..... if I wanted a sissy yard bike to play tinker toys and merry go round in the pansies while wearing panties that covered my mangina, I would own a 450 Foreman..... but since I like to do MAN stuff with MAN toys, I'll keep rollin' on my CanAm
Buying a new quad! need help desciding.
- Thread starter 168bergersapper
- Start date
..... if I wanted a sissy yard bike to play tinker toys and merry go round in the pansies while wearing panties that covered my mangina, I would own a 450 Foreman..... but since I like to do MAN stuff with MAN toys, I'll keep rollin' on my CanAm
..... if I wanted a sissy yard bike to play tinker toys and merry go round in the pansies while wearing panties that covered my mangina, I would own a 450 Foreman..... but since I like to do MAN stuff with MAN toys, I'll keep rollin' on my CanAm
Mangina?.........wtf?????????????.........like tonsils up yer recktehmanum?............
I have 2 honda`s. A 2004 rubicon 500 with 10,000 k on it and a 2005 400 4 trax with 8,300 k on it. Have not had any problems with either machine and just change the oil. I hunt, pull a trailer for garbage at a gun club and ride for pleasure. I have been around the Can ams and find them unreliable with the clutches and charging systems. I have also had to fix the fuel lines out on the trail on the 1000 can am. The 500 can am has u joint and front shock problems from what I have experienced. Artic cats have front axles breaking but I have heard they fixed that problem with the newer models. Lets hope cause they look good. The polaris I see are usually behind me as I or my buddies are pulling them back out of the bush for some reason or other. If you buy polaris take the salesman`s advis and take the free 3 year warranty and pay for the winch. The Yamaha Grizzly will be next on my list when my Honda`s finally bit the dust. they ride nice have lots of power and are pretty good on fuel if your reasonable on the throttle.
canadian hunter312
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County
You get a whole lot more with some bigger ATV's that justify the slightly increased weight. As for fuel efficiency, the smaller machines need to work much harder to do the same thing a big bore will do which results in similar fuel use when riding side by side. From what I have seen after riding with dozens of small bores, I would go as far as saying some small bores burn more gas than some big bores.
Grizzly 700:
-single cylinder
-belt drive with amazing engine braking that continues slowing on steep grades until you hit the throttle
-98 lbs heavier than the 420 with much more power, ground clearance, and suspension travel
..... if I wanted a sissy yard bike to play tinker toys and merry go round in the pansies while wearing panties that covered my mangina, I would own a 450 Foreman..... but since I like to do MAN stuff with MAN toys, I'll keep rollin' on my CanAm
sorry, but I'd never buy another after the one I have. I could keep going with repairs, numerous u joint replacements, on the third set of front shocks, love the fact the inner cv joint has to be from brp because that's what keeps breaking on the front, all rubber needed replacing within the first three years including gas lines, all cv boots, ect.... break pads were done before the first 500km and have been fine since replacing with aftermarket pads 3000 km ago. and I really loved how the dealer treated me when they couldn't figure out what was wrong with the voltage regulator for the first 6 months of owning it. that's what I can remember at the moment but I know there's more......
nice riding machine but I'd never buy another.
just my two cents
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The Rincon's reliable and a fun bike for the trail. It's possibly the best handling bike I've ever ridden. My only qualm is that high first gear makes it not so serious for working. My buddy's will sit there, immobile and making noise on loads we can yank out with a 420 Rancher. Aside from that, it keeps up fairly well with the belt drives, you have to hit some fairly serious sh## before you notice the front doesn't lock up, usually around the spot where the first couple Polaris's snap a front axle.
I agree the Rubicon is a better work bike, but he's asked about trail riding and hunting.
Have 3 Rincons and have had 3 Rubicons. All 3 Rincons will always spin the wheels when hooked onto a big load. Oil matters for tranny slip. The Ruby is better for loaded trailers though with the low range, holds back on hills better too.
I'm going to weigh in on this, because I did a lot of research before buying what I did, based on what I was going to use it for. Much the same as the snowmobile market, I believe quad's are dividing up into different segments, such as utility, sport, trail riding, etc. Most do all well, but some excel in different areas and less so in others.
