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ATV's
Nov 10, 2022 23:01:37 GMT -6
Post by SWMan on Nov 10, 2022 23:01:37 GMT -6
Opinions/thoughts on which brand of ATV(otherwise known as 4-wheeler or quad) is the best these days? My current unit is a 1995 Honda TRX300 that was bought new and has been basically trouble-free. I doubt I will ever duplicate that with anything currently made. Just something basic and hopefully with some good racks and storage, seems most of them are useless for actually hauling stuff around. Maybe that's why UTV's are so popular, but sometimes something more nimble is handy.
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ATV's
Nov 10, 2022 23:13:58 GMT -6
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Post by kevlar on Nov 10, 2022 23:13:58 GMT -6
Pretty hard to go wrong with any of the big name brands, Yamaha, Suzuki, Arctic Cat, Honda, Polaris etc. Doesn’t sound like any of the cheap off shore brands hold up very well. I have an older Arctic Cat 366, has been good to me, brother in law has a couple Yamaha and they get punished pretty hard and keep on going. One thing I’ve noticed around here is the larger engines don’t seem to hold up as well, but not sure if they get abused worse because of the power.
Haven’t seen any newer quads with decent racks on them, had an old 85 Suzuki and it had great racks on it, would hold twice as much as the new ones. I made an extension out of 2x4 for my Cat a few years ago for my yearly quad trip with my niece so I could carry coolers and tents and a lot of gear, it’s butt ugly but it’s so handy I’ve just left it on it. Plan to make a metal one sometime that is easier to put on and take off.
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ATV's
Nov 10, 2022 23:18:49 GMT -6
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Post by bob123 on Nov 10, 2022 23:18:49 GMT -6
The newer honda foreman's are still good, 2012 was bullet proof until we started using ditching wheels on it,those are real hard on everything. Have broke 2 or 3 of the axles and a wheel bearing while ditching. Really like the option of automatic or powershift transmission and has steel racks still.
My Suzuki quadrunner doesnt start below plus 5 no matter what, haven't touched a thing other then oil in 20 years but sucks having it unusable 5 months of the year
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ATV's
Nov 10, 2022 23:23:46 GMT -6
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Post by meskie on Nov 10, 2022 23:23:46 GMT -6
Sit on a few different ones to see how they fit you. The ergonomics are all a little different between brands. I had a Honda with electric shift but prefer my belt drive now. I’ve never had any trouble with a belt on 3 different ones even running bigger tires. All the name brands are good now a days.
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ATV's
Nov 11, 2022 0:35:34 GMT -6
Post by northernfarmer on Nov 11, 2022 0:35:34 GMT -6
I haven't been looking or reading up on ATV's in the last years but we have a 300 Honda a couple of years older then yours that is also in great shape and mostly sits in the shed. I had bought a Rubicon years back and those were the days of the hydrostatic transmission which seemed like a good idea but had I done it over again I would have bought something else. My brother had bought a 700 Grizzly a few years later and it rides far better since its independent suspension and considerably more power, can lock up the front diff, the seat on Yamaha quads are nice and soft and that alone makes a difference in the ride. Power steering etc ( I realize Honda has come out with some of those items as well ) , and it starts pretty good in colder weather as per the fuel injection. Although it uses a belt system the belt is always tight as its the centrifugal wet clutch that engages to drive the wheels. That would be my pick not knowing what some of the others are like such as the Bombardier etc. The neighbours have a couple of newer Grizzly's and they have been very happy with them. I'd say put the Grizzly on your list of quads to look at and try out one if you can.
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ATV's
Nov 11, 2022 8:19:44 GMT -6
Post by Oatking on Nov 11, 2022 8:19:44 GMT -6
I am not a fan of the ditch tires and have a set for sale if anyone wants them. Reason is you get stuck worse with ditch tires and as BOB123 said it is hard on the axles. I like the artic cat transmission and my 2013 700 model has held up great. I only use it for scouting weeds and burning straw so it has next to no miles on it.
Would you consider an electric model swman? I think if next year is a good crop I will trade in my ranger for an ev ranger. Hopefully , availability wont be an issue next year.
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ATV's
Nov 11, 2022 8:20:38 GMT -6
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Post by mountrose on Nov 11, 2022 8:20:38 GMT -6
Usually put around 2000-2500 miles on per summer riding the four wheeler checking crops. Started out with a Honda rancher which was okay but rode very rough with the straight rear axle. Moved up to a 2017 arctic cat 700 which rode much smoother and was trouble free for the most part. Got rid of that one with 8000 miles on it and bought a new can am 850xt in 2021. Still have that one and man it is like driving a Cadillac. Lots of power and still rides smooth, good sized gas tank and heated grips which is very nice for cold days. Not the cheapest out there for sure and maybe overkill for what you are talking about but they have treated me well so far. Considered getting a another new one this fall but supply is pretty short as with everything.
Can am also has a nice rack system that has interchangeable attachments that easily latch on.
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ATV's
Nov 11, 2022 8:56:31 GMT -6
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bigal likes this
Post by cptusa on Nov 11, 2022 8:56:31 GMT -6
You will not find a simpler, more reliable, more durable, longer lasting ATV then that 90's fourtrax. They're just under powered now and ride like a lumber wagon with a stiff seat.
