ATV Florida Forum

I currently have a 2005 Honda Rancher AT 400. Starting to get really annoyed with performace and service issues with this bike and I am considering getting something else. I just bought it at the end of August and it is getting ready to go back for the 3rd warranty problem. 1.) Would not shift. shift solenoid had to be cleaned and resealed. 2.) rear seal went bad and had to be replaced along with the pull starter after all the oil ran out the back side of the motor during a ride !!!! Now every time I get past say half throttle or if I'm  climbing something there is a loud clanking noise coming from the front of the engine/transmission. It's only 5 Months Old !!!!!!

I am thinking about maybe moving to yahama like the 400- 500 cc area or maybe the polaris sportsman 500 efi. Can y'all please give me some ideas about why you purchased and still love the bike you are riding. I dont want to move to something else I will have problems with. I like riding in the mud ofcourse (like L-cross) but also do some trail riding on private property and have been to ocala a few times riding.

Thanks for any help y'all can provide,
                                                     Dave

dang that must suck  i love my rancher i would go with the new rincon they r so nice and ride good 

Check out the YAMAHA '06 Wolverine 450 4X4 ;)

I can't believe I'm going to say this but what he said.  I have a 99 wolverine.  I absolutely love it and will buy another when I get money together or need another one.

As for why I love it.....where to start.
1. Easy to work on very little plastic to deal w/.  Also, it's a simple engine.  Nothing is complicated on it and everything is easy to get to.
2. Light weight.  It's easy to throw around when needed in mudholes or on the trail.
3. It can run through almost any mudhole that the big utes go through.
4.  W/ the 424 I can throw it around like a sport quad also.

Downside....
1. Yamaha's go through rear brakes.  Especially if you spend alot of time in the mud.
2. Well, I can't think of any other downsides right now.

06 wolverine!!!  ;)

To make things clear I will ellaborate on point 1 & 4 on the good list.

1. Plastics. The 2006 models have ALOT more plastic than previous models. They are very nice plastics though, no cheap plastic clips, everything is stainless screws/bolts.

4. 424, the previous models needed the 424 system to take the quad out of 4wd. The 2006 have push button 4wd. it is not the quickest pushbutton and takes a few seconds.

I got an 06 wolvy for my fiancee and she LOVES it. It followed my vinson with mud tires everywhere I went, even in deep water.

Im telling you Go and check out a '06 Wolverine 8)  I sat on it at the dealer and thought I was on a Sport Bike/Ute....It is very very comfortable.  Anyways long story short it's a good quad :ThumbsUp.gif

Well, I have learned a lot  about my 06 Polaris Sportsman over the last few rides. The ride delievered through the independant suspension front and rear provides a smooth non-jarring ride. A great ride. Handles awesome, uneven terrain does not through you around. The real AWD is incredible. When you are in AWD all 4 wheels turn it is not a limited slip. Down side because of the posi front end turning is tough. Also the 720 pounds is an issue. If you get stuck dont  bother getting muddy trying to push or pull yourself out you are really STUCK. Grab a rope and release the winch. I wanted a great ride and got it from the Polaris. I am sure after I put on some bigger tires the bike will be a better all around bike. If mudding is what you plan on doing the majority of the time look at the weight of the bike. Tires make a big difference also. Comfort is important also. Just my 2 cents

my mom has the 06 wolverine and its a blast to ride, it feels kinda like a sport when u ride it, yet its a 4x4, id say it handles alittle better then a 250ex, but thats jus cuz it wieghs alot, and it tops out at about 55, in a drag stock to stock it keeps up with my kfx400 till 5th, the suspension is also prety sporty, the back bottoms a little easy tho its a great all around bike i think...  ;)

My buddy has a bombardier outlander 400, and i love the quad. When you hit the throttle the rear end squats and you pick up speed very fast.  IRS very nice.  And it does good in the mud.  Havent ridden it enough for any more info so thats juss a suggestion.  i love the quad

get the new recon 650 or the rancher or the forman 500! ethier one of those.

if u ride in mud the Wolverines are not geard for big tires the rancher is geard better then the Wolverines and the rancher isnt gread low at all
stick with honda

I think he wants a Yamaha because his Honda sucks.

