ATV advice

I've owned a Warrior, 400EX, 300EX, 250R (3 & 4-wheel versions!), Quadracer 250, tri-zinger 180, ATC70, Big Red (remember those?!) and now am looking at something new in the next year or two. Some thoughts:

* Though I've heard lots and lots of good things about the Foreman, I'm not sure you can really go wrong with any of the major manufacturers.
* Since you're at the mercy of what's available, it might be useful to make a list of 'needs' and 'wants' and come up with a few models that you'd be happy with.
* Think about how you will use it: do you want automatic transmission, full-time 4X4, etc.? I would use mine for yard work, which means I would want to be able to shut the 4-wheel drive off (or at least find one that wouldn't tear up the grass while turning).
* What dealers do you have nearby? I've a Honda/Kawasaki within a few miles and a Yamaha within 1/2 hour. Although the former is closer, the latter's rates and manners are better.
* Set your firm budget and look at options a bit lower in cost, because you'll need accessories and upgrades: helmet, gloves, boots, junk clothes, tires, small repairs, trailer, gas, registration, oil, etc. etc. Takes a fair amount of money to start in the quad game.
* $3k not much money for a 4X4 in our area, but enough for a sweet sport quad.

Good Luck, and Happy Trails!

S

Stegman said:

Hey folks.

I'm toying with the idea of buying a used ATV, utility style. Hoping to get something for less than $3,000. Have done some preliminary research, and I think I'm leaning toward a Honda Foreman or perhaps a Yamaha.

I'm 6-foot, 190 pounds and figure a 350 or so would be plenty big enough.

I'm wading into unfamiliar territory here. Had a Yamaha three-wheeler while in high school back in the 80s, but haven't ridden an ATV since.

Any advice or guidance would be much appreciated.

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Stegman, be sure to sit on both machines, especially because of your height. I recall the first atv I ever bought. The dealer and a few other folks tried to talk me into a Suzuki. So, at the dealers I rode both the Suzuki and a Yamaha Timber Wolf. I rode the Wolf first and really liked it. I rode the Suzuki only half the distance...because it made my back hurt terribly. Comfort won over.

I guess my first question is what are you hoping to do with the ATV . . . ride local trails, haul out wood, plow your driveway, hunt/fish, etc.? Knowing what you want to accomplish with the ATV depends a bit on what ATV I would suggest you look at in terms of size and features.

For example, if someone is looking at doing a lot of work with their ATV . . . while any ATV should be able to do so . . . the Honda line up is pretty good at providing a no-frills, reliable and hard working ATV . . . but with only a few exceptions it is not one of the best ATVs to take trail riding . . . although like other ATVs it can be used for both fun and work . . . in my own opinion it is a better work machine than a play machine.

Size matters . . . I think a 350cc machine is right on the cusp of being too small if you are looking for a working ATV . . . honestly a 450-500cc machine is a better sized machine . . . as I have stated earlier you can do work with a 350cc ATV . . . but if you're hauling out a lot of wood or plowing a lot you may find having a larger engine will tax the ATV less.

Features matter . . . depending on what you want . . . for example if you are looking for a nice trail riding ATV having independent rear suspension is a highly desirable feature . . . personally I think Polaris and Yamaha have some really nice riding machines with IRS . . . Thinking mentioned selectable 2WD/4WD which is useful if you want to avoid tearing up your lawn if you think you may use it to clear leaves in the Fall or haul dirt around your property . . . Dennis has an ATV with power steering that he loves . . . I have an ATV with a very low granny gear for hauling . . . other folks really like disk brakes vs. drum brakes . . . again . . . it depends on what features you like and what you want to do with your ATV.

I too believe that most manufacturers are pretty decent now . . . of course I am biased towards some and against some ATV manufacturers . . . but I also believe that a large part of ATV reliability comes down to how you maintain and treat your ATV. I have members in our Club that have the same year ATVs and the difference is night and day . . . the guy who has left his ATV outside and has beat on it has an ATV that looks much, much older . . . the other guy who puts his ATV away and maintains it religiously has an ATV that looks like it is less than a year old.

I have a Yamaha Big Bear 350cc 4x4. I love it. I take excellent care of her though. It is all time 4x4, and just so you know it does not tear up our grass at all...not even a little so... also I plow with it all winter long in Michigan without issue, in fact I don't even bother with my tire chains (except for that last big blizzard).

hope this helps.

