$3,999
Springdale, Arkansas
Category
Atvs
Engine
-
Posted Over 1 Month
2008 Honda FourTrax Rancher 4X4 ES, One Owner Garage Kept ATV! The 2008 Honda Rancher 420 proved to be the most polarizing ATV in the bunch. Some loved the ESP (Electric Shift Program), while some wanted a totally automatic riding experience. There wasn't, however, any debate about whether or not ESP works, because it does-every time. Well, almost every time; the one incident in which we noticed that the Rancher 420 wouldn't upshift was while we were yanking half a ton of loaded trailer through a mud hole at full throttle, so we'll cut Honda some slack here. The other 99.99 percent of the time, ESP shifts crisply and precisely, whether you back off the throttle for a quarter of a second or shift under full throttle.While CVT transmissions can have a vague and somewhat disconnected feeling, the five-speed, electric shifting Rancher provides a "direct-drive" sensation that makes it feel sportier than the competition and really makes the most of its 420cc, fuel-injected powerplant. For steep, slippery descents in snowy Pennsylvania, simply pushing a button to downshift and gain additional engine braking was a welcome feature. Conversely, if we wanted to "wind her out" a bit and hit the rev-limiter before shifting, we had control over that, too.The new Rancher 420 has very quick handling, which is a definite improvement over the last generation Rancher. We were pleased to see two brake levers on the handlebar to give us individual control over front and rear. Though the front brake feels firm because it's a dual hydraulic disc, the rear mechanical drum brake feels wimpy, and the lever must be squeezed until it almost touches the grip before you feel you're actually applying any braking action. A chintzy storage compartment in the back doesn't hold much, and there is no button on the handlebar to engage and disengage 4WD. Rather, you must take your left hand off the bar and move a lever on the left-front fender-a feature everyone hated. When the going got rough, we found ourselves instinctively stabbing at the handlebar with our thumbs, hoping to find a 4WD button not there.The Honda Rancher ES is the only ATV in this test with a solid rear axle; every other quad had independent rear suspension. Some riders liked the sporty ride that the solid rear axle delivered, and some thought it was beating their lower back into submission. The reverse mechanism wasn't too hard to master, but there is still some room for improvement to make the process feel a little more natural. We'd like to be able to downshift from first into neutral and then into reverse without having to press a button near the rear brake lever and hold it down while squeezing the lever, though that's still better than twisting a knob as on most sport quads. These are minor faults-but enough to bar the Honda from the top spotPrice includes all manufacturer rebates, incentives and promotions. **Price is Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) and does not inc
