Used foreman 450 - a good deal?

[Touchdown88]

They are bomb proof. We have one on the farm that has beaten like a rented mule and never failed us. From the mountains to the swamps we put it through hell and it fires up every time we need it.

 

[HighUintas]

How's your back? I'll never go back to a solid rear axel machine or one without EPS. I put around 2000 miles a year on my machine.

Young and strong yea I've ridden them enough in my youth 25 years ago to know they can be a rough ride, but I really doubt I'd put more than a few hundred on it in a year. It's mainly just for hunting and accessing rough areas to save wear and tear on the truck. I wouldn't be using for recreational riding much ara all.

 

[Terrapin]

Holy smokes, I have an 07 Honda Rancher with 500 miles on it…. I guess I always figured it was easier to walk than load up a 4 wheeler. I guess I should sell it and retire


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[HighUintas]

Holy smokes, I have an 07 Honda Rancher with 500 miles on it…. I guess I always figured it was easier to walk than load up a 4 wheeler. I guess I should sell it and retire


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I'll buy it for 2500

 

[HighUintas]

What do you guys think about a new 2024 rancher for $5800? It's a manual 4x4, no added options. I think MSRP was $7200ish. Of course, they also want 1600 in dealer fees on top of that. So all in it's around $8000 with the tax.

 

[rabbithuntr]

It’ll probably hold its value, I had a friend buy a new 23 and sold his 17 privately for what he paid for the 23

 

[JMundy84]

Those old Honda's are absolutely bulletproof I personally know of 99-2000ish 450 es with over 10k miles on them only problems theyve ever had were with the es system so rh foot shift would cure that. I had a 2001 450 es until 3 years ago when I bought a 23 base model foreman the power and ride is much better on the newer ones but I wouldn't shy away from the older ones at reasonable prices.

 

[Broomd]

How's your back? I'll never go back to a solid rear axel machine or one without EPS. I put around 2000 miles a year on my machine.

100% true, I hopped on a neighbor's Foreman 450 a few years ago and was stunned how poorly the ride compared to my Yamaha 700 grizzly, or even the ole 660 for that matter.

I had a couple of the Foreman 450's while living in Alaska and hadn't remembered them riding so rough. But....I was in my 30's then!
They (Hondas) are pretty much all that is owned in remote villages due to their reliability. That SRA will punish a guy though.

 

[HighUintas]

Those old Honda's are absolutely bulletproof I personally know of 99-2000ish 450 es with over 10k miles on them only problems theyve ever had were with the es system so rh foot shift would cure that. I had a 2001 450 es until 3 years ago when I bought a 23 base model foreman the power and ride is much better on the newer ones but I wouldn't shy away from the older ones at reasonable prices.

100% true, I hopped on a neighbor's Foreman 450 a few years ago and was stunned how poorly the ride compared to my Yamaha 700 grizzly, or even the ole 660 for that matter.

I had a couple of the Foreman 450's while living in Alaska and hadn't remembered them riding so rough. But....I was in my 30's then!
They (Hondas) are pretty much all that is owned in remote villages due to their reliability. That SRA will punish a guy though.

Kinda in between several options

98 450 s, 5500mi for $2800
98 450 es, 2200mi at $2600
2002 rancher 350 es w $1k plow, 1050mi at $3000-$3500
2024 manual shift rancher 4x4 base, new at dealer, $8000 out the door

I've found some info on waterproofing the ES system to make it as reliable as the manual, so not too worried about ES vs manual

 

[JMundy84]

Can the new ranchers be put into 2wd? My new foreman does and make a huge difference in steering on tight trails when you don't need the extra traction especially going downhill

 

[HighUintas]

Can the new ranchers be put into 2wd? My new foreman does and make a huge difference in steering on tight trails when you don't need the extra traction especially going downhill

Yup.

 

[Blockcaver]

Can the new ranchers be put into 2wd? My new foreman does and make a huge difference in steering on tight trails when you don't need the extra traction especially going downhill

I had a 2008 Rancher that allowed you to shift between 2 and 4 wheel drive. Was fuel injected too, but still rode very stiff with a hard seat and solid rear axle.

 

[Blockcaver]

As per electric shift, I never had a shift issue with it on my 2002 Rancher 350 or the 2008 Rancher 420. They were used in CO and the dry interior of BC. I didn't mud, drive in muskeg, cross rivers etc with them though..

The Inuits won't use an electric shift bike in northern Canada, as they do all the above that I didn't! Manual shift for them.

 

[wind gypsy]

If a guy was going to be spending $3k on a 25 year old bike or $8k on a new honda 500 I'd also give something like this a serious look:

https://www.atvtrader.com/listing/2022-Yamaha-Kodiak+450-5037371874#sid=763339

 

[KenLee]

If a guy was going to be spending $3k on a 25 year old bike or $8k on a new honda 500 I'd also give something like this a serious look:

https://www.atvtrader.com/listing/2022-Yamaha-Kodiak+450-5037371874#sid=763339

Only reliable Yamaha I've owned was an outboard motor

 

[wind gypsy]

Only reliable Yamaha I've owned was an outboard motor

Interesting. I’ve heard lots of good stuff about their ATV reliability. Enough to buy one that has been great to me but I’m not a high hrs/mileage user.

 

[HighUintas]

Interesting. I’ve heard lots of good stuff about their ATV reliability. Enough to buy one that has been great to me but I’m not a high hrs/mileage user.

I always see reliability for ATVs listed as Honda>Yamaha>Kawasaki.

That does seem a great deal, but I'm looking for as low tech and as light as possible.

 

[wind gypsy]

I always see reliability for ATVs listed as Honda>Yamaha>Kawasaki.

That does seem a great deal, but I'm looking for as low tech and as light as possible.

I was looking at it as comparable to the new rancher. Not sure what is higher tech or materially heavier than the rancher?

 

[HighUintas]

I was looking at it as comparable to the new rancher. Not sure what is higher tech or materially heavier than the rancher?

I think I must have accidentally looked at a different machine.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I bought both of these old machines for $3,000. Put new carbs, changed filters and fluids, and cleaned out the fuel tanks.

They take a bit to start when very cold but so far they have been solid machines. Very light, aren’t top heavy like the new big machines, and the smaller engine can easily carry my heavy ass and a deer strapped to the back with no hiccups. They aren’t a Honda, but haven’t left me or my kids stranded anywhere yet.

If you want to come pick one up and borrow it for the season and see how you like it come on down and get it.