honda 420es
- Thread starter irish dom
- Start date
cotswoldcs
Member
- Location
- Bang In the heart of the Cotswolds
Can you get one on demo? I don't think you'd regret it. Depends how much towing you do with the 500. The 420 will do everything the 500 can and use less fuel but I think you'll notice the difference towing.
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
Bite the bullet and get away from honda and buy a can am 570pro would be my advice.
- Location
- Ceredigion, wales
+1 if you're on hilly ground the 420 will struggle to tow uphill where the 500 would go with ease. IIRC the 420 doesn't have a low box? Also on the new Honda autos they are pretty rough shifting between gears, not sure if the ES is the same. We've had Honda 500 autos for years here but not impressed with the new model so have bought a Yamaha 700 auto for a lot less money. Pleased with it so far.
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
They are light and nimble..
As said above they won't tow like your 500.
I've seen the frame and plastics let go on one just from too much shyte so I wouldn't go putting big bins etc on the carriers to get around the towing thing... and the same bike lunched second gear, but the rider of it was a unit
If you're a putterer as opposed to a racer-rounder, be nowt wrong with it. CanAm though, all the way
As said above they won't tow like your 500.
I've seen the frame and plastics let go on one just from too much shyte so I wouldn't go putting big bins etc on the carriers to get around the towing thing... and the same bike lunched second gear, but the rider of it was a unit
If you're a putterer as opposed to a racer-rounder, be nowt wrong with it. CanAm though, all the way
irish dom
Member
Never heard of a can am. Yamaha is a good bit dearer and trade in would be very poor as she only has 1st and 5th. Rest of gears went in a week. She doesnt owe me anything in fairness but was a bitch on fuel. On flat groud and she mostly used for herding stock and spreading fert (as little as i can). Yamaha would be my choice but b7dget is holding me back. These sheep wont set you on fire
- Location
- Galloway
I would buy anything but a420 Honda changed to Yamaha 700 not so much dearer and must be a lot better
- Location
- West Wales
Had 12 420ES's. all been faultless. Had a 500ES/AT that was an animal but drank 1/4 more fuel.
Currently got a 12month old 420ES/4wd that replaced the 500 and the gearbox can be jumpy at times but on the whole it's good, main gripe is the F/R is slower to do than the 500 and dad didn't spec the right tyres on it so she isn't as good for towing as my 420ES 2wd which is on tractor tyre treads.
Just moved 7x 70-80kg ewes with twin lambs up a wet slope(10mm this morning) to a field and pulled no problem with the tractor tyres. Can your dealer not hire you a bike for 10days while yours has a new gearbox? Ours sent out 1 when our old 350ES killed itself mid lambing (47,000km on it) they had a replacement bike down with us in 3 hrs and they are 2 hrs away!
Currently got a 12month old 420ES/4wd that replaced the 500 and the gearbox can be jumpy at times but on the whole it's good, main gripe is the F/R is slower to do than the 500 and dad didn't spec the right tyres on it so she isn't as good for towing as my 420ES 2wd which is on tractor tyre treads.
Just moved 7x 70-80kg ewes with twin lambs up a wet slope(10mm this morning) to a field and pulled no problem with the tractor tyres. Can your dealer not hire you a bike for 10days while yours has a new gearbox? Ours sent out 1 when our old 350ES killed itself mid lambing (47,000km on it) they had a replacement bike down with us in 3 hrs and they are 2 hrs away!
irish dom
Member
Gearbox isnt worth fixing. Shes not the prettiest and hiring anything in ireland is usually a big no no cause they are afraid of you dogging it. Thats great service though. You work her fairly hard with that load!
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
I know 2 farms who have both stepped down from the Foreman to Fourtrax in the last year - both gave same reason, price.
Both have said the 420 has as much guts as 500, and uses less fuel. Something i find surprising.
I have run the (old shape) 420 (same engine as new model) for 8 years... lots of heavy towing and you wish it had a 'Lo' box. The rear axles go, when towing a lot, too. Very lively engine which is almost bulletproof, but i always felt it very thirsty towing the trailer.
But running on mostly flat ground, it would be fine.
Both have said the 420 has as much guts as 500, and uses less fuel. Something i find surprising.
I have run the (old shape) 420 (same engine as new model) for 8 years... lots of heavy towing and you wish it had a 'Lo' box. The rear axles go, when towing a lot, too. Very lively engine which is almost bulletproof, but i always felt it very thirsty towing the trailer.
But running on mostly flat ground, it would be fine.
- Location
- Ceredigion, wales
Ask you Yamaha dealer about a basic spec Kodak 700 auto. It's about a grand cheaper than a full spec one so should be competitive against a 420 Honda. The basic spec yam doesn't have power steering (you don't need it) clock or fuel gauge but is a nice comfy bike to use and just purrs along whether you're towing or not.
different axle now (14+) same style as the 500s
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
All the 420`s i see here have snapped frames, alot dont even know, they snap above the front wheel under the plastic.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
wtf do they do with them?!?! uncle tows 500kg ish including trailer weight out into the hill!!!!
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
The new 420 uses the same chassis as the new 500. So I'd expect those issues have been resolved...
Or maybe not!
aye ive seen one break there not completely but crack...it did roll over 7 times down a hill though
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
what weights in that? in hill or just in fields?
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Snacker says itl carry 350kg. No idea what it weighs. Manager told me he is wanting away from Honda because they are too soft.
The estate is all ground types from Grade 3 Arable, rolling lowland right upto bracken hill and peat moor with a windfarm at top. From the main steading up to the back of the hill will be 5 miles if not more.