ATV

[FJRay]

It looks like the wifes bike is sold so we will be looking for a utility type atv for fun and property maint. Who out there has what and why . looking for the 400-500cc range. I think I want the CVT type trans and liquid cooled. Any ideas are welcome except from Bust cause we know what kind of off road he likes

 

[scubatech]

Ray,

When I sold these at a multi-line dealer ship a few years back the Honda line was the king. I never had a mad customer that bought a Honda. We rarely ever saw one after we sold it because of problems.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

It looks like the wifes bike is sold so we will be looking for a utility type atv for fun and property maint. Who out there has what and why . looking for the 400-500cc range. I think I want the CVT type trans and liquid cooled. Any ideas are welcome ...

I can't give you any current, relevant, info -- but, I'm constantly surpised at how healthy is the utility ATV segment of the market. I watched as ATVs entered the U.S. and then became the product that kept many motorcycle shop's doors open.

I can't help but think many of today's offerings are way too big -- especially if you want some fun in its use? To that end, a Suzuki 250 Quad would suffice for running around the estate -- you'll need to get a 400, though, to get a CVT (belt/automatic); the 400 will also weigh a couple hundred pounds more and cost a couple thou $$ more, too.

I'm partial to Suzuki (just happen to be more familiar) -- Arctic Cat is similar/same. Honda certainly has the name/brand identity. Polaris has been very successful in the ATV arena -- mostly from smart marketing (IMO); not, from any product/engineering advantage.

Remember..., ultimately they're all air cooled...! I don't know your plans -- but, unless you have serious stationary/slow work to do (like a little truck/tractor)?, the cooling medium may be irrelevant?

I guess, all things being equal, a good local dealer would have as much weight as anything?

 

[bikerskier]

Big Polaris fan!

 

[El Toro]

The Hondas are pretty much bullet proof. They never seem to quit. At my hunting club, some guys are riding Honda ATVs that are now 20 years old. I had a 450 Foreman S for many years, and it never needed anything except routine maintenance. The Hondas are really easy to resell too. My experience is that they sell quickly, even at asking prices of book value.

 

[mike_123]

It looks like the wifes bike is sold so we will be looking for a utility type atv for fun and property maint. Who out there has what and why . looking for the 400-500cc range. I think I want the CVT type trans and liquid cooled. Any ideas are welcome except from Bust cause we know what kind of off road he likes

yamaha rhino

the perfect utility vehicle with a dump box

more then capable on any atv trails and forest service roads

carry a passenger comfortably

yamaha has the best cvt on the market

they will out climb any atv aswell

the aftermarket accesories are also endless

 

[Richouse]

If I had the extra cash I think I would get that CanAm Renegade. That is suppose to be one fun sport/utility machine.

 

[Bustanut joker]

I had me nice a FWD Chicken once..

the ride kinda sucked,but when the days ride was over..

Well the night "ride" was satisfying She was insatiable.

I sure miss her.....

:jester:

Polaris makes some really good stuff Ray.

 

[wfooshee]

Polaris is moving their ATV production to Mexico, aren't they? Don't know the timetable for that. Obviously no way to know what difference it will make, either.

 

[pmspaul]

I've been a dealer since '98. We sold Honda until 2 years ago, and have been selling Yamaha for the last 7 years. Our business is 65-70% ATV. We service all makes. We have many customers who use these units to make a living (ranchers, etc) so we've seen a lot of high hour/mileage stuff. Here's my opinion on their 400-500cc automatic transmission quads.

Honda is the king for reliability and durability. If you want an automatic for work, 500 Rubicon. You can play and have fun with it too, but it has good power and a low range. It can be run in full auto mode or push button shift mode. The 420 Rancher is a great quad, independent rear suspension, power steering, 5 speed double clutch tranny, FI. I never really liked the AT(auto trans) in full auto mode. It too can be push button shifted.

Yamaha has the best CVT. The belt is always under tension so it virtually doesn't wear, and provides excellent engine braking. The 500 Grizzly is the same exact size, same chasis as the 700 with a little less motor and lower price tag. It has plenty of power, power steering, independent rear suspension, FI. The 450 Grizz is a more bare bones get'r'done reliable quad. It's my favorite in the lineup, probably b/c I like the medium size quads for their physical size and weight, and I like simplicity. Rhinos have taken our market by storm. They will go pretty much everywhere an atv will if the trail is wide enough. 2 seats, dump bed. I would only look at the 700 Rhino though.

Suzuki and Kawi I can't be as specific model-wise but they're both realistically about as good as yamaha for reliability and durability.

Polaris, well it's last on this list for a reason.

If I had to buy a used quad in that size range, my choices would be 450 Grizzly (Kodiak depending on year) or 500 Rubicon for automatic. For non auto, 500 Foreman S.

 

[Bugnatr]

Honda or Yamaha- the rest just won't measure up. Wouldn't touch Polaris with a 10 foot pole.

 

[mike_123]

around here we ride our rhinos pretty hard

not tryign to sell you on a rhino however the rhino power and drive train are the very same as the grizzly 660 or 700 and this same drive train is used in the smaller 450 and 500 yamahas

pretty much bullet proof

not so much stupid proof but damn near

heres a few short clips of our atv and rhino fun

 

[scubatech]

It looks like the wifes bike is sold so we will be looking for a utility type atv for fun and property maint. Who out there has what and why . looking for the 400-500cc range. I think I want the CVT type trans and liquid cooled. Any ideas are welcome ...

I can't give you any current, relevant, info -- but, I'm constantly surpised at how healthy is the utility ATV segment of the market. I watched as ATVs entered the U.S. and then became the product that kept many motorcycle shop's doors open.

