ATV Shopping

[Kenfyoozed]

Thanks for pointing out Honda does have an automatic. I would definitly look at the rubicon. Its a great machine. I have 2 friends who have foremans with the electric shift. Hondas are built tough. If you look around for older Atvs, you will mostly find Hondas that are 15+ years old and still going. As for comfort, as I said, you will never find a Honda owner who says comfort is a problem. Try and find a dealer that will let you ride an atv, at least around the store. The dealer I bought from had Honda and Kawasaki. I test rode both. "No atv is perfect"-- thats the truth and what you can tell the wife so you can buy 2!

 

[RobJ]

How about all wheel drive instead of 4 wd.

Polaris is all wheel drive. As in all 4 wheels turn ( in 4 wd mode) instead of 3 ( like some brands)

It's mostly AWD. The new Polaris atvs have a 2wd mode or awd switch which autosenses when traction is needed up front and will temporary power all 4 wheels. I believe the system uses speed sensors on the wheels. It reverts back to 2wd when extra traction is not needed. And I believe the specs say this only happens (AWD) under 15 mph. The 1988-2000(I believe the new KQ came out in 2001) Suzuki King Quad has had the ability to mechanically lock all 4 wheels but only in super low range. On my 1999 KQ I removed the stop pin to allow a mech lockup in any gear range. But trust me the atv is undriveable at anything over a few mph unless you have Popeye arms and only want to go straight. most all of the new ATV's have a mech 4x4 or awd manual lock up. But again only at low speeds or on some models I believe there is a lever you must hold to keep it enguaged.

Driving down the road with all 4 wheels mechanically locked is no joy ride I promise.

 

[RobJ]

Thanks for pointing out Honda does have an automatic. I would definitly look at the rubicon. Its a great machine. I have 2 friends who have foremans with the electric shift. Hondas are built tough. If you look around for older Atvs, you will mostly find Hondas that are 15+ years old and still going.

I haven't ridden one but the new honda auto is supposed to be the best auto ever. My only problem with Honda (remember I have a Rancher), they are a boring long lasting machine. While others were putting on disc brakes years ago, Honda was staying with drums. The early "auto" machine was simply an electric solinold powered manual gearbox. If it went out on a trail ride there was a special tool to shift gears. Both of mine are manuals and I'm happy with that set up.

But as Ken said, look around at the deer leases where the guys can't afford an $8000 atv every year and see which older atv's are still running. Ken mentioned Honda (still see the Big Red 3 wheelers in pickups in east Texas!!) and that's true. But without getting into a brand war, there are some you will not see in the woods. When I bought my suzuki, I found one other brand piled up behind the dealers. But I'm not starting a brand war.

 

[Podunkadunk]

I bought a 2006 Honda Rancher ES 350 4x4 in October 2006. It's full time 4x4 and worth it's weight in gasoline around here. I pull trailers with it, run errands, feed the animals, spray fencelines, hunt with it...you name it. It's a fine piece of machinery. I am pleased with it and haven't had any problems with it at all. It will run 49mph in 5th gear. Horsepower is almost 20. I put a Champion winch on it that was bought at Sam's Club. It's a 2klb winch and has helped me many times. It's nice reassurance to know that if you hub it up, you can hook to a tree and pull yourself out.

My wife wanted a Kawasaki Mule. She watches the discovery channel show called "Little People, Big World" and they have a couple they use on their farm. So, we looked at them and we got her a 2007 model last August. It's a Kawi Mule 610, 4wd and is tough as nails. Built well and worth every penny. Horsepower is 13. It has a low gear for more torque. Will pull 900 lbs and you can put 400lbs in the bed. Oh and the bed dumps, although manually on this version Oh and I think it runs on fumes. I fill it up for her every "blue moon" and every time I check, it seems to always be above "E".

Of course, 4wd ain't for everyone. We needed it. Live on a creek and it gets muddy at times. We also have lots of hills, some pretty steep. 2wd just wouldn't "cut it". Better to have it and not need it, than to ever need it and not have it...kinda like a FEL on a tractor. I didn't "need" it at the time, so I didn't buy one. Now, I find myself needing one all the time

We looked at golf carts, they didn't fit our needs.