Honda. Its like the elan of the quad world. Simple, tough, reliable. Not the fastest, little to no suspension, and will probably run forever. They haven't really changed much in years, and some people like that, others do not. 420 and under the bikes are still 'small' by today's standards. Solid rear axles, low ground clearance and often with only manual shift options. If you want tried and true, this is an option. However, don't expect to enjoy yourself on a 200km/day trail ride, and invest in a chiropractor. Their newer big bike I've never seen. Apparently it has a automotive style automatic transmission. Can't say if this is good or bad, but in my head, its probably heavy, slow, and expensive to fix. Could be wrong though. Also, none contain a locking front diff. I use diff lock a fair amount, and can't count the times its pulled me out of a jam. I've a friend with a Honda, and I can't found the number of times he wouldn't be stuck if he had one. I feel the need to point it out to him every time, to which I get a sarcastic 'Ha. Ha'
Can Am. They've come a long way in a short amount of time. If you want pure, exhilarating endless torque, these are the answer. They also have a fantastic suspension for trail riding that is smooth, predictable and tough. Most of the complains you hear about people bending frames and breaking things come from driver abuse and error. If driven sensibly, they'll last a long time. I know several nearly or exceeding 10k kms. The only real issue is their belt drive transmission, most have to replace the belt 2-3 times before reaching 10,000 kms, but its am $85 dollar belt that takes a few minutes to replace, just like a snowmobile. If you concerned, carry a few basic tools and a spare. One feature I didn't care for was the brake. There is only one on the handle bar, and it engages all 4 wheel brakes. I prefer independent control of my front or rear braking for technical riding, but that's me. Also, a lack of a front locker. They have a visco-lok or something similar. They work great, until they don't.
Kawasaki/Suzuki. I can't really comment of their newer stuff, but I've seen a few around. Most are from guys looking at a cheaper alternative to a Can Am. If they found it or not I'm not sure, but I can't vote either way on these.
Arctic Cat. Reliable engines, smooth ride, and many, many options. One thing they've got going for them is their transmission that is almost identical to Yamaha's. The way it works is like this. When the engine is running, sitting at idle, the primary clutch does not turn. The belt between the primary and secondary clutch is tight, and there is no slippage. Inside the engine, there is a wet clutch, much the same as the early quads and trikes with manual transmissions have. A set of centrifugal clutches bathed in oil expand with engine rpm to engage the clutch. Once engages, the output shaft begins turning the primary, which turns the secondary with 0 slip. This saves the belt from significant wear, gets more torque to the ground with less heat. On a typical Snowmobile, or other belt driven quads (Can Am, Suzuki, Polaris), when the engine is running, the primary is turning all the time. There is a certain amount of slip that occurs before the clutch is fully engaged and the belt starts to turn with the engine. This builds heat, wearing the belt, but it works. Why the other manufacture's don't adopt the Yamaha/Arctic Cat model is beyond me. Perhaps it saves cost, simplifies some things, I don't know. But to me its a smart system that works well; wet clutches work well, and last practically forever. As for the rest of the bike, They are cheaper, so some fit and finish things are a little low compared to Can-Am or Yamaha. However, they do have the best ground clearance in the industry, the ride is good, now have power steering, and many, many options including a two up model, and have the option for a V-twin engine I believe. Lockable front diff.
Polaris. Cheap, fast, and won't comment on the reliable part. Most polaris guy's swear by them. IN MY EXPERIENCE, I've never seen one that hasn't had a problem. Part of this could be luck, and the other part could be driver abuse/neglect. I do know they have a great ride. They're fit and finish is decent, however being one of the first out there to switch to a belt drive transmission has earned them a sour reputation. Maybe things have improved, but this is one case where I don't think I would consider them based on passed events and personal experiences. I know the newer stuff, like the others, is way better than even 5 years ago. They make good power, excellent ride and like arctic cat, have many different options to choose from. Also a clutch like front diff, no lock. They work great, until they don't.
