Hunting and Fun

Troy1760

Troy1760

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62.4540° N, 114.3718° W
Hey guys, not a gun Question, but interested in knowing if anyone is on a ATV form.

Looking at buy my first Atv, drove a lot of different models and having a hard time deciding and want to get a hold of some more experienced riders.

If anyone here can recommend, im interested to hear what you have to say.

I want it for plowing snow when needed, working on my property, like wood and brush, but going to use it for hunting, and fun on the trails. Maybe some mud, but not like buried every time im out mud. has to have 4x4 or a good awd setting.

Thanks for any tips, links or whatever comes this way
 
Honda Yamaha or polars. Stay far away from the aftermarket stuff from C T ....Look for a bike with low miles tight sterling and tight wheel barring. Dutch
 
If you have any health/pain issues, I'd recommend one you can unable the front 4x4 or at least
have power steering.
Solid rear axles are more of a work horse, but slightly rougher than the independent suspension.
Budget will restrict age/size/shape.
If budget isn't a concern, I'd pick Yamaha or Honda.
Butt of course................ here they commith....................:popCorn:
 
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kamlooky said:
If you have any health/pain issues, I'd recommend one you can unable the front 4x4 or at least
have power steering.
Solid rear axles are more of a work horse, but slightly rougher than the independent suspension.
Budget will restrict age/size/shape.
If budget isn't a concern, I'd pick Yamaha or Honda.
Butt of course................ here they commith....................:popCorn:
Click to expand...


Some good advice and I didn't have to eat it three or four times;)
The best part about a Honda Is that toys meet the nicest people's on em!
Dot forget your riding gear too when trying to decide on a budget.
Yamaha or Honda.. Lots of them and parts galore should you break something.
Rob
 
Currently I have a 2010 Suzuki KingQuad, 750cc
2, 4 and 4wd lock with a small winch on it (which I mainly use for the plow). Adjustable coil over shocks from factory. And a 2" ball on the back for a dump trailer around the property.

Works absolutely excellent for all I need, very comfortable, but, Im still young, stubborn and 'feel no pain', so I couldn't really say what it'd be like for others.
 
1998 350 big bear here. That's a solid axle machine.
Main issues, it's 4x4 all the time, so steering circle is large. It's solid axle, because I pull heavy loads. Most times I'm on it I have a trailer behind. Trailers are hard on independent suspensions. So yes, the ride is considerably harsher than one with IS. It pre-dates fans on ATV's, so it's a hot running MF, you can burn yourself if you're not careful.
good stuff
I don't find the steering heavy, but I'm a big guy. Very tough machine, and it's a gear shift model, six speeds and High low range, so I shift gears on hills, but have no belt concerns. One of our belt drive guys lost the seal on his belt case, and came to a stop in the water. Once it drained, he was fine.
Has a 2500lb winch, that's been used a lot. I really should replace the cable. Pulling loads on hills when there's snow and ice.

If I were buying another, i'd be looking at the two seat machines, as my wife likes to come, but will not drive one.
 
Would recommend a Honda, have two. As others have mentioned, stay away from full time 4WD. If I was buying new today I would also seriously look at the Suzuki, have some great features in the 4WD setup. Locking diff etc.
 
I just bought a Yamaha big bear 400 this month. Fun machine with lots of capabilities and uses. I bought mine used but am really pleased with it. It has 2 wheel 4 wheel dif lock and manual shift. Make sure you get something to put on your head and a way to take it where your going. Something to consider in costs. Maintince is something you'll need to consider they'll need it though there life on the trails.

Enjoy it when you get one there a good toy and tool.
 
I'm happy with my 2013 Polaris Sportsman 400. Lots of power and the IRS is a must where I ride and very comfortable. It's a basic, well proven machine as Polaris sold lots of them over the years. Yamahas are nice but for the amount I use mine, the price wasn't justifiable.

Patrick
 
I bought a 2005 CanAm Outlander Max off a friend. It had 144 miles on it, and I find it a vey good quad. I use it for hauling wood mostly, but have hauled several moose with it (including the one whose antlers are in my avatar), and riding around when I go to the cabin. Got stuck in muskeg and used the winch to haul myself and the B-I-L out and have had zero issues with it. I have also used it to pull small stumps. I have almost 3000 miles on it now. I change the oil and filter regularly, and squirt grease it the nipples every spring.
A company I used to work for had a 350 Yamaha Big Bear; we put that through hell and back, and the only thing we had to repair was the brakes.
 
We had some Arctic Cat 500's at work for a while and they had a little longer wheelbase than normal...almost as long as my buddy's Can Am 800. Rode really nicely and had plenty of power but wasn't too heavy when you got it stuck.
 
