Kawasaki, Bombardier or Yamaha ATVs
- Thread starter Slooshark1
- Start date
...And there you have my opinion on Polaris. We are currently running Yamaha and my buddies all have BRP, Hondas, Kawis or Yamaha as well. Everyone who used to ride Polaris has upgraded, they're cheap but that's about it. As for the rest reliability seems to depend on the driver. Guys who flog their machines and don't do the maintenence break down. If you look after your ride any of those machines will be just fine. Comes down to personal preferences in the end.
I'm pretty sure he's not going to base his buying decision on "because AWOL said "hands down" ".
You would be very surprized!! Lots of people run out and buy things just because they are AWOL approved...
less than 5000 km on my 2007 brute force valves are shot on the intake
Canadian_Zuk
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Pickering, Ontario
The Brute OEM valves are very good, the only way for them to be shot is if they were previously adjusted too tight. This is a common mistake, people adjust the valves with the timing 180 degrees out. I will bet the house this is what has happened to you. Google for 1,000 people telling you the same. The only "weak" link in the Brute V-twin engine is the piston rings and some would call the crank vent an issue too (smokes on wheelie), but the second is easily corrected with a KVR catch can.
I agree! I have a Kingquad and no problems. I also had looked at Yamaha. The Kodiak felt small to me but the Grizzly is OK. The Kingquad felt good to me. Changed to Mudlites and like them. Suzuki was the first company to have a 4 wheel ATV (after the 3 wheelers) and invented the diff lock. High ground clearence (more than some). Our club has seen an increase in Suzuki owners lately. My .02.
Wrong Way
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
lemme guess.... Hack valve adjustment? There have been MANY that have adjusted 'em 180 degrees out....
*edit*.... Yeah, what Canadian Zuk said
- Location
- Southern ontario
i think 700cc on a ute is a bit overkill my personal favourite is the honda trx300 4x4 most reliable machine ive ever ridden back up kickstart is super handy for when the battery dies
That has been one of my pet peeves on the atv forums.
Every time there is a newbie asking what he should buy there are idiots saying you should buy a blah blah 500, you should buy a 600 blah blah, you should buy a 900 blah blah.
When I first started atving I managed to nearly kill myself with a 400 several times... I think for first timers a 300-400 is plenty enough.
Its always the guys with the big bikes who need a second person to help them get out of a situation. @500lbs a 400 is light enough to be manhandled by one person.
Good point but a lot of people also need them for farm/hunt camp work i.e snow, wood/game hauling....etc. I am guessing thats when you may wish for a bit more power. personally, if it was only for trail ride, I would be very happy with a 500-550 size engine. However, I am looking at larger engines because it will have to do a lot of heavy hauling too.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Better for what? If you're planning on leaving it bone stock to use as a quad for light duty work and no heavy duty off roading(mud), I'd pick the Yamaha. Best track record of the three. If you plan to trade in/up every couple of years and do heavy mods with clutch kits, tires, etc., there's no easy answer as reliability goes downhill regardless of make.
Basically it'll depend on what you want to use it for. Many of the side by side's are now priced very similar to a quad, so consider that as well. More room for wife/kids and cargo area to boot, though they are for the most part heavier and wider.
Wrong Way
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
thats a misconception that many make the mistake of falling into....larger engines are used to make *faster* bikes....not harder working. EVERY quad on the market, from 300cc and up will run out of traction looooong before they run out of pulling power. Best hard work quad I ever owed was a Suzuki 300....and I've worked bikes right up to a 750 twin.
Leviathan024
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- GP Alberta
I am also shopping for a new ATV and my list is down to a yamaha grizzly 700 and a suzuki king quad 700 after testing many. just a few more months of saving and i will take one home!
I have owned many atvs over the years......I prefer Kawasaki and Suzuki (long time suzuki lover/owner) that being said Honda and Yamaha are quality machines too, buy a Japanese machine! I purchased a new Arctic Cat in 2007 and owned it for 3+ years, many issues and would never purchase again! I have a friend with a Bomb outlander 400 he's had for 5 or 6 years and its been pretty good, some minor issues. I currently own a 2013 BF 750 with EPS and I love it.