Yamaha. I'm biased towards this brand, as I've owned several throughout the years, and still do today. To me, they are the best 'all around' quad on the market. I've owned both a 2011 Kodiak 450 and a 2014 grizzly 700. If you want small, tough, near bullet proof with economy, the smaller Kodiak is the way to go. Ride is ok, its tuff, and with a 2 speed bullet proof transmission, you'll run out of tractions before you ever run out of torque. Might take you a while to get there, but you'll get there. I know of a Kodiak that had in excess of 12k kilometers of hard sugar bush use. The owner pulled the belt cover one day out of curiosity and found the belt to be like new. For the newer grizzly 700, its the best machine I've ever owned. The ride is adjustable (like many others) and can be set of firm, super ground clearance, or soft for a Polaris like ride. Front locking diff, however, it can be a little tricky to engage and requires forward motion and wheel turning to sometimes lock it in. Power steering is huge, but most bikes have it now. Fit and finish is the best out there IMHO. Reliability is the best thing they have going for them. They've evolved with the market for the most part, but have stayed true to their roots. While some stuff is new, they always seem to do they're homework and I've never had or seen any issues (driver misuse/neglect not included). However, they do lack options such as a larger engine, two up seating. My 700 is setup for 2 up, but with 2 riders high in the air, even with the bikes low C of G, it can get dicey on hills due to its shorter wheelbase. However, single rider, tight trails in the woods, this thing is right at home. I've put a set of TJD tracks of mine for the winter, and LOVE this machine.
Chinese. There are many more of them popping out of the wood work, some for WAY less than the major manufacturers. STAY AWAY. Some build crap, others build some ok ones. However, in 10 years, the factory support probably won't be there, and you'll be stuck with a bike you paid 8k for with a broken CV boot or worn belt and nobody will have parts to fit it. You've been warned.
And can't put up a wordy post without a picture.
Honda. Its like the elan of the quad world. Simple, tough, reliable. Not the fastest, little to no suspension, and will probably run forever. They haven't really changed much in years, and some people like that, others do not. 420 and under the bikes are still 'small' by today's standards. Solid rear axles, low ground clearance and often with only manual shift options. If you want tried and true, this is an option. However, don't expect to enjoy yourself on a 200km/day trail ride, and invest in a chiropractor. Their newer big bike I've never seen. Apparently it has a automotive style automatic transmission. Can't say if this is good or bad, but in my head, its probably heavy, slow, and expensive to fix. Could be wrong though. Also, none contain a locking front diff. I use diff lock a fair amount, and can't count the times its pulled me out of a jam. I've a friend with a Honda, and I can't found the number of times he wouldn't be stuck if he had one. I feel the need to point it out to him every time, to which I get a sarcastic 'Ha. Ha'
Can Am. They've come a long way in a short amount of time. If you want pure, exhilarating endless torque, these are the answer. They also have a fantastic suspension for trail riding that is smooth, predictable and tough. Most of the complains you hear about people bending frames and breaking things come from driver abuse and error. If driven sensibly, they'll last a long time. I know several nearly or exceeding 10k kms. The only real issue is their belt drive transmission, most have to replace the belt 2-3 times before reaching 10,000 kms, but its am $85 dollar belt that takes a few minutes to replace, just like a snowmobile. If you concerned, carry a few basic tools and a spare. One feature I didn't care for was the brake. There is only one on the handle bar, and it engages all 4 wheel brakes. I prefer independent control of my front or rear braking for technical riding, but that's me. Also, a lack of a front locker. They have a visco-lok or something similar. They work great, until they don't.
Kawasaki/Suzuki. I can't really comment of their newer stuff, but I've seen a few around. Most are from guys looking at a cheaper alternative to a Can Am. If they found it or not I'm not sure, but I can't vote either way on these.
