the bumps and makes steering a pleasure. When I get off my bike and get on my wife's Recon 250 I feel like I'm getting an arm workout. I also love my solid axle, love power sliding but it is more bumpy then the IRS...no question. But for my riding style solid axle is the way I like it. I only wish Honda gave the ES models the option to have Automatic shifting. There are times when I'm just cruising and I would like to go fully auto. Either way, AT or just FPE both machines are awesome! I'm really curious to see what Honda is going to do with the Foreman 500....an overhaul is due. At a minimum I would think an upgrade to EFI would be in the near future, but then again that might require a new engine... can you say Foreman 550 EFI???????

 

[mud99]

Do you guys with the power steering have problems with over steer?

 

[Cutter]

I do not notice any over steer and I believe that is because the steering is progressive. As your speed increases your power assist decreases. I think if this wasn't the case it might get spooky at speeds over 40mph. The power steering really reduces bump steer or kick back, that is the one thing that I like best about it. Yotaguy do you notice any decrease in low end with the taller tires? It does change your gear ratio some. Just wondering if you notice a reduction in low end torque. Low speeds in 4X4 the power steering really makes life good, one hand operation is very easy.

 

[yotaguy]

Have not noticed much ,it is very little. It still pulls great up hills and through the mud and has no problem Keeping up with brother in laws rincon, and walks away from sisters forman all with 27" tires. And as I weigh upwards of 400 lbs that says a lot. Still very very peppy. One thing to watch with the bigger tires is check weights! Before purchise I tried a set of ITP XTRS and broke an axle, but tried Mud Lite XL then bought Maxxis Zillas they are the litest mud tire on the market, pull in gumbo better and have better hard pack trail manners.

 

[jrowe06]

tires are the same size,rims are the differance,fronts are 12" rear are 11"!

 

[yotaguy]

Your right and 11" rims limit you so much on tires that is why I bought rims and tires, but utility quads have a better selection than sport quads. That is a big problem for the 700xx.

 

[Cutter]

Possibly you guys might be able to answer this, I have a set of Yamaha IRS rear wheels and was told they will bolt right on the rear of the Honda with no problems. Any experience or information on this? I also have a set of 25" tires just waiting to be mounted.

 

[yotaguy]

the bolt patterns I pretty sure are the same , but I don't know about the offset. It may turn out like putting Rancher IRS rims on a solid axle or it may work. Can't hurt to try, or to trade for a set of Rincon rims I know they fit and are 12" for sure.

 

[JBGill06]

My dad just got a new Rancher AT (non power-steering) and didn't like the steel rims it came with, so i bought a set of nearly new stock aluminum rincon rims for about 125 bucks, and he loved'em. He just got 25" mudlite ATs for them and they work great.

 

[Cutter]

My dad just got a new Rancher AT (non power-steering) and didn't like the steel rims it came with, so i bought a set of nearly new stock aluminum rincon rims for about 125 bucks, and he loved'em. He just got 25" mudlite ATs for them and they work great.

I may do the same if I can find a good used set. Otherwise I may go with some ITP wheels. I priced some new take-off aluminum wheels at my Honda dealer and they were more than the ITP. Right now I think I'll go ahead and get some miles out of the OEM tires, they aren't worth much if I try to sell them.

 

[JBGill06]

My dad is just going to use the stock tires and rims for the summer, since the tread on them is still decent they work great for non-winter/mud weather. The tread on them are better than my stock rincon tires, horrible tread design.

 

[The Green Hornet]

I went with Kenda Bearclaws on my factory rims. 25x10x12's on front and 25x12.5x11's on rear..................working like a charm and great tires for the money !!.....................RR:wink: