Quads

sealhunter

sealhunter

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Sorry, not sure where to post this as I want to hear from hunters and it seems not too many stray into the other forums.

I am think on getting a Quad.

What type do you have?
Are you satisfied with it?
How much was it?
If financed, ball park monthly payment?

thanks
 
2005 Suzuki Eiger 400 Manual.

$8000 out the door with a winch. (yes you do need a winch or a friend with a winch)

For what I use it for it is great. Trtail riding northern ontario. Pulling loaded trailers of fire wood out of the bush. Putting hunters in the bush and pulling our deer out.

I dont go mud bogging so I dont need overly priced tires and a 1500000000 cc engine.

If it is to be used for work and not as a sport vehicle I suggest solid rear axle without independant suspension, Manual, dont burn belts trying to pull out stuff, and a hi/lo axle.

If your new to the game a smaller bike is easier to handle/learn on. I would suggest nothing bigger then a 500 to start.

my .02$ worth.
I'm sure others will have completely different thoughts/
 
Depends on where, what and how you plan on using it. I bought a new 1997 Kodiak with winch for $7500, used winch once. I will never buy another new one again. Still have Kodiak with 1600km on it, bought a used 2003 Honda 350 with 300km on it and it was a year old. Honda 350 uses a lot less gas than 400 Kodiak and will do everything the 400 does and it cost $2500 less. The bike I miss the most is my Honda Big Red 250. The Big Red went where the 4x4 goes, used less gas and was a lot faster as long as you kept it on three wheels and it only cost $1800 used. After 5 years sold it for $1600. Now that was a good investment. The only repairs to either 4x4 has been a battery for the Yamaha. The newer bikes should be built better but also built cheaper, as you can see the difference when you compare the 1997 yamaha, 2003 honda and my friends 2006 yamaha automatic. You will find the right atv.
 
There are so many options out there for quads. I went from a yamaha 350 big bear to a 660 grizzly . Get a quad with a 4 wheel drive selector . This is a must. Will save wear on front end. Most driving is in 2 wheel drive. Also, I like the smoother ride from independent suspension. I propably went from being underpowered to overpowered. The grizzly also provides me a diff lock in times when you really nead extra traction. I went to a yamaha simply cause we have a local dealer. Also was told that the grizzly had one of the best suspensions which is a back saver .
 
A quad

sealhunter said:
Sorry, not sure where to post this as I want to hear from hunters and it seems not too many stray into the other forums.

I am think on getting a Quad.

What type do you have?
Are you satisfied with it?
How much was it?
If financed, ball park monthly payment?

thanks
Click to expand...

LIke so many other things, new quads are getting bigger every year. When I got my first 4 wheel drive quad in 1991, the 350cc Yamaha Big Bear I purchased was considered big! Ten years later I encountered a couple of hunters on a trail, one looked at mine and said, "Oh, you have one of those little Big Bears!" A friend has a 300 Honda he purchased about the same time. He has hauled tremendous loads, every year, with it. I helped him chain saw a trail through the bush to a large, (four quarters skinned and well trimmed weighed 600 pounds) moose. He had his trailer behind and he insisted on taking the four quarters, with hide on. He said to me, "You just bring the tools." So we loaded the moose on his outfit, which easily took it to our camp, via a trail which ran up hill and down hills, while twisting through the bush.
I am still using my original Big Bear. It has taken my wife and me over many of the mountains and deserts of Arizona, during five winters spent there.
Other than swamps, that some fellows with the big, aggressive tires love to chew up, I, or my friend with the 300 Honda, will go anywhere any of the new ones will go. In fact, ours being a bit narrower, will go some places where they can't. I have been up many mountains, on steep, twisting trails, but we always get up and down!
A word about chewing up the swamps. This gives lasting damage to the environment and if the practice is expanded and continued, we will all loose the right to run our quads on public land. Regardless what type of quad you have, being responsible, especially regarding the environment, must be the number one priority. And this message is not coming from some tree hugging anti. It is coming from a life long (with a capital L) hunter, outdoorsman and wilderness traveler.
The huge new ones are great prestige builders, but the smaller ones have many advantages. Not the least of which is the smaller truck box they require. I even have a regular canopy, with quite a large door, on my 3/4 ton Dodge diesel and the Yamaha fits inside it. I ride with two fellows who each have last years model quad. My 1991 model is better protected for going over, and through brush. Mine has a three piece, heavy iron stump pan, with vertually nothing that can get caught. The new ones have much more plastic and wires and gadgets to get hit.
If I was looking to buy a quad I would look at the used market. All makes of quads are excellent. Oh, I know, there can be great arguments over which is best, (a Ford or Chev?), but they are all really terrific machines and will take no end of abuse. Just look for a used one that has spent most of it's time in a shed, maybe plowing snow in the winter.
 
Just went through what you are . I found that I could have bought a number of different ones and been very happy, I'm sure.

For me - first time buyer, hunting and some farm use.

Decided didn't want (or need)anything huge. Wanted reliability, low maintenance, etc.

Ended up with a Honda Rancher 420ES. Newer model, has EFI, water cooled, standard trans. with E shift. looked at a number of Honda models and various makes. Trade offs - 'plainer' in the sense it doesn't have the gauge package options , etc. on others ; Does not have IR axle so , should be a rougher ride and probably is, Polaris especially will be smoother; racks are a little smaller than some others (notably Cats) which ....;

Plus ; nice snappy, smaller bike with the power and size to do what I want. Should have the Honda reliability , ask me about that in a few years,

Cost - they are retailing for mid $ 8,000 plus usually some set ups, plus add ons (winch , depending). I went to the US and bought it , complete with warne winch and saved a considerable $$$$$.

Thats my experience and what I came up with

Reality is I think all/most of the 350 and up models will do the job for 90% of us 100% of the time and the other 10 % , 90 % or more

Good luck
 
H4831, I have the same thing, a 350 Big Bear, '94 or'95 I believe. I've pulled two Moose out of the boonies with it and taken a few rides locally. I haven't used it as much as I'd planned. Being retired now should change that. For something to play with in the winter, I bought a Work Power 5 blade from Cycle Country and go zipping around clearing sidewalks when the 'white stuff' comes. It'll do anything I need.
 
I have a pair of 2000 Yamaha 400 Kodiak ultramatics and I really like them. Never give a moments problem. Even though they are both 2wd, I have found that with good rear tires, they will take me pretty much any place that I care to go. The way I figure it..if it takes a big 4x4 with a winch to get through a tough spot, what hope do I have on getting back through that same mud hole with a moose on board!. However, my Dad has a 1998 Kodiak 4x4 that I don't like at all. It is very hard to steer, the turning radius is too big and UI hate shifting gears. Ultramatic..or automatic..is the only way to go..IMHO.
With hi-lo range, there is plenty enough power and they have evolved a great deal since Polaris came out with the concept back in the 80's.
Chris
 
what will you use it for??? We use ours for pulling moose out of the bush, going through most mud as possible. I have a 2006 Can-am Outlander 400max XT. We paid alittle over 10 grand for it. Its got tons of power, real smooth ride, its a little on the long side but its still fine for tight trail riding. I wish i got the 650 or 800 but the 400 still does everything we put it through.

If i was going to buy a fourwheeler just for riding around and a bit of work then a earily 90's Suzuki 300 king quad would be my choice. they are pulling machines, with low and super low gears it will pull almost anything you throw at it.
 
I bought a brand new Polaris Sportsman 450. I have the winch, rear seat(##### basket), winshield, foot pegs, front and rear bumpers, and front and rear rack extenders. Cost me over 11000 large out the door. Reason why I went with Polaris is I like the ride, independent suspension. I also like a big bike for carrying cargo or passengers, but I don't need a 1 000 000 cc engine either. plus the local dealer here had the $100 a month plan, so if you have a tight month money wise, $100 bucks will float you. But you can pay as much extra as you wish per month. I wouldn't recommend paying only $100 bucks per month unless you want to spend the next 15 years with a bike payment:rolleyes: Polaris, IMHO also has one of the best 4 wheel drive setups. Just push one button and you have traction on all fours.
 
I run a 1999 Honda 450ES. Great machine, pulled alot of moose and elk back to camp.

I will suggest any brand of 350-500 size machine, stay away from the biiger machines for now, but I will say I am not a Polaris fan too high of maintenance in my opinion.

Lot of used quads out there for good prices. After a winch, next best investment is TIRES...get a set of Mud Bugs, Mud Lites, Swamp Lites, etc. Should be able to find a good used quad with winch, good tires, storage box for $4500 - 6000.

2003 or new Yamaha Kodiak 450 will have the independant rear suspension (400 Kodiak wii not). The Honda 350 Rancher or 450 are great machines. Arctic Cat has Suzuki motors. Or if you buy new, go to the dealer that has the best service, as price helps but a good service department is the key with good mechanics and parts inventory.
 
sealhunter said:
Sorry, not sure where to post this as I want to hear from hunters and it seems not too many stray into the other forums.

I am think on getting a Quad.

What type do you have?
Are you satisfied with it?
How much was it?
If financed, ball park monthly payment?

thanks
Click to expand...
It really depends on the type of riding you expect to do. I don't use mine much for hunting, but use it all year round on weekends recreational riding. I like bootin her down trails and playing in the mud.

You needs will differ, but you need to know if you want a sport bike or work bike.


.
 
I "upgraded" from a 2006 Arctic Cat 400 to a 2007 Arctic Cat 700 efi, machine cost 9600$ plus the man!!! Very satisfied with the machine (lots of power:D)

Originally I justified the quad as a hunting tool, but now I'm a mudmaniac and don't use the machine for what I intended it for.

Financed it through my credit union and payments are 284$ a month/18months, I used the cash from the sale of my first machine to offset the cost of the new one.
 
This is what I got this year. I should be able to pull a moose out of any terrain or almost. I hope I get to test it.
e91448bd.jpg
 
bcsteve said:
This is what I got this year. I should be able to pull a moose out of any terrain or almost. I hope I get to test it.
e91448bd.jpg
Click to expand...

Be interested to see how that makes out. I heard they didn't pull very well.
What horsepower is it?
To me, it looks like the tires are on backwards. Do they do that so that so it will swim better?

Myself, I picked up a used 1998 Big bear 350. I've put a hundred clicks on it to date, no issues.
We've pulled lots of moose with 300's so this machine will do well for us. Good 2000lb winch too.
 
This is a 2007 Argo Frontier, it's the model that replaced the Bigfoot. It's now their most powerful 6x6. It's a 23hp the Bigfoot was 18hp. Yes, the tires are what you might call "backward" for better water propulsion. Towing capacity from the manufacturer is 1400Lbs which is more than any quads out there last time I checked. I think only one of the UTV (Ranger or Rhino) could match it or exceed it slightly. Hopefully I can let you know with actual test this October:D.
 
This is something I know a thing or two about ;)

I was a huge ATV'er. 11 years thats all the wife and I did for our weekends/ holidays. Group rides, road trips, lodges, mud runs, poker runs, charity rides, cross provice, cross country, Technical competition... US and Canada...we did it. Between the two of us there have been well over 20 quads pass through the stable, from ALL the major manufacturers (except Polaris...way too many came out on a tow strap for me to be comfortable owning one)
I've owned:
Yamaha: 350 BB, 400 Kodiak, 450 Kodiak, 660 grizz
Kawi: Little bayou, KVF 360, KVF650 and a Brute Force 750 Twin
Suzuki: Eiger, King Quad 300
Bombardier: Traxter 500, Outlander 400, quest 650
Honda: Rancher 350, Rubicon 500, had a rincon 650 for a week.
Artic cat: 400, 500,
Tell me what you want to do with it and I'll tell you what the best bike is.

Best work only machine? Toss-up between the 'zuki KQ and the Bombardier Traxter (both discontinued)
Play Machine? Loved the Grizz. Not a s quick as the Kawi's, but suoper handling
Raw go-fast power? Bombardier Outlander 800...stupid fast
best handling? Rincon 650
Hunting usage? Kawi 360
Mud machine? Brute Force 750

Whast it comes down to is that there is not one true "Do all" machine.
Want one? You need:
Honda Engine (hey..it's a Honda!), Yamaha's automatic (NEVER buned a belt...it's always under tension), Kawis 4X4 (progressive hydraulic diff-lock...no electronics Bomb's "visco-lock" is a real close second)), Kawis rear brake (Clutch pack inside the rear drive shaf...NO maintenance!), Honda's susoension (from the Rincon only) and the seating of the Outllander Max.

At the end of the day, after owning the "latest and greatest, biggest and baddest" quads, I now have only one: The KVF 360. It was one of my wifes first bikes, and it does everything I ask of it. Minimal stuff to go wrong (no electronics/liquid cooling/Fuel injection) to worry about. I can submerge the thing up to the handlebars, and have it back up and running inside 30 minutes using trailside tools.

Check out our ATV website and ask there...I'm sure you'll get a response or two. It's ATVwild.com. Check into my forum (Hunting and fishing) and say hi :0
 
I have a 2002 honda rubicon.It's not the fastest or smoothest riding,but it is has a hydrostatic transmission that I consider to be the best transmission that I have had the pleasure of using.It is also extremely reliable requiring minimum maintenance,and it has never failed to get me home despite being used in some very tough conditions.The one brand that I will not own is polaris,because whenever I go riding,if a quad ends up being towed home,it always seems to be a polaris.Whatever you decide to buy,I suggest a good winch of at least 2000lbs,and more aggressive six ply tires for better traction and increased puncture resistance.
 
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