Something that was mentioned earlier but is worth repeating. There are solid axles and independent ones. A decision to be made there. I have a 550 Polaris Sportsman two up. Lots of power, there 800's around etc but I do not see the point really. If you are going to be plowing with it you will need some decent chains. A winch is a necessity, you will use it. For straight work machines the JD Gators are worth a look, they have dump trailers and look to be trying to enter the recreational market. I checked out their stuff when I was researching my machine but went with a two up instead of a sxs. That was about 5 years ago, a lifetime in the recreational market, so they should be worth another look. The top names have their pros, cons and advocates. Like most things recreational buying something a year old will save you a lot of coin. Theses machines do get abused so it is very much buyer beware. Do not buy a knock off you will be sorry.
 
Stay away from Polaris, they are junk. If you want a quad that will last a long time and not break downon you when you are x amount of kms away from home or your truck, buy an older Honda. Mine is an 1986 4trax 350 and it runs excellent, starts everytime is super reliable and is comparatively easy to maintain. I got it second hand but the quality is deffinately there.
 
phinton81 said:
I'm happy with my 2013 Polaris Sportsman 400. Lots of power and the IRS is a must where I ride and very comfortable. It's a basic, well proven machine as Polaris sold lots of them over the years. Yamahas are nice but for the amount I use mine, the price wasn't justifiable.

Patrick
Click to expand...
Agree. I have a Polaris Sportsman 500 Pursuit Camo version. Has been excellent so far. Use it on some real nasty trails,ridges,mudholes etc.
 
Cole said:
Stay away from Polaris, they are junk. If you want a quad that will last a long time and not break downon you when you are x amount of kms away from home or your truck, buy an older Honda. Mine is an 1986 4trax 350 and it runs excellent, starts everytime is super reliable and is comparatively easy to maintain. I got it second hand but the quality is deffinately there.
Click to expand...

Seriously? A 30 year old bike is your recommendation?

Hondas were reliable because they had very few features and tiny engines to keep folks out of trouble. Anything in the big bore category with IRS will require more maintenance and common sense when riding. My Polaris is well taken care of and responsibility ridden, I have no concerns about it breaking down.

Patrick
 
phinton81 said:
Seriously? A 30 year old bike is your recommendation?

Hondas were reliable because they had very few features and tiny engines to keep folks out of trouble. Anything in the big bore category with IRS will require more maintenance and common sense when riding. My Polaris is well taken care of and responsibility ridden, I have no concerns about it breaking down.

Patrick
Click to expand...

Properly taken care of ...age is nothing.

I ride a 1970 FLH Harley Davidson. ...

On 10 hour rides
 
One cannot afford new.........at least around here.
My line up........1996 Bear. Never had a fear of going out in the bush by myself, nor fear of walking home.
Only complaint is the wee fenders and getting covered in mud.
Then this year I bought a 1994 Kodiak. Big fenders and the mud all over the top side simmered down.
Another rig I'd run way out in the bush and no fear of hoofing it.
Then the two wee CT 70's.
One is a 1971 and t'uther is knee 1978.
Both have no issues and I ride waaaaaaaaaaay yawnder too.

If you have a bigg'un bank 'count, buy awll means, make the store owner 'appy, 'appy, 'appy
and spend yer lewt.
 
I started my search looking for a unit that would be good on trails but also work hard. In the end, for my needs, the work horse won out.

I've got a Kioti Mechron 2200 SxS UTV. It is a 3 cylinder diesel (same one they put in their small tractors), 2wd, 4wd, diff lock, high and low CVT, reverse, 4500 lbs front winch, disc brakes, full independent suspension, 6 ply tires, full light/signal/brake light kit, ROPS, seat belts, roof panel, 1500 lbs capacity hydraulic dump box, 1300 lbs rear towing capacity, 2" front hitch receiver and two hydraulic remotes I use for my log splitter and dump trailer.

Its perfect for the work I need it to do and hauls me into and game out of the bush but it is not nearly as quick or nimble as an ATV. One bonus, as of July past we can now legally run them on the shoulder of the road.

View attachment 39684
 
Familiar with ATV's of all brands inside and out.
My only serious recommendation; DO NOT purchase Arctic Cat. Unless someone lost a bet and is selling you his for pennies on the dollar there isn't a reasonable excuse to owning one.
Next recommendation; purchase Japanese. The quality control and engineering is leaps and bounds ahead of North American designed ATV's.
Parts availability is generally next day vs. ballpark week (Japanese vs. North American).
 
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