Looking for an ATV..

[cyborg]

I THINK I need a yamaha grizzly, any thoughts?

 

[mgoncalves]

ATV's are like trucks, everyone has there own opinions. I test rode a Grizzly 660 and was not impressed in general with the machine, especially the brakes. I ended up with a polaris sportsman, I like it. Best thing to do is go out and ride ALL the different ones and get which one you like best.

 

[RonaldLarson]

ATV choices

Ride an Arctic Cat and then decide. Best suspension, best features, and made in the U. S. A. Mine is six years old, has plowed dirt, snow, been "rode hard, put away wet", and Has never had a problem. Mine has the old Suzuki engine. The new ones are all Arctic Cat.

 

[Boomer II]

I was looking at Arctic Cat, but a family member made me a deal on a 500 sportsman, so I ended up with that. I'd ride them all too.

 

[Headshot zod]

Didn't Polaris have a diesel-powered unit one year?

 

[TnLRacing]

I rode all the different machine, and right now I would say either a Kawasaki Big Brute, or the Arctic Cat 650v2, the v2 has the Kawi Motor!



I own a AC 650 and love the machine, 13. 5" of ground clearance, and tons of low end torque!!

 

[Skydiver]

If you use it to hunt you will find that the belt driven ATV's will be noisier. My good friend has a Grizzly and you have to keep it revved up. The Grizzly is a fine machine and is comfortable.

Tim

 

[SRadke]

Personally I'm a Honda fan. I've not played with any larger than the Rubicon (500cc) but it's a good machine. I like the choice between automatic or electric shift and the thought of an automatic that actually uses gears and provides compression braking. Just traded one off with 12,000 miles and 1350 hrs. Like thay said, ride em all and you make the call.



-Scott

 

[BV]

I'm partial to Honda or Yamaha. Remember that bigger sometimes is not better when you get on a trail that is narrow or you end up having to muscle it around for some silly reason.



Due to financial reasons, I sold my 93 Yamaha Kodiak which I was very happy with and now have an 87 Suzuki 250 quadrunner which other then lacking power has been a good machine.

 

[amillstream]

I don't think I would give up my 300 fourtrax for any of the new big bikes. The 300 lacks a little on power but won't kill ya if you roll it.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I was recently at a mud bog and the Polaris 700's were whooping up on everything..... that is until the Kawasaki 750's were up. I have a Sportsman 500 and it's been a really good machine. I like the smooth ride and almost ample power. If I was looking for a machine today it would be between the Sportsman 800 and the Kawi 750. Thats just my 2 cents. Honda always built great equipment but their machines in that class just don't do anything for me. I've owned a Yamaha warrior and it was a good machine but I wasn't impressed.

 

[mike r]

I have owned a Polaris 400L and sold it 5 years ago and when I went looking this spring I wasn't going back to polaris. I bought a Honda, based mainly on my experiences with my Valkyrie. I ended up with a 450S Foreman. I stayed with Honda basically because of their rock solid reliability. You'll likely find some good deals with Honda now because the new Foreman is redesigned for '05.

 

[scootergmc]

I just bought a Kawasaki Prairie 700. It just plain rocks. I wanted the Kawi V-twin engine. I'm just partial to twins. I was looking at the Arctic Cat 650 but couldn't get nearly the deal that I did on the Kawi, plus the Kawi has the extra CC's. It also had excellent financing and $69 winch. The only drawback from the other big utilities is the lack of IRS (has solid axle). But that was also factor. I wanted a little sport feel also. Granted, it's not much, but the back end likes to kick out and makes for fun slides. The belt systems are very loud at high speed.



I read the Dirt Wheels review for the new Kawi Brute Force 750 and they said it rocked but the engine is just a bit more than the chassis can handle.



I do like the Yamaha Grizzly a lot. It looks cooler than the prairie, that's for sure. I do not like Polaris based on their reliability history, but I hear it has improved the last few years. The Arctic Cat is cool but it would've cost at LEAST $500 more. I've heard the Honda Rincon 650 has transmission problems they're trying to sort through.



Hope it helps.

 

[TnLRacing]

I paid $6450 for my '04 650v2 out the door thats with a 2500# Winch. The only thing I have been reading on the Big Brutes is there have been some cases of motor failure due to thin cylinder walls. I have about 300 miles on the Ac, and have yet to find a trail I couldnt fit in, Also the ability to tow 1000lbs has come in very handy!!



Had to tow a Grizzly 6 miles out of the woods :-laf

 

[Timbeaux38]

All of those Big CC ATV's are nice, but add a set of oversised tires, and you will grenade parts. I have an 03 honda rancher with 26 in itres and can go through far mor mud then my buddies polaris 500 HO and honda foreman- light weight is a plus

 

[mcoleman]

The Polaris Sportsman 800 with electronic fuel injection would be in my shed if I needed a new Quad. I've had excellent luck with all of my Polaris quads in the past. Right now I would like to have one of the new Polaris Rangers with the 700 engine in it.

 

[crobertson1]

I'm in the Polaris crowd too. I had a '91 Trailboss 250 4x4 for years and couldn't kill it no matter what I put it through. I used it mainly to plow snow from our driveway and I'm talking about substantial amounts of snow. In March, I sold it and bought a Sportsman 500HO 4x4 with a 60" blade and 2500 lb. Warn winch. It's a great machine. IRS is a must IMO. I went with a 500 because I wanted to have the recoil starter for backup for when it's bitterly cold and hasn't been started for a while. Plus, having "Made In America" stamped all over it, is important to me.

They're all good machines, it just depends on personal preference.

Craig