[Lon]

Hello everyone,

Please share your opinions on the Rancher DCT IRS EPS. I'm looking for your specific input based on your own circumstances.

Has is been reliable? Is it comfortable trail riding? Composed? Enough power? What are the issues you've experienced since owning?

I am buying another ATV to add to the garage. I almost pulled the trigger on a Honda a few years back, but I couldn't close a satisfactory price with the dealer. I have always wanted a Honda. I've had nearly all brands, never a Honda, though. I am going to be purchasing in the next 7 -14 days. Thanks.

 

[Lon]

Hello,

Just checking in... any feedback? Anyone?

 

[mrbb]

well before we can honestly say anything here, NOT knowing HOW large a rider you are or NOT
what type of riding you plan to do/use this for
its a hard question to answer

this is a smaller 4x4 atv by modern 4x4 atv standards
where most start at about 500 cc and go UP
this is like a 28 hp ATV
where most other brands in a 500 are at about 50 HP
Honda 4x4 atv's are NOT FAST, and NOT huge HP machine
so a lot comes down to WHAT you feel you need in power??

the rancher is more a trail machine than a work too, due to its geared slighter higher than its foreman/rubican's which are geared more for the work side
so, unless you tell us MORE about type of riding/use intended for this atv,its again, a hard toi answer question
ALL HONDA< brand products tend to be on the more reliable side of things, its one of honda's best reputation features! and why so many are loyal customers to there brand!
BUT all OEM
s have bad one's that go out the door!
NONE are perfect on QC

 

[Lon]

Hello mrbb,

Thank you for your feedback. I'm kind of pursuing your specific opinion on the machine. I'd really like some current owner feedback, like, "I love it," or "I loved it until I tried a Rubicon, and realized I should have bought a Rubicon from the get-go," or whatever. I was looking for validation of my current opinion on the Rancher through your feedback and experience.

With that said... I am strictly a trail rider, not necessarily mellow, but I ride at a bit of a brisk pace through very tight and twisty trails. Brisk for me is defined as speeds up to 20mph. Anything more and I would be wrapped around a tree. I've been riding since 1994, mostly utility style atvs, but we have a sport quad too. I don't go mudding. Not in the plans. We ride in national forests, and some other slightly more challenging terrain, but that is infrequent. Weekly riding is in the national forests here in the southeast US. I am an average sized male. One of the reasons to purchase another atv is to have it available for extended family to use. I could have bought a used, smaller ATV to accomplish this. But I have been wanting to buy a Honda for years. Now I have a reason and GREEN light to get another atv, so I am just going to get what I want. This way, I can enjoy it just as much as my sons or son in law. I wanted to gather opinions from current owners... trying to gauge buyer's remorse, or elation, whatever. I wanted feedback from someone who owns one to tell me they are completely happy, or advise me to spend more money and get something else, etc, etc.

Thanks again.

 

[Lon]

I purchased the 2019 Rancher FA6. Took it home today. I've only put a few miles on it, as it was late when I finally got home. I got a great deal, and very happy at the moment. We're riding tomorrow, so I will be able to give a good test. Initially, I really appreciate the transmission. DCT is smooth, and the electric shift put all the torque wherever I wanted it. Ergos are impeccable on the Rancher, as is build quality. I really like it so far. It's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[[email protected]]

I bought the same one. We have all types of trails here (they tell me) and my intention was to avoid the bad ones. Also I'm no speed maniac so the 420 ought to be good for me. However, I have so far come to believe from driving the Pioneer 500 and 1000 that I will be riding more like 30 mph which is slow here.

The trails here (the good ones) are at 10,000 feet or so and that means they will not be accessible til mid June earliest.

There is a sign on the highway a little near here "more trails than anywhere else in the USA" or something like that. So that was a part of what got me interested in an atv or other means to access the trails. I don't think there is any house in this town what doesn't have an atv or such sitting in the yard, or garage.

As to Honda, I have had Honda cars and motorcycles before. The quality is great, dependable, low maintenance, etc., reliable. So it's worth the extra that you pay. I asked about a red atv at a atv shop a block from me, was it for sale. No he says, that's a customers atv, China brand, and he can't find parts for it. You won't have that problem with Honda, I don't think.

I thought the Pioneer 1000 was to big for me though I'm 6, 2, and the Pioneer 500 far far far too noisy. So I think we made the right choice on the 420. We will see.
dc

 

[Lon]

I bought the same one. We have all types of trails here (they tell me) and my intention was to avoid the bad ones. Also I'm no speed maniac so the 420 ought to be good for me. However, I have so far come to believe from driving the Pioneer 500 and 1000 that I will be riding more like 30 mph which is slow here.

The trails here (the good ones) are at 10,000 feet or so and that means they will not be accessible til mid June earliest.

There is a sign on the highway a little near here "more trails than anywhere else in the USA" or something like that. So that was a part of what got me interested in an atv or other means to access the trails. I don't think there is any house in this town what doesn't have an atv or such sitting in the yard, or garage.

As to Honda, I have had Honda cars and motorcycles before. The quality is great, dependable, low maintenance, etc., reliable. So it's worth the extra that you pay. I asked about a red atv at a atv shop a block from me, was it for sale. No he says, that's a customers atv, China brand, and he can't find parts for it. You won't have that problem with Honda, I don't think.

I thought the Pioneer 1000 was to big for me though I'm 6, 2, and the Pioneer 500 far far far too noisy. So I think we made the right choice on the 420. We will see.
dc

I think you'll like the Rancher FA6. Mine is white as well... and I would have like the red, too, but it's not in the cards for this model year. I looked at a leftover 2018 FA6. The only color, other than the camo, was yellow. I was ok, but I liked the vapor white a little better.

I put close to 30 miles on it today. The Auto mode was smooth; I really liked it. It also has some grunt - really good down low and through the mid-range. It'll get up and go if you ask it. i didn't try top end for speed.

The suspension was good, and it handled very well. I am going to put a set of radial tires on it, though. Not that the stockers are bad, but I have radials on my other quads, and I think they are better for both comfort and control.

Good luck with yours. You're in the best possible area for ATV ownership! I would be in heaven!