Which atv to buy

Im not a fan of bombadiers snowmobiles,but their quad the outlander on the otherhand has dominated the 400-450cc class since it has come out.

The reason I bought a quad in this class is because of the power/weight difference compared to the larger machines.

for the money this class has all the average person needs. 4x4, light weight, some of them have the locking differential system, independant rear suspension, and will go most places the bigger 4x4's go.

I have gone to quad rallies and have seen goofs on their big machines before the start. You see them later driving the hell out of their machines in muskeg and fighting with it the whole time. Now, it sure is something to putt putt beside them while they are stuck because you are lighter and dont dig down as bad.

Something else to think about. Notice how these things are getting bigger and bigger?? There are machines now that need to have rear mounted winches!! This is for the time that you will inevitably be stuck to your armpits.

I am not saying I have never been stuck, but when it happens it is easier to get a lighter machine out than the 500, 600, 700, and now the 800's.

my suggestion is to stick with this cc size. The big ones are fun, but not when you get them stuck.

over and out.
 
weight isnt that big of a deal. i know some make that argument but I dont feel it's valid. The diffrence between the Yamaha Kodiak 400 4x4 and the Grizzly 660 4x4 is only 20lbs. so the grizz is 20lbs heavier with 260 more cc's and higher ground clearance. I dont think that 20lbs is making a diffrence.

The Honda 4trax Rancher 400cc weighs in at 559lbs while the the 675cc Rincon weighs in at 600lbs. so a 40lb diffrence but there is also 275 more cc's so I think the power to weight ratio is much better on the larger models.

The Can-Am (bombardier) outlander 800EFI weighs in at 635lbs while the 400HO weighs in at 607lbs. so we only have a 28lb diffrence here and this ones got a 400cc diffrence.

so anyway my point is that weight really isint a bid deal and the biggest deterence to the larger model are the substantially larger price tags that accompany them.
 
1899 said:
Signguy, what is up with the Suzukis? Can you give some more details please?
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i had a kinq quad about 2 years ago and my buddy just got rid of his because it seemed every time we plowed snow or if we were doing any amount of pulling in the mudd our front axle shafts snapped at the mid point closer inspection showed the axle twisted at the mid point and snapped the suzuki dealers tech said that it was a problem with the output design they are using on the suzukis and alot of them are enjoying the $300 part replacment
 
powder burner said:
The reason I bought a quad in this class is because of the power/weight difference compared to the larger machines.

for the money this class has all the average person needs. 4x4, light weight, some of them have the locking differential system, independant rear suspension, and will go most places the bigger 4x4's go.

I have gone to quad rallies and have seen goofs on their big machines before the start. You see them later driving the hell out of their machines in muskeg and fighting with it the whole time. Now, it sure is something to putt putt beside them while they are stuck because you are lighter and dont dig down as bad.



I am not saying I have never been stuck, but when it happens it is easier to get a lighter machine out than the 500, 600, 700, and now the 800's.
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I used to think this until I did some research. The Outlander 400 weighs 607lbs. The Yamaha Grizzly 660 weighs 599lbs, the Suzuki King Quad 700 weighs 601lbs, the Kawasaki Brute Force 750 603lbs, and the Honda Rincon 680weighs 610lbs.

So where exactly is this weight "advantage" for the smaller displacement quad?:confused:
 
SignGuy said:
i had a kinq quad about 2 years ago and my buddy just got rid of his because it seemed every time we plowed snow or if we were doing any amount of pulling in the mudd our front axle shafts snapped at the mid point closer inspection showed the axle twisted at the mid point and snapped the suzuki dealers tech said that it was a problem with the output design they are using on the suzukis and alot of them are enjoying the $300 part replacment
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Was that the new (2005) King Quad 700? That one is near the top of my list...:(
 
my buddys was late 2004 model mine was 02 i havent heard anything about the '05 or newer models but i suggest talking to the lowest paid tech about what seems to go wrong with them alot, your likely to get a more honest answer then asking the salesmen LOL
 
stubblejumper said:
Apparently you haven't heard of the rincon.It does have independent rear suspension and is one of the best handling 4x4 quads made.

And you did leave out the fact that only honda has a real automatic transmission(actually two) instead of a belt drive.

And since this is a hunting and shooting site,most of us will haul loads on our quads.With independent rear suspension,the ground clearance is reduced as load is added.This is not the case with a solid rear axle.
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You are right, I did not know that Honda came out with an IRS.

Has the clearance been increased as well? (Not that a straight axel is a totally bad thing, either. Have you ever tried to pick up a machine that has high centered on a rock or log? The IR suspension machines have to be picked up a LONG way to get the wheels clear. Straight axels are much easier in that situation.)

Yamaha has a pretty slick transmission too. press one button on the fly and you go from 2wd to 4w limited slip. One more lever/switch and you have full time 4wd.