Feature on the new machines are almost endless.
Tires make the biggest difference for tough trails, (chains will do almost as much on standard tires)
The new thing is bigger tires for our country up here. (& a bigger movable winch--front/rear mounting)

In the price range you are looking at, ($3,000) will be an older machine.
Look in the 450 cc+ range like ffj. no necessarily for power but heavier duty built.
My 350 spins the tires before it ever loses power in lower gears. (manual foot shift Yam. Big Bear basic model)
I like it for trails, light weight, quick & nimble but can work hard, but in 4 wheel all the time & tears up the yard on turns.

Some with Auto shift features are nice most of the time. Rider style & experience , low experience, go automatic.
Go look at some new ones, get the sales pitch. Then you get an idea of the price range/features/size etc.
Then start searching the used market for the features you like.

May even be a place to rent & trail ride in your area. That will help you in the decision also.
Like jake, most now are pretty good machines, but past experiences has biased me on some brands.
Honda is considered the "Lexus" real nice ride & features & tough, new ones are real nice & the price reflect it.

$3k should get a decent machine. Good luck

I have a 2001 Honda Foreman 450 with standard shift. It has always shifted a little hard and I had to have the transmission repaired once. I don't remember what they repaired, but it was around $200 and they changed the oil and filter as well. I have "rode it hard and put it away wet" and it has held up quite well. It doesn't have a independent rear end and the ride is quite stiff. I have driven ATVs with auto transmissions and they are alot easier. I bought a standard transmission because I wanted a work horse. I don't know if it's any better than an auto or not. I have a small brush hog for it and I was told that a standard would be better for mowing. Overall I am happy with the Foreman.

My wishlist for my next ATV:
Power steering for working in the woods
Independant rear suspension for a better ride
4wd or 2wd capability
Auto and Standard tranny option

I'm going to jump in here and say something real crazy. I know ATVs are fun and can make alot of sense if your property is real large or you cut wood a mile down the road like my neighbor who pulls a special made trailer behind his to a woods down the road. But if you are just cutting behind the house I find an electric golf cart with utility box to be about as handy as it gets. With ag tires mud or snow is not an issue at all. I drive my cart all over my woods and I also do pull logs with my cart and carry all my firewood to the house in the 3x3 box on the back. I pull full size hay wagons too as I have a hitch on the back.

wkpoor said:

I'm going to jump in here and say something real crazy. I know ATVs are fun and can make alot of sense if your property is real large or you cut wood a mile down the road like my neighbor who pulls a special made trailer behind his to a woods down the road. But if you are just cutting behind the house I find an electric golf cart with utility box to be about as handy as it gets. With ag tires mud or snow is not an issue at all. I drive my cart all over my woods and I also do pull logs with my cart and carry all my firewood to the house in the 3x3 box on the back. I pull full size hay wagons too as I have a hitch on the back.

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Depends on the terrain . . . if the trail is relatively flat and clearance is not an issue . . . and traction isn't a problem than golfcarts can be useful . . . but if you're working in a woodlot where I am going up and over rocks, stumps, mudholes and uneven terrain a golf cart would quickly get highsided or be stuck . . . I know I used to work at a golf course and I can't tell you the number of times I got a cart stuck in the woods while dumping brush and grass clippings.

firefighterjake said:

wkpoor said:

I'm going to jump in here and say something real crazy. I know ATVs are fun and can make alot of sense if your property is real large or you cut wood a mile down the road like my neighbor who pulls a special made trailer behind his to a woods down the road. But if you are just cutting behind the house I find an electric golf cart with utility box to be about as handy as it gets. With ag tires mud or snow is not an issue at all. I drive my cart all over my woods and I also do pull logs with my cart and carry all my firewood to the house in the 3x3 box on the back. I pull full size hay wagons too as I have a hitch on the back.

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Depends on the terrain . . . if the trail is relatively flat and clearance is not an issue . . . and traction isn't a problem than golfcarts can be useful . . . but if you're working in a woodlot where I am going up and over rocks, stumps, mudholes and uneven terrain a golf cart would quickly get highsided or be stuck . . . I know I used to work at a golf course and I can't tell you the number of times I got a cart stuck in the woods while dumping brush and grass clippings.

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I can go up just as steep a hill as my neighbors ATV and I have never got stuck in any mud or snow. It would need to be really rough terrain before I couldn't go. Ever seen the vids for the BadBoy Buggies. They are doing just about anything an ATV can do. One of our pilots at work used to work for a course in school and back then they had the same 3 wheeled EZGO like I have. He commented on how indestructible they were and nearly impossible to stick even without the ag tires.

