Honda 420 vs 500

have a Recon, a Rancher, and a Rincon. My favorite of the 3 has to be the Rancher. This machine is the perfect size for maneuvering through the woods and has plenty of power to get you wherever you want to go. The Rincon is a beast but it is much heavier and a little less maneuverable. If I were to get one bike that was good at everything it would be a Rancher 4X4 electronic shift.

I don't think I'd ever need a 500. I currently have a 2014 250, and I ride three deep on that bitch through the red mud in Whiteville all the time. I prefer a lighter bike mainly because if I bog it, its much easier to get it unbogged. However I've yet to bog it in 3 years. So with all of that being said, if this bike will be used for hunting, and you don't weight +280lbs, I'd go with the 420. Its lighter, and has enough power to pull a 10 foot trailer around if needed.

I have a 2007 420 2wd and I keep getting stuck in a sandy creek bed. Time to upgrade to a 4wd. Thanks for the input. I think I’ll stick with 420.

I had a 2006 foreman 4x4 with ES. Had problems with reverse, two honda atv dealers and an atv shop in Echo couldn't ever fix it for good. The reverse sensor kept going bad and needed replacing. I liked the light on the handle bars. I should have got it with manual shift. I traded it in, with no reverse on a 2012 420 4x4 manual shift. it was a good atv, but sold it to get a buddy's barely used 2014 polaris ranger 570 mid size when I talked him into getting a crew cab ranger.

I'm 72 yrs old and have ridden Honda's, everything from a 90 3 wheel to my current 2008 500 rancher. The Rancher has electric shift and power steering(great for ole goats like me). Don't let anybody scare you off from electric shift, mine has performed flawlessly thru water over the rack and arse deep mud,.
Just be sure you get the manual shift pedal with it in case you do have electrical problems. Pop on manual pedal and keep on rolling. Good luck..

None of the above?

Post 2014 Hondas have o2 sensors that fail and one piece exhaust systems that rot.

If you're dead set on a Honda, and god knows why you would be, the 420 is the way to go. Not an ES model.

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Both have as much horsepower as the average riding lawnmower.

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My mower has a bigger motor than my grizzly

Only buy old Hondas

New yamaha.

My Honda rancher 420 was stolen two years ago. Still sad about it.

I just bought a slightly used 420 4x4 2016 with electric shift and Fuel Injection. Love it - Fuel Injection is a game changer. Would actually rather foot shift so I can free up my left hand to hold a beer or gun on the way to stand, but electric shift hasn't failed me at all. The newer ones (post 2014 I think I was told) don't have issues with electric shift that have been mentioned on here.