Arctic Cat. Reliable engines, smooth ride, and many, many options. One thing they've got going for them is their transmission that is almost identical to Yamaha's. The way it works is like this. When the engine is running, sitting at idle, the primary clutch does not turn. The belt between the primary and secondary clutch is tight, and there is no slippage. Inside the engine, there is a wet clutch, much the same as the early quads and trikes with manual transmissions have. A set of centrifugal clutches bathed in oil expand with engine rpm to engage the clutch. Once engages, the output shaft begins turning the primary, which turns the secondary with 0 slip. This saves the belt from significant wear, gets more torque to the ground with less heat. On a typical Snowmobile, or other belt driven quads (Can Am, Suzuki, Polaris), when the engine is running, the primary is turning all the time. There is a certain amount of slip that occurs before the clutch is fully engaged and the belt starts to turn with the engine. This builds heat, wearing the belt, but it works. Why the other manufacture's don't adopt the Yamaha/Arctic Cat model is beyond me. Perhaps it saves cost, simplifies some things, I don't know. But to me its a smart system that works well; wet clutches work well, and last practically forever. As for the rest of the bike, They are cheaper, so some fit and finish things are a little low compared to Can-Am or Yamaha. However, they do have the best ground clearance in the industry, the ride is good, now have power steering, and many, many options including a two up model, and have the option for a V-twin engine I believe. Lockable front diff.
Polaris. Cheap, fast, and won't comment on the reliable part. Most polaris guy's swear by them. IN MY EXPERIENCE, I've never seen one that hasn't had a problem. Part of this could be luck, and the other part could be driver abuse/neglect. I do know they have a great ride. They're fit and finish is decent, however being one of the first out there to switch to a belt drive transmission has earned them a sour reputation. Maybe things have improved, but this is one case where I don't think I would consider them based on passed events and personal experiences. I know the newer stuff, like the others, is way better than even 5 years ago. They make good power, excellent ride and like arctic cat, have many different options to choose from. Also a clutch like front diff, no lock. They work great, until they don't.
Yamaha. I'm biased towards this brand, as I've owned several throughout the years, and still do today. To me, they are the best 'all around' quad on the market. I've owned both a 2011 Kodiak 450 and a 2014 grizzly 700. If you want small, tough, near bullet proof with economy, the smaller Kodiak is the way to go. Ride is ok, its tuff, and with a 2 speed bullet proof transmission, you'll run out of tractions before you ever run out of torque. Might take you a while to get there, but you'll get there. I know of a Kodiak that had in excess of 12k kilometers of hard sugar bush use. The owner pulled the belt cover one day out of curiosity and found the belt to be like new. For the newer grizzly 700, its the best machine I've ever owned. The ride is adjustable (like many others) and can be set of firm, super ground clearance, or soft for a Polaris like ride. Front locking diff, however, it can be a little tricky to engage and requires forward motion and wheel turning to sometimes lock it in. Power steering is huge, but most bikes have it now. Fit and finish is the best out there IMHO. Reliability is the best thing they have going for them. They've evolved with the market for the most part, but have stayed true to their roots. While some stuff is new, they always seem to do they're homework and I've never had or seen any issues (driver misuse/neglect not included). However, they do lack options such as a larger engine, two up seating. My 700 is setup for 2 up, but with 2 riders high in the air, even with the bikes low C of G, it can get dicey on hills due to its shorter wheelbase. However, single rider, tight trails in the woods, this thing is right at home. I've put a set of TJD tracks of mine for the winter, and LOVE this machine.
Chinese. There are many more of them popping out of the wood work, some for WAY less than the major manufacturers. STAY AWAY. Some build crap, others build some ok ones. However, in 10 years, the factory support probably won't be there, and you'll be stuck with a bike you paid 8k for with a broken CV boot or worn belt and nobody will have parts to fit it. You've been warned.
And can't put up a wordy post without a picture.
Went through this back in 2007 so my info is likely outdated.
Polaris/arctic cat. The two brands I seemed to see disabled the most on the trails. Hopefully they have improved. Personally I saw too many disabled on rides.
Can Am. Tried out one of their 800. They were new then around 2008. Takeoff was very good but felt no better than the Kawi big bore. It was around just over 50 km/hr that the engine gained a second life and was really amazing. The problem was in most cases of trail riding where the Can Am really came into their own was often when you didn't want to go faster. Plus they were bending frames. I knew a few that weren't abused but were ridden hard and frames bent. Rolling a quad etc can happen. It's never good but you hope after everyone is ok that your ATV is as well. These quads weren't. This was the only reason I didn't buy one.
