Need ATV Advice

[MikeDeltaFoxtrot]

I am thinking of buying an ATV. I mean the regular old 4 wheeler type. It is primarily for use deer hunting and for utility use at my hunting camp. There is also a lot of nearby national forest we can hunt on, and I will likely use it there too. I might want to pull a brush mower behind it at some point.

Side by sides are just too expensive given how much I am likely to use it. I have ridden ATV's a few times when elk hunting out west, but I have never owned one. I am thinking of getting a Honda, on the assumption it will be low maintenance and dead nuts reliable like other Honda products. I am a fairly big guy, 6'4" and 250 or so, and I want to make sure I get enough power to haul myself and my 13 yo son around. If it works out, I can add another one in a couple of years when my son is old enough to drive one.

What do I need to know? Here is the one I am thinking about:

Honda

 

[wapitibob]

I bought a Polaris 500 back in 2004, have about 300 hours on it and love it. I'm 6'2 and used to weigh 230.

It hauled me, my Bull, and my partner 11 miles back to camp, after 16 days of 20+ mile round trips to get to our hunting spots.

 

[Nine Banger]

What do I need to know? Here is the one I am thinking about:

Honda

That's "the one", you chose wisely.

We've had one for years. It might be a 2016.

We change the oil every once in a while. Had to put new tires and a battery on it this year.

It just works.

Our 2 Yamahas that cost more don't start without flooding and tweaking half the time.

 

[Lowedown]

They are very handy machines and more versatile than a SxS. You can never go wrong with Honda, but don't be afraid to look at the other major brands like Suzuki and Yamaha. If you can get ahold of a model that has Power Steering you will appreciate it! If your boy is growing into a frame like yours you won't want to ride double on one quad very long. I have personally only owned mid-sized older used machines, but been around and ridden newer ones plenty.
For motor size, a 400-500 is a great personal machine, the 700s and bigger tend to come in handy more for running tracks, hauling 2 people often, or trying to commercially push snow, to name a few things
If you decide you want more storage I definitely recommend hard-shell over soft bags!
Have fun shopping and be safe!

 

[JMundy84]

That's a great choice it would personally go with the foreman over the rancher especially at your size and planning on hauling 2 people but that one would get it done. You could always buy the rancher now and hand it down to your son if you decided to go with a foreman later.

 

[Dennis]

Bought two Honda 300’s back in 97 and 98. They always start providing the battery is charged even after months and months of sitting. They have been powerful enough for riding double or hauling meat out of the high country in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. They are smaller but go anywhere any of my friends have gone with their bigger machines. Neighbor has several different brands and sizes but his Honda has been his most reliable. Have fun

 

[MikeDeltaFoxtrot]

Here is a further question: When buying from a dealer, are the prices negotiable like a car, or is a fixed price type of deal?

 

[Lvthntitall]

The price doesn’t move much, you can probably get them to throw in a wench or some accessories at best. I have the rubicon and it has survived two teenage boys and all their friends.

 

[Mullthing]

Hionda's are very reliable. Often called proof in my area.

 

[rookieforever33]

Im 6 1-260 and have no trouble 2 up on my 400 rancher. Tow a trail mower like a champ. Goes 55 mph if I need it to. I put a box on the front for carrying things, and have stacked 600lbs of fertilizer bags on it without issues. I went with the rancher as I could get auto trans and power steering fir less than a standard foreman. Never felt like I've made a bad choice. Power steering is something I didnt know I needed, I do.

 

[Beendare]

The Honda rancher/forman are bulletproof....but they will beat you on hunting roads. They do not ride near as nice as a Polaris 570 or larger with independent suspension. I have an older Honda Rancher...and bought a new Polaris 570- much nicer.

The comparable Honda to a Polaris 570 is about $4k more.

The key to these; Use the Rec 90 fuel in them if you can- it just doesn't go bad...or at least high octane and don't let them sit for long periods without running them a little.

 

[WRO]

Bought two Honda 300’s back in 97 and 98. They always start providing the battery is charged even after months and months of sitting. They have been powerful enough for riding double or hauling meat out of the high country in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. They are smaller but go anywhere any of my friends have gone with their bigger machines. Neighbor has several different brands and sizes but his Honda has been his most reliable. Have fun

The low center of gravity makes those old bikes way better at sidehilling.


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[Snowwolfe]

Pretty much owned every brand since the middle 80's and rode them all hard. Never had any issues with any brands. About 2 years ago purchased a Honda Rubicon and then rode a friends Yamaha Grizzly.
Sold the Honda and bought the Grizzly and couldn't be happier. The DCT trans in the Honda was jerky and the Yamaha is just a smoother machine. Plus the Yamaha dealer had a end of year sale and so I bought the fancy version with the mud tires and winch for way less than the cost of the Rubicon.

 

[Nwihunter]

I would start shopping the dealerships within whatever radius you are willing to travel by their websites. I’ve gotten a couple of really good deals buying the previous years model as the new ones hit the showroom floor. Also the larger dealerships are sometimes more likely to deal.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

You'll want a sxs....take my word for it. Been there...

I bought a used one from a dealer that had been traded in 10 years ago. I have a Yamaha Rhino that is bullet proof.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

I’ve got a 20 year old Rancher AT 400 that keeps on ticking like a timex. Typical repairs and maintenance, but starts every single time I turn the key. Can’t beat the older Hondas.

 

[nobody]

We are huge fans of Hondas in our family. Between all of us, we own/have owned 12 of them over the years. They have never had anything major mechanically done to them outside of batteries in them anll and a carburetor replacement on my 1985 TRX 250 4trax. They just flat run. On top of my 1985, my dad has a 2000 foreman 450 and a 2001 rancher 350 with well over 2500 miles on each of them and has never done anything but the maintenance on them.

I will say this though, I have an uncle and a grandpa that swear by the big Polaris machines. The ride quality on the Polaris machines is significantly better than that of the Hondas. However, mechanically, there is no contest. My 40-year-old Honda runs like a freaking top And will fire up even after sitting for months without being started. I doubt any Polaris would ever last half that well without serious mechanical attention to it.

 

[JMundy84]

We are huge fans of Hondas in our family. Between all of us, we own/have owned 12 of them over the years. They have never had anything major mechanically done to them outside of batteries in them anll and a carburetor replacement on my 1985 TRX 250 4trax. They just flat run. On top of my 1985, my dad has a 2000 foreman 450 and a 2001 rancher 350 with well over 2500 miles on each of them and has never done anything but the maintenance on them.

I will say this though, I have an uncle and a grandpa that swear by the big Polaris machines. The ride quality on the Polaris machines is significantly better than that of the Hondas. However, mechanically, there is no contest. My 40-year-old Honda runs like a freaking top And will fire up even after sitting for months without being started. I doubt any Polaris would ever last half that well without serious mechanical attention to it.

I personally know of 2 99/2000 foreman 450s with over 10k on them