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Started By
Message
Honda 420 Rancher vs 500 Rubicon
Posted on 5/3/19 at 12:46 pm
Posted on 5/3/19 at 12:46 pm
Howdy all,
I made an offer on a piece of property that we used to lease years and years ago. They just accepted a new long term lease. Land will be used for deer/turkey hunting and letting the kids grow up outdoors.
My old 4 wheeler was on its last legs and flooded in 2016 and I never bothered repairing it (rebuilt my house instead).
I now need a new ATV. I do not want a SxS.
I went to Friendly Honda convinced I wanted a Honda Rubicon.
Reasons: I want IRS, electric shift and possibly Automatic, and its a solid ATV.
I walked out realizing that the Rancher 420 is probably a better buy for me.
Reasons: Comes in IRS, Electric shift and automatic, lighter, cheaper.
The bikes are exactly the same size, with the Rancher being 50lbs lighter.
Why advantages does the Rubicon have over the Rancher besides 50ccs and a headlight? The price difference was about $1,000 at Friendly.
Forgot to mention earlier, Electric shift or automatic is necessary, dad has MS.
ETA: The Rubicon does have shift on the fly 4x4, Rancher does not.
Brookhaven has the Rubicon deluxe for $7,900. They want $7,400 for a comparable Rancher (automatic, IRS).
I made an offer on a piece of property that we used to lease years and years ago. They just accepted a new long term lease. Land will be used for deer/turkey hunting and letting the kids grow up outdoors.
My old 4 wheeler was on its last legs and flooded in 2016 and I never bothered repairing it (rebuilt my house instead).
I now need a new ATV. I do not want a SxS.
I went to Friendly Honda convinced I wanted a Honda Rubicon.
Reasons: I want IRS, electric shift and possibly Automatic, and its a solid ATV.
I walked out realizing that the Rancher 420 is probably a better buy for me.
Reasons: Comes in IRS, Electric shift and automatic, lighter, cheaper.
The bikes are exactly the same size, with the Rancher being 50lbs lighter.
Why advantages does the Rubicon have over the Rancher besides 50ccs and a headlight? The price difference was about $1,000 at Friendly.
Forgot to mention earlier, Electric shift or automatic is necessary, dad has MS.
ETA: The Rubicon does have shift on the fly 4x4, Rancher does not.
Brookhaven has the Rubicon deluxe for $7,900. They want $7,400 for a comparable Rancher (automatic, IRS).
This post was edited on 5/3/19 at 12:54 pm
9
Posted on 5/3/19 at 12:54 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
I would go with the foot shift IRS rubicon with power steering. My Dad has one and so does a few others I hunt with, everyone loves them. The 420 isn’t as reliable.
Posted on 5/3/19 at 12:56 pm to Cypressknee
quote:
foot shift
Not an option for us. Has to have electric shift or automatic.
quote:
The 420 isn’t as reliable.
What breaks?
Posted on 5/3/19 at 1:08 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
quote:
Not an option for us
You don’t have a foot, or what?
Eta: read the full post, sorry about the joke. You can build a handle coming up from the foot shift and still be able to shift with your hand.
This post was edited on 5/3/19 at 1:16 pm
Posted on 5/3/19 at 1:11 pm to prostyleoffensetime
quote:
You don’t have a foot, or what?
As I said in my first post, dad has MS. He has almost no strength in his left leg and cannot operate a foot shift.
Any other questions?
Posted on 5/3/19 at 1:14 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
rubicon
foot shift w/ PS
if you ever go to a bigger set of tires, you won't regret the extra hp.
eta: ES since your dad's leg issue.
foot shift w/ PS
if you ever go to a bigger set of tires, you won't regret the extra hp.
eta: ES since your dad's leg issue.
This post was edited on 5/3/19 at 1:15 pm
Posted on 5/3/19 at 1:17 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
The 420 is more reliable than the 500.
You want automatic over electric shift. Honda shift motors go out if it sees water.
Personally, at that price point, an EPS Kodiak 700 is the better buy and more reliable bike long term. It doesn't have the emissions crap on it that the Honda has and the electrical connections are all sealed and greased from the factory.
Engine and transmission in any of them will run forever. Electrical and seals are what fails.
What are you going to be doing with the bike?
ETA: shoot me an email and I can help you out
You want automatic over electric shift. Honda shift motors go out if it sees water.
Personally, at that price point, an EPS Kodiak 700 is the better buy and more reliable bike long term. It doesn't have the emissions crap on it that the Honda has and the electrical connections are all sealed and greased from the factory.
Engine and transmission in any of them will run forever. Electrical and seals are what fails.
What are you going to be doing with the bike?
