Whats a good utility 4-wheeler to get?

[CALL911]

I think Yamaha usually makes the best, but I have never owned one.

Ideally I'd like a utility 4 wheeler that has a rack on it, a spot for a hitch, and maybe even be a 4X4. Does anyone who is into ATV's know what ones I should look at, vs stay away from?

[TRIPOD]

I have always been partial to Honda's. I got a Honda Forman 4x4, no complaints. Yamaha makes a good ATV as well.

[Firebirdjoe]

Yea Honda Forman here also.

[gregrob]

Honda's are hard to beat for reliability but they are not fun to ride IMO. Check out the Suzuki king quad, mine was a blast to ride + a workhorse when you needed it. Would plow snow, haul deer, pull a trailer, plus run 74mph on the blacktop empty. Pretty versatile in my book and they are also very reliable and will blow away Honda's for power, ride, and handling. Brakes really really suck on the Honda's after a few years too.

The new Yamaha grizzlies are really nice too, right on par with the king quad. Check them out, ride them and see what you like best.

[Tarheel'Z']

i would 2nd the foreman and add the rencon both by honda,,im a honda guy but im sure the other makes make a nice product as well,,


^hey gregrob is all the honda bashing from personal experience?

[tlinville]

if you don't want a decked out sport utility quad you best bes is a honda rancher or foreman type unit. Honda makes some of the hardest working utility quad on the market and i am a yamaha guy.

[richard96]

I have had a foreman and a 400 ex. They run great but Honda's technology is slow to catch up with Artic Cat or Yahmaha. I rode an auto '07 350 yahmaha Bruin. It was quick and nimble through some nasty trails with trees, rocks, water, and mud. (Drummond Island-UP Mich) We rode anywhere from 25-40 mph through all of it. I also rode the Yahmaha grizzly 450 auto. Faster than the 350, but more weight to throw around. I rode my foreman 450 in the same area and it was a beast compared to the Yahmahas. I guess it depends on what kind of riding you want to do.

[CALL911]

This is all (like many other things) for down the road. I'll end up getting two ATV's. The first one would need to be the utility one to haul around stuff and work. Then I'll probably get a 2nd one thats a little more for speed like a Raptor. This way my wife can tag along with me as well.

I've also heard good things about both the grizzley and the kind quad.

[Huff035]

Definitely love our rancher, it works pretty well for everything. Get a winch, you may think you'll never need it...but you will. lol.

[richard96]

They make a 400 grizzly as well. You want an idependant rear and auto is the way to go. The 450 I rode had locking diff, low and high gear, and 2wd/4wd. Yahmahas are better than Hondas in my book. Raptor or warrior is a nice choice too. If you want to go fast, get the gear to go along with it. I rode dirt bikes and switched to quads. Wrecking on a utility quad is just as nasty. I can remember closing my eyes a few times cuz I thought I was gonna hit a tree. I have rolled a few times and bucked off a couple. When a quad hits you, it hurts worse than a bike.
OH, Have FUN!

[Formula 350]

I would have to suggest you taking a look at Arctic Cat Depending on What your needs are they have a quad to meet your needs. I have worked as a small engine mechanic for 3 years. My work used to be a Arctic Cat dealer and i got to see/ ride all they have to offer. Personally I like Yamaha for sport Quads but when it comes to using and abusing a utility quad. Arctic Cats can take a beating and still be up for more punishment. The best one they have in my opinion is their 686cc diesel quad. This quad has out standing torque that I have never felt out of any other quad. I hope That I have helped you out with your decision.

[CALL911]

I'm diggin the Grizzley's, I also was looking at a used Bruin 4X4 that looked decent. I guess I am partial to Yamaha's as thats mostly what my friends have and prefer.

I have ridden a little here and there, and already know I either want a Raptor or a Yamaha 400 for the fast one, I am just now looking for the utility one.

[AChotrod]

Arctic Cat makes great quads

[CALL911]

I looked at some of the Arctic Cats, but couldn't get over how ugly they looked.

[AChotrod]

I think the same about hondas. I would like Yammis if they were American owned, but Yamahas snowmobiles are tanks so I would have to do some investigating.

[~chipsahoy~]

This:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2007-Polaris-Sportsman-800-Grave-Digger-Must-See_W0QQitemZ230427622363QQcmdZViewItemQQptZATVs?h ash=item35a68e7bdb

:laugh:


But in all seriousness, my parents have a Polaris 800 4X4 and love it. They take it up to Colorado to do some trail riding in the summer. Seems to get over the boulders and downed trees with ease. Just another to look at.

[AChotrod]

Does polaris still make qauds? I thought they were getting out of the game??

[~chipsahoy~]

Does polaris still make qauds? I thought they were getting out of the game??

Where did you hear they were going to quit making the ATV's? It looks like they have 2010 models out.

[Pony_Killer]

The polaris 800 4x4 is awesome a friend has one! I had a 6 wheeler max for a few years that was a blast to ride on land and water and would tow just about anything.. but now I have a 2010 gravely 4x4 that will go anywhere..it has a removable hydro snow plow and also has a hdro dump bed..when we had the 10" of snow last month the sears repair guy in his full size van was leaving the house and slid right into the 3' ditch by the road and couldn't get out and I grabbed the gravely and pulled it out with a chain in a few seconds.

[AChotrod]

Through the snowmobile crowd, I dig the Polaris stuff too! Good to hear the havent quit making them!

[meangreeneyz28]

I had a polaris sportsman 800efi it was awesome balls power it was a wheelie machine and a top speed of about 70mph!

[BLK95TA]

one of these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCzCXyQ-bv0

[gregrob]

i would 2nd the foreman and add the rencon both by honda,,im a honda guy but im sure the other makes make a nice product as well,,


^hey gregrob is all the honda bashing from personal experience?

