ATV for hunting

53Izzy744 said:
By 2up you mean purposely built for 2 riders or just one big enough to move 2 people? 2up machines limit you big time.
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Yep.

Buy two decent quality ATVs, probably a lot smaller ones than you thought you needed. I'd suggest that based on the amount of firewood I have hauled behind my 350 Honda and Yamaha Quads, that like as not, that size or a little bigger will do.
Lots of guys still looking for Honda Trikes for swamp country riding, as they will float across places that a light quad will have a hard time in, and a big tractor of a quad won't get anywhere. Gotta consider carefully, the area that you plan on using it, and the kind of travel you expect to do on it.

Standard answer, from a time when side by sides and two-ups were not around, was that the guy in back got off and walked if the going was heavy enough to make it a risk to be there.

Put a passenger pad on both. That way, if one DOES crap the bed, you have the other to get you both out on, and back in for the recovery, if needed.

The Forces had a bunch of two-up units at Wainwright that didn't stay in inventory long. Too long a wheel base, and too little ground clearance, with a couple adult males on them.

With the preponderance of side by side units, I don't see there being more choices for 2-up ATVs coming, really.
 
after I did some online research I've decided to go with a suzuki Eiger. Hope it's a good decision. Thanks to everyone for replies.
 
I have a '98 Yamaha Big Bear 350. It is my firewood hauler, snow plower, and hunting vehicle. My main complaint is the old drum brakes on these machines, they suck to put it mildly compared to a modern machines disk brakes. However, if you keep after them, they get the job done. Parking brake on mine being the exception, it will barely hold the machine on a slight grade.
Over the years, the only issue I've had was the failure of the charging system one time, and this winter the starter iced up on me once. Rope started it, and once warmed up the starter thawed out.
The new machines are electronic fuel injected, and no rope start for the most part. I'd hate to lose that rope start.
Saved my bacon a few times when stupid old fart (me) left the key on after using the winch to control tree drop when felling.

A friend that worked at a Polaris/Honda dealership advised me never to by a Polaris. He said the shop is always full of them.
 
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John Y Cannuck said:
I have a '98 Yamaha Big Bear 350. It is my firewood hauler, snow plower, and hunting vehicle. My main complaint is the old drum brakes on these machines, they suck to put it mildly compared to a modern machines disk brakes. However, if you keep after them, they get the job done. Parking brake on mine being the exception, it will barely hold the machine on a slight grade.
Over the years, the only issue I've had was the failure of the charging system one time, and this winter the starter iced up on me once. Rope started it, and once warmed up the starter thawed out.
The new machines are electronic fuel injected, and no rope start for the most part. I'd hate to lose that rope start.
Saved my bacon a few times when stupid old fart (me) left the key on after using the winch to control tree drop when felling.

A friend that worked at a Polaris/Honda dealership advised me never to by a Polaris. He said the shop is always full of them.
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I'm ahh wee bit of a stubborn sort like you.
Bawt a 1996 Bear ah kewtzs age ago and one elk hunt got me covered in muskeg.
Then thought I'd upgrade to the 1994 400 Kodiak and the only thing I gained were the big fender extensions.
Same deal with the brakes. They aren't that great.
Then along came a 660 Grizz and the old two have absolutely nothing on this machine.
I wished tuh kripes I'd made the move a long time ago.
Sold the other two once this Grizz kept a smile on me face.
Good grunt, an awwsum powertrain and brakes...………..OHHHH ME LAWRD...……….brakes...………………...w:h:
 
Have run so many quads with either crappy or no brakes at all over the years that I have become to the point where them working is just a pleasant surprise, rather than them not, being a disaster.

I have two Honda TRX350FM's, AKA 350 Rancher's, with manual transmissions, and I see that there is a kit of parts available from Royal Distributing that converts the fronts to disk, using I think, Polaris parts. At least, the pads cross reference to match IIRC.
 
I love the disk brakes on my Yamaha grizz 550 although they squeak some times and that drives me nuts but easily remedied.
With the belt drive though, I find I seldom need the brakes as letting the throttle off causes the machine to immediately slow down to a stop if you let it.
I don't know much about them but I think Suzuki atvs are under rated. Several friends have older ones and they seem to be really solid machines and as reliable as the older Hondas.
Lots of parts around too.
 
My only experience with a Suzuki was an older 300 back when they were the only thing around that had a low range and diff lock up on the tank. In Granny-Low, with the Diff lock on, that thing was a slow speed tractor!

LOL! Another of the ones that had no brakes! :)
 
Everybody has junk and lemons. Have an 08 and a 09 Polaris, zero issues. Both have original tires and original batteries. Change the belt on one last year just because but I couldn't see any difference between the new one on the old one. 90% of how they last is how you drive them how you maintain them. I'm pretty easy on my bikes most of the time but when you got to get the job done I don't hold back.
 
MRP said:
Everybody has junk and lemons. Have an 08 and a 09 Polaris, zero issues. Both have original tires and original batteries. Change the belt on one last year just because but I couldn't see any difference between the new one on the old one. 90% of how they last is how you drive them how you maintain them. I'm pretty easy on my bikes most of the time but when you got to get the job done I don't hold back.
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That is a bizarre thing, still the original 2010 battery in my Polaris as well. Was not happy with no pull start but pack a jumper. Also original belt. Use it for everything, firewood etc.
 
trevj said:
My only experience with a Suzuki was an older 300 back when they were the only thing around that had a low range and diff lock up on the tank. In Granny-Low, with the Diff lock on, that thing was a slow speed tractor!

LOL! Another of the ones that had no brakes! :)
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Neighbour has two of them since new, fairly indestructible.
 
One thing I didn't add about my old Big Bear. It has no independent rear suspension (IRS).
Now to an old fart like me that's usually no issue. But one time I was out with a guy and his daughter and they both had IRS machines. One a Honda, the other a Suzuki. All went well until it was time to leave, and they were suddenly in a hurry.
I swear the two of them were bat crap crazy flying out of there. I thought I was going to pound my spine to hell. I had to stand up most of the way just to keep up. They were comfortably riding on their seats the whole way.
Now it's true that IRS machines do have more moving parts, and that can get expensive if you pull stuff. But holy flying hell does it make a difference on the trail!
 
Can’t go wrong with any Honda or Yamaha. I’ve used both and both have been great. For some reason I’ve had more success on the Honda though. Probably just coincidence though
 
trevj said:
Is there some sort of point to this rambling?

Or did you miss the part where the OP didn't buy a two-up?
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Sure ! Thread starter was : Want to use it for hunting and it MUST be a 2up. !

So was just pointing to all the Yamaha ramblers that he wanted a 2 up and Yamaha doesn't make one !

You :p prob did't read his thread either ! :slap: lol RJ
 
remington jim said:
Sure ! Thread starter was : Want to use it for hunting and it MUST be a 2up. !

So was just pointing to all the Yamaha ramblers that he wanted a 2 up and Yamaha doesn't make one !

You :p prob did't read his thread either ! :slap: lol RJ
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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!
 
trevj said:
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!
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BAHHH HUMBUGGLLERS!!!!!!!!! IRS is great. Easy awn the tailbone.
 
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