450/500cc vs big bore atv

[emmagator]

I’m looking to get an atv for hunting out west. Traveling roads/trails, hauling gear, meat, etc.. As well as using around the house. I’m struggling on deciding what size atv. I know many will say go big, but I’d like to hear from guys who’ve had both. Currently looking at the can am outlander 500 or 700. I believe they use same chassis and same basic motor.

 

[TheTone]

I’ll probably be in the minority but I think 500’s are plenty big for almost everything except maybe running tracks. I remember when 300’s were big and I’ve taken 2wd 200’s all over the place

 

[112Savage]

In tight steel terrain I feel better on a 350-500 than I do the 700-1000. Favorite 4 wheeler currently is an old Honda rancher 350ES.

Have had
1985 Honda 4-trax 250
1993? Yamaha Timberwolf 250
Polaris ranger 500, 750, 1000 all were awful
Suzuki Bruteforce 750??? Super strong and nice but crapped out due to an engine malfunction

All of these have been primarily farm/ranch 4-wheelers with alternate use as hunting vehicles. The Hondas have just lasted longer with less crap and maintenance needed.

 

[rookieforever33]

The smaller quads feel better to me in the woods. But get overloaded much easier than the big ones. They suffer when you have room to build some speed also, bigger engines=faster top end usually. I have never felt my 420cc quad was not enough for my needs.

 

[JEck]

I’ve got a can am outlander 500 and 700, both great machines, I beat them up daily and have had zero issues. Only difference between the two is top end speed, which is around 65 on the 500, haven’t tried the 700 yet.

 

[Matthew87]

Unless you’re pulling a trailer maybe, I see no reason to go to 700. Iv packed moose and elk over long distances with a Honda 500. The poor thing has also hauled 3 full grown men and all there gear more times than id like to admit here in BC. Never a problem at all.

 

[Olympics777]

I used a 90s Kawasaki bayou 220 and an early 2000s rancher 350 for years and they were fine. In 2020 I got a new Yamaha Kodiak 700 and dang, it’s nice. It gets anywhere I could need to go here in north Idaho. I’ve had myself, my dad and an elk on that thing at one time strapped on tight and got out on a tiny steep trail that a lesser atv would’ve had a hard time with. I always thought the smaller ones were so much nicer because of mobility, but really the bigger ones get around just as well. The only downside side is that it’s hard to shut the tailgate on my F150 with it in the bed, but it does shut.

 

[JackButler]

I’ve owned a bunch from a 110 3 wheeler to a 700. Somewhat depends on your needs but when I lived in Montana I had a Honda Rancher 350 and thought it was the best balance of easy handling and power. Small enough that if I did get it stuck I could manhandle it out by myself, but enough power to climb steeper hills than I had the balls to try. Also hauled an elk a few miles in a small trailer with me driving and a 200 lb friend on back. Top speed was probably 55 at best but honestly that’s plenty fast for a ranch/hunting atv.

 

[mtnbound]

I’m looking to get an atv for hunting out west. Traveling roads/trails, hauling gear, meat, etc.. As well as using around the house. I’m struggling on deciding what size atv. I know many will say go big, but I’d like to hear from guys who’ve had both. Currently looking at the can am outlander 500 or 700. I believe they use same chassis and same basic motor.

If you ever plan to use tracks for snow I would recommend 800cc machines, if not then I would say the 500-600cc class is more than enough.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I had a Bayou 300 or 350 (not 4 wheel drive) and it was positively lame in the mountains here, especially when a bit wet. I now have a Kodiak 700, 4WD and it is a beast, on the steepest, nastiest crap possible.

 

[iznbrth]

500cc Forman has done everything I needed it to. I think the more than that and you’re just paying to more weight and power/fun

 

[Rich M]

I have a 2005 Honda 250 and it is decent for what i do. If I was buying another would get a sxs 400 or 500.

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

If you are climbing any steep stuff or going long distances bigger is better

 

[wytx]

Been using 500cc for years, works just fine and we pull a cart with ours. Had it haul out 2 elk and 2 people on 1 machine with no issues.
Power steering is a game changer, get one with it if you can.

 

[TxLite]

Loved my foreman 500. Light enough to navigate through bad terrain but plenty of power for getting around. It never felt like it was missing anything

 

[LaHunter]

If you are planning on using at higher elevations, a carb engine machine will struggled badly. Been there done that with a Honda 500 foreman. Great atv other than high elevation issues. Fuel injection Polaris & Can Am machines perform great. I’ve never wished I had a machine with a smaller engine / less power especially on some of the FS ‘roads’

 

[Grumman]

My son has a new Polaris 570 Sportsman that feels a lot quicker than the older Polaris 800 atv. It has more than enough power.


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[String Bean]

2013 750 Brute Force use to move snow, pull trailers, haul equipment on the acreage and farm. 6 trips to CO hunting deer and elk, hauled a few out. Has worked very well.

CO buddies all run 500 class machines, mostly Hondas. They are quite happy with theirs

I’d look at tow ratings, load ratings and consider power steering. Wife’s 450 mule can tow as much as my 750 ATV

 

[Meanderthal]

I have 2 Yamahas, a 450 and a 700. They go hunting, trail riding and do yard work including pulling a little utility trailer. I never feel like the 700 has any major advantage over the 450. They both do all the things just fine. For intended purposes the mid sized machines work great.

Personally I wouldn't buy a CanAm though. They have nice features and perform well while new. For long term ownership I'd rather have a Yamaha, Suzuki or Honda.

 

[Blockcaver]

Depends on the brand. The Honda Rancher fuel injected 420 (and the Rancher 350 w/carburetor) ) all had adequate power in CO for what i needed, including high elevation use. Both had 5 speeds with electric shift and were lightest in class machines....but rode rough with a solid rear axle!

That said, I had an Arctic Cat 400 for a short period that was built on a big frame, was heavy as heck and wouldn't pull the steep mountain mining/jeep grades above Leadville, CO. It was jetted for 10,000' but would just run out of power in low range. A buddy ran it for years at lower elevation where it did better. It did ride well with IRS.

These days in BC I really like my 13 year old Yamaha 550 Grizzly. It is relatively light and compact, great with an excellent suspension and seat, fuel injection, independent rear suspension and power steering. I never ran out of power with it pulling loaded trailers through swamps in Northern BC, plowing snow, etc. It is more comparable to the Kodiak 700 today in terms of frame size, smaller than the Grizzly.