2007 Honda Rancher
In the world of Honda ATV's, this unending quest for excellence has produced legendary machines like the FourTrax 300s (TRX 300/FW) and thier worthy descendants, the Fourtrax Ranchers (TRX 350TM/TE/FM/FE). For 2007, the saga continues with the all-new TRX 420 Fourtrax Rancher line.
When a company sells more than one million of the same ATV model family - as Honda did with the TRX 300 and Rancher series - many would question the wisdom of tinkering with success. After all, for ranchers, farmers, hunters, and utility and industrial users, the Honda Rancher has become the perfect tool for the job at hand. Yet the Honda way demands a constant process of improvement, and in the case of Honda's bread-and-butter Rancher models, the time had come to build a better tool. The result? A healthy infusion of technology has produced a new class leader that sacrifices none of the essential value-oriented goodness of the TRX 350 line.
Even though the 2007 Rancher is all-new, the same four popular platforms are offered:
The 2WD TRX 420TM (manual shift) and TRX 420TE (with ESP, Honda's Electric Shift Program) and their 4WD cousins, the TRX 420FM and TRX 420FE.
The major changes include:
Rancher Engine - When the decision was made to increase displacement by 70cc, add EFI and switch to liquid cooling, the Rancher engine was essentially made from a clean sheet of paper. The engineers wisely began with a longitudinally mounted engine layout, a signature design that first appeared on the multipurpose Foreman 400. By aligning the engine output shaft with the drive-shaft, little engine output is lost to power-robbing gears en route to the driving wheels.
To gain added cylinder volume, the bore was increased by 8mm to 86.5mm and the stroke was increased by 3.5mm to 71.5mm (vs. 68.0mm). A 7.2 liter airbox (29% larger) feeds a significant amount of cool air past the fuel injector and into the two-valve cylinder head. Larger valves ensure that the added air/fuel volume gets into the big combustion chamber. The intake-valve diameter is now 1mm larger than before (35mm vs. 34mm), and the exhaust valve diameter increased a substantial 7% to 30mm (vs. 28mm). With a bore-stroke ratio of 1.2:1, the design yields a torquey power plant that produces maximum horsepower at 6000 rpm - 500 rpm below the older design.
Liquid cooling stabilizes operating temperatures and permits closer manufacturing tolerances within the engine. The result is more efficient combustion (for increased power and lower emissions) as well as longer engine life. And with the addition of Honda's trouble-free Keihin EFI system - proven in the top of the line Rincon - engine performance is maximized across a broad range of operating conditions, including cold weather and changing altitudes. The spent gasses are exhausted through a stainless-steel header and a 4.8 liter canister - one liter larger then the TRX 350's - to minimize back pressure and ensure quiet operation.
The net result for the TRX 420 is impressive. With a 28% bump in displacement, torque increased 30% (23.8 lb/ft. at 5500 rpm) and horsepower jumped 27% (26.2 bhp at 6000 rpm). To keep all of this newfound power in the comfort zone, the engineers rubber-mounted the engine to the frame and employed a gear-driven counter-balancer to reduce unpleasant vibration.
A 15.8 kw cooling fan was added to the radiator to maintain favorable engine temperature under adverse conditions. Since the oil cooler was no longer needed it was eliminated, saving weight. Power is transmitted to the driving wheels through a durable clutch that now has seven friction plates instead of six. A beefy five speed gear box with an ultra-low first gear and reverse makes sure the right gear is available at all times.
Another notable enhancement is the use of a 343 watt alternator, which replaces the 245 watt unit to provide plenty of power for accessories such as winches and auxilliary lights.
Rancher Driveline - The ES versions of the Rancher models (TRX 420TE and TRX 420FE) feature Honda's reliable Elecronic Shift Program (ESP). Made popular on the first-generation Rancher series and the Foreman 450ES before it, shifting is simply and precisely accomplished with just the press of an upshift or downshift button mounted on the left handlebar. Gear-engagement speed varies according to rider style: The transmission shifts more quickly when riding style turns sporty. A neutral lockout at speeds greater than two miles per hour ensures available engine braking when descending hills. To maintain smooth shifting, the transmission cannot be shifted from neutral to first gear or reverse gear at engine speeds above 300 rpm. ESP is incredibly durable and not battery-dependent, operating whenever the engine is running. Should the rider ever need to shift manually, he or she can use an auxilliary shift lever equipped in the toolkit.