I remember pulling wood with dads old 1983 big red three wheeler. That will get you hurt in a hurry.

wkpoor said:

firefighterjake said:

wkpoor said:

I'm going to jump in here and say something real crazy. I know ATVs are fun and can make alot of sense if your property is real large or you cut wood a mile down the road like my neighbor who pulls a special made trailer behind his to a woods down the road. But if you are just cutting behind the house I find an electric golf cart with utility box to be about as handy as it gets. With ag tires mud or snow is not an issue at all. I drive my cart all over my woods and I also do pull logs with my cart and carry all my firewood to the house in the 3x3 box on the back. I pull full size hay wagons too as I have a hitch on the back.

Click to expand...

Depends on the terrain . . . if the trail is relatively flat and clearance is not an issue . . . and traction isn't a problem than golfcarts can be useful . . . but if you're working in a woodlot where I am going up and over rocks, stumps, mudholes and uneven terrain a golf cart would quickly get highsided or be stuck . . . I know I used to work at a golf course and I can't tell you the number of times I got a cart stuck in the woods while dumping brush and grass clippings.

Click to expand...

I can go up just as steep a hill as my neighbors ATV and I have never got stuck in any mud or snow. It would need to be really rough terrain before I couldn't go. Ever seen the vids for the BadBoy Buggies. They are doing just about anything an ATV can do. One of our pilots at work used to work for a course in school and back then they had the same 3 wheeled EZGO like I have. He commented on how indestructible they were and nearly impossible to stick even without the ag tires.

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In my younger days we used to ride some state trails in NW Ohio. There was a guy there who had a gas powered cart with a lift kit and some wooly boogers on it. Awesome. I guess it would be a predecessor to the utvs they have now.

My atv is old (87) and cold blooded. I would like to have an electric cart to cruise around on, and to move wood to the house. Sure would be nice to step on the pedal and go, but it would never replace the workhorse-usefulness of my 4x4 atv.

wkpoor said:

firefighterjake said:

wkpoor said:

I'm going to jump in here and say something real crazy. I know ATVs are fun and can make alot of sense if your property is real large or you cut wood a mile down the road like my neighbor who pulls a special made trailer behind his to a woods down the road. But if you are just cutting behind the house I find an electric golf cart with utility box to be about as handy as it gets. With ag tires mud or snow is not an issue at all. I drive my cart all over my woods and I also do pull logs with my cart and carry all my firewood to the house in the 3x3 box on the back. I pull full size hay wagons too as I have a hitch on the back.

Click to expand...

Depends on the terrain . . . if the trail is relatively flat and clearance is not an issue . . . and traction isn't a problem than golfcarts can be useful . . . but if you're working in a woodlot where I am going up and over rocks, stumps, mudholes and uneven terrain a golf cart would quickly get highsided or be stuck . . . I know I used to work at a golf course and I can't tell you the number of times I got a cart stuck in the woods while dumping brush and grass clippings.

Click to expand...

I can go up just as steep a hill as my neighbors ATV and I have never got stuck in any mud or snow. It would need to be really rough terrain before I couldn't go. Ever seen the vids for the BadBoy Buggies. They are doing just about anything an ATV can do. One of our pilots at work used to work for a course in school and back then they had the same 3 wheeled EZGO like I have. He commented on how indestructible they were and nearly impossible to stick even without the ag tires.

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This may be true in your case . . . but I'll guarantee you that you would not go on the same trail I go through when I haul out my firewood . . . at least without a heavily modified golf cart. That said . . . I suspect for many folks a golf cart would work quite well at hauling wood . . . and is probably a bit cheaper.

wkpoor said:

firefighterjake said:

wkpoor said:

I'm going to jump in here and say something real crazy. I know ATVs are fun and can make alot of sense if your property is real large or you cut wood a mile down the road like my neighbor who pulls a special made trailer behind his to a woods down the road. But if you are just cutting behind the house I find an electric golf cart with utility box to be about as handy as it gets. With ag tires mud or snow is not an issue at all. I drive my cart all over my woods and I also do pull logs with my cart and carry all my firewood to the house in the 3x3 box on the back. I pull full size hay wagons too as I have a hitch on the back.

Click to expand...

Depends on the terrain . . . if the trail is relatively flat and clearance is not an issue . . . and traction isn't a problem than golfcarts can be useful . . . but if you're working in a woodlot where I am going up and over rocks, stumps, mudholes and uneven terrain a golf cart would quickly get highsided or be stuck . . . I know I used to work at a golf course and I can't tell you the number of times I got a cart stuck in the woods while dumping brush and grass clippings.

Click to expand...