I purchased a new polaris 500 HO because I had owned a 2000 model 325 and it served me well and I ride hard. Just needed a little more power. I had 26 inch mud bug tires on the 325 and liked them so well that I put them on the 500. I have also told several people about the mudbugs and they also like them.

wolverines may not be the best if u just want it for mud, but the wolverine is a great all around quad, and it has plenty of power ;)

i go with a polaris sportemen 500 or 800 thos are some bad a$$ fourwheelers

I own a polaris Sportsman 500HO, and its the best

hey  man where do you ride in jax?

No offense but you just got your quad w/in the last 2 weeks.  I know you love your quad like most of us.  However, most of us that are donating comments have been on our quads for over a year and have had experience on several other quads.  Nothing is the best....all quads have short comings in one way or another and seat time is the only way to know them.  Get some more seat time in then comment. 

the new Wolverine Sport/ute are for all types of riding. the 2006 have low 4wd drive, the down side of the older ones. plus IRS suspension! Good choice there Cody. ;)

Just go ahead and get a Grizzly. Then you can pull all the 2000 # Polaris' out of the mud... right after you pass them!  ;)

It would be best to ride a few before you make a decision. The polaris is a cadillac when it comes to comfort. On the trailrides at L-Cross my polaris is pulling them all through the good stuff and most of the time I am playing in two wheel drive where those others are in 4WD. You cannot beat a good set of tires if your gonna play in the good stuff. One thing to look at in the wolverine is that it is all time 4wd and you will get tired of riding it unless you put an UNlocker in the front end.  You already have a HONDA so I would not go with what I have had a bad experience with.

Not the new ones Yunt... Electric shift 2wd and 4wd with 4wd low

actualy there is no low 4wd, but it is a push button "on comand" 4wd, and its not electric shift, its cvt auto, idk if thats what u meant or not but theres a difference

I've riden a polaris for many years and other quads and i still think the polaris is the best, thats my opinions. My son had a honda and it stayed in the shop most of the time. He now has a polaris 325. And Loves it.

Sorry, I'm an idiot.  I hadn't realized you had rode so much.  Seemed from your posts that you were new to the sport.

As for getting tired of a full time 4wd wolverine.  Never happened for me.  Had mine in full time 4wd for 4 yrs.  Just got the warn 424 to unlock the front diff.  Makes the quad more fun around the turns.  It is an option you can buy on all the older wolverines.  Most wolverine owners swear by them.

no probably, only new to posting on atv sites, hopefully we can ride together soon.

in late 2004 our party went atv happy.
 one day my son in law, my son and myself went atv shopping. we first went to sky power sports in lake wales. we stood around IN the showroom for about 30 minutes. we watched sales reps talkin on the phone, talkin to each other, looked directly at us and ignored us. we left. went to fun bike center in lakeland. were promptly met at the door by a young man pierced more times on his face than a pin cushion. every question we asked he had to disappear into an office to get us an answer. but he had no probs bashing anybody elses product not on his showroom floor. we ended the day at bartow motor sports in bartow. (now barry motorsports in lakeland)
 the sales people were courteous, knowedgable, did not bash other brands, allowed us to test ride, made us feel at home. that day we bought a sportsman 600 twin, sportsman 400 and a magnum 300. later in the month friends bought 2 700's another 400, and a 500.
 one of 700's got water in the diffs. had some front end probs with the 330. all taken care under warranty by bms. no serious probs with any of them.
 the best performing of the bunch is 400's and the 600. all are equiped with mud lites and pretty much unstoppable. we've had them in some pretty insane places. mud u couldnt walk or even crawl thru.
 have even pulled a 1 ton chevy 4 door 4x4 out of the mud with the 600. no, he wasnt all the way dug in but he wasnt moving either. the others in the party were already dicussing where they could go borrow a tractor. i said hey....it'll be the equivalent of 10-12 guys pushin on it. lets give it shot. and it worked!
 we like our polaris's. they r a bit heavier than most equally sized machines. but when u look under them u see the difference. they r kinda like the tractors of the atv family. thats just my .02 though. others feel equally as strong about their atv's too. best bet is brand dont really matter. get a good dealer with a good reputation. then when u have probs ( and u WILL) u'll prolly still be happy with your atv.