New for the 2007 Rancher is the inclusion of TraxLok, Honda's proprietary 2wd-4wd shifting system. When it debuted in 2003 on the Fourtrax Rincon, TraxLok was an immediate hit with riders. On the Rancher, a tough mechanical switching mechanism is ready to engage/disengage when conditions permit. It provides a "natural" feel that is not present in many systems.
Rancher Chassis and Suspension - The 2007 Rancher drapes an all-new, sturdy steel frame around the powerful engine and versatile running gear. A full-length, high-impact resin-type underframe guard protects the engine, transmission and gear case and wraps up the front of the frame, acting as a skid plate as well. To maintain it's high level of rider comfort, the Rancher employs an independent double-wishbone front suspension with premium shock absorbers, providing 6.3" of suspension travel. The steel swingarm and rear shock absorber provide 6.3" of suspension travel out back. Heavy-duty, tires - 24 x 8-12 front and 24 x 10-11 rear - provide excellent traction and handling and contribute to an overall ground clearance of 6.5 inches.
The 2007 Rancher line sports dual front hydraulic disc brakes. The disc covers incorporate a patented built-in scraper system that removes mud and snow from inside the front wheel to minimize the buildup of debris between the caliper and the rim. With a nod to ease of servicing, a small window in the cover permits the brake-pad thickness to be inspected visually. Sealed mechanical rear drum brakes keep out contaminates for consistent stopping power.
The Rancher's Modest Price is Big on Value
What makes the Rancher such a success is the outstanding value it represents in the marketplace. Despite the significant gains in power and overall performance offered for 2007, each Rancher model is priced with the budget-conscious buyer in mind.
With more than a million units already in it's history, the all-new Rancher series looks ahead to even greater success in the marketplace; harder working, easier to maintain, more powerful, better handling, and more fun to ride, the legendary Rancher once again sets the pace for all-around capability at a great price.
Article courtesy of Honda Red Rider January/February 2007 (pages 48-51)
For more information and pictures of the 2007 Honda Rancher please visit:
HONDA Rider's Club of America
I think Honda is finally steppin up to the plate.... I still have a few gripes, but at least they're making progress.
Ride Safe,
Chuck
When a company sells more than one million of the same ATV model family - as Honda did with the TRX 300 and Rancher series - many would question the wisdom of tinkering with success. After all, for ranchers, farmers, hunters, and utility and industrial users, the Honda Rancher has become the perfect tool for the job at hand. Yet the Honda way demands a constant process of improvement, and in the case of Honda's bread-and-butter Rancher models, the time had come to build a better tool. The result? A healthy infusion of technology has produced a new class leader that sacrifices none of the essential value-oriented goodness of the TRX 350 line.
Even though the 2007 Rancher is all-new, the same four popular platforms are offered:
The 2WD TRX 420TM (manual shift) and TRX 420TE (with ESP, Honda's Electric Shift Program) and their 4WD cousins, the TRX 420FM and TRX 420FE.
The major changes include:
- An all-new 420cc OHV longitudinally mounted engine
- Liquid cooling for sustained power and long engine life
- Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) for increased power and lower emissions
- TraxLok for convenient 2WD/4WD operation
- Self-cleaning front-wheel disc brakes
Rancher Engine - When the decision was made to increase displacement by 70cc, add EFI and switch to liquid cooling, the Rancher engine was essentially made from a clean sheet of paper. The engineers wisely began with a longitudinally mounted engine layout, a signature design that first appeared on the multipurpose Foreman 400. By aligning the engine output shaft with the drive-shaft, little engine output is lost to power-robbing gears en route to the driving wheels.
To gain added cylinder volume, the bore was increased by 8mm to 86.5mm and the stroke was increased by 3.5mm to 71.5mm (vs. 68.0mm). A 7.2 liter airbox (29% larger) feeds a significant amount of cool air past the fuel injector and into the two-valve cylinder head. Larger valves ensure that the added air/fuel volume gets into the big combustion chamber. The intake-valve diameter is now 1mm larger than before (35mm vs. 34mm), and the exhaust valve diameter increased a substantial 7% to 30mm (vs. 28mm). With a bore-stroke ratio of 1.2:1, the design yields a torquey power plant that produces maximum horsepower at 6000 rpm - 500 rpm below the older design.
Liquid cooling stabilizes operating temperatures and permits closer manufacturing tolerances within the engine. The result is more efficient combustion (for increased power and lower emissions) as well as longer engine life. And with the addition of Honda's trouble-free Keihin EFI system - proven in the top of the line Rincon - engine performance is maximized across a broad range of operating conditions, including cold weather and changing altitudes. The spent gasses are exhausted through a stainless-steel header and a 4.8 liter canister - one liter larger then the TRX 350's - to minimize back pressure and ensure quiet operation.
