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Four wheeler

I

I Luv Herfrds

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Nov 8, 2007
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Location
Montana
Just wondering what type of 4-wheeler is used by others and what they think about them.

Husband has decided to no longer ride horses to work our cows. He's been busted up too much.

A neighbor has lost his lease and is auctioning a lot of stuff off. He has a couple of 4-wheelers. 1 is a Honda Rancher and the other is a Yahama Big Bear. What do you think of them? Sorry I don't know the year on them.
We have a Polaris Sportsman 90 that is our son's, but I know the hubby needs a bigger one.
 
I have a 2006 Honda Rancher and they are fool proof! Mine has 4400 miles on it and runs like a champion. The only thing I have done with it is change the oil really. Mine is the electric shift and I have heard of people having problems with the electric shif mechanism but I havent had any issues. I have a couple of friends that also have the Rancher and they put up to 20000 miles on them before the just decide its time for a new one and they run in the roughest toughest country possible.
 
I have a 2000 Honda Rancher electric shift, has over 1,400 hours and 8000 miles on it. They are as bullet proof as any piece of equipment I have ever known. I have not replaced anything on mine except battery and tires. It still starts and runs like new.
 
I've never had issues with a Honda either. Right now though we have a Kawasaki Mule "Trans" UTV. It has 2 rows of seats for up to 6 people, and the box on the back has hauled everything from fence posts to calves to bales. We love it. Although I'll admit, being a bigger machine it won't go places that a Rancher Quad will.
 
Yep--I got to go along with the bunch...I had an old Honda that went forever- plus a float in the irrigation canal when my youngest and her friend flipped it into there- still running when I traded it for the new one...Now have a 2006 Honda Rancher 4 Wheel Drive electric shift- and wouldn't have anything else..Small enough its easy to load into/on anything either with ramps or bale bed arms- can go right thru the walk thru gates in the corral- and big enough to do everything I need it to.....

And if you have the lack of brains to do it- it will fire right off at 20 Below after a couple pumps on the primer button...
 
I have a 2002 Honda Foreman w/ 14,000 mi. Mechanically it is bulletproof. It doesn't get maintained as well as it should but it still runs like a top. I'm on my third set of tires. I've hit lots of rocks (hard enough to bend rims and smash up the frame) and it has handled them fine. The only broken part I've had was part of the arm that holds the wheel on (from a rock). The only complaint I have is the brakes. Hard time keeping them working right. Water is really hard on them.
Dad had an '06 Rancher w/automatic trans. Liked the automatic, liked the engine, but a little too tipsy for me. He just traded for an '09 Rancher, and I hate it. It has an auto trans also, but they really went backwards with the transmission. Doesn't shift smoothly, and it is really finnicky about going from Drive to Reverse and vice cersa. If I was to trade, I would seriously consider an Arctic Cat 366. Never drove one, but it seems like it would be a good ranch outfit and very reasonably priced. New Rancher was $6500, new AC 366 around $5000. I hear that Hondas are also a little rougher riding than a lot of other makes.

I don't get excited about those big 700 cc machines. Worse gas mileage (I get 22 mpg and my Foreman is a 425cc) and if you get stuck you ain't pushing yourself out. Just MHO.
 
I have a rancher and a big bear and both have been really good. Got a polaris also from a farm sale, it has the least miles and has given a great deal more trouble.
 
Have owned quite a few Hondas, Yamahas, and Suzukis since the 80s. My advice is to get something that rides EASY, like the big Suzuki King Quads, and then just do the maintenance. Many Hondas will beat the sht out of you compared to the others. The only exception we had was a Rincon 650 that also had Independent Rear Suspension, but was a lemon. Avoid anything with a solid rear axle unless all your ground is smooth and you just putt along.
 
Honda's are a pretty good, reliable bike. I prefer the yamaha, especially the Kodiak. Seem to be just as long lived as the hondas but are a bit more comfortable. Plus, for those occasions where you feel the urge to move a cow with one (shudder) reverse is about 100 times easier and quicker to get into than any honda. You will appreciate that when the time comes :wink:
 
Honda has a good reputation for sure,I got a Kawasaki mule good machine,if I ever trade it will be the Honda foreman............good luck
 
I've got a 2003 arctic cat. Honda is a good machine but will cost you more money. They were $2000 higher when I bought mine. I have 5600 miles on it and only change the oil and put in gas. Never seen a repair shop.
 
Ditto to what the others have said about Honda. They are not the smoothest riding or the speediest atv but take reasonable care of them and they will run almost forever. This from a Polaris guy.

I have no experience with Yamaha beyond riding some of the original Moto 4 atvs they put out in the '80s. They were bulletproof too, but sure beat a guy to death. IMO, you don't "need" anything bigger than a 400 class atv unless you are Tim the Toolman.

I'm sort of 4 wheeler shopping and trying to keep an open mind. I've looked at Can-Am and was impressed. Never took a test drive. :wink: I see the local NH/Chevy dealer has taken on CF Moto atvs (Made in China) Makes me wonder if the Chinese build 4 wheelers like the Russians build tractors. :shock: Pretty decent looking rigs by the pictures. :roll:

http://www.menintools.com/cfmotocf500a.html
 
<chuckle> Of course I'm going against the grain here, but I'd recommend the Yamaha. Better riding and more comfortable, all while being close to the equal of the Honda in reliability.

Rod
 
Thanks for all the advice. Will see what we can get. The auction is next month.
Husband and son want this 1943 Ford army jeep. :roll:
Husband fences with his Willy's Jeep and just loves it. He does need something to chase cows, calves and horses with though. The Willy's just doesn't cut it. :lol:
 
Trouble with the 4 wheelers is you can't carry anything with you,,, I sure like the UTVs with 2 riders side by side, and the cargo box in back,,

Just an old f__ts opinion,,

:-)
 
I have had 3 different Arctic Cat bikes in the last 15 years. They have probably seen harder use than most other ATVs that I have seen and have held up well under the circumstances. They have been easy riding. The 400 with the straight axle has been less maintainence than the previous ones with independant suspension.

My Grandad in N. Dak used to buy a new Cadillac for a ranch vehicle every year through the 50's and 60's. As a very small boy I can remember riding with him as he gathered cattle off a pasture with one.
A story Dad would tell about Grandad involve a neighbor and an old ewe with weak twins that he loaded in the back seat from the pasture. The neighbor inquired, "You're not going to put that stinkin' old sheep in the car, are you?"
Grandad replied," They paid for it, they can ride in it."


Unfortunately the wealth didn't trickle down to me. :D
 
Jessntx said:
Trouble with the 4 wheelers is you can't carry anything with you,,, I sure like the UTVs with 2 riders side by side, and the cargo box in back,,

Just an old f__ts opinion,,

:-)
Click to expand...

Yup,thats where they shine..................good luck
IMG_1588.JPG
 

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