T he compact size of a conventional ATV makes it incredibly versatile ; able to access areas where larger 4x4s or golf coursetype UTVs are too wide and heavy . For many gamekeepers the ability to travel off established woodland tracks when needed makes an ATV indispensable , whether it is being used for vermin control or to check the condition of rearing pens and fences and a lot of time can be saved by reducing the amount that has to be done on foot . Sturdy load racks front and rear allow feed and other supplies to be transported on-board , and for larger loads the lugging ability of the low-revving , purpose-designed engines driving through shafts to the front and rear wheels means trailers are pulled with ease .
Honda ’ s ATV range includes models to suit any situation with engine sizes from 250 – 680cc . Because much of the transport work on a shoot is during the wetter months , 4wd is usually a requirement so the Fourtrax 420 4x4 , Foreman 500 and Rincon 680 series tend to be most popular . Foreman 500 models are ideal for
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heavier work and there are variants with foot or thumb-shift manual transmissions , as well as a fully automatic model with manual override allowing the operator full control of the gears . |
All current Honda 4wd models can be operated in 2wd when the extra traction isn ’ t needed , saving tyre wear and fuel , and operator effort . Electric power steering is an increasingly popular option , especially with those spending long hours in the seat , making it easier to steer on undulating ground and rutted tracks .
Professional users will also appreciate the excellent quality of ride provided by all Honda ATVs . Front independent doublewishbone suspension on all models allows the front wheels to maintain ground contact for efficient steering , and rear suspension options include either a rear swing-arm , where the two rear wheels move up and down in parallel , or independent doublewishbone for an even smoother ride . All are designed for working environments and to cope with carrying the operator and rackmounted loads over rough terrain
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and at speeds which would challenge any other farm vehicle .
The powerful charging system , standard on Honda ATVs , is easily capable of running options such as heated handlebar grips , shooting lamps or mounted and trailed game feeders .
Honda ’ s range is the best selling , worldwide and across the UK , and the superb UK dealer network means back-up is always quickly available . Running costs are low , with 100-hour service intervals and miserly fuel consumption due to the efficient engine and transmission design .
The brand ’ s reputation for reliability and longevity means used machines are always in demand ensuring high resale values and reducing ownership costs , while the ability to quickly become an indispensable part of both the farm and shoot machinery fleets means the www investment . stalhameng takes . co little . ukjustifying .
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