ATV for hunting

[phinton81]

IRS is so worth it, same with power steering. Lots of guys swear by their 20yr old whatevers that always start but I want to enjoy my ride and feel safe going over obstacles. Those two features make machines considerably more capable, comfortable and fun/enjoyable. Learn to do your own maintenance and it will make you better at troubleshooting as a side benefit. Anyone using their machine for reasons other than modding, mudding and/or pounding down the trails wide open will have good service from every brand, unless you’re very unlucky and get a lemon. Yamaha/Honda are built better but they should be considering the price differential, they also have less power and less performance focused models compared to Polaris/Can-Am, it’s just not a market they want to exploit.

Patrick

 

[Butcherbill]

IRS is a must if you do any rough trail riding or steep side hill riding, at the end of the day you don’t feel like you’ve been beaten to hell like with a fixed rear axle machine.

 

[remington jim]

Yeah, I did, actually. OP bought a Suzuki Eiger.

Like as not saving himself from being stuck with a POS of a two-up, that would not have been much good for what he wanted it for.

I like my Yamahas . And my Hondas.

Brakes are good, when they work, so is a diff lock, and us old buggers will most likely ruin ourselves by riding anything with IRS!

Yamahas and Hondas are both good - I Owned a Rancher for 15 years Never seen the shop once ! Great Machine !

My New 2019 Polaris 850 Touring ( 2 UP ) is a GREAT machine Very EASY on this OLD timers Back and i can take the Wife ?for a EASY ride Once in a While ! RJ

 

[trevj]

IRS is so worth it, same with power steering. Lots of guys swear by their 20yr old whatevers that always start but I want to enjoy my ride and feel safe going over obstacles. Those two features make machines considerably more capable, comfortable and fun/enjoyable. Learn to do your own maintenance and it will make you better at troubleshooting as a side benefit. Anyone using their machine for reasons other than modding, mudding and/or pounding down the trails wide open will have good service from every brand, unless you’re very unlucky and get a lemon. Yamaha/Honda are built better but they should be considering the price differential, they also have less power and less performance focused models compared to Polaris/Can-Am, it’s just not a market they want to exploit.

Patrick

Yeah, Hondas are boring and reliable, and pretty much don't make the kind of horsepower they need, to wear themselves out.
I'm OK with that, as I am not trying to impress anyone with horsepower stats, nor race them to the next mud hole. Works for me.

I really like some of the pushbutton features of my Kodiak 450, but I figure it's gonna cost me in thorn-in-the-arse problems one day, having that many electric wires involved in something that rattles and bounces around.

Being behind the curve might not impress the kiddies, but it does keep the reliability up there. I don't mind, letting someone else be 'the cool kid' chasing the next new thing, I'd much rather have something staid and reliable.

Fast enough. And it gets me there. And back!

 

[canadian hunter312]

Yeah, Hondas are boring and reliable, and pretty much don't make the kind of horsepower they need, to wear themselves out.
I'm OK with that, as I am not trying to impress anyone with horsepower stats, nor race them to the next mud hole. Works for me.

I really like some of the pushbutton features of my Kodiak 450, but I figure it's gonna cost me in thorn-in-the-arse problems one day, having that many electric wires involved in something that rattles and bounces around.

Being behind the curve might not impress the kiddies, but it does keep the reliability up there. I don't mind, letting someone else be 'the cool kid' chasing the next new thing, I'd much rather have something staid and reliable.

Fast enough. And it gets me there. And back!

My 13 year old grizzly 700 with around 8000kms is still using 100% of the factory electrical components with zero repairs to any part of the electrical system, computer, sensors, etc.

Plenty of times she's been in water deep enough that only the handlebars were above water along with many days playing on flood plains in 2-4 feet of water for 4+ hrs each time.

Electrical issues are likely the last thing to worry about on Yamaha's...

 

[Got Juice?]

IF I won a Polaris or Bombardier, It would be up for sale the next day. Electrical issues, Frame issues, no thanks.

Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda use all double sealed weatherpak connections. There is a reason they are reliable and cost more.

PS, part of my background is in power transmission and MRO in the heavy manufacturing sector. Mills and Mines. People can think what they want, but when it comes to Power Transmission, you simply cannot beat a belt in terms of service, power transmission, and longevity.

 

[biologic]

23k on my polaris sportsman 550 efi nothing done but brakes and regular fluid change, still the original belt.

but i tend to agree on honda, yamaha being more reliable
overall. I bought the polaris because they had the best deal.

 

[45ACPKING]

My 13 year old grizzly 700 with around 8000kms is still using 100% of the factory electrical components with zero repairs to any part of the electrical system, computer, sensors, etc.

Plenty of times she's been in water deep enough that only the handlebars were above water along with many days playing on flood plains in 2-4 feet of water for 4+ hrs each time.

Electrical issues are likely the last thing to worry about on Yamaha's...

Yamaha did a recall on the 4 wheel drive switch assembly. Can't remember what years that was but I did have a problem with mine. Got the run around from all the checkpoint dealers who were extremely unhelpful. I took the switch box apart and concluded that the gasket had leaked and water got in and froze, causing the internal components to move out of position.
My switch would activate on and off by itself, grounding out inside the housing. Took it apart, cleaned it up, applied new contact grease and sealed the seams of the plastic housing with a micro seam of black rtv. Has been 100% reliable ever since.

