[kris396ss]

I've been riding a honda Recon I purchased new in 2001 and I'm pretty sure it's the 8th wonder of the world being that it still runs (barely lol) after what I have put it through.

recently I've been wanting to go riding upstate NY/PA with a few of my buddies and their lifted trucks and I wanted something that would keep up with them in being able to ride more mountainous/steep/rocky terrain.

Not looking to spend new bike money, so it leaves me with just browsing craigslist looking for bikes that might work, but I'm not really sure what machine will fit my needs best. Not sure if bigger is always better (or necessary) when it comes to trail capability.

I'm not using it for plowing, towing or utility work.
I just want to use it to haul camping gear and ride trails, but I need something that's going to have the best capabilities for rock climbing. I may have my GF ride shotgun on easier trails, but she's like 120lbs and even my Recon with an adjustable coil over rear shock never had an issue with that. I'm 5'10" 180lbs.

I've always loved the Rancher, seemed like a great bike for a reasonable price but I thought maybe different years had a different size frame. I'm assuming i'm going to want something with the highest possible ground clearance, but is going for a Foreman or Rubicon going to be something worth doing? What about IRS? Any years or bikes I should be on the look out for or stay away from? Rock climbing capabilities is my main concern, I'd like whatever is most capable out of the box without having to spend time/money modding.

Thanks!

 

[Goober]

I personally don’t consider ES models but i have friends that have never had problems—regular trips to a good shop knocks down typical problems.
Otherwise i like the Foreman 500 manual shift. And i like IRS.
Well they aren’t made for two-up riding though and the warnings state this.

for two up riding i have a CanAm outlander Max XT 500 with Constantly variable transmission. It is a magic carpet ride with no shifting and very fast. But more expensive

here’s one on craigslist

 

[Nanook12]

See if you can find a 2008 - 2013, 420 Rancher. Medium sized frame, good 4X4 traction, runs forever on a tank of gas, light-nimble machine. Perfect for your needs and shouldn’t break the bank. If you feel you need more performance in the hills, the Rubicon would be my next choice, 2014 and on has the full locker 4X4 and IRS. The same years in the Foreman has the full locker but not as smooth a ride as the Rubicon. Not a bad ride though.

 

[kris396ss]

Thanks for the replies! Nanook, j/w is there anything better about the 2008-13 rancher vs a newer one, or just cheaper? I know the newest ranchers come with IRS and front locker options but I they are out of my price range, and i'm not sure if any of the older ones had those options.


Goober, the two-up riding isn't a huge priority, it would only be riding like that on very easy/flat trails like the ones I do local (and again, I've been doing that on my Recon for years so i'm sure any of the bigger ones would be fine).

As far as bringing up other brands though, I am a little worried about sticking with honda as when I google good ATV's for rock climbing, almost everyone seems to unanimously agree that hondas aren't even in the running. Apparently a lot of people think the capabilities of the Hondas are no where near what the Arctic Cat, Bombardiers and even the Yamaha Grizzly can do on rocky terrain. It's a little disappointing because after my Recon, I really didn't want to ever buy anything other than Honda ATV. I don't think I've ever owned any product in my life that has withstood more abuse/neglect and has seen more use with as few problems as my Honda.

 

[shadetree]

your trying to compete with trucks that are/were built for rock climbing, atvs are NOT made for this !!. so it does not matter which honda you buy ?, your going down the wrong path if that is your main goal ?. as for what model will work wonders for just plain trails ?. anything that is 4x4 for sure !!. which ever model you go for , I highly recommend you buy a model that is manual shift, stay away from electric shifts !!! ( my own personal opinion ). also stay away from automatic transmissions.

 

[Nanook12]

Yeah the manual shift is bulletproof. The advantage of the earlier 420 Rancher was the perfect power to weight ratio. Then Honda decided to save money and put the Rancher on the bigger frame and leave the power output the same. The bigger frame works great with the bigger engine of the Foreman & Rubicon. Honda blew it when they dumped the mid sized 4X4 Rancher.

 

[mrbb]

my 2 cents here. as I live in PA
and know its very hilly, rocky and ,well, most riding is done illegally trespassing too , been here a LONG time
IMO< I would skip a rancher, and main reasons, higher gearing, it will lack some low going in the rocky hills we have, all the more so if ever two up riding!
a Rubicon that has the foot shift would be a better fit, or a foreman
you will get lower gearing and larger framed ATV, for that two riding now and then as well
ALL the newer ranchers now come on the full sized frames, same power and gearing basically just on a larger framed atv that is heavier as such, so HP to LB ratio's got lower, less impressive!

