ATV for hunting
- Thread starter rkr
- Start date
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
I’m no expert but we use quads at work and they get used hard, all but one are Yamaha Grizzly’s. The other one is a Honda, I have an older Yamaha Kodiak for hunting and snow plowing/farm chores.
Here’s some of the areas we quad in and out of at work, the Grizzly’s are pretty bulletproof and they get used hard. Irs, power steering and decent ride height are nice things in a machine
Here’s some of the areas we quad in and out of at work, the Grizzly’s are pretty bulletproof and they get used hard. Irs, power steering and decent ride height are nice things in a machine
My dad has a Canam Outlander 400 MAX XT2up. It's a 2006 and hes had it since new. I've rode it it pretty hard lol, It has likely 4000km on it and we have pulled a few moose with it. I've also rode an 800 2up, very nice if doing long trail rides for 2 people.
Trimmer 905
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Honda....bar none. You need to be aware,though,that the bigger the machine,the greater the limit of it's use. Big machines can't get into the tight spaces and have a higher center of gravity making them easier to flip at critical angles. Riding double on a single seat machine is very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
I have a 2008 Polaris Sportsman 500, it has been a really tough machine except for one major issue the "wiring". Polaris really cheaped out during this model year as the wiring is of substandard quality and brittle. It broke repeatedly where the wires culminate all together below the handle bars/console. After many frustrating repairs. I had the whole wiring harness in the complete bike replaced. that was a crap shoot as there was no indication that the new one would be of any better quality than the old. But I have had no issues in the last 5 yrs since the new one was put in. I probably spent $2K fixing this issue. But the bike was totally useless with the bad wiring.
This wiring issue was very common with Polaris during the 2008 time period so stay well clear of used Polaris atv's of that period.
This wiring issue was very common with Polaris during the 2008 time period so stay well clear of used Polaris atv's of that period.
Go test drive a few
Dont be taken by the sales pitch of reps selling can ams/polaris
Free flights to vegas etc
I have two honda canadian trail 450s
Bullet proof
The have been rolled, sunk etc
Never let me down in 9 yrs
Pulled out moose n elk
Buy a back box which comes with the extra
Seat
Its one purchase i have never regretted
Dont be taken by the sales pitch of reps selling can ams/polaris
Free flights to vegas etc
I have two honda canadian trail 450s
Bullet proof
The have been rolled, sunk etc
Never let me down in 9 yrs
Pulled out moose n elk
Buy a back box which comes with the extra
Seat
Its one purchase i have never regretted
I'm absolutely sold on Yamaha.
Never had one leave me stranditted.
Latest is a 660 Grizz and it just keeps on amazing me with
it's effortless grunt.
This one isn't going anywear soon.
Here's the Sweetie pulling a load of farwood.
The trailer isn't that big, 4'x6'x2'
The 350 Bear could just pull a half load.
The 400 Kodiak not much more.
Tuff to hold a load with the drum brakes on them.
The 660 Grizz just grunts along.
The disc brakes are a blessing as well as the "Park" mode
in the transmission.
And at lake X.
We went in the back side and it was ruff.
Power steering would of made that trip effortless.
Never had one leave me stranditted.
Latest is a 660 Grizz and it just keeps on amazing me with
it's effortless grunt.
This one isn't going anywear soon.
Here's the Sweetie pulling a load of farwood.
The trailer isn't that big, 4'x6'x2'
The 350 Bear could just pull a half load.
The 400 Kodiak not much more.
Tuff to hold a load with the drum brakes on them.
The 660 Grizz just grunts along.
The disc brakes are a blessing as well as the "Park" mode
in the transmission.
And at lake X.
We went in the back side and it was ruff.
Power steering would of made that trip effortless.
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Most of the cattle guys around here run Suzuki's and they seem bullet proof(cattle farm/up keep don't seem to go hand in hand). My father had an older Arctic Cat 400 that was great. It was a larger frame unit compared to others in its engine size which was nice for rough terrain. That was upgraded to a AC 700 again great machine. I have always considered the old AC machines to be the Versatile tractor of the ATV world, as in no flash but built for work.
I myself have had two Kawi Brute Force 650's... all I will say is you'd think I would've learned from the first one. Now a Can Am Outlander XT 1000 resides in the garage. I've had it since 2012 when they released the new chassis. I don't recall what I have on it for mileage but the only thing I've replaced on it has been engine oil and filter. Not like the machine was trail ridden either. Used for pasture work, hunting and our local annual mud pit racing and for running up town to get the mail.