Kawi brute force. I went 650 but only because for 2007 it had the improved stearing geometry and was actually slightly faster off the line than the 750. In 2008 the 750 received the 650 upgrades. With this I would have gone 750 but really do like my 650 Vtwin. The new ones I understand are fuel injected. Mine is dual carb. The independant suspension is excellent and I wouldn't buy a sport ute that doesn't have this.
Honda. Reliable and well built. Expensive and the ones I used didn't have independant suspension. You could feel every bump on your back. Going through a non smooth field was at half the speed of the Kawi do to the suspension. I know some trail riders like this and even opted for the non brute force 650 because it didn't have independant suspension. For a sport utility don't look at quads without independant suspension.
Grizzly (Yamaha) 400. Used them in RCMP up North. Solid, reliable and good all around. But lacking in the fun department and looks compared to the Kawi and Can Am. The big bore would most likely be as much fun but still not as cool looking. Either a work quad or older person's choice. Not a bad option though. I was fairly impressed the RCMP sprung for them. Every detachment in Northern BC had them at that time.
Polaris/arctic cat. The two brands I seemed to see disabled the most on the trails. Hopefully they have improved. Personally I saw too many disabled on rides.
Can Am. Tried out one of their 800. They were new then around 2008. Takeoff was very good but felt no better than the Kawi big bore. It was around just over 50 km/hr that the engine gained a second life and was really amazing. The problem was in most cases of trail riding where the Can Am really came into their own was often when you didn't want to go faster. Plus they were bending frames. I knew a few that weren't abused but were ridden hard and frames bent. Rolling a quad etc can happen. It's never good but you hope after everyone is ok that your ATV is as well. These quads weren't. This was the only reason I didn't buy one.
Kawi brute force. I went 650 but only because for 2007 it had the improved stearing geometry and was actually slightly faster off the line than the 750. In 2008 the 750 received the 650 upgrades. With this I would have gone 750 but really do like my 650 Vtwin. The new ones I understand are fuel injected. Mine is dual carb. The independant suspension is excellent and I wouldn't buy a sport ute that doesn't have this.
Honda. Reliable and well built. Expensive and the ones I used didn't have independant suspension. You could feel every bump on your back. Going through a non smooth field was at half the speed of the Kawi do to the suspension. I know some trail riders like this and even opted for the non brute force 650 because it didn't have independant suspension. For a sport utility don't look at quads without independant suspension.
Grizzly (Yamaha) 400. Used them in RCMP up North. Solid, reliable and good all around. But lacking in the fun department and looks compared to the Kawi and Can Am. The big bore would most likely be as much fun but still not as cool looking. Either a work quad or older person's choice. Not a bad option though. I was fairly impressed the RCMP sprung for them. Every detachment in Northern BC had them at that time.
Bigfoot 870
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Rubicon.
rustysdream
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I just took my time to count the votes on the different brands.
And the winner is....
1. Honda
2. Yamaha
3. Polaris
4. Can Am
5. Arctic Cat
6. Kawasaki
7. Suzuki
Honestly, I'm surprised. I'm a Honda guy but Suzuki would be my second choice.
And the winner is....
1. Honda
2. Yamaha
3. Polaris
4. Can Am
5. Arctic Cat
6. Kawasaki
7. Suzuki
Honestly, I'm surprised. I'm a Honda guy but Suzuki would be my second choice.
I work as an ATV guide, so you may make of that what you will, just want to throw my 2c in there.
First off, as long as you don't buy a crappy tire knock-off machine you're gonna have fun on the thing. I personally ride a Can am outlander 800 xt, and love it, but I have sunk some money into the machine (to be fair I'm almost at 8000 km). In my humble opinion the best VALUE (both initial and ongoing costs) is either the Hondas or the Arctic Cats, however I also believe that in terms of ride quality, pickup, and throttle responsiveness the Can ams can't be beat. Yammies are a bit of both worlds, and personally I find them too back heavy and sketchy doing hill climbs with.
Every manufacturer has ups and downs, and while it's important to know what your getting into, and avoid a headache in the future, in time every machine is going to have something go wrong with it eventually.
If I were gonna do it again, I would get a rubicon, and spend the saved money on tracks.
