4-Wheelers

I have the Yamaha Bruin 350. I've never seen the use of those bigger engines. They don't really give you more effective pulling power, and the extra topspeed you get just takes you into the "ridiculous speed" range. I was worried the lack of the low range on the bruin might be a problem, but it isn't. The tranny is good and the belt never slips as some other ultramatic type trannies do, even when fording a 2.5 foot deep river.

You cant go wrong with the Bruin or the Kodiak series. The grizzly, in my opinion, is just overkill.
 
The entire point of getting a big quad is to turn large aggresive tires. If you think that 25" stock tires are going to be as good as 28's with the power to turn them you are sadly mistaken.

It's all about traction.
 
I have a 2005 Suzuki Vinson and its bright YELLOW
its so I can"t lose it in the bush when its parked or hide it for that matter:) I am new to the ATV scene but this machine has done everything I have asked of it with no problems. I personanlly believe that all the big companies make a good machine its kind of a ford or chevy thing. Whatever suits your needs the best.
 
2005 Yamaha Kodiak, nice machine so far, does everything I want it to do.
2006_0105Image0001.JPG
 
'03 Kawasaki KVF650. Terrific machine. Locking front end has proven its worth on more than one occasion The machine hasn't let me down yet!

Service (at least from my local dealer) is horrendous. (Sleds an Treds in Sussex NB - avoid them like the plague)
 
Well I just found this so here is my comments..
yes I have a bunchof quads, like ten or so. but that is not important.. I moonlight by fixing toys.. sleds and quads mostly.. I am not associated with anyone except me.. I have worked on all of them and can say good and bad about most of them..
A few years ago we had ALOT of yamaha's around .. they were great for business... bearing for all the wheels including the rear end and the axles are very soft.. I even got into welding up the splines and machineing new ones onto the axle.. I am not waying they are poor but they were very good for business..
Suzuki has been mentioned.. I own at least three of these but I would not put them too high on the list. The king quads are tough but the engine is poorly positioned and will overheat and smoke alot! The fins are not designed to let the air pass by well.. And they do not handle well.. I had one!
they do have a plus that they are true 4wd and not 3 wd.
Honda's are great... tough but ride like a tank.. I think I only own 1 right now.. I do repair them but not a much as others.. and we have alot of them around. Parts are not as bad as you would think and alot of stuff is availaqble aftermarket.. you cannot say that for bombardier, suzuki andkawasaki...
polaris have good stuff and bad stuff... do not buy anything 2 stroke.. they do not last and stink.. even if you use good oil.. do not buy any 4 stoke air cooled.. they like to take the cranks out.. the only problems I have seen with the 500 is cams, but I think that has to do with oil and cold starting as it is a dry sump engine. stay with the shaft drive stuff.. sporstmans and maybe magnums.. Yes I have a polaris sportsman..
kawasaki.. not many around here and almost all are dead.. but I have to say I know of two of the 650 that are in great shape and run strong and start well in the winter.. I have one here right now that I have just put in swingarm bearings..it has around 9000k and looks good..I would have no feer of that machine..
bombardier.. a few around and I have never worked on one.. I think that is a great compliment for any machine.. I also understand that they have a fantastic warranty.. maybe three years! I rode one belonging to a customer last summer.. a 400 with independant.. best ride ever... better than any sportsman and those ride nice.. I have some old canams but no bombardier quads.. maybe i will hve to get a baja..
DO NOT BUY ANYTHING OFF BRAND likestuff from korea.. parts do not exist.. and if you get it from canadian tire you know they will never give you support.. kasea or whatever..

Well I hope that helps or maybe it confuses you..
 
I have a 2005 Honda Rubicon 500 Trail Edition. Its basically the Foreman with an automatic transmission. It has no trouble pulling a moose out of the bush. Some people complain that with the solid rear axle the ride is a little bit rough. With the trail edition, there is a ride adjustment on the shocks, and It really balances that out. I would reccomend one of these machines to anyone
 
My last tour in the boonies had me running 2 different ATVs.... one was a US model Honda Rancher 350.... electric shifter on it didn't work above -25. PITA.

Then I was on a 350 Fourtrax with a manual shifter... I loved that rig. We have to run limiters on our quads, but the one on the Fourtrax was disconnected when I got to it... It would easily propel my 330 lbs, along with a rack full of GPS gear up to an insane 78 KM/H top end on a lease road (Brad, don't freak, I hadda see what it could do!) and it was still light enough for me to muscle out of a few nasty stucks on the Gyro-lines (slash piles, beaver runs, etc.) I'm looking at getting one myself this fall, so I can bill it out at work. Unless someone can recommend something bigger, meaner, and more powerful.
 
I bought an 05 Eiger. Not the very best,but it was the best bang for the buck(no pun intended) Have not had any problems with it. The 400 has more then enough power for a beginner like me. I can pull a full sized 4x8 trailer with a face cord of wood in it. And I had it up to 90 Km/h with room to go faster



DSC00748.jpg
 
I don't care what has already been said about Polaris because I own a 2000 Sportsman 500 and I would buy a new one in a heart beat. It has never let me down and goes places others won't. With no gears to worry about, I just enjoy the ride!
 
cdngunner said:
I bought an 05 Eiger. Not the very best,but it was the best bang for the buck(no pun intended) Have not had any problems with it. The 400 has more then enough power for a beginner like me. I can pull a full sized 4x8 trailer with a face cord of wood in it. And I had it up to 90 Km/h with room to go faster



DSC00748.jpg

those deer in ontario are small

The best quad is the one (HONDA) that brings home the meat :)

quadload.jpg
 
I have a 99 Yamaha 600 grizzly and it is a very low maintenance, reliable machine. My brother in law has an older, smaller, yamaha and it has been very good to him as well. I believe yamahas are well designed. I will only comment on what I have personally owned, and I owned 3 yamaha's before the grizzly and I thought they were good quality, low maintenance, well designed, reasonable to work on. Carbs get dirty, brakes need maintenance, wheel bearings and drive belts eventually need replacing. This is all common stuff. Its the major catastrophes that get you down, and I'm pleased to say we've had none.
 
gunasauras said:
But for how long and how much more in the long run????


HONDA although a very good bike has always been known for being overprised. My buddy has had problems with his honda and a few others I have known. A lot of the problems are related to how the owners treat them. My buddys Grizzly has not failed him in over ten years!!!

Honda is not the end all in ATV's
 
Hondas old, other manufactures have caught up and surpassed them. Bombardier is the way to go. Its really to bad they discontined the Traxter ATV, best damn ATV built. Ever. Heavy, but built solid, and extremly reliable.
 
Back
Top Bottom