ATV Recommendation

[sundance]

I'm thinking about an ATV for wood gathering and plowing the drive. Know nothing about ATVs. I'm sure I'm looking for a 4x4, beyond that I'm open. I'd like to get something used as I'm not sure my use would justify the new prices I see. Thoughts or opinions? The only person I know with some knowledge is pushing the Honda Foreman.

Thanks,

Sundance

 

[rx7145]

+1 on the Honda

 

[joshua mason]

plus 2 on the honda. i have an 02 foreman 450, tough as nails only downfall is the brakes on those models.

 

[nikocker]

Just five letters. . .

HONDA!

I own two TRX 300's that I bought new in 1991 and had three boys beat the snot out of them. . . only replaced the battery in both machines twice!!! And that's all. Awesome machines.

Al

 

[ken45]

I have both a Honda Foreman and a Yamaha Kodiak. The Foreman steers a little easier, the Kodiak seems to have a bit better traction and pull. We've had them both 8+ years now.

They've been used around the farm a lot and also for trail maintenance in the state forests.

I'm sure used prices are better as long as you get one that hasn't been beat up. Some people are rough on them.

Ken

 

[deeker]

Yamaha

A Grizzly 660 to be exact. Does not have the "finiky" add on problems of the honda. And more clearance.

 

[iCreek]

Honda +++++

Most my buddies own Honda, a few Polaris and Yahmaha, but Honda rules around here. Mine is a '02 Foreman 450, the most dependable thing I own.

One Polaris, the rest are Honda, mine is the yellow closest on this end, before I painted it and put new wheels and tires on it.

 

[grandpatractor]

I'm thinking about an ATV for wood gathering and plowing the drive. Know nothing about ATVs. I'm sure I'm looking for a 4x4, beyond that I'm open. I'd like to get something used as I'm not sure my use would justify the new prices I see. Thoughts or opinions? The only person I know with some knowledge is pushing the Honda Foreman.

Thanks,

Sundance

They are all pretty decent machines . I have a Suzuki KingQuad 700. I have been real happy with it. It is almost like asking witch saw to get as there is good models in all lines and a few lemons. You need to look at the dealer as much as the brand. Good service goes a long way!

 

[Major Wood]

We have 3 Yamaha's not that I'm partial to them just got better deals when we bought them. Our 250 is an 01 and we have run it hard and it just keeps going it is a great machine. The summer before this my son bought a Grizzly 700, what a machine! Rides like a car and steers like one to. Just put a plow on it this winter. After this past week all my neighbors love me I had a blast plowing about 10 drives last week. It was actually fun not work. My mothers house is on the same street as mine and her driveway is about 8 ft wide and 240 ft long and asphalt. I angled the blade went down one side and up the other in about 45 seconds with 3 inches of snow. If you find a good used machine get a winch to pick up the plow, what a time saver. Not that I'm an expert on atv's I would reccomend a 400 or bigger for hauling wood and plowing.

 

[woodchop]

I have a 2002 Arctic Cat 500 manual. No issues at all. 60" Moose plow.

Really what it come down to is the dealer you are buying it from. Location and reputation.
After you find a dealer do a search on the brand of atv on a forum and just like this forum, you will find all kinds of information.

 

[CharlieG]

I've got a Suzuki 500 with 48" Moose plow, and maybe a Polaris Sportsman 500 in the future because of the independent rear suspension. Today I picked up a 2009 Polaris TrailBoss 330 for my son (2WD). A nice basic quad. It's already been through the mud hole!

 

[flewism]

Plus three Honda

Especially if you are looking used, We have two TRX 300 and a 450 forman, all bought new in 2000. All manufactures make a pretty strong machine these days.
They had too because from the early 80's to almost to the end of the century the Honda TRX ruled the 4-wheeler world as far as brute strength and durability, All others were a distant second place. Now speed that is another story, I've owed, ran, worked on, played with alot of different 4-wheelers in 80's and 90's. Then when I settled down and needed machines for my kids and for chores, I bought Honda.
Anyway my 4-wheelers are in semi-retirement since I bought the tractor.
I still plow snow with the forman,
1 trx pulls the trailer full of wood to the garage, and the other has the splitter hitched to it.

 

[hickslawns]

If you are buying to work it, then I would say Honda. Not sure what the play ones go for, but I know they are a lot of money. I had a 2000 Honda Foreman 400 and it was great. I now have an 06 Honda Rancher 400 and it is fine as well. We use it to plow side walks on larger commercial facilities where the skid loaders don't fit. I also use it to pull wood up to the house from out back. Use it with spray units, and pull behind spreaders for fertilizer in the summer on larger accounts as well. Occasionally take the kids for a ride, but mainly a worker. Hopefully it will carry a couple deer out of the woods next week. I have not heard much of anything good about the Polaris or Arctic Cats, the Yamaha Grizzly is supposed to be pretty stout but I have no experience with them. Buy a used Honda for $2500-3500 a couple years old, use it several years, and then sell it to get most of your money back. That should tell you something about Hondas. If they are maintained and not abused off roading, then you will have great re-sell value. Good luck.

 

[mattmc2003]

I say honda. I have an older honda 300. Bulletproff. I hope the new ones are the same. I have a lot of experience with yamaha as well, and they don't seem so wuality to me. Im a honda man.

 

[thenorth]

Bombardier traxtor....
gear drive...not belt......
this baby works.......
john

 

[clutch25]

Try the new Honda Rancher...fuel injerckted...small and cheap!

Honda guy to the bone! Taken me to 14,110 FT!!!!! To the top of Pikes Peak!

 

[A. Stanton]

Sundance,
I like my Polaris ATP 500. ATP means all terrain pick up. Polaris fased it out last year and replaced it with the X2. With this, they added EFI and jacked the price a grand. The ATP or X2 has a front storage compartment as well as a dump body in the back. I find the dump body is very convenient for storing and transporting things. The thing I like about the Polaris is that, pretty much, all models come with a front storage compartment. And the shift is on the right operated by the hand. What I like lest is the crappy warranty. I think they only give ya 6 months; Artic Cat gives ya 2 years. Unless you are really going off road, I would advise you to get a tractor. I was at the local Cabela's today and looked at a Swisher plow for an ATV. I was able to pick that sucker up with one hand and it costed only $25 less than what I paid for a 5 foot rear blade for my Kubota. The rear blade wears about 200 pounds.

 

[A. Stanton]

Forgot pic of my ATV. Tractor too.

 

[Octane]

Hondas are nice but they are very underpowered. Ive ridden a few Honda Foremans and got the chance to try out a new Honda Rincon and at first I thought I was riding a 250 because of how gutless they were.
My family has owned Polaris ATVs for a lotta years. Great power, but Polaris seems to have some quality control issues.
Id go with a Yamaha if it were me. Great quality, great power, all around a great ATV.

 

[Pcoz88]

Get a UTV.like a mule or ranger.