 

[350tracker]

I have the Honda Rubicon trail addition for 12 years now and it has worked well for me with little maintenance.

 

[Bland]

Went to war with Polaris over the wiring issues (too light a gauge and they vibrated apart especially around the TPS connection). Actually repaired it and it worked for a brief time then more trouble. Replaced the entire harness last year, good to go. Dealer cut me a major break on the labour because he understood and I was also purchasing Ranger 570 midsize sxs. Maybe a factor also? Polaris makes a good machine, use this daily and love the power steering especially on washboard. The plastic is fragile in places. Runs on fumes.

 

[remington jim]

IF I won a Polaris or Bombardier, It would be up for sale the next day. Electrical issues, Frame issues, no thanks.

Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda use all double sealed weatherpak connections. There is a reason they are reliable and cost more.

I have owned 4 Polaris 's since the 90's and NEVER had either of these ISSUES but i do take ALL of my electrical connectors apart and make sure they have XG12 Ford Dielectric Grease in them - RJ

 

[dimeN]

Only issue i had with my foreman was a torn cv boot... itll happen on nasty trails
Thats the prob with cv joints otherwise the machine is soooo reliable ..
..500cc is just right.. enough power in low and i dont have to lug around extra jerry cans of gas on a trip ..
I have to say.. i love efi ! Never a problem
Just get the right tires for your area.... thatll haunt you
Myself, i need tires that are better in swamp mud.. the stock ones i have arent cutting the mustard lolol

 

[45ACPKING]

Only issue i had with my foreman was a torn cv boot... itll happen on nasty trails
Thats the prob with cv joints otherwise the machine is soooo reliable ..
..500cc is just right.. enough power in low and i dont have to lug around extra jerry cans of gas on a trip ..
I have to say.. i love efi ! Never a problem
Just get the right tires for your area.... thatll haunt you
Myself, i need tires that are better in swamp mud.. the stock ones i have arent cutting the mustard lolol

Mud Lite II tires are what you need.

 

[Rebel Rouser]

Dude! What make is that front rack, I'm trying to find one that you can stow a chain saw in.

 

[kamlooky]

Dude! What make is that front rack, I'm trying to find one that you can stow a chain saw in.

Fahbreek ah la Looky……………………….
Some angle eye-run, expanded metal, chawp saw and ahhhhhh bunchah reebs.

Tires are Mud Bugs.
Work exceptionally well, even in snow.
Backing up in deep snow causes issues.
Best going forward with hair straight back.

 

[hawk-i]

IF I won a Polaris or Bombardier, It would be up for sale the next day. Electrical issues, Frame issues, no thanks.

Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda use all double sealed weatherpak connections. There is a reason they are reliable and cost more.

I have owned 4 Polaris 's since the 90's and NEVER had either of these ISSUES but i do take ALL of my electrical connectors apart and make sure they have XG12 Ford Dielectric Grease in them - RJ

I use to be a Yamaha guy...my last two machines have been Polaris because of sales pricing....the quad (a 2014) now has 8000+ kms on it and I've replaced the battery once and 1 spark plug...the side by side (a 2016) now has close to 10,000km on it and I've only had to replace the battery. Both units have be stellar for ride and reliability! Gotta like that....

 

[GUB]

I've got a 2008 Polaris Sportsmen 500 X2
Had since brand new and just runs great no issues or problems
It's got the fold away 2nd seat with the dump box
Big machine not made for tight turns
Good amount of room between the driver and passenger
Then when not needed you have a back rest for the driver going solo

 

[hawkmp9]

Yamaha grizzly. We have 2 at the hunt camp and I won’t even consider any others.
Polaris have some front end issues from what I hear. Can am aren’t worth the extra money imo.

 

[canadian hunter312]

Mud Lite II tires are what you need.

On the topic of tires...


Most riders waste a ton of money on tires because they do not use tire tread irons or don't even know they exist. Trimming tread block leading edges to square them up and cutting new sipes makes a huge difference with regaining lost traction and making old tires perform close to when they were new. You can also customize the treads such as converting worn tires into snow tires by cutting a bunch of narrow sipes in the tread blocks or dividing large rectangular tread blocks on mud tires into 2-3 squares on every other or few treads for much better log/rock gripping. Get free turf tires by picking up a "garbage" set of worn ATV tires and cut most of the treads off...


Tread doctor is what I use and is less than $100. A few of the guys that have borrowed mine snapped axles or CV joints because they were used to their worn tires and having to apply more throttle to keep moving and spinning tires all the time. After cutting the treads their tires were much more grippy, but they didn't alter throttle control to match traction. Snap!

 

[Butcherbill]

Dude! What make is that front rack, I'm trying to find one that you can stow a chain saw in.

We use these at work, made out of 3/4” plywood. They bolt to the factory rack with U shaped bolts and the small holes around the sidewalls are where the bungee cords attach, easy to make and they work well. One of them has a plywood scabbard on the rear that a saw bar slides into.