I have started looking for my first quad to buy. Mainly for driving around and camping on weekends but maybe for some hunting and game retrieval. I have heard great things about Honda and did check some out today. But how are the new ones and does anyone have anything to say about Suzuki or Yamaha?
Quads
- Thread starter dmick33
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grizzly
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I don't like the Hondas. You spend so much more for a Honda if you compare apples-to-apples with competitors. I do think the Hondas will last forever, but it is because they are so much more simple than other ATVs (ie. there is less to break). I like the technology on the other brands, they ride better and are more capable for rough trails/rocks/logs.
I spent a lot of time comparing them and I felt the Top 2 were the Yamaha Grizzly and the Polaris Sportsman. I have had a lot of experience with both of them (7 different ATVs). I have seen no difference in quality (neither brand has ever broken down), just make sure have each of them professionally serviced once a year to grease everything up and check the seals.
I think the Sportsman 500 H.O. which you can pick up brand new for $5200 is the way to go. You get all the power you will ever need, the best-riding machine on the market and only have to give up Power Steering and EFI (and save $3,000). I haven't had the need for Power Steering (especially with the new Sportsman) and there is a benefit to carburated in that you can possibly fix it in the field, where EFI you are just SOL if it breaks down.
Check out the value of a 2-yr old 500 HO Sportsman. They hold their value SO WELL it is crazy.
Grizzly
PS. Tristate, please be an adult and respect my wishes that you do not respond to any of my posts. I, in turn, will do you the courtesy of not responding to any of yours. I simply do not wish to converse with you.
I spent a lot of time comparing them and I felt the Top 2 were the Yamaha Grizzly and the Polaris Sportsman. I have had a lot of experience with both of them (7 different ATVs). I have seen no difference in quality (neither brand has ever broken down), just make sure have each of them professionally serviced once a year to grease everything up and check the seals.
I think the Sportsman 500 H.O. which you can pick up brand new for $5200 is the way to go. You get all the power you will ever need, the best-riding machine on the market and only have to give up Power Steering and EFI (and save $3,000). I haven't had the need for Power Steering (especially with the new Sportsman) and there is a benefit to carburated in that you can possibly fix it in the field, where EFI you are just SOL if it breaks down.
Check out the value of a 2-yr old 500 HO Sportsman. They hold their value SO WELL it is crazy.
Grizzly
PS. Tristate, please be an adult and respect my wishes that you do not respond to any of my posts. I, in turn, will do you the courtesy of not responding to any of yours. I simply do not wish to converse with you.
grizzly
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Yeah, I pretty much feel like they are like trucks or binoculars. You can hear every possible opinion if you ask the right person.
Of the three you listed, I would definitely go Yamaha.
My last three ATV's have been Polaris (which have never broken down in the 7 years I have had them); my buddy just bought a Grizzly because Polaris left a bad taste in his mouth with one he used to have. My response to him was you could make a lot of repairs for the extra $3k he spent on Yamaha. That Grizzly is a super-nice machine though, I definitely can see why people like them.
Grizzly
PS. Tristate, please be an adult and respect my wishes that you do not respond to any of my posts. I, in turn, will do you the courtesy of not responding to any of yours. I simply do not wish to converse with you.
Of the three you listed, I would definitely go Yamaha.
My last three ATV's have been Polaris (which have never broken down in the 7 years I have had them); my buddy just bought a Grizzly because Polaris left a bad taste in his mouth with one he used to have. My response to him was you could make a lot of repairs for the extra $3k he spent on Yamaha. That Grizzly is a super-nice machine though, I definitely can see why people like them.
Grizzly
PS. Tristate, please be an adult and respect my wishes that you do not respond to any of my posts. I, in turn, will do you the courtesy of not responding to any of yours. I simply do not wish to converse with you.
llamapacker
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For the light use you are proposing, any machine will do the job. Just like buying a car, decide which factors are most important to you. I have an older Suzuki Eiger that has been a great machine. Fairly simple, lightweight ATV that hasn't required any maintenance in over 5000 miles.
For years I avoided the Polaris machines, and felt they were cheaply made and prone to breakdown. They are also comfortable and easy for the novice to ride. I now have a 2012 Polaris Sportsmen X2 that I love, and believe they have made great strides in their equipment in the last decade.
I've looked at Hondas several times, and driving them kept me from purchasing them. You really need to test drive any machine you intend to buy and find out if it does what YOU want it too. There are great differences in ride comfort, handling,e tc., but they will all get the job done in some fashion.
Bill
For years I avoided the Polaris machines, and felt they were cheaply made and prone to breakdown. They are also comfortable and easy for the novice to ride. I now have a 2012 Polaris Sportsmen X2 that I love, and believe they have made great strides in their equipment in the last decade.
I've looked at Hondas several times, and driving them kept me from purchasing them. You really need to test drive any machine you intend to buy and find out if it does what YOU want it too. There are great differences in ride comfort, handling,e tc., but they will all get the job done in some fashion.
Bill
cosmic_cowboy
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I have an old 1999 Honda fourtrax 300 that's a tank and will probably last forever... but very rough riding. Then I got a 2009 Yamaha Grizzly 450 and I love it you can't go wrong with the Yamaha never had any problems with it.Very well built machine.
