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Honda...Standard Shift, No Electric Shift Stuff.....Solid Rear Axle. Honda truly is BEST ON EARTH. As far as power goes, just buy what you can afford. You'll be very happy with any of them.

Got an 04 Foreman 500... Thing is tough!! I love mine.. Bought an 06 Grizzly 660 and sold it after two months. Damn thing was to big and heavy.. The 500 is perfect.. In my opinion.

SFDdelta1 wrote:go with the rubicon and be done with it

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My sentiments exactly, buy a rubicon (500 foreman 4x4 automatic) and be done with it. It has changed my life. Will never own another Polaris again.

I would go with the standard foot shift. That is what I did....just less stuff to fowl up or break that way...

grnhed wrote:I would go with the standard foot shift. That is what I did....just less stuff to fowl up or break that way...

Till you have had an auto you just dont know what you are missin......I felt the same way, one less thing to screw up.....I dont care what it cost...screw shiftin gears......and screw a ruff ridin skrait axle.....

DUCKAHOLIC wrote:

grnhed wrote:I would go with the standard foot shift. That is what I did....just less stuff to fowl up or break that way...

Till you have had an auto you just dont know what you are missin......I felt the same way, one less thing to screw up.....I dont care what it cost...screw shiftin gears......and screw a ruff ridin skrait axle.....

I've had both...I agree the auto is nice. Ive just had several autos screw up on me at the wrong time when trying to go hunting.

My Polaris has been the worst decision of my life to date. Next bike will be a Honda, for sure.

I had been without a wheeler a few years until Katrina hit. After a few days pulling limbs I said pizz on it and went to the Honda store. Looked at the Rubicon but went with the Rancher because all they had in the Rubicon had the electric stuff on it. Yes, I wanted one that you had to shift for reliability and if you can't shift your bike while holding onto your beer then you just aren't coordinated enough to be riding one in the first place. I put that little Rancher thru hell pulling stuff that it never should have been hooked up to. Sometimes the bike would dig a hole but if it ever got that log to slide any it wouldn’t stop. It has been reliable and can be lifted out of a tight spot. I have been really pleased.

There is only like 30 pounds weight difference between the Rancher(+/- 560 lbs) and Foreman(+/- 590 lbs).

I have the 420 Rancher with the 2wd/4wd lever. Like Dan P said, if you stick it, you can pick it up or lean it over on it's side to put something under one set of tires to get some grip.

Honda's are not what they used to be.. I went thru this process back in 2005 and everyone kept saying go with a Honda.. But I know I wanted 3 things on my bike.. IRS (cause the ride is worth it) Ground Clearance, and True 4WD. But the only bike Honda made that had all was the Rincon and it was new at the time and like 8k... I got all I wanted and more out of my Arctic Cat 400 4X4.. 12" inches of ground clearance and IRS and true 4wd for $5,600 OTT with a 2 year warranty.. And it has a lot better features than any of the lower priced Honda's.. Oh and it also has a Suzuki engine which according to several ATV mechanics is the most reliable since Honda switched engines in the late 90's..

Honda used to the industry leader, but the other brand caught up and IMO surpassed them on features.. I think Honda is a great bike if your doing farm work..

An Artic Cat is kinda like a Dodge...........hope you like it a lot cause they AINT no resale in it....you buy a Honda its like a Toyota.....plenty of resale and plenty of people lookin for em

Greenhead22 wrote:I have the 420 Rancher with the 2wd/4wd lever. Like Dan P said, if you stick it, you can pick it up or lean it over on it's side to put something under one set of tires to get some grip.

+1 on this model, it'll scoot and I ain't very light in the britches

DUCKAHOLIC wrote:An Artic Cat is kinda like a Dodge...........hope you like it a lot cause they AINT no resale in it....you buy a Honda its like a Toyota.....plenty of resale and plenty of people lookin for em

I aint plannin on selling it..

You cant beat a Honda. Now are the new bikes what the old ones are? No. The fenders tear up, and the motor isnt near as bulletproof, but they still are good bikes. They are pretty plain and simple....so if you want all that suspenion, snorkels, chrome rims, boxes, backrests, rack attachments, and all sorts of paraphinalia, then the artic cat is for you, but if you want a bike that has preven itsself over the years, then get a honda. Oh and they use their own engines...artic cat uses and has used everything under the sun