Which ATV and Why?

[BigYellowIron]

Looking to Buy a Four wheeler?



I think I have my choices narrowed down but I want to know some opinions and experences.



My choices are artic cat, yamaha, polaris.



I'm looking ar the 400 - 500 cc range 4x4.



Thanks



Adam

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I have a 1996 Polaris Sportsman 500 with about 3300 miles on it that I bought new. It has been a good machine and I have abused it skidding logs, plowing snow, and romping on the trails. I have had to replace 1 strut because of a front hub oil leak that I caused trying to set the 4wd magnets and the belt cover that I melted plowing a 2 mile dirt road in high range at about 35 mph. Would I buy this machine again? Absolutely but I would rather have the Sportsman 700. The newer Sportsmans have cv joints at all 4 corners (mine has u-joints on the rear)and if you make your own trails through the woods they will get ripped and that gets expensive. I think if I was going to buy a 500 cc class machine I would look at the one without the independent suspension just for ease of maintenance (Grease fittings and cv joint boots). With that said the machine I owned before this was a Yamaha Warrior, I have no complaints about that machine other than we rode alot on the mountain on tight wooded trails in first and second gear and that machine got hot as it was air cooled, it would hurt your legs it got so hot, but it ran great. As for the Arctic cat, I don't know anything about them other then a friend had one that always gave him fits, personally I think they are ugly but to each his own. What you want to do is weigh all the features and ask yourself questions, are you riding on hard pack roads all the time then look at part time or fulltime 4wd. Will you be riding in alot of mud? Grease fittings are good and so is the Polaris true 4wd for this, I also am a fan of water cooled machines. I like to be able to put mine in two wheel drive for ease of steering and I like the all wheel peel that polaris has. I really haven't kept up on what's out there now so I don't know all of their features but I have a dozen friends with Polaris machines and everyone is happy. What about Honda they build a bullet proof product? Good luck

 

[mcoleman]

The 500HO Polaris is a nice machine and my son has a Suzuki Eiger 400 that is also very nice with no problems. My choice is the Prairie 700 V-Twin. It's as close as you can get to a Harley powered ATV when you put a HMF pipe on it. Try riding all of the ones that interest you and make your choice from that. Word of caution( Don't ride the Prairie 700 unless you feel like buying one. You will be hooked). It's a like a bombing addiction.

 

[RamThatStroker]

Originally posted by Dl5treez

Arctic Cats have Suzuki engines and tranmissions. From what I've heard about them they seem pretty good. They'd be close to the top of my list as well.



Yamahas are great machines, very strong, parts are easy to find and relatively inexpensive as far as quads go. I have a friend with a Kodiak 4x4 auto. I've ridden it quite a bit, awesome machine.



Polaris has the *gimmick* ATV of the moment. They seem pretty nice, but to be honest--even though you'll hear the exact opposite from most everyone else who will post hear--from what I've heard of from people who own them its either a love it or HATE it machine. Fit and finish is a little lax, lots of power, but pretty spendy to repair. Some of the models don't have engine braking unless you're going about 20 mph. BUT they have the *Made in USA* thing going for them, so right now they're the hot gotta-have-it.



Me? I have a Honda Recon and a Kawasaki Prairie V-Twin... . love them both.

Dl5treez,



I just bought a Kawasaki Praire 3 weeks ago and I was wondering how it compares to the Recon. I was also wondering if yours makes a clicking noise when deaccelerating. Shop told me it's normal, but I've never owned a ATV before so I don't have a clue...



Joe

 

[marksmith]

What sort of clicking noise. If it is intermittent it might be confused with gear "slap" as the gears are straight cut. If it is different try moving the shifter to the neutral position. You should have to put a little pressure to get the shifter shaft off of the "gate" or flat spot that is at the "N" position. If it is setting there with a gap or very little pressure to move it off of it. Pull the plastic and shorten the shift linkage (you will need a 12mm wrench, the one out of the tool bag works fine) till it is firmly on the "gate. " Tighten the jam nuts up and ride it like you stole it.



