FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
LOL, you can only go so fast on a trail, all the machines are capable of hitting a safe controllable speed .
Can am doesn't even make the top ten list in 2022 or 2023
ATV Recommendations
- Thread starter Jgoulin
- Start date
LOL, you can only go so fast on a trail, all the machines are capable of hitting a safe controllable speed .
Can am doesn't even make the top ten list in 2022 or 2023
Seriously, you should do some research
https://www.atvtrailrider.ca/the-five-top-atvs-to-buy-in-2022
https://www.atvrider.com/story/atvs/best-atvs-for-mudding/ for 2023
Just grabbed the first ones from a google search, why so much hate for the Can Am?
I think you’re jealous that you can’t keep up with them even at a safe controllable speed
Shooter_01
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Durham Region, Ontario
When I was faced with the same decision I went with Yamaha (Kodiak 700 EPS). Couldn’t be happier.
I can only comment on the two machines I currently own.
My Polaris is the smoothest riding machine I have ever owned. I bought it for those long rough rides, suspension is incredible on them. The downside is the "On Demand" 4-wheel drive. I find it kicks in too late (in the middle of the mud) and does not engage when reversing. Still a very reliable machine, have had no issues with it.
My second machine is ancient, a 1983 (?) Suzuki (red plastic with blue seat). It's only a 350 2WD but it's a beast, can get through and up just about anything, surprised most times by what it can do. Maybe it's more that I don't care if I break it, whereas the Polaris I don't want to roll it or get it stuck beyond recovery.
My Polaris is the smoothest riding machine I have ever owned. I bought it for those long rough rides, suspension is incredible on them. The downside is the "On Demand" 4-wheel drive. I find it kicks in too late (in the middle of the mud) and does not engage when reversing. Still a very reliable machine, have had no issues with it.
My second machine is ancient, a 1983 (?) Suzuki (red plastic with blue seat). It's only a 350 2WD but it's a beast, can get through and up just about anything, surprised most times by what it can do. Maybe it's more that I don't care if I break it, whereas the Polaris I don't want to roll it or get it stuck beyond recovery.
I have an older Suzuki king quad 400 and it's a great machine but the jets need to be ultrasonic cleaned every now and then but my quad doesn't get much use at all. Only for hunting. It's sure pulled my buddies Polaris out alot.
A side note is if you're going to be solo alot get a quad you can man handle yourself. I can drag and lift each end of my 400 so when I get it stuck in not totally dependent on a winch that I may or may not be able to access. Even just turning it sideways on a trailer to make more room is possible by hand alone. My buddies bigger bikes stay where they can be driven and stay where they're stuck until pulled out
A side note is if you're going to be solo alot get a quad you can man handle yourself. I can drag and lift each end of my 400 so when I get it stuck in not totally dependent on a winch that I may or may not be able to access. Even just turning it sideways on a trailer to make more room is possible by hand alone. My buddies bigger bikes stay where they can be driven and stay where they're stuck until pulled out
Agreed. I’ve had 3 new CanAm’s and they were great machines but the Kodiak 700 is the top machine from my experience. The only thing I didn’t like about the CanAm was the transmission whine at lower trail speeds would play havoc with my tinnitus and that’s why I went Yamaha.
A CanAm 500 will almost stay with other 700’s and a CanAm 650 will out perform all 700’s.
Thanks for all the input.
Speed is not even on the list of needs I have in my head.
I am aiming at the mid-sized machines for 2 reasons. I want to be able to comfortably fit it in the bed of a truck and, as a poster mentioned, the ability to manhandle the thing if necessary.
Speed is not even on the list of needs I have in my head.
I am aiming at the mid-sized machines for 2 reasons. I want to be able to comfortably fit it in the bed of a truck and, as a poster mentioned, the ability to manhandle the thing if necessary.
That is because everyone knows "you meet the nicest people on a Honda!"
Go with what is available for "Dealer Support" that is closest to you, should you ever need replacement parts.
Larger and multiple dealerships in an area will mean a better chance of finding that small widget that prevents the machine from running pre-trip maintenance on Wednesday
means there is a better chance it will be in stock Thursday to be installed Friday and running/working on Saturday.
Honda or a Yamaha would be my choice, but thats just me from years of commercial exposure to marketing opinions.
Rob
Most Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki Can Am and Polaris are pretty bullet proof. The Honda foreman with a solid rear axle and gear drive is a true work horse but Honda and Yamaha in general are a bit more costly (buy once cry once?). I own both a 2001 Honda Foreman 450 ES, and 2016 Yamaha Kodiak 700 ESPS. Dont use them a lot but they start and run and do what I want when I want it. The Yamaha has a belt drive but i know people who beat the krap out of theirs and have thousands of Km on them without any issue.
A couple things to make sure you get are fuel injection and power steering. FI will get you started any time, and PS is a game changer in ATV especially if you need to back up trailers etc. Like sleds, they are all heavy now so plan in on the cost of at least one 3500 lb winch on the front
If you can find good used for decent price the dont be shy, but you might as well buy new if you can find them. People are selling good used ones for near new cost anyway.
A couple things to make sure you get are fuel injection and power steering. FI will get you started any time, and PS is a game changer in ATV especially if you need to back up trailers etc. Like sleds, they are all heavy now so plan in on the cost of at least one 3500 lb winch on the front
If you can find good used for decent price the dont be shy, but you might as well buy new if you can find them. People are selling good used ones for near new cost anyway.