I can't help but think many of today's offerings are way too big -- especially if you want some fun in its use? To that end, a Suzuki 250 Quad would suffice for running around the estate -- you'll need to get a 400, though, to get a CVT (belt/automatic); the 400 will also weigh a couple hundred pounds more and cost a couple thou $$ more, too.

I'm partial to Suzuki (just happen to be more familiar) -- Arctic Cat is similar/same. Honda certainly has the name/brand identity. Polaris has been very successful in the ATV arena -- mostly from smart marketing (IMO); not, from any product/engineering advantage.

Remember..., ultimately they're all air cooled...! I don't know your plans -- but, unless you have serious stationary/slow work to do (like a little truck/tractor)?, the cooling medium may be irrelevant?

I guess, all things being equal, a good local dealer would have as much weight as anything?

Charismatic,

You are right. I haven't sold m/c's in 4or 5 years, but we used to build 40-45 Quads a week and sell all of them! I really see the impact of these sales when i go dirt riding. A person had better be watching on a two track trail if you decide to slide a corner. Moab has literal caravans of Quads.

 

[fjrrider]

I've got about 40 acres that I use a Honda 350 Rancher on. I keep a good bit of single track trail maintained and work around the pond done. My wife rides it sometimes, so I got it with the electronic (push button) shift on it. Its been bullet proof!

 

[Barry 07 FJR1300AE]

Polaris, dont even look past the Polaris line. Get a 550 fuel injected Sportsman. Number one selling ATV. No doubt the best out there. Honda also makes a good bike but WAY WAY WAY to expensive!!!

 

[Gary F]

I bought a 400 Canam and just love it. Unbelievable what these things can go through. The 400 has the power of a 450 and I think a very good first machine.

 

[mike_123]

any of the big 4 youll be more then happy with

yamaha suzuki honda and canned ham

the only good thing about the polaris is the expensive adds they put out there to market first time buyers

usually takes a few months to find they are junk

 

[Tree Doc]

:lol: I feel the love for Polaris. :lol:

I generally don't bother with threads like this because they go no where but down hill with bashing from people that have no clue and work on thirdhand heresay. With that said, I'll offer a little defense for Polaris from real world, first hand experience.

I own a 2004 Sportsman 500 H.O. that I bought brand new as well as an identical 400 Sportsman which I sold last year since my wife wasn't riding it. I have my buddies 2008 Sportsman 500 X2 (two seater with dump bed on rear) sitting here in my driveway, too. I'm doing a service on it for him. Both of our Ute's are used as hunting rigs every season. Mine is used for my Tree Care business many times throughout the year for support and skidding brush and logs as well as an occasional out of state Deer Hunt, riding a couple-a-few times a year on the Pismo Dunes which are in my backyard, and BIG TIME duck hunting, his primarily for the big time duck hunting as we are partners at a club up in the rice fields a couple hours north of Sacramento, CA which is Duck Mecca in this state. Both of our units get exposed to and used in absolutely brutal conditions. I hunted the rice over 50 (FIFTY) days this past season, never less than 30 in the last 5 years, between the end of October and the end of January, my partner a few days less. We run our Ute's continuously in 16-18" deep flooded rice fields that contain brutal cut rice stubble and stalks. It's a terrible environment for ANY machine. This, in addition to the Dunes Environment as well as rough 4x4 only terrain in Colorado ranging from 4000' MSL to 9000' MSL in snow and mud conditions. In simpler terms, I put my machine through more **** in one year than most will ever in their lifetime of ownership.

I've NEVER been stuck and I've NEVER had a failure of any part or system. I'm on my original OEM CVT Belt as well as my original spark plug. BOTH our machines have been TOTALLY FLAWLESS. At the end of duck season, I pull the hubs apart to remove the rice straw up against the seals and bearings, and I service the engine, transmission, and the front drive systems with Amsoil Products.

When I went to buy a machine, I fully expected to bring home a Honda. They were the first I looked at, too. Very nice machines but I insisted on a machine with IRS (Independent Rear Suspension) for clearance and comfort. I also insisted on a 400-500cc machine. Bigger is getting ridiculous these days. Honda did not have the machine. I was going to have to step up in size and be well over the $8k mark to go with what I wanted in a Honda. I looked at EVERYTHING from that point. The Yamaha Grizzly 450 really stood out as a great machine and fit the bill well. I was not impressed by the quality or structure of the Arctic Cat. Scrawny suspension parts. Kawi and Suzuki were just not there, either. I saw the Polaris last. It was a tough call for a bit but the Polaris was without a doubt, on par with the Grizzly and better in many instances with a few nuances like digital readouts and a TRUE all wheel drive system which, at the time, was only a push button and temporary arrangement on the Grizzly. Most Ute's will only spin ONE of the front wheels when traction is lost on the rear. the Polaris has a locking rear diff ( as most do) as well as a locked front diff (central hilliard) so all 4 are grabbing. Some of these other machines may have evolved to this now, I don't know as I haven't been in the market and won't be for a long, long time if ever. I went home with one Polaris then returned a month later for another!

IMO, they are all good machines. I don't believe in general terms that one is better than the other but you really need to look at the features and pick what works for you. You might also consider that if you will be towing a trailer with weight when using it on your property, the straight axle, non IRS models perform best for that use. IRS can sag under heavy tongue weight scenarios. Mine is rated at 200# on the rear, 100# on the front rack. Plan accordingly.

One other thing I'll add. The farmers in rice country that I know are strongly using Polaris ATV's and UTV's these days. Honda does NOT own the market anymore like they used to a number of years ago. Farmers tend to know their **** when it comes to buying equipment.

 

[FJRay]

Thanks for the feedback. The Polaris seems to bee the top dog around where I live. There are a number of folks I have met that really like the Kymco and I can get one at dealer cost. The other local is pushing the Artic Cat at a pretty good price. Will Keep looking around.