There are so many different uses for these things, that there will be one out there that is perfect for everyone. They are all fun! :D
 
After a long day of riding hard the weight advantage plays a part. Take a Grizzly 660. Put bigger rubber on it, lets say the ITP Mudlites or even the bearclaw tread design. Now put the same mudlites or bearclaws on the 450 Kodiak. Throw them both in and out of diff lock, 4x4, hi and low ranges, and use 2wd where you can get away with it. ride them both 12 hours and tell me what you think. (muskeg especially, hence both using the diff locks)

After riding both of these machines I was more impressed with the Kodiak 450 and the Outlander 400 because: they used less fuel at the end of the day- the Grizzly was flashing empty when we reached the gas checkpoint(60kms give or take my memory is fuzzy) and the Kodiak 450 and Outlander had more fuel in the tank and travelled the same distance- the bigger engine used more fuel to do the same thing the Kodiak and Outlander was doing, go figure:rolleyes: - it was more nimble and easier to throw your body weight around on the lighter machines; and your arms didn't feel like jelly at the end of the day from fighting with the Grizzly and throwing it around.
(Our group was using a Kodiak 450, Outlander400 H.O. and a Grizzly 660 These reasons sold me on the 400-450cc class of machines.)



For those who dont know which quad rally I am talking about it was last years May Lake quad rally located between Bonnyville and Cold Lake. If you were there, you would know what I am talking about. It was hell.:mad:

(We left at nine in the morning and got back at nine at night.:eek: Some people had to sleep around a fire that night and got home the next day. They were completely soaked and some were verging on the point of hypothermia.:eek: I know this because I know the organizers of the rally.)

Any gunnutz do the May Lake quad rally last year? What were your thoughts?
 
popcan said:
You are right, I did not know that Honda came out with an IRS.

Has the clearance been increased as well? (Not that a straight axel is a totally bad thing, either. Have you ever tried to pick up a machine that has high centered on a rock or log? The IR suspension machines have to be picked up a LONG way to get the wheels clear. Straight axels are much easier in that situation.)

Yamaha has a pretty slick transmission too. press one button on the fly and you go from 2wd to 4w limited slip. One more lever/switch and you have full time 4wd.

There are so many different uses for these things, that there will be one out there that is perfect for everyone. They are all fun! :D
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I have to agree with your statement, there is one machine that is perfect for everyone out there. This is why there are so many choices to pick from. Everyone has a different taste regarding what they feel is the best for them whether it is IRS, CC displacement, or price.
 
Powderburner: according to the specs I quoted the 400 Outlander is HEAVIER than the Grizzly, King Quad and Brute Force. That is why I don't understand why the smaller cc bike is more nimble.:confused:
 
well I will tell you all what, after this weekend ot our mudbogs (which was insaine :D ) I watched a outlander FOLLOW my ruts through the mudpit and I beleive there is video footage of it. (if I can round it up and get foxer to help me put it online it will be there! ) , that outlander had handelbars and rack above mud and water and made it through were a 3/4 ton chev with 35" mudders couldnt go, I dont think I have ever been that impressed with a work bike , and we had a YZF450 quad out there as well for you speed freaks.........that thing should come with a cofin and free burriel plot when purchased :eek: .....will try to get video footage by the weekend of the outlander for everyone :D
 
Yamaha has a pretty slick transmission too. press one button on the fly and you go from 2wd to 4w limited slip. One more lever/switch and you have full time 4wd.
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I am talking about the transmission,not the transfer case.Yamaha offers only fully manual transmissions or belt drives.
 
The outlander is a great handling quad,that seems to do everything well.However if you check most atv forums,they have been plagued by broken spars on the frame.
 
I just bought a TRX500FE about two weeks ago and I am very happy with my quad, it was a little more money than I wanted to spend but when you compare jumping up one or two models the price doesn't go up by that much. I think that when you are out in the woods, epecially by yourself you don't want to be let down by a crappy chinese knock off, you need to feel comfortable that you can count on your machine.:D
 
stubblejumper said:
The outlander is a great handling quad,that seems to do everything well.However if you check most atv forums,they have been plagued by broken spars on the frame.
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I believe if you check, none of the quads with broken spars had a skid plate. Why would you buy a quad without a skid plate. Smokey
 
I believe if you check, none of the quads with broken spars had a skid plate. Why would you buy a quad without a skid plate. Smokey
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If I was the quad manufacturer,and my quads had weak spars,I would not sell my quads without skid plates.And how can we be sure that a skid plate would have prevented the broken spars?All we know for sure is that several outlanders have suffered broken spars.For the record,I have owned several quads and have never installed aftermarket skid plates,and have never had a broken spar or frame.
 
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zedex said:
One thing about a honda. In 5 years you wont regret buying it.
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I'm partial to Honda products, specifically cars and outboards, but they really rape you on the price. My 2kw generator is $1700 up here, but only $1000 from the US. That's converted and at the border.

Honda: You make good stuff, but PLEASE leave me some gas money to get home!!
 
Any gunnutz do the May Lake quad rally last year? What were your thoughts?
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I was there with my Kawasaki Brute Force 750 with 27" ITP 589's on it and I made it through a lot easier than the guys with smaller quads due to the greater ground clearance, better traction and power to blast through the mud holes. It might sound like BS but most of the guys I rode with had 400 class quads and I passed them like they were sitting still in most of the big mud holes. Sure it burns more gas but so does my Yukon I drive everyday, so what. Was that run ever a bag drive, it was just like an endless bog there were 60 quads still out there the next day I was told by one of the organizers.
 
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