Hope this helps



Mark



PS To all Prarie 650 owners, check the belt tension! The factory more often than not put the belts on with the loose end of the specs they list in the service manual. You need to have . 87 to 1. 05 inches when you pull the belt and measure across the top of the sheives (sp). You need to pull with 13to15 lbs of pressure on the belt. Shoot for the low measurement and it will save you an expensive sheive repair bill later down the road not to mention it makes it more snappy.



Take care.

 

[Hammer]

Depends on what your looking for,4x4 or 4x2.



If its a 4x4 style you want then my personal choice is the Yamaha 660 Grizzly. Man does that thing rock and roll,it has the same motor thats on the 660 Raptor. It will eat up a trail and run flat out with the best of them. Its also a nice easy see the sights kind of tourer and not hard to manuver in tight spots.



Second choice is the Suzuki Vinson 500. Its durabale,easy to manuver,runs with the best and is one of the most optioned factory rides. Look the specs over on all you look at and you'll see the Vinson has more than most out there standard.



Now,if you can find one and your looking for a all out racer style then look for a Cannondale 440. This thing is a fuel injected rocket box. cannondale had filed for chapter 11 and most owners are in fear and seeling them off out here priced right. Parts are still available and easy to get. They also have just been purchased by someone else,although the name escapes me.



Obviously its your check buying it. I ride on occasion with a good friend who has both the Grizzly and the Vinson. The other with us have the Polaris,Artic Cat and numerous others. You'd be surprised to see which ones get towed back on regular occasions. Ones I can say that have never left us sit,the Grizzly,Vinson and the Cannondale. Hope this helps... ... Andy

 

[ddesau]

ATV's

Right now I have a Suzuki Eiger 4wd - nice machine goes fast stable. If you are going to buy an ATV - try to get the extended warranty - the price may vary - but you can negotiate the price.



The average warranty on an ATV is 6 months - i got a 4 yr with mine for $400 - well worth it.



I also like Yamaha - as they make excellent machines !

 

[EricBu12]

Just bought this in a post topic toward the top



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=77530

 

[Okie-Go]

Prarie 650 by Kawasaki is th eone to have. I love mine. Lot's of power and easy to handle for a big quad.

 

[RamThatStroker]

Originally posted by marksmith

What sort of clicking noise. If it is intermittent it might be confused with gear "slap" as the gears are straight cut. If it is different try moving the shifter to the neutral position. You should have to put a little pressure to get the shifter shaft off of the "gate" or flat spot that is at the "N" position. If it is setting there with a gap or very little pressure to move it off of it. Pull the plastic and shorten the shift linkage (you will need a 12mm wrench, the one out of the tool bag works fine) till it is firmly on the "gate. " Tighten the jam nuts up and ride it like you stole it.



Hope this helps



Mark



Take care.

Mark,



The clicking noise is more like a clanking noise that sounds like metal to metal contact. It happens in both 2wd and 4wd and in H or L. It seems like it only happens when slowing down or letting off the throttle, but I've heard the sound going over small rocks accelerating. In addition to that it's really hard to put in gear when cold and sometimes I'm worried that I'm going to break the lever. Like I said this is my first 4-wheeler so I'm not very knowledgable about them and I appreciate any information anyone provides. Other than that I love the thing and it's a blast to ride.



Joe

 

[BigYellowIron]

Well,



I bought a artic cat 500 4x4.



Best bang for the buck I think.



It is a 2003 I gave 5700 for it and got 3. 9 % financing and came with a 2 year extended warr for free.



I think I did Alright.



Did not even have time to ride it, got home with it at 1:30 and had to go to work at 2:00.



Later



Adam

 

[KBalzuweit]

My vote would be Yamaha. I spent several years working for a Yamaha dealer and really can not think of anything bad to say about the product. I then went to Yamaha/Polaris dealer and all I would say is YAMAHA. Karl