The net result for the TRX 420 is impressive. With a 28% bump in displacement, torque increased 30% (23.8 lb/ft. at 5500 rpm) and horsepower jumped 27% (26.2 bhp at 6000 rpm). To keep all of this newfound power in the comfort zone, the engineers rubber-mounted the engine to the frame and employed a gear-driven counter-balancer to reduce unpleasant vibration.
A 15.8 kw cooling fan was added to the radiator to maintain favorable engine temperature under adverse conditions. Since the oil cooler was no longer needed it was eliminated, saving weight. Power is transmitted to the driving wheels through a durable clutch that now has seven friction plates instead of six. A beefy five speed gear box with an ultra-low first gear and reverse makes sure the right gear is available at all times.
Another notable enhancement is the use of a 343 watt alternator, which replaces the 245 watt unit to provide plenty of power for accessories such as winches and auxilliary lights.
Rancher Driveline - The ES versions of the Rancher models (TRX 420TE and TRX 420FE) feature Honda's reliable Elecronic Shift Program (ESP). Made popular on the first-generation Rancher series and the Foreman 450ES before it, shifting is simply and precisely accomplished with just the press of an upshift or downshift button mounted on the left handlebar. Gear-engagement speed varies according to rider style: The transmission shifts more quickly when riding style turns sporty. A neutral lockout at speeds greater than two miles per hour ensures available engine braking when descending hills. To maintain smooth shifting, the transmission cannot be shifted from neutral to first gear or reverse gear at engine speeds above 300 rpm. ESP is incredibly durable and not battery-dependent, operating whenever the engine is running. Should the rider ever need to shift manually, he or she can use an auxilliary shift lever equipped in the toolkit.
New for the 2007 Rancher is the inclusion of TraxLok, Honda's proprietary 2wd-4wd shifting system. When it debuted in 2003 on the Fourtrax Rincon, TraxLok was an immediate hit with riders. On the Rancher, a tough mechanical switching mechanism is ready to engage/disengage when conditions permit. It provides a "natural" feel that is not present in many systems.
Rancher Chassis and Suspension - The 2007 Rancher drapes an all-new, sturdy steel frame around the powerful engine and versatile running gear. A full-length, high-impact resin-type underframe guard protects the engine, transmission and gear case and wraps up the front of the frame, acting as a skid plate as well. To maintain it's high level of rider comfort, the Rancher employs an independent double-wishbone front suspension with premium shock absorbers, providing 6.3" of suspension travel. The steel swingarm and rear shock absorber provide 6.3" of suspension travel out back. Heavy-duty, tires - 24 x 8-12 front and 24 x 10-11 rear - provide excellent traction and handling and contribute to an overall ground clearance of 6.5 inches.
The 2007 Rancher line sports dual front hydraulic disc brakes. The disc covers incorporate a patented built-in scraper system that removes mud and snow from inside the front wheel to minimize the buildup of debris between the caliper and the rim. With a nod to ease of servicing, a small window in the cover permits the brake-pad thickness to be inspected visually. Sealed mechanical rear drum brakes keep out contaminates for consistent stopping power.
The Rancher's Modest Price is Big on Value
What makes the Rancher such a success is the outstanding value it represents in the marketplace. Despite the significant gains in power and overall performance offered for 2007, each Rancher model is priced with the budget-conscious buyer in mind.
- Rancher (TRX 420TM) - $4499.00 US (Olive, Blue, Red)
- Rancher (TRX 420TE) - $4699.00 US (Olive, Blue, Red)
- Rancher 4x4 (TRX 420 FM) - $5299.00 US (Yellow, Olive, Red);
$5649.00 US (NaturalGear Camo) - Rancher 4x4 (TRX 420FE) - $5499.00 US (Yellow, Olive, Red);
$5849.00 US (NaturalGear Camo)
With more than a million units already in it's history, the all-new Rancher series looks ahead to even greater success in the marketplace; harder working, easier to maintain, more powerful, better handling, and more fun to ride, the legendary Rancher once again sets the pace for all-around capability at a great price.
Article courtesy of Honda Red Rider January/February 2007 (pages 48-51)
For more information and pictures of the 2007 Honda Rancher please visit:
HONDA Rider's Club of America
I think Honda is finally steppin up to the plate.... I still have a few gripes, but at least they're making progress.
Ride Safe,
Chuck