CC
CC
I agree the Honda isn't the smoothest ride. But at the dealer(they sold honda's and polaris), the mechanic ask me how well do you want to get to know me. If you'd like to get to know me a little better by a polaris. Then he took me into his work area and there were maybe 15 atv's in there 13 out of the 15 were polaris. That just what he told me. You decide.
J
jjones12
Guest
Yamaha or Honda is the only way to go....Polaris break down just as much as the others and are three times as much to fix...and forget the Suzuki
+1 huntnrich
I had a older polaris, got to ride 1/2 the time and the other 1/2 the time it was in the shop.
Finally asked the mechanics and they said take a look around, right there I was sold on Honda, I bought 2 Rubicons and they are tanks, you can load hind and front legs, straps and neck meat with no worries of the bike tipping over or being too top heavy.
I went with Honda's because you pay for what you get, 4wheelers are expensive enough without the breakdowns. With breakdowns they can take your spending monies that you use for other goodies.
Honda's have a rough ride compared to the others, what I do for that is let a little air outta the tires--smoother ride, and I never popped a tire or had any problems.
I had a older polaris, got to ride 1/2 the time and the other 1/2 the time it was in the shop.
Finally asked the mechanics and they said take a look around, right there I was sold on Honda, I bought 2 Rubicons and they are tanks, you can load hind and front legs, straps and neck meat with no worries of the bike tipping over or being too top heavy.
I went with Honda's because you pay for what you get, 4wheelers are expensive enough without the breakdowns. With breakdowns they can take your spending monies that you use for other goodies.
Honda's have a rough ride compared to the others, what I do for that is let a little air outta the tires--smoother ride, and I never popped a tire or had any problems.
falloutwest
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I have a 2000 Yamaha Kodiak that has been pretty rock solid. Never any issues.....fires up on the coldest of mornings within seconds.
One concern I have had is that the Ultramatic transmission always makes some clunky noises in rough rocky terrain and always gave me an uneasy feeling when I was miles from nowhere on some crap rock road. However, it has done it for ten years and it has never led to any problems. Anyone else with a Yamaha Ultramatic notice a similar noise?
One concern I have had is that the Ultramatic transmission always makes some clunky noises in rough rocky terrain and always gave me an uneasy feeling when I was miles from nowhere on some crap rock road. However, it has done it for ten years and it has never led to any problems. Anyone else with a Yamaha Ultramatic notice a similar noise?
Bruinbrewin
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I've had 2 different Polaris Sportsman 500's and I still have a 2005 Ranger 500 all with over 4K miles on each of them and never had so called trouble with any of them. I never even replaced any belts on them.
The only thing on the Ranger is the oil tank under the seat broke at the mounting brackets last year, I wired it up to the brackets with some fence line wire and all is good once again. Change the oil, grease them always and do your standard maintenance and you will most likely have no problems with any of the big name units.
The next purchase I will get if I sell my Ranger will be one of the new Can Am's side by side. I hear a lot of happy people that have bought those so I imagine their quads are pretty solid as well.
BB
The only thing on the Ranger is the oil tank under the seat broke at the mounting brackets last year, I wired it up to the brackets with some fence line wire and all is good once again. Change the oil, grease them always and do your standard maintenance and you will most likely have no problems with any of the big name units.
The next purchase I will get if I sell my Ranger will be one of the new Can Am's side by side. I hear a lot of happy people that have bought those so I imagine their quads are pretty solid as well.
BB
Bwht4x4
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I just got a new 2012 Honda Foreman 500 with fuel injection and power steering. It may not have the bells and whistles as the Yamaha's but the lack of them also means they won't break. Also, ever try to find a used Honda ATV for sale? In my area a used one sells super fast and they hold their value. I've had two buddies with Hondas FourTraxs and each got over 5000 miles on theirs and they are running fine.
Here it is last year with two ungutted pronghorn and just about to have two guys on it. It was a heavy ride back to camp, but it didn't even struggle.
Here it is last year with two ungutted pronghorn and just about to have two guys on it. It was a heavy ride back to camp, but it didn't even struggle.
azbullhunter
Active Member
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Honda 2008 rancher built like a tank and over 4000 miles no problems and great resale . I would buy another in a heart beat. I do not want mechanical problems.
silverlake176
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Is there anything a person could do to make the Hondas ride better?
When I was looking to buy my last ATV. I went to a major atv store which sold 3 or 4 brands. I asked about the polaris 500 and the mechanic that was walking by said to me. Just how well do you want to get to know me. Then he said come here, we walked into his work area. And he said look at all these machines(there was 18 atv's there) he said 90% of all the atv's I work on are Polaris,, so if you'd like to get to know me buy one of them. Honest story.
B
baitboy
Guest
Sheep help
My dad has the sheep tag you had a few years ago. I would like to talk to you about the unit and the quality of sheep. My email is [email protected] or cell 928-205-5151 . Thanks, Steve
My dad has the sheep tag you had a few years ago. I would like to talk to you about the unit and the quality of sheep. My email is [email protected] or cell 928-205-5151 . Thanks, Steve