Podunk

 

[desert_guy]

Hi there,
I looked all over the internet for 6-8 months, visited dealers while healing from some surgery 3 years ago. The best I found for my type of terrian was a Yamaha Grizzly 450 4x4, all wheel drive and the best of all is independent rear suspension. Here in the high desert we are in the foothills and going over ruts in the road or dumping dirt works great from a little dump trailer. There is enough power to pull a full load of dirt up the hill as I had to fill in a area 25'x 100'x6' deep lots of trips and it kept on chuging, then I was still able to go out and play in the desert with friends. My $.02 worth

 

[RobJ]

and the best of all is independent rear suspension.

Of the 2 quads I have the KQ has independent front and rear suspension. The Rancher does not. I pull and ATV trailer or a 4x8 car pull sized trailer. the straight axle on the Rancher handles the trailer better IMO, especially with a loaded trailer. With the IRS, the weight of the trailer will sag the suspension pretty good, not a problem on the straight axle.

IMO the ride might be a little better on a IRS atv, but not much. I think since the atv's are pretty light, making the suspension soft enought to smooth out the bumps, would make it to soft for everything else.

Podunk....
The Warn 424 would make a nice addition to your Rancher. You would have to really compare side by side to see the difference, but it is fun driving with onehand and not fighting the front wheel pull. It also makes it more sporty, you can have a little fun going around corners and such. Most places I go i can do without 4x4 if I want to, it's nice to have the option.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Here's another vote for the Kawasaki Brute force. I bought a Kaw Prairie 300 in 1999 and still ride it all the time. It's been a great bike. The Brute Force is over the top in power and looks in my book, I really like the camo version.

BTW, my bike is a 2WD and has taken me almost everywhere I have ever wanted to go. The one time it failed was in 8" of new snow on a very steep incline.

 

[kenmac]

It's mostly AWD. The new Polaris atvs have a 2wd mode or awd switch which autosenses when traction is needed up front and will temporary power all 4 wheels. I believe the system uses speed sensors on the wheels. It reverts back to 2wd when extra traction is not needed. And I believe the specs say this only happens (AWD) under 15 mph. The 1988-2000(I believe the new KQ came out in 2001) Suzuki King Quad has had the ability to mechanically lock all 4 wheels but only in super low range. On my 1999 KQ I removed the stop pin to allow a mech lockup in any gear range. But trust me the atv is undriveable at anything over a few mph unless you have Popeye arms and only want to go straight. most all of the new ATV's have a mech 4x4 or awd manual lock up. But again only at low speeds or on some models I believe there is a lever you must hold to keep it enguaged.

Driving down the road with all 4 wheels mechanically locked is no joy ride I
promise.

Rob, While I didn't exactly explain it , that's what I ment. (Sorry about any confusion) You are correct polaris is 2 wd until you move the switch to all wd.It will lock in all wd in low or high range..


On the honda rancher. I thought they were electric shift or man. shift. Not automatic ( as in belt drive) or man shift.

 

[yak651]

Tomorrow I'm picking up a '06 Sportsman 500 with 250 miles for $4k. I think I can get my money back out of it if I don't like it. Looking to use it to plow my driveway and miscellaneous task around the house, hauling supplies to garden, checking on trees, etc. When looking at this used unit there wasn't one scratch on the under carriage and all the guys cars and trucks were in mint condition, so I think its a safe buy. My FIL might have a lead on a tow behind mower for it. Said it's 60" for $600, but it might be sold. A guy he works with, going to get more info tomorrow. Anyone use these tow behind mowers? Any good? Any brands to stay away from?(not sure what brand it is).

 

[elad]

Honda Rubicon 500cc has worked well for me. Never had a problem
with it. Have 3700 miles on the machine. Newer machines may have
more CC now. Replaced tires one time. elad

 

[RobJ]

On the honda rancher. I thought they were electric shift or man. shift. Not automatic ( as in belt drive) or man shift.

Well I've never driven the new hondas(some models only that is), just read and seen on TV. If I understand correctly, it's some sort of autosensing hydraulic shifting system of an old style manual shifting gearbox. No belt as I understand it.

Maybe someone can explain it better or knows it better, they are to expensive for me anyway. I have to stick with my old ones!!

 

[Kenfyoozed]

Honda has what they call a Hondamatic transmission. Its basiclly a transmission type that you would find in an automobile. It shares the oil with the engine. If it works and will hold up then it will be great! But with the larger bore CC engines it may not last.

