ATV Recommendations

Yamaha Kodiak make it in the 400-500cc bracket for you, typical bombproof Yamaha machines. Lighter than a Grizzly, one company I work for has been renting quads and Ute’s for years and it’s always been Yamaha and Honda machines. Last season the place they rent from switched to Polaris, gotta say so far they have held up nicely and we run them in some real roughy terrain. The get run hard, my only gripe with Polaris so far is the transmission is real clunky when you shift. Buddy has a Polaris 6x6 and it’s pretty awesome.

If I couldn’t find a good priced Yamaha or Honda I’d consider a Polaris, price is lower by a fair bit and according to the rental shop the new machines are way better than. I’m paying close attention to the once we’re beating up at work this year, so far they’ve been solid machines.
 
AdamRoby said:
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.
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Agree on the ethanol free gas, ethanol is hell. The other thing you can do is run your carb dry if it’s a carbureted machine, I do this with all my small gas powered equipment. Genny, fire pump etc etc, shut the petcock off and let it run dry. I never have a problem starting them up when I need them.
 
Regardless which brand you choose I would suggest get one with power steering will save you a lot of strain on your arms / elbows when riding rough terrain.

Things to consider or research before your purchase.

CVT trans (belt) or semi-auto (no belt).

Single rider or legal 2up?

If you are looking for a 2up you are pretty much limited to CanAm , Polaris and Cf Moto (the big four Japanese maker don't offer legal 2ups).

Solid rear axle (better for hauling heavy load a real work horse) or independent rear suspension (smooth ride and comfortable).

Are you going to do your own maintenance and repair?

Some brands / models are more complex and harder to work on.

Buddy has a Brute Force 750 v- twin tons of low end torque could probably haul a moose out by it's own however it has a wet rear brake (brake rotor,pads inside rear diff) it's harder to service.

Also, bigger motor means burn more gas one occasion few years back when four of us went for an extended hunting trip he has to carry spare gas on a jerry can while 3 of us (2 Polaris Sportsman 570s and a Honda Rubicon) were still on the first tank for 2 days.

Never rode on a CanAm but was told it's very nice.
 
Every single brand of quad has bad models. Even Yamaha and Canam. And everyone is going to have a different story based on their personal experience with their own quad. If I was in the market again, I would go talk to a couple mechanics that have been fixing them their entire lives and ask them which ones are always in the shop and which ones they never see, or ones that are just there for regular maintenance.
 
brybenn said:
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
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Another for Suzuki
 
I have a 2008 Polaris 500 HO that has been amazing for my purposes. It goes on 4 or 5 hunts each fall, and besides
a couple of repairs, has been relatively trouble-free. Had to replace the starter, and the winch solenoid.
Replaced the tires with some decent ones. [My choice, not absolutely necessary]
Regular maintenance is needed with any ATV, so no complaints, really. Dave.
 
I have a 500 can am quest from 2002 it’s a tank tons of power super reliable it feels like you’re driving a 650
I also have an 850 can am outlander 2022 year and it feels like a small truck and love it
Recommend anything can am
 
If the ohpee is purchasing used, git a later model with disk brakes awl the way around.
Them older drum brake yewnits don't stawp werd chit.
Even the parkee brake don't hold'im with a lode'awn when parked awf horzawntawl.

Winch'im frunt'n back.
Sumtimes gewn the way yew came izz a better purrdicktahmint than gewn forth.
When yer bawlzs is gitt'in moist, well figgyer it owt.

SFtPh2N.jpg
 
From what I’ve seen it’s more of a year to year thing, guys that got the same model of different years one is ok the other is a disaster. Yamaha to Honda, Honda the last couple of years has been a real disappointment according to a ATV shop guy I know. Mine according to most it’s the worst ATV on the market a 2008 500 Polaris. A universal and one axle boot is all I’ve replaced and the boot was my fault. Even the original battery is still at 12.7 volts 15 years old come May.
 
kamlooky said:
If the ohpee is purchasing used, git a later model with disk brakes awl the way around.
Them older drum brake yewnits don't stawp werd chit.
Even the parkee brake don't hold'im with a lode'awn when parked awf horzawntawl.

