I've decided that it's time to get a different four wheeler. I bought my Yamaha Bruin 350 4x4 about a year and half ago. I thought I was getting a good deal, but once I got it home, I discovered it had some issues. I finally got all the issues worked out, and it served me well this year, but I want to get something a little newer with fuel injection.
I've been considering a few different machines.
My spending limit is $4k MAX. That's pushing it. I'd prefer to keep it at $3500.
Requirements are:
Fuel Injection
Automatic Transmission or Electronic shift
400cc or better
I'd like 4wd, but 2wd would be sufficient.

I don't do any mud riding. I like to just cruise through the woods occasionally, and to drag a few deer out of the woods. Nothing crazy. I would like to get out and ride a little more this spring, though.

I've been looking at 2007-up Honda Ranchers , but the 4wd with electronic shift is out of my price range, and I don't like the foot shift. I've found a bunch of 2wd electric shifts in my budget, and have one in particular that I am seriously considering. That being said, I can't help but think about finding myself in a situation where I might need 4wd, and not have it. Hondas are very reliable machines, and I have some good friends that have been very happy with their ranchers.

Next, I've been looking at the 2008-up Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI 4x4.
I've always loved the sportsman models since I rode my first one in college in 1997.
Fully auto trans, on demand 4wd, independent rear suspension... Really ticks all the boxes of what I want in an ATV. Also , I've found a few low hour/mileage sportsmans in my $3500 price range. In particular, I found a nice 2008 model with some slightly cracked plastic (that had been repaired) nearby that I can get right away. It has had a new stator , starter, battery, and bendix (some water got in the recoil housing and caused the stator to burn up, so he replaced so those components).
I love the Polaris and all it's bells and whistles, but what the Rancher lacks in features, it makes up for in reliability.

Thoughts?

I would go with a Honda. Hard to beat them. They will not "tote the mail home to momma" but they are reliable.

I have owned 3 Yamahas, 1 Polaris and 1 Honda. The only one that never spent a day in the shop is the Honda.

Honda...my foreman will sit all year...go out....starts right up...

If you can find a Honda Rancher with ES, that's good, but the AT's SUCK. They won't pull a greasy string out of a cats butt.

Get 4x4. You may rarely use it, but when you need it, its priceless.

Suzuki Eigers are also good wheelers for a reasonable price.

Can not beat a honda. I had a rancher 2x4 that was orange with a set of mud lites on it that would go just about anywhere. I sold it and bought a foreman 4x4 that'll I keep til it falls apart. The only downfall to a honda is the front differential doesn't lock when you go to 4wd, and they may have changed that by now

If you dont want to ever buy another one, learn to like the manual shift Hondas.

Also a 4wd may rarely be needed but they handle a lot better and all actually much safer in hilly or awkward situations.

I bought a 680 Rincon a few years back and its been trouble free.. if I was to do over id look at one of the Honda 420 Ranchers. Rode one a while back and it feels much more "nimble" than my 680 does. I agree with the others about going ahead and getting 4x4.. If nothing else its resale will be much better.

I've got a '97 Yamaha 350 Big Bear that's never been in the shop. Starts every time first push of the start button. Replaced a couple of batteries but during the time before I replaced them one pull of the pull rope and the ol gal fire right up.

That is funny, I have a 98 and it has been a great 4 wheeler. But, it has needed work over the years. For its age, it has held up well.

Ugh. No votes for the Polaris so far.

been working on and racing fourwheelers since i was about 14. im 23 now and have worked on about every brand manageable.

I race a honda trx 450r. I have a 05 and 07. Hondas, whether it is sport or utility, are the cheapest to build, and most reliable.
HOWEVER, the ES stuff SUCKS. When it works, its great, but when it goes out, its a PITA to work on and expensive. After working on several, i would never buy one personally.
Grizzlys havent given me many issues, great fourwheelers
Had a few run ins with eiger electrical issues. Not a huge fan of them, but for the right price, i would buy one.

Also, what is your reason for EFI??
Just out of curiosity. EFI is great, but carbs are so much more simple to work on. Also dont have to worry about injectors, fuel pumps going out, etc. Racing motocross, i seen more issues out of the suzuki fuel filters and pumps than any other brand.
another thing i dont like about EFI is if it craps out on you in the woods, a lot of times, youre getting pulled back. Been the victim and the rescue. I like carbs for the fact of if something happens, you can pull it off, clean it out, and still get back home.

When it comes to some of the things on the newer fourwheelers, i prefer simple. Carbs, no power steering, auto or foot shift, etc.

Im not bashing any of them, they all serve their purpose, and are great inventions.

I bought a new fourwheeler this past october. I went with the Polaris Sportsman 400 HO.
Its carb, on demand 4wd, automatic, etc. Also, the 400 us to be their smaller sized atv, like the rancher is with Honda; However, they put the 400 on the full sized platform like their 500s. Cant remember if this change was this year or in the past year or two. The only thing i do not like about it is the racks. If you deer hunt alot, it is a pain to strap a deer to the racks.


If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. Can tell you the pros and cons of the majority of the models out there

Grizzly 660. 2wd, 4wd, and full locked 4wd. Auto. The only thing I didn't like about mine was it felt a little top heavy with stock rims. I put on some wheels/tires that widened the stance by 3 inches. It's perfect now. I wouldn't trade it for any other atv.

I've owned several different brands and Honda's will take the abuse that I give them hunting up here in the mtns. I just bought me a newer one a few weeks ago and my old one will be for sale as soon as I get the seat tear fixed. It's an 03 Honda Foreman if you'd be interested in one that old. I'm asking 2900 for it. Low miles and low hours for its age.

Let's throw this in the mix...
Just came across a newer foreman 500 for a good price. 4x4, electric shift.

Haven't considered a foreman yet.
Thoughts?

I used to ride ATVs a LOT and sell ATV accessories (to fund my habit). From pure mud to Tellico rock climbing, I have owned all brands and worked on all brands. There is only one ATV that will be here when a nuclear bomb goes off, an old 300 4x4 Honda. Now, that said, the best, beefiest, best motor (Kawasaki at that), and tough as hell was a 2004 650 Arctic Cat. It has the v-twin Kawasaki 650, all steel floor boards, good rack system, can hold 28" tires if you desire, and a diff locker and automatic. Yea, I said Arctic Cat. Only reason I sold mine in in 2006 was my wife was scared of it and would not ride with me. Well, for what I sold it for I bought two for us.

It all boils down to what you want, what your budget is and what it will be use for. You get good and bad in all brands of everything you buy.

good wheeler. if i ever buy another 4 wheeler for myself, it will be a honda in what ever size that has independent rear suspension. and 4x4 of course.

I have a foreman es and really like it. It will get the job done. I had to replace the shift motor at 1500 miles and my front breaks bottom out in a steep decline, but it always cranks when I need it to.

I've had Yamaha and Honda. I'll take my Honda Rancher 350 any day. I bought it from a guy on here about 3 years ago and it's been a workhorse. Strong enough to carry 2 people, a dog, guns, decoys, and crap through a flooded rice field but light enough that I can get it out of a mud hole by myself.

I rode it more this year than ever because my club doesn't allow trucks on any club roads. It held up awesome other than I had to replace the fuel line and clean the carb. Hell, it's a 04 so I'm bound to have a little issue here or there. Can't go wrong with a Honda IMO.

Dr. B