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“Use would be light, one or two hunting trips a year, and some ice fishing, no serious off road or towing. Reliability and service are probably the two biggest factors”. To be honest with the super light amount of use you’re planning on doing and not working the machine I highly doubt you’ll see a difference in reliability in either of the brands.
Can-ams and Polaris have their place, it’s not in the work world. Their reputation is high horsepower and fast all those big mud machines are majority can-ams because they already have the high horse power but no one every talks about the supporting modifications they gotta do because of broken parts. Also another thing to note is can-am/Polaris use a snowmobile style cvt system which is great when racing, going fast and to fine tune the clutch to your liking ie launch harder or spin bigger tires you really gotta know when to use low gear to save from belt slippage when putting the machine under load but there are other systems that are better for work and essentially reliability like less belt wear
Hondas don’t use a cvt it is the best for work but you’re limited to adjustments like if you add bigger tires.
Yamaha and Suzuki use a different style cvt that is meant for work essentially you’ll get full belt squeeze from idle and lower rpms that’s their fame and glory and why their machine are work horse’s not a system if you want to the machine to feel Sporty. Yamaha offers a 10 year belt warranty not that belts are super expensive.
Theirs a difference in 4x4 systems also can-am/Polaris use an auto locking system when it senses wheel spin it’ll lock the front wheels then eventually unlock them automatically when the parameters are met and your back to 2wd automatically.
Yamaha/Suzuki you can control if your in 2x4, 3x4 or fully locked in 4x4. Great if you know when to use it not as user friendly as the can-am Polaris another thing to note all yamahas don’t have the 4x4 fully locked feature you gotta jump up into certain models.. I’m not well versed in the Honda system.
Again given your intended use and how much your going to use it your not going to go wrong with any brand they’ll all carry you down the trail for years and years. Put the machine under working conditions its a different story certain machines will shine and have more trouble free km’s
Again given your use pick any brand you’ll be good
Can-ams and Polaris have their place, it’s not in the work world. Their reputation is high horsepower and fast all those big mud machines are majority can-ams because they already have the high horse power but no one every talks about the supporting modifications they gotta do because of broken parts. Also another thing to note is can-am/Polaris use a snowmobile style cvt system which is great when racing, going fast and to fine tune the clutch to your liking ie launch harder or spin bigger tires you really gotta know when to use low gear to save from belt slippage when putting the machine under load but there are other systems that are better for work and essentially reliability like less belt wear
Hondas don’t use a cvt it is the best for work but you’re limited to adjustments like if you add bigger tires.
Yamaha and Suzuki use a different style cvt that is meant for work essentially you’ll get full belt squeeze from idle and lower rpms that’s their fame and glory and why their machine are work horse’s not a system if you want to the machine to feel Sporty. Yamaha offers a 10 year belt warranty not that belts are super expensive.
Theirs a difference in 4x4 systems also can-am/Polaris use an auto locking system when it senses wheel spin it’ll lock the front wheels then eventually unlock them automatically when the parameters are met and your back to 2wd automatically.
Yamaha/Suzuki you can control if your in 2x4, 3x4 or fully locked in 4x4. Great if you know when to use it not as user friendly as the can-am Polaris another thing to note all yamahas don’t have the 4x4 fully locked feature you gotta jump up into certain models.. I’m not well versed in the Honda system.
Again given your intended use and how much your going to use it your not going to go wrong with any brand they’ll all carry you down the trail for years and years. Put the machine under working conditions its a different story certain machines will shine and have more trouble free km’s
Again given your use pick any brand you’ll be good
Mark my words, if you switch to Ethanol free gasoline (I only know of Ultramar Supreme for sure - check at the pump, it should be listed), you will never have to clean another carburetor again. I have many small engines from ATVs to lawn equipment, chainsaws and generators. I used to go crazy every spring cleaning and trying various mystery cans of nonsense. Since switching to ethanol free gas, I have not had to do any cleaning, no stabilizers, nothing. During Covid I was landlocked from my cabin in the states, went almost 3 years without starting the quads, chainsaws, genny, and they all started instantly. It amazes me that ethanol is allowed to exist in our pumps, it's complete krap.
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Yup, the speed isn't an issue,can't get past 30 to 50 kph on %90 of the trails around me
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Seriously, you should do some research
https://www.atvtrailrider.ca/the-five-top-atvs-to-buy-in-2022
https://www.atvrider.com/story/atvs/best-atvs-for-mudding/ for 2023
Just grabbed the first ones from a google search, why so much hate for the Can Am?
I think you’re jealous that you can’t keep up with them even at a safe controllable speed
Ya, I can post links also, here is one of dozens where can am doesn't make a showing
https://4x4paradise.com/best-4x4-atv-for-the-money/?amp=1
I have a Can Am 650, 2 up machine, lots of power no issues other than difficult maintenance . last year demo'ed an Artic Cat Alterra 600, EPS, easy maintenance, 45hp which is enough for my purposes and 12.25" of ground clearance.
This machine was not on my radar at all, but after the demo I bought it, a 2022 model.
This machine was not on my radar at all, but after the demo I bought it, a 2022 model.
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
On thing about the Grizzly's, they are front end light. If you have someone sitting on the back or a heavy load ei: game animals the front tends to lift on acceleration. Was a big change from my sturdy Cat 650v-twin.