New Honda's with the clunk-a-shift or electric shift as they call it are terrible to operate in my opinion. Shifting is rough and too slow. Comfort is also lacking.
Can Am looks to be a nice machine from what I've seen but never operated one, same goes for Artic Cat.
I wouldn't touch a Polaris, went down that road and reliability seems to be an issue with the ATV's, though my ranger has been trouble free, but it doesn't get the abuse my ATV does. I'm probably also soured by the dealer 12 miles from me when I was buying them, which I bypass now for the ranger.
I switched to Yamaha years ago, started with a carburated 660, had two of them and really had to watch oil because they liked to burn it. Went to an EFI 550 which performed as well as the 660 with no oil consumption. 550 was a good fit but was also on a narrower chasis, and Yamaha did away with them. On my second 700 now and they are a nice machine. Reliable, soft seat, nice ride, great power, 4x4 and diff lock get you through a lot or really stuck. First 700 had just short of 10k miles when I was going down the road and I assume the oil pump quit, blew the front of the crankcase out. Just like NASCAR, oil and smoke everywhere. That machine had a rough life as it had to power through a few floods and the derecho. I sold it on an auction with blown motor for $2500.
The 700 I have now is a special edition, like a few hundred dollars more for a little fancier paint scheme and bigger/better tires. I wasn't too excited about paying slightly more for what appeared to be just making it fancier but the tires are wearing a lot better then standard ones with no flats yet at 3000 miles so I think I'd fork over the money again to go SE.
I'll run 2000-2500 miles yearly as well and at 5000-6000 miles buy a new one and move this one to back up. Kids are banging around the 550 now and it's still holding up.
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ATV's
Nov 11, 2022 9:11:13 GMT -6
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Post by serffarmer on Nov 11, 2022 9:11:13 GMT -6
We also have one of those older Hondas. Think it’s a 98 my dad bought new and it’s still going strong. Those things are unkillable I think as my brother and I put it through all kinds of stress tests when we were much younger. The kind of thing we’d have got a hiding for had we been caught haha. My brother just got a new Yamaha this spring. Very plain Jane basic rig and has been good so far. He was gonna get a Honda but they had none and would have been on a wait list. Price was very similar. He does a lot of fencing and cow checking in wet areas and this thing is much lighter then the can am machines so easier to get out if stuck. Can am does make a nice one though.
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ATV's
Nov 11, 2022 9:21:39 GMT -6
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Post by kevlar on Nov 11, 2022 9:21:39 GMT -6
Our first bike was a Suzuki 230 Quadrunner, I’d like to know how many miles were on it, it ran 7 days a week with my brother and I on it. Worked it like a dog as well, and tried to go places we shouldn’t have, a two wheel drive with about 3 inches of clearance meant a lot of stuck time! All the years we had it it never left us on the trail. Good old days of no rear suspension! Actually still have it in the barn, every once in a while consider getting it going for the kids but just picked up a little 90 cc Cat for them for Christmas.
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ATV's
Nov 11, 2022 10:02:16 GMT -6
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Post by meskie on Nov 11, 2022 10:02:16 GMT -6
Just make sure you sit on them before you buy it along with everybody in your family. Some are a lot wider on the seat and aren’t that comfortable for kids and wife’s.
My Suzuki king quad 750 has been trouble free for 6000km. Not the most powerful machine but just works. The higher the horsepower the more trouble it seems on quads. But maybe that’s from the guys driving it and the bigger tires not the machine it’s self.
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ATV's
Nov 11, 2022 11:36:51 GMT -6
Post by SWMan on Nov 11, 2022 11:36:51 GMT -6
After a little research most of them seem to weigh 700 pounds or more, even a smaller Honda is approaching 700. No wonder they need more power!
My agronomist has Yamaha and really likes them, he certainly puts miles on.
Meskie good point about sitting on one, might depend what is even available to sit on...
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ATV's
Nov 11, 2022 12:40:11 GMT -6
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Post by kevlar on Nov 11, 2022 12:40:11 GMT -6
A little off topic, but how are you liking your ebikes?
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ATV's
Nov 11, 2022 14:05:33 GMT -6
Post by northernfarmer on Nov 11, 2022 14:05:33 GMT -6
I noticed on the Yamaha site that the newer Grizzly's and they list off a few other quad models as well have a 10 year warranty on the drive belt. I know over the years with some quads and side by sides, the belts were the major issue as smoking the belt and creating a flat spot or glazing it without even trying. Also years back with the Polaris since they used belts long ago, they had a complete lack of engine braking just like a snowmobile clutch until they offered a different type of clutch and even that was not perfect. I like being able to let off the throttle and have some engine braking and certainly while going down a hill on steeper trails. And there is no comparison between an older straight axle Honda vs something like the Yamaha for ride. Power steering is also great to have, just makes it easier to handle and for those that are smaller and won't near as likely rip the handlebars away from your hands if a front tire catches a rut or rock.
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ATV's
Nov 11, 2022 17:57:37 GMT -6
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Post by bob123 on Nov 11, 2022 17:57:37 GMT -6
I wonder how much better those old quads would ride with a new set of shocks?
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