Now get ridin!
CS
First off, as long as you don't buy a crappy tire knock-off machine you're gonna have fun on the thing. I personally ride a Can am outlander 800 xt, and love it, but I have sunk some money into the machine (to be fair I'm almost at 8000 km). In my humble opinion the best VALUE (both initial and ongoing costs) is either the Hondas or the Arctic Cats, however I also believe that in terms of ride quality, pickup, and throttle responsiveness the Can ams can't be beat. Yammies are a bit of both worlds, and personally I find them too back heavy and sketchy doing hill climbs with.
Every manufacturer has ups and downs, and while it's important to know what your getting into, and avoid a headache in the future, in time every machine is going to have something go wrong with it eventually.
If I were gonna do it again, I would get a rubicon, and spend the saved money on tracks.
Now get ridin!
CS
Not true, Polaris has actually had the highest sales for ATV Units for a few years now, simply because they have so many more models to choose from and very affordable entry price point models. Honda was the leader in sales for a long time (a long time ago), and the ONLY reason Bombardier cant beat Polaris is because they just dont offer a bare bones affordable entry level model in ANY of their machines. My forum is down and has been for a while now but we do have a mod on my forum that is an engineer working for Polaris and he posted up the news articles showing all of the market sales for the last little while which showed all of the OEM's percentages on ATV units sold.
It's a lot of personal preference, like what kind of beer you like. I have a 96 polaris sportsman 500, the first year they made it. Has uncountable miles on it, odo stopped working at 3000. All I have done is oil changes and a clutch last year. It's a heavy beast, carbureted and not the best on fuel. But I can keep up with the big bores on the trails, 1000 cc doesn't do you much good in switchback trails. I will be upgrading when it dies and it will be a Kawasaki or polaris, like supporting canadian companies but a BRP is out of the picture so long as we still pay 2-5k more than Americans for a "Canadian" product that is likely assembled in Mexico.
canadian hunter312
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County
Hmmm...I wonder if that chart was created by Polaris. *note the fancy Polaris name where the others are plain...
The highest number of sales most definitely does not mean it's the best or most reliable brand, which is what it's all about. Number of sales is a mute point when discussing quality and reliability. I'd like to see a chart showing owner satisfaction and machines experiencing mechanical issues in percentages.
BTW...ever since I added your 2" lift to the Grizzly, riding has been way easier and a few people I know have followed suit. You making them for the 660's yet? I have a "Got Mud" fairlead too and made it look faaaaar better than stock by adding black epoxy in the letters to make the words really stick out and make people notice it...
ANY OLDER HONDA under 450cc, the older the better heres a few reason why:
They are light and fit in the back of every truck including a ford ranger which will also pull the Ranger if needed lol, Great on gas, simple, well built and will take you home along with friends and any game you are perusing. Another great advantage with older honda's is the fact that they are not as wide as the newer ATVs which allows you drive those grown in trails while reducing the amount of ATV body parts that seem to lead to some very nice honey holes. The new machines may ride very nice but I don't think the engineers have actually hunted with one as they would take weight and size into consideration. I have a 1986 Honda 4 Trax 350 and I love it, built like a tank, light and more then enough power to pull any game. Best part about the older machines is that they are well priced and honda still makes most if not all the parts for there machines.
They are light and fit in the back of every truck including a ford ranger which will also pull the Ranger if needed lol, Great on gas, simple, well built and will take you home along with friends and any game you are perusing. Another great advantage with older honda's is the fact that they are not as wide as the newer ATVs which allows you drive those grown in trails while reducing the amount of ATV body parts that seem to lead to some very nice honey holes. The new machines may ride very nice but I don't think the engineers have actually hunted with one as they would take weight and size into consideration. I have a 1986 Honda 4 Trax 350 and I love it, built like a tank, light and more then enough power to pull any game. Best part about the older machines is that they are well priced and honda still makes most if not all the parts for there machines.
Honda also has a back up pull start or kick start if your charging system fails. It will keep running with out an operating charging system as well due to the lack of all the fancy electronics and fuel injection. Unless you get into the 680. I still prefer the Carb on my 05 400 and 04 500 honda`s.