ETA: shoot me an email and I can help you out
This post was edited on 5/3/19 at 1:27 pm
Posted on 5/3/19 at 1:18 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
Are you planning on using it to just hunt and let the kids ride, or will it used as a working bike as well? if fun go with the Rancher.
Posted on 5/3/19 at 1:19 pm to X123F45
quote:
What are you going to be doing with the bike?
I didnt even get to that in the OP.
Hunting and riding dry land only. I wont be racing it, taking it on long trail rides, just going around the property and pulling a trailer.
The 500 Deluxe is what I want and overkill. The Kodiak/Griz is severely overkill, but in the same price range....
Very little water on the property and many ways to go around and stay out of "wet water" ditches.
Posted on 5/3/19 at 1:21 pm to commode
Working bike when we dont have to fire up the tractor. Wont be used to pull a disc or anything, but will see more work than play.
Rando, Ill shoot you something soon. I have your email if you want to take it down.
Rando, Ill shoot you something soon. I have your email if you want to take it down.
Posted on 5/3/19 at 1:26 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
If you're going to be working the property you're talking a difference of 2 hp between the rancher and foreman, but 20hp between them and a Kodiak.
While I personally prefer the Yamaha atv for working, I understand the overkill thing.
I just replaced one of my 1000 side by sides with Honda's 500. Why? Easier to maneuver in the yard and easier to drive at under 2mph.
ETA: it is unfortunately not a real automatic and instead an ES autoshift. 63 miles on it and it is already being diagnosed with a shifting issue when in auto mode.
Works GREAT when paddle shifting, but auto has a 1-2 second lag from first to second.
While I personally prefer the Yamaha atv for working, I understand the overkill thing.
I just replaced one of my 1000 side by sides with Honda's 500. Why? Easier to maneuver in the yard and easier to drive at under 2mph.
ETA: it is unfortunately not a real automatic and instead an ES autoshift. 63 miles on it and it is already being diagnosed with a shifting issue when in auto mode.
Works GREAT when paddle shifting, but auto has a 1-2 second lag from first to second.
This post was edited on 5/3/19 at 1:29 pm
Posted on 5/3/19 at 1:42 pm to X123F45
Im looking at the Kodia 450 EPS SE now. Hard to get a OTD price online. It will certainly come in cheaper than a Rancher or Rubicon, but also has less features.
Posted on 5/3/19 at 1:42 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
quote:
As I said in my first post, dad has MS. He has almost no strength in his left leg and cannot operate a foot shift.
Sorry, I missed that.
The ES bikes are more reliable than they used to be. I owned a foreman 450ES years ago for many years and hard miles. Only one time it didn’t shift for me then never did it again. The original rubicons (automatics) weren’t reliable but have come a long way. I don’t care for the gearing in the new ones myself. Go test drive them and go from there. With what you’ve said, I’d lean towards the ES 500.
Posted on 5/3/19 at 1:58 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
My buddy's Rubicon always felt more tippy than my Rancher. The Rancher did everything I ever needed from it. I had a manual though, so not sure how they get along with autos
Posted on 5/3/19 at 2:04 pm to Cypressknee
quote:
I owned a foreman 450ES
I have the same bike 2004 model. Gets used a lot during deer season, not so much the rest of the year and the ES has never let me down.
Posted on 5/3/19 at 2:07 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
quote:
Im looking at the Kodia 450 EPS SE now. Hard to get a OTD price online. It will certainly come in cheaper than a Rancher or Rubicon, but also has less features.
Email me. I can give you a rough idea of true cost and tell you how to get it.
Do not go 450 Yamaha. The unit is made by Yamaha. But thw motor is...different. It is internally identical to the old 450s, but the outside is different.
Usually that means not built by Yamaha. Give it a few years before buying it.
Posted on 5/3/19 at 2:08 pm to Cypressknee
quote:
The original rubicons (automatics) weren’t reliable but have come a long way.
The original Rubicon was the finest automatic transmission anyone has ever put into a 4wheeler.
We were all just too dumb to realize it back then
Posted on 5/3/19 at 2:35 pm to X123F45
The more I looked at it, the more I hated it.
Now it’s between Rubicon Deluxe and one of the Kodiak 700s.
For the price and my meager needs, the Rubicon Deluxe should be it.
Now it’s between Rubicon Deluxe and one of the Kodiak 700s.
For the price and my meager needs, the Rubicon Deluxe should be it.
Posted on 5/3/19 at 2:54 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
I think you can find a Kodiak eps for cheaper than a rubicon. At the very least it will be right there around the same price. I have a 2014 grizzly and I love that bike. the new Kodiak is very similar.
Posted on 5/3/19 at 3:15 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
Rando, Brookhaven has the Rincon for $7,500. Not sure what package as I’m on my phone, but this should considered as well, right?
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