With a big"cc" engine 500cc+, when wheel wont spin or its to much to move or pull, then the belt will slip and burn. This can be a good thing. When in a bind you wont break an axle, but slipand burn the belt. With an all gear tranny like the hondamatic, i think there would be a lot more to "snap" and break. But thats just me. Time will tell. Its never fun when a belt gets wet and starts to slip, but i would rather slip a belt than break something.

Also Honda used the name "Hondamatic" on some of there older motorcycles. I've never met anyone who owned one who liked it. They always had problems. I honestly cant believe Honda brought back that name-"Hondamatic". I wouldn't buy one for the name, unless they prove themselves. Where we ride, mostly trails and deep mud, I have yet to see one.

 

[GaryCrowell]

The hondamatic tranny in the rubicon is great, by far the best automatic on the market. The rubicon's been out for years and there haven't been any major problems with it. I absolutely hate belt drive automatic ATV transmissions and would not own one. Get that thing wet and you're stuck. What a rube goldberg concept.

For what the original poster wanted I'd suggest either the rubicon if you want fancy or the foreman 500 if you want basic. Either are great ATV's that will last forever, something that usually can't be said if it doesn't have Honda stamped on it.

 

[Kenfyoozed]

I want to add about the belt drive automatic tranny. It gets a lot of bad press, about getting wet. Yes it does have its draw backs, and its not the best. I would have to agree a true auto. like the honda would be the best. But what i would like to add is that a wet belt will not slip if its adjusted properly. I have had my belt wet many times and yet to have it slip. If it is adjusted properly even wet it works. Sadly some abuse and never maintain their machines. The plus side of an belt automatic, is that the belt is the weakest link. If you have a big bore machine, and large tires , a belt is a good thing. If your playing in a mud hole and and before you snap an axle the belt will burn, slip, or break, all cheaper to replace than an axle. But if you have no need for larger tires, the hondamatic is a great choice. And by larger tires I mean 27"+ and lugs 2" deep.

Whatever the machine, the key to longevity is maintaining it. Use and abuse it, but give some love when needed

 

[johnk]

I just got back from using my Rubicon. I was Hauling some quite heavy Stone down a very steep hill and it has the greatest low range ever. Prior to this quad i owner a 450 honda foreman and had no problems with that..

 

[CDsdad]

I'll have to say go Honda, I guess. I've ridden and looked at other brands that I liked and thought were good machines. But.

I have a 1995 Honda 300 TRX 2wd purchased new in November 1994. I've had it longer than I've had good sense. It would take something nuclear to tear it up. My next one will be 4wd, though. And I prefer the manual transmissions. I'm on the second set of tires(2 years old), third oil change, and fourth spark plug.

 

[Skerby]

the kawi 'golf cart' teryx's are 10-12k ish.. you can buy a nice used honda civic, put on a lift kit and mudders and i think the ac/heater closed cab etc will be a nice off road honda to have on the farm!

 

[bustedtplnk]

My vote is for the Kawasaki. I have a Prarie 650 which is the predecessor to the brute force models. Now they build them with the independent rear end or with a swing arm. The 650 Vtwin has lots of power, good all around four wheeler in the mud, snow, sand dunes, whatever. Its got the power to turn aggressive mud tires if you want to. I've got mine setup like a mini skidder.

 

[3RRL]

I've got an 2003 model 250cc Arctic Cat full time 4x4 that I use as a ranch vehicle and for hunting. My wife uses it to spray and goes everywhere with it, even with a 25 gallon sprayer on it. I'd love to have a larger one, but this one does what we want. It's got a 3 speed transfer case and 5 gears, so it has like 15 speeds plus reverse! Independent rear suspension and disc brakes.



Anyway, if I was looking to get another vehicle for working around the property, hauling tools or whatever, cruising or just 4 wheeling, I'd look into the 4x4 minitrucks. You can get them with dump beds or scissor lifts or tracks for snow. They go anywhere and would be about the same price or maybe even less than a large ATV, great gas mileage too. A cab for bad weather (you sill not always work in great weather), heater, air etc.
It's an alternative I would surely consider.
Here's a link I found you can look under the different headings for many uses.
4x4 Compact Mini Trucks

 

[RobJ]

There is a guy selling one of those 4x4 minis on Hwy 19 east of Huntsville. Asking $5000, it's been there for about 8 weeks. I'm not sure if people know what to do with it. I think it's street legal though. Not sure.

Rob