Winch'im frunt'n back.
Sumtimes gewn the way yew came izz a better purrdicktahmint than gewn forth.
When yer bawlzs is gitt'in moist, well figgyer it owt.

SFtPh2N.jpg
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THERE a Great idea ! I had a Rear Mounted 2500 lb winch on my Polaris Sporty 800 and an extra 30 series battery mounted inside the rear storage compartment under the rack deck . I used it more often than my font winch ! The extra battery really helped with snowplowing and all the extra lights I had .RJ
 
Year to year quality issues are usually dependent on who they get to build parts for them.
I think it was 2016 and 17 when the big Tsunami hit..it wiped out the Yamaha engine plant and they substituted Subaru small engine to build them, also problems with differentials around that time for the same reason




MRP said:
From what I’ve seen it’s more of a year to year thing, guys that got the same model of different years one is ok the other is a disaster. Yamaha to Honda, Honda the last couple of years has been a real disappointment according to a ATV shop guy I know. Mine according to most it’s the worst ATV on the market a 2008 500 Polaris. A universal and one axle boot is all I’ve replaced and the boot was my fault. Even the original battery is still at 12.7 volts 15 years old come May.
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remington jim said:
Just another opinion ! How many other brands you owned and rode ? :rolleyes::p. lol. RJ
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Dun't yew start wid me yew bawl buster.
Dun fixed lawtsa t'uther peepolekinds chit.

Two the lad's upp'ear arf dem Powlarrissists and they do go well.
I sure can't keep up wid dem.
Mind you, looky dah chit I pack wid moi.

And that wincheepooh lasted one effort.
Now gartzs a bigg'un Warn mounted back there.

MYbZkNM.jpg


This is wutts awn there now.
That t'uther pos spilled'er gutzs awn a side pull.
Line gathered up on the short end and pushed the mount away from the spewl.
PMO.
These $100 dawluh winches P/A sells arr sheer garrbage.
 
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kamlooky said:
Dun't yew start wid me yew bawl buster.
Dun fixed lawtsa t'uther peepolekinds chit.

Two the lad's upp'ear arf dem Powlarrissists and they do go well.
I sure can't keep up wid dem.:p:dn
Mind you, looky dah chit I pack wid moi.

And that wincheepooh lasted one effort.
Now gartzs a bigg'un Warn mounted back there.

MYbZkNM.jpg


This is wutts awn there now.
That t'uther pos spilled'er gutzs awn a side pull.
Line gathered up on the short end and pushed the mount away from the spewl.
PMO.
These $100 dawluh winches P/A sells arr sheer garrbage.
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Wowser a 4000 LBer on that there Quad ! You must get stuck a LOT ! :evil: RJ
 
I went through this last year lol. After much debate I went with a can am outlander max xt 850. I wanted a machine that offered top tier performance, decent reliability and something that looked good parked in my garage. While there are machines much more reliable than my can am (Honda), they simply do not offer the same level of performance that can am does. While I went with a 2 up, it was not mandatory or even wanted initially but after riding one... Wow. They handle like a dream and get through more than single seaters in my experience. Also, when my daughter gets bigger her and my wife can ride the max and I have an excuse to buy a renegade 1000 :)

Can am - performance machine. Requires regular maintenance. Decent reliability
Honda - solid work horse but very basic and slow
Yamaha - great option however, I simply don't like the look of them
Polaris - POS
Arctic Cat - better than a Polaris but, not as good as Yamaha or can am.
Cf moto - Chinese garbage, would be embarrassed to own one.
 
freddyfour said:
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.
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Yes and no, the only time I’ve noticed the front end want to lift was on machines with taller suspension or when the coil overs were at their stiffest settings. Or when going up very steep inclines, the 700 grizzly has so much power that it’s easy to get the front end up. My one friend has one and he wheelie’s it easily, lots of bottom end on them. Awesome machines, tough as nails.
 
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