NOT sure what part of PA your planning to ride, but in all but the flat places of PA(southern parts)
any place that see's or seen a bunch of lifted truck , will have some serious ruts, that will high center most smaller atv's as well,
more OTHER brands than Honda when it comes to atv's allow for running taller tires that help in the ruts
adding taller tires to a LOW HP Honda, gets you a even lower HP atv, and as such when you get into the steep rocky hills here, ANY power loss will be noticed,
most all ATV trails here are full iof DEEP ruts as well, that will hang up a STOCK honda atv in most of the holes, due to so many folks running MUCH taller tires on bigger motors on atv's of other makers!
SO< if your asking for HONEST advice on what to BUY to ride here with lifted trucks and larger tired atv's
a HONDA< period , isn't on the wish list to be looking at!

now the bad news is, MOST Other brand atv's are NOT as reliable as a Honda, all the more so the larger cc'd one's, of earlier yrs
IF I was looking, I'd be looking at something like a used Yamaha Grizzly in the 700 cc , been about a LONG time and IMO second to ONLY Honda in reliability dept!
has a locker and can handle some slightly larger tires without as much notice on effects!

power steering is nice too in PA and all its rocky hilly trails!
MY 2 cents!

 

[Nanook12]

I weigh 200lbs and my 08 Rancher will climb anything I can hang on to. The gearing is perfect on the smaller framed 420 Rancher. The 4X4 has better traction than the 300s & 350 I owned previously. The smaller Rancher is a light-nimble machine and a joy to ride.

 

[mrbb]

I weigh 200lbs and my 08 Rancher will climb anything I can hang on to. The gearing is perfect on the smaller framed 420 Rancher. The 4X4 has better traction than the 300s & 350 I owned previously. The smaller Rancher is a light-nimble machine and a joy to ride.

never said it didn;t do well; or was a good atv

I said the facts, the ranchers have higher gearing, add taller tires to gain some clearance and you will loose power faster due to them higher gearing
add in NOW all ranchers are on the full sized frames, and you can see things changed!

very few folks keep OEM sized tires on there atv's, all the more so any of them that see MUD often, or want to again gain some clearance issue's

MY Honda atv has 25 inch tires, and about 5 inches of ground clearance, does me just fine, for what I do with it

' but if I was being 100% honest and wanted to run an atv with larger tires, and have POWER to spare for long steep rocky hills ,, or deeper mud and STILL wanted to run trails with some speed(NOT going gear reduction to t=urn tires in JUST mud here)
sadly, a Honda ATV wouldn;t be any where on my list!
sadly Honda's are just lower HP 4x4 atv's
strong drive trails and lower gearing at times, but, there NOT on par with HP of other brands for the $$$
and I LIKE Honda atv's they do all what I want, but I don;'t rack up tons of trail miles
and I am positive, HERE where I live, with so many STEEP rocky rutted out pipelines and tower lines, STOCK Honda atv's don;t do well at all when you add taller tires sadly!
as everyone else running taller tires with HP< keep making ruts deeper and deeper and wash outs deeper and deeper, some hills here are just plain brutal

 

[Z7What]

Im not sure what year they started but if you look hard enough you can find the 07-13 body style in a IRS as well. I had no clue they even made a IRS in that body style but a buddy of mine just picked one up for like $1200. Granted the plastics of faded and it needs a little TLC but it runs. Had a radiator relocation, snorkles, 2" lift, 14" wheels and 26" tires.

Wayne

 

[Nanook12]

I put 25” tires on 12” wheels on the 08 Rancher, when I bought it new. Mine is the manual shift SRA. The 2nd gear is as low as you need to go on the steepest hills. 1st gear will climb trees...

 

[shadetree]

never said it didn;t do well; or was a good atv

I said the facts, the ranchers have higher gearing, add taller tires to gain some clearance and you will loose power faster due to them higher gearing
add in NOW all ranchers are on the full sized frames, and you can see things changed!

very few folks keep OEM sized tires on there atv's, all the more so any of them that see MUD often, or want to again gain some clearance issue's

MY Honda atv has 25 inch tires, and about 5 inches of ground clearance, does me just fine, for what I do with it

' but if I was being 100% honest and wanted to run an atv with larger tires, and have POWER to spare for long steep rocky hills ,, or deeper mud and STILL wanted to run trails with some speed(NOT going gear reduction to t=urn tires in JUST mud here)
sadly, a Honda ATV wouldn;t be any where on my list!
sadly Honda's are just lower HP 4x4 atv's
strong drive trails and lower gearing at times, but, there NOT on par with HP of other brands for the $$$
and I LIKE Honda atv's they do all what I want, but I don;'t rack up tons of trail miles
and I am positive, HERE where I live, with so many STEEP rocky rutted out pipelines and tower lines, STOCK Honda atv's don;t do well at all when you add taller tires sadly!
as everyone else running taller tires with HP< keep making ruts deeper and deeper and wash outs deeper and deeper, some hills here are just plain brutal

I run stock tires/rims on all my toys, my pockets are not deep !!!..lol.

 

[Nanook12]

I run stock tires/rims on all my toys, my pockets are not deep !!!..lol.

The early 420 Rancher had odd ball sized wheels and tires. I took mine off and sold them to someone out in the bush. I used that money to buy some stock aluminum Honda 12” wheels that had new stock 25” tires. Someone had removed these new and put aftermarket on. I wish I could find another set of those Honda Aluminum wheels, they were stamped 2001 and were formed and welded.

 

[lrodgers1]

Nanook12 those are from a Rubicon 500.I agree with several above, 420 Rancher. The older 350 Ranchers are full time 4x4 and not as nimble. I ride a 2wd 350 Rancher and have the 12 inch Rubicon aluminum wheels.