I am thinking about getting a new atv because my 1999 honda recon is worn out and after seeing how reliable dependable and tough that thing is I want another honda. Anyway I am between the rancher and the foreman I will be using it to trail ride and soft mud and I will be getting SRA because IRS are tippy. Oh and is the diff lock on the foreman really necessary? Also I will be using it in tight trails I would like to know how each of them perform. Thanks.

 

No Honda ATV has diff lock, they have the TraxLok and torque-sensitive front differential which does not work like lockers, its still a one wheel drive front end. It tries to send power to the front wheel with the most traction.
Diff lock ,locks the front end solid and both wheels turn no matter what.
Only Honda,s SXS,s has diff lockers not their ATVs.


Their almost the same machine but the Rancher is a smaller mid sized chassis while the Foreman if a full sizes chassis.
The foreman has more load and tow capacity and larger 25" wheels.
That's why the Foreman cost more then a Rancher because its more beefy of a machine.

On tight trails you may have more fun on the more nibble Rancher, its still a larger chassis ATV the your Recon. Strange why Honda puts small 24" tires on a 420cc 4x4.

 

I'm talkin about the new 2014 ones that have not come out yet. The foreman will have diff lock the rancher will still have traxlok.

 

Cool , it only took Honda 12 years behind the rest to finally add Diff lock.
They just have to add a OHC motor drop the lower powered OHV and scrap the rear Mechanical drum brake and they would totally catch up with the times.

Back to the question, the Foreman will always remain a "full chassis" ATV and the Rancher a Mid Chassis.

On tight trails I sure find my 350 Grizzly mid size turns a lot tighter and more fun through the narrow trails then my full sized 500.
Same will happen with the Foreman and Rancher.
I ride with a 2006 500 Foreman and a 2008 420 Rancher and the Foreman sure looks like a best compared to the Rancher when their parked side by side.

 

I want diff lock (sometimes makes all the difference in the swamp) a midsized chassis ( for tight trails which are most of them around here) and SRA ( because IRS are tippy) and gears ( are more fun than auto).

 

Is the Rancher is not getting the diff lock in 2014 like the Foreman?
If not put some nicer 25" or 26" tires on the Rancher and it will go anywhere you want.
I put 26" Maxxis Zillas on my 350 and it turns them without a problem.
A 420 would turn them without working a sweat, plus you get more ground clearance..

 

I don't think the rancher is getting the diff lock just go on honda motorsports and read about it. Some People say on honda atvs just tap the front break and the front wheels will lock is this true? If so then it wouldn't be to bad for me. Oh and what is the biggest size tire you can put on a rancher without lift spacer or trimming? So far I'm thinkin about the rancher. But still want some more info. Thanks for all the info so far.

 

The guy in our group put on 25" tires on his 2008 Rancher 420 with plenty of room to spare.
You can tell 26" would fit no problem though.

 

Yea I would probably put 26 or 27. When you tap the front brake in 4wd does it really lock the front wheels I've heard that works for some people?

 

Go on youtube and lookup 2014 honda rancher and should be the first vid. Watch it and it will tell you about 4x4 and when it does notice I never says the rancher has that 4x4 system just the foreman.