I will say this about Yamaha though. My father in-law owns an older grizzly and it hasn't let him down. We will also note he isn't renowned for up keep on machinery........
I myself have had two Kawi Brute Force 650's... all I will say is you'd think I would've learned from the first one. Now a Can Am Outlander XT 1000 resides in the garage. I've had it since 2012 when they released the new chassis. I don't recall what I have on it for mileage but the only thing I've replaced on it has been engine oil and filter. Not like the machine was trail ridden either. Used for pasture work, hunting and our local annual mud pit racing and for running up town to get the mail.
I will say this about Yamaha though. My father in-law owns an older grizzly and it hasn't let him down. We will also note he isn't renowned for up keep on machinery........
badgreenbird
Regular
- Location
- Dawson Creek, BC
wapitiwhacker
CGN Regular
- Location
- East Kootenay B.C.
Heed this advise. Two up on machines designed for single riders can be disastrous. That pretty much leaves you with Can Am or Polaris, from which I would look at Can Am first.
You might want t to think of buying two smaller lightly used single rider machines instead. Easier to maneuver, and traveling in twos you have a second machine should one break down, get stuck, etc. I doubt you would go wrong with Honda, Yamaha, or Suzuki.
I have a 14 and 18 polaris 850 sportsman. The 14 has been thrashed and still goes like a rocket with tons of power. It has 8000km on it and a very very hard 8000 km. It gets used for chasing, checking and sorting cows. Its pushed many cows and been sat on by cows a few times. Used for work used for trail riding and mud holes. It's never left me stranded or stuck. The only problem I've had with it is the front differential shaft tube breaking. This happens when you pull to hard backwards with to much traction. It pushes the pinion away from the crown and pops the 4 little bolts that hold it on the diff. This is an expensive fix like 1800-2000.
If you want a reliable work horse that will never let you down you'll never find it. Every make has problems. We've taken out the diff on a Honda the standard for reliable. Can am and polaris have power and tons of it. Yamaha Suzuki attic cat are built as strong as the can am and polaris but lack the power to tear themselves apart like can am and polaris can and do. Hondas dont have a pile of power to do heavy pulling or spin big tires in heavy mud. But they are reliable. Every brand has its pros and cons. You just have to figure out what you need it for and buy an applicable machine.
I would recommend a grizzly or Rubicon that has detailed maintenance records from a dealership trade in or older person that doesnt rat bag it. They are a good work machine that wont tear itself apart like the high hp machines do with hard use. If buying used from a dealership see if they offer a warranty package for used machines for the extra piece of mind. Look into the cost of parts that break like axles and drive shafts and suspension parts. Brake pads and bearings
Power steering sounded like a gimmick to me at first but it is a life changing feature. It takes all the shock out of the handle bars and you can ride all day without getting fatigued.
If you want a reliable work horse that will never let you down you'll never find it. Every make has problems. We've taken out the diff on a Honda the standard for reliable. Can am and polaris have power and tons of it. Yamaha Suzuki attic cat are built as strong as the can am and polaris but lack the power to tear themselves apart like can am and polaris can and do. Hondas dont have a pile of power to do heavy pulling or spin big tires in heavy mud. But they are reliable. Every brand has its pros and cons. You just have to figure out what you need it for and buy an applicable machine.
I would recommend a grizzly or Rubicon that has detailed maintenance records from a dealership trade in or older person that doesnt rat bag it. They are a good work machine that wont tear itself apart like the high hp machines do with hard use. If buying used from a dealership see if they offer a warranty package for used machines for the extra piece of mind. Look into the cost of parts that break like axles and drive shafts and suspension parts. Brake pads and bearings
Power steering sounded like a gimmick to me at first but it is a life changing feature. It takes all the shock out of the handle bars and you can ride all day without getting fatigued.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Nuts to butts is only fun if your the rear passenger, or if you’re watching two other dudes ride 2 up lol.
the japanese bikes are generally lower maintenance and lower power. they hold up well to abuse and are easy to wrench on. having said that if you want insane power get a can am. i prefer belt drive myself because then you dont have clutch dust and trans gear shavings inside the engine slowly chewing the bearings apart. a rotax engine can outlast a honda for this reason.
Great advice.
If you see lots of used ones of the same type for sale, there's a reason.
Hard to find a used one, but a Hydrostatic Honda Rubicon Canadian Trail Edition with Power Steering is a great ATV.
I ride Honda Rincons, but the Ruby is more of a workhorse and the power steering is nice.