First of all its not bashing, its just facts. Honda's are awesome for reliability but that's about it. They are behind the curve in EVERY other aspect compared to their competitors.

Second, yes it is from personal experience. I have owned and ridden a LOT of different quads both utility and sport. Everyone in my family owns them too, with most of the utilities being Honda's.

[Tarheel'Z']

First of all its not bashing, its just facts. Honda's are awesome for reliability but that's about it. They are behind the curve in EVERY other aspect compared to their competitors.

Second, yes it is from personal experience. I have owned and ridden a LOT of different quads both utility and sport. Everyone in my family owns them too, with most of the utilities being Honda's.

where are these facts and comparisons you speak of?im not trying to start a pissing match but ive ridden and owned ALOT of quads as well and when i say "go with honda" its my OPPINION based off of riding and owning ALOT of quads,,i dont have facts and comparisons i just know ive owned hondas and rode hondas all my life and never been disappointed,so how could i recommend anything else?..i know the other guys make bad ass quads too but im a honda guy,,i think its interesting that you say alot of your family owns honda utilitys..guess my point is are we giving OPPINIONS or hard facts?:peace2:

[CALL911]

Honestly I think most of the Manufacturers that have been posted up all make good ATV's. I don't think a single one of them makes a bad one. I believe it really comes down to what you want specifically be it speed, utility, or looks.

I'm pretty stuck on Yamaha on this one.

I'm probably going to get a Grizzly for the utility one.

http://i48.tinypic.com/50mr2o.jpg

And then a Raptor of some sort for the fast one.

http://i45.tinypic.com/2yzh3dz.jpg

[CALL911]

I do have another question though, regaurding a raptor. What kind of fuel economy will be the difference between a 400cc ATV and a Raptor 700? Will they both ride a ton on very little gas? Or will the 700 really drink it down when you are opening it up often?

[Tarheel'Z']

i dont know the numbers on the gas consumption but i definatly wouldnt think it would be enough to base your decision on it,,those raptor's are sweet as hell

[CALL911]

I like them! My buddy had some tricked out 700 and it was WAY more powerfull than you could ever actaully use, except maybe on the street.

I've ridden mutliple 400cc 4 wheelers as well, and they seem to have enough power. Its just if I want the extra power the 600+cc ATV will offer or not. Gas isn't really that big of a deal, but if the 700 is going to need to get filled 2-3 times a day, then I might just stick with a 400cc ATV.

[gregrob]

The 700 will ride all day on a fill especially on trails.

We ride in the sand and they're still very good on fuel in stock trim. Modded to hell they drink more, but nothing like my methanol banshee :-)

[Tarheel'Z']

did someone say methanol banshee?:drool::drool::drool::drool:

[CALL911]

Sweet! I'll probably opt for the larger cc ATV then for the fast one. My buddy has a Banshee and it is wicked, but he has to tweak it often (well more than I'd want to). I'll probably end up getting a Raptor.

[gregrob]

Ya ill post some pics later. Both of mine are pretty badass. Still one of the funnest things I've ever ridden including fast cars, trucks, crotch rockets, etc. Its a rush every time you lay into it.

They do require more tweaking and maintenance when you go beyond a certain power level, ill agree with you there. But I enjoy it, wrenching on them is "almost" as fun as riding.

[BLK95-Z]

Growing up in the sticks of Kentucky theres a few things we take real serious...and ATVs is one of them. Trust me, if your looking for a utility atv get a HONDA. In stock trim, a properly maintained Honda atv is damn near indestructable. Stay FAR away from Arctic cat or Polaris.....

[gregrob]

I grew up in the sticks of KY too! I know how much us hillbillies love our Honda's.

Thing is when I came of age to be able to buy my own quad I did lots of objective research plus spent seat time on all of the mfgs units and I found out how slow, poorly handling and how suck the brakes were on the Honda's.

That's why I chose the 700 king quad. The rincon was Honda's only competitor in that class and that thing is just a giant fail of a quad. No power, no low range, shitty tranny, and can't even pull a trailer without overheating.

Ill agree with you that Honda's are TOUGH. But so is an army tank, they're just not very fun to ride though I would imagine though...

I also agree with you about poolaris and Arctic cat. Seems lots of firsthand bad experiences with them. Polaris reliability has come a long way but they are still way too heavy.

Another quad I wouldn't pay a dime to own is a KAWASUCKI, but we wont get started on that.

.02

[BLK95-Z]

Heck yea we used to put more miles on our atvs than cars here lol I totally agree about the brakes needing attention every so often, thats why I said properly maintained. The engines are bulletproof. Also I should clarify Im no ATV mechanic and have nothing against Polaris and Arctic cat, I just know what were always pulling out of the woods broken. Theyre all pretty good nowadays and if all your going to do is cruise around your farm or go hunting a couple times a year any of the brands should be ok. But if your handlebar deep in water and mudholes bouncing off the rev limiter all day every day, constantly putting your maching through absolute hell your will be very pleased with a Honda.

[CALL911]

I'm sure the Honda engines are champs, but it's a bit more for me than just an engine. Yeah, I'm probably going to use it more than just a few times a year. Most likely it'll be romped on 3/4 of the year, and because I am going to use it so much, I've got to have more than just a good engine. Its gotta handle well, and look attractive, not to mention little maintenance (as in I don't want to be messing with the brakes every so often either).

Yamaha is the way I plan on going.

[gregrob]

Slightly off topic but here's the banshee pics:

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs063.snc3/13069_182018367337_572657337_3008353_7656106_n.jpg


http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v653/16/65/572657337/n572657337_2247098_2666146.jpg