I can go up just as steep a hill as my neighbors ATV and I have never got stuck in any mud or snow. It would need to be really rough terrain before I couldn't go. Ever seen the vids for the BadBoy Buggies. They are doing just about anything an ATV can do. One of our pilots at work used to work for a course in school and back then they had the same 3 wheeled EZGO like I have. He commented on how indestructible they were and nearly impossible to stick even without the ag tires.

Click to expand...

Bad-Boy Buggies are the "Cat's Meow".. 4x4, silent, holds 4 people, etc. I have 2 friends that own Kawasaki Mules and one that owns a Polaris Ranger. Be surprised the Gnarly terrian you can throw at one those machines. I ride a Honda Rubicon 4x4 (Work) and a Honda 400EX (Fun, 440 Big Bore Kit). I always said I would never trade them for the world. But having that little bed in the back, windshield, radio, and a steering wheel gives you some creature comforts that I could get used to. Not agreeing or disagreeing with anyone here.

A buddy of mine owns a motorcycle/atv repair business, and in his opinion, the only quad to buy is a Honda. Buy one bigger than you think you need and you'll never look back.

I threw together a small dray for hauling out some logs. Now I wish I'd built it a bit bigger as it hauls really easy. But we still skidded a lot of logs with it this past winter. Works just about as good on bare ground as with snow.

For tough utility work, the Pug is a great machine. 1500 lbs cargo capacity, dump box, 1500 lbs towing capacity, and will really handle the rough terrain. I bought mine used, meets utility needs par excellence.

Two years ago, I was also looking for an ATV for utility work around the homestead. I picked up this one (2003 Polaris Big Boss 6x6) for $3800. Best investment I ever made. Love it so much, I recently traded my "fun" ATV for another just like it. Other than a larger turning radius, it's still just as fun as a 4-wheeler for recreation. With the side panels, it hauls 1/5 cord.

Peter SWNH said:

Two years ago, I was also looking for an ATV for utility work around the homestead. I picked up this one (2003 Polaris Big Boss 6x6) for $3800. Best investment I ever made. Love it so much, I recently traded my "fun" ATV for another just like it. Other than a larger turning radius, it's still just as fun as a 4-wheeler for recreation. With the side panels, it hauls 1/5 cord.

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What was your "Fun" ATV? I have a 400EX. I only keep it because my 9 yr old has a sport Quad. I would love to trade it off for a Polaris Ranger or Any ATV/UTV with a Dump Bed...

I have a Kawasaki 650 Brute Force. Its a V-Twin, solid rear axle and 4x4 with high and low range. It has a mountain of torque and a 5 gallon gas tank. I would boost your budget to $5k and go bigger on the engine. You will not regret the power...

DexterDay said:

What was your "Fun" ATV? I have a 400EX. I only keep it because my 9 yr old has a sport Quad. I would love to trade it off for a Polaris Ranger or Any ATV/UTV with a Dump Bed...

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It was just a 2002 Polaris Sportsman 500 4x4. I bought that so the wife and I could do some trail riding (she has a Kymco MXU 150). But we didn't do much of that so now we have a his & hers 6x6.

The only thing I miss from the 4x4 was the independent rear suspension. The 6x6 is basically a Magnum (solid rear w/chain drive) with an extra tag axle attached. The new model Big Boss 6x6 has IRS, but it's $10,000. I'll buy a spare car before I'll spend that much on an ATV!

Dano5509 said:

I have a Kawasaki 650 Brute Force. Its a V-Twin, solid rear axle and 4x4 with high and low range. It has a mountain of torque and a 5 gallon gas tank. I would boost your budget to $5k and go bigger on the engine. You will not regret the power...

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Big really is good but it comes at a price. First thing most folks notice is they are gas hogs compared to the smaller machines. Yet, although I thought our new one was a gas hog I'm finding that when not in 4wd it doesn't seem to be much worse than the older machine; 700 vs. 450.

Backwoods Savage said:

Dano5509 said:

I have a Kawasaki 650 Brute Force. Its a V-Twin, solid rear axle and 4x4 with high and low range. It has a mountain of torque and a 5 gallon gas tank. I would boost your budget to $5k and go bigger on the engine. You will not regret the power...

Click to expand...

Big really is good but it comes at a price. First thing most folks notice is they are gas hogs compared to the smaller machines. Yet, although I thought our new one was a gas hog I'm finding that when not in 4wd it doesn't seem to be much worse than the older machine; 700 vs. 450.

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As you said bigger machines usually mean more gas usage . . . but on the flip side many of the newer ATVs now have the electronic fuel injection which in theory should cut down on the gas usage as well . . .

I know there are lots of good ATVs out there, but my family has always had Hondas. Just can't wear them out. Here is mine at work. See my signature.