Rancher or Bruin

[wtnhunt]

Have heard good things about both of these, and we are looking at maybe getting a new 4 wheeler pretty soon. In a 350 auto 4 wd they cost about the same. Kind of leaning towards the Honda, but have heard really good things about the Yamaha too.

Would be for general use around the farm here, stuff like pushing the cows from pasture to pasture, some for hunting, hauling out deer from places I cannot get the tractor.

[AaronS]

Both are good wheelers. If you are set on an auto, the Rancher auto is 400 cc. If they still sell the Rancher 350 is it electronic (thumb) shift and foot shift. The Rancher has been around a while and has proven itself and the Bruin is newer, but Yamaha has a good reputation. One downfall of Honda quads.....they don't offer them in camo. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Give each one a test ride and see which one feels best to you. Also take into consideration the dealer, if you need work done a bad dealer can turn a good quad into a bad experience. I don't think you could go wrong with either.

[huntinsonovagun]

Nothing like the reliability of a Honda. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[preacherman]

I have got a Honda Rancher and love it. If I had to buy a new one today, I would go back with a Honda Rancher. I would rather go with it than the Bruin because I have alot of friends who have bought the automatic stuff that Yamaha has put out and had trouble with it. Just my opinion.

[wtnhunt]

Thanks guys. Thinking we are leaning more towards the rancher maybe with the electric shift. Really am thinking I dont like the yamahas belt drive so much.

[Illinoisbowhunter]

You can't go wrong with the Rancher! http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Chrud]

Personally, I would like to get a Yamaha Kodiak 450 (Realtree Edition). But, my brother just got a Rubicon 500. This may seem a little odd, but in my opinion, when you buy something, buy something! I personally wouldn't buy a fourwheeler under a 400, just for the extra power. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[gt2003]

Let me differ just for the sake of differing. I wanted a 4 wheeler for getting to my furthest away stands, filling up feeders as well as hauling out deer. Nothing else really. I bought the simple Kawasaki Bayou 250. It fits all my needs and from what I've seen I saved anywhere from 1-4000 bucks on other ATV's. Like I said, just my opinion. This is the second year I've used it and haven't had any problems whatsoever. Good luck getting something that fits your needs. Take care, Greg

[preacherman]

[ QUOTE ]
Personally, I would like to get a Yamaha Kodiak 450 (Realtree Edition). But, my brother just got a Rubicon 500. This may seem a little odd, but in my opinion, when you buy something, buy something! I personally wouldn't buy a fourwheeler under a 400, just for the extra power. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Chrud,

If a man can afford it, I would totally agree with you. I have a friend who owns a Rubicon and that thing is out of this world! If you can buy bigger than a 350, I would. Rancher makes a 400 4x4 and these are great bikes.

Scott

[Chrud]

That is a problem with that philosophy though. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

When I get a truck, I thought about something like an S10, but that ain't going to be able to do anything that I want. I need to buy a TRUCK! http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif A few people at work say their 350's plow snow like no tomorrow, so I'm sure they are nice machines.

[wtnhunt]

[ QUOTE ]
Personally, I would like to get a Yamaha Kodiak 450 (Realtree Edition). But, my brother just got a Rubicon 500. This may seem a little odd, but in my opinion, when you buy something, buy something! I personally wouldn't buy a fourwheeler under a 400, just for the extra power. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Dont really need something bigger for our needs, I have a 47 hp 4wd kubota tractor for any big chores and so the 4 wheeler does not need to be big. It will not be used for any food plots or pulling much of anything more than my rear end and some deer. The 350 is a perfect size, I had an 87 model 350 honda foreman, it was light and went pretty well anywhere I wanted to take it.

I had actually considered a 400 when looking at the yamahas, but the gain in pulling power on the yamahas from a 350 to a 400 is minimal. Not sure on the hondas, but will check before we any final decisions.

[JimT]

I have an 01 Rancher 350 that has been flawless. It is just as fast as a Foreman 450 all day. I would buy another Rancher in a second. Buy it. You wont be disappointed.

[bowhtr1]

It depends on what you do. If you want to just play get a rancher. If you want to play and pull stumps get a Honda 450es forman. The 2005's are 500 cc. You may outrun me on the road but not on hills or on the trails. Honda makes great bikes. Just for lite hauling and alot of riding get the Honda Rancher AT. This is the 400cc with auto trans. Just my two cents. I have pics of my 450es with a few mods on my website page below. It was in bad shape when I bought it.

[johnf]

I took a test drive on both. Personally I didn't like the way the Yamaha felt. It didn't turn as well as the honda and seemed a little "tippy" to me.

Have you looked at the Suzuki Ozark? I really liked it. It would by my first choice for comfort and price.

[wtnhunt]

Ended up with a new 2004 foreman 450. Think we got a pretty good deal.

[bowhtr1]

wtnhunt, great machine you wont be sorry. I should have posted the best place to get one in your area. In north Ms. Lake Hill motors is the cheapest price that I could find. lakehillmotors.com I guess I am late. They were 600 dollars cheaper than anywhere else I could find. I had 3 friends ride up there to get one from New Orleans. Sorry for not posting before hope you still got a good deal. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[DSGB]

Gotta go with a Honda! I have my dad's old '87 Big Red three-wheeler and it still gets the job done - and is fun to play with. A buddy of mine has an '01 Rancher and is very happy with it. Honda motors are the best!

[wtnhunt]

Thanks bowhtr1, just checked out that sites prices out of curiousity and we paid just a little less than what they have advertised.

Bought it from abernathys in union city, was a little closer to us too.

[brad dryden]

I have 2 ranchers 350s and like them it has the electric thumb peice shifterbut make sure you let off the gas when you shift its hard on them when you power shift it becouse a relitive of ours was driving it and the 2 teeth in the gears that shift it up and down well he broke them by power shifting it and messed up like a gear or 2 so we had to get those new gears and the shifter peice but their are still rough spots in the gears still and it sticks in gears so then you have to turn the key off and turn it back on and put it in neutral to start it but they are still good 4 wheelers. But you can get them with the automatic clutch so you dont have to let off the gas but thats a little more.

[RyanH]

MY Buddy has a rancher! AAnd he loves it!

[DSGB]

[ QUOTE ]
you have to turn the key off and turn it back on and put it in neutral to start it

[/ QUOTE ]
Is that the new Microsoft transmission? http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif