Need ATV Advice

[Antares]

I just retired my 1999 250 Recon and bought a… ::drumroll:: … 2024 250 Recon.

 

[Slickhill]

I’ve hauled more than one entire quartered bull elk on a Honda Recon. Hauled a whole mature buck muley on the back too, right by the sticker that states “ rack rated for a max 66lb” . They’re nice when you get stuck because they’re so light a guy can often muscle them out of a jam by himself.

Of course I’ve hauled a whole cow elk out guts and all on the back rack of a 420 Rancher.

Pretty much all of the newer machines ride so much better than the 80s 3 wheelers I grew up with that I worry almost none about ride quality. First and foremost I want it to start and go every time I jump on. That means I look no further than manual shift shaft driven Honda.

 

[Dave Thomas]

Honda atv's have always been dead nuts reliable. They might not be as fancy or ride as nice as some others but they are like a Tikka rifle. They just work.

 

[Axlrod]

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.

If you are happily married and want to stay that way, do not let them throw in a wench. But a winch for sure!

 

[Boarmaster]

I have a 2001 450 foreman I will never sell. I been thru other bigger ATVs and now a SXS but my foreman is still in the warehouse. I keep it running and serviced up athough I rarely use it. I wouldn't hesitate to haul it anywhere and go for a ride. I’m a big boy 325 6’1. Seems small compared to my old polaris 800 but it has the gearing and power to get me about anywhere I would want to go.

 

[BluMtn]

Own/owned Yamaha Grizzlies. My son is still using his 02 660 on his cattle ranch and I have no idea how many miles it has because the display has sun checked and glazed over. But it will start everytime regardless of the weather or how long it has been sitting. In 23 years it has had 2 batteries put in it, I have replaced the rear axles (not because of abuse, they wore out), reupholstered the seat once, and changed a couple headlight bulbs. I know the Hondas have a strong following, but I will take a grizz every day over a Honda.

 

[Rich M]

I have a Honda 250 - I weigh 275# and often my wife will ride with me.

Get a SxS - better. $10k.

 

[Venom One]

I was in the same boat as you several years ago. I focused on Japanese quads because of their reputation for reliability, but a trip to the dealership changed everything. The Polaris - which I'd avoided for biased reasons - was clearly a much better option. It wasn't even close - no sales pitch was needed. The quad sold itself just sitting there. I bought a Polaris 570 Trail Edition and never looked back.

Stop by your dealership and compare all the quads in person. You'll be surprised at how good the Polaris is. And this is coming from a guy who's owned (and loved) 11 Honda and Suzuki motorcycles and quads.

 

[Blockcaver]

Had 3 different solid axle Hondas. A 2002 Rubicon 500 auto, a 2002 Rancher 350 electric shift and a 2008 Rancher 420 electric shift with fuel injection.

Never had trouble with any of them. Solid like the axle, rough ride, hard seats etc.

Road a 2017 Rubicon with a manual foot shift and independent rear suspension plus power steering up in Nunavut on a caribou hunt. What an impressive machine! Rode well and and the seat was even soft! Would be the Honda I’d buy if shopping them.

That said, I dumped my Hondas for a 2013 Yamaha Grizzly 550 that has a soft seats etc, independent rear suspension, fuel injection, power steering and still is small and nimble with a lot of ground clearance. No trouble with it either. Great bike.

Yamaha has a superior belt drive with an auto clutch vs other straight belt drive machines. Belts last “about forever” in them. Google it.

My Yamaha uses use about 1/3 more gas than my Hondas and isn’t as nice for low speed idling around as a gear drive Honda is about the only negative I can think of.

 

[Pacific_Fork]

I bought a grizzly 450 over Honda in 2014 because it had higher ground clearance and a better ride. I think I have around 5k miles and never had an issue.

 

[fmyth]

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.View attachment 934768

I have a similar Rhino 660 that I bought 12 years ago for $3,200. It's been on dozens of hunts out west and on many trail rides in AZ. I've replaced 2 fuel pumps($15 on Amazon), one axle ($60) and the tires ($400). I do keep a spare fuel pump in the glove box. I'm going to sell mine soon and will likely get what I paid for it.

 

[Backyard]

Bought a Polaris 700 Sportsman in 2004. Got near 1k hours on it. Mostly plowing my driveway. Never have had to do anything except change the oil. Smooth machine. Always starts snd runs great.


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[MikeDeltaFoxtrot]

I have a Honda 250 - I weigh 275# and often my wife will ride with me.

Get a SxS - better. $10k.

What SxS would you buy for $10k? They seem to cost multiples of that.

 

[Weldor]

Look at some can am's, I've owned Polaris quads and sxs's both were fine. Running a Can am defender pro xt now and a Polaris sportsman 500 x2. Don't know about Virginia but in AZ. you can't ride double unless the quad is made for 2 people.

 

[NeHunter13]

What SxS would you buy for $10k? They seem to cost multiples of that.

I was coming to say the same thing. Look for a Honda Pioneer 500 or 520 (has a dump box). has the same powertrain that the Honda 4 wheelers do but a much more comfortable riding experience, especially for two people. New they are probably in that $11k range, but a used one should be under 10. Compare that to a Honda Rubicon, and you're not paying that much more for a better fit for your use. They are also only 50" wide so they can be on the same trails as a 4-wheeler and can fit in the back of a truck.

https://powersports.honda.com/sxs/recutility/pioneer-520

 

[KenLee]

Honda atv's have always been dead nuts reliable. They might not be as fancy or ride as nice as some others but they are like a Tikka rifle. They just work.

Nooooo don't cuss a 4trx like that

 

[Speaks]

I use my quads more than my sxs. Honda's are reliable, I prefer Yamaha as they are equally reliable and more comfortable to ride and handle better on trail. Both were good machines for me though.

I have had artic cat in the past and still have 2 Polaris. I would generally not buy either of them again, they are nice machines and you get good options for the $$ but are not as reliable though more in terms of fit and finish stuff falling apart than engines. I tend to find canam over priced and weirdly designed.

Honda and Yamaha are both good choices.

 

[Chris in TN]

lol...

I just saw OP's thread on a different forum and decided to come back here and post instead as the s/n ratio is lower here.

I grew up with smaller ATVs and bought a 225(?) Yamaha Bear Tracker machine, used, when we bought our farm.

That was maybe 12 years ago now and it was well-used then and despite the limits of such a small 2wd machine it has served well, with virtually no maintenance other than oil changes and batteries. It's slap worn out, but still runs and drives and serves its functions, mainly spraying herbicides and insecticides as needed around the farm, and I use it to check trail cameras at times. With all the kids we use the SxS a lot more now as it holds all of us plus the dog.

I'm not saying to get an old 225cc machine, if you want to ride your son too, but even something like a 300cc would likely be big enough. I like Yamaha machines and this isn't my first Yamaha smaller engine, but I'd also look at older Hondas. Decades ago Honda pretty much perfected the 300cc 4x4 ATV and I still think a machine like that is more practical than a whole lot of what people buy now.

Also - consider whether the 50" limits will matter to you in the future. If you can say for certain that they will not, maybe just get a SxS. We have an older Polaris Ranger now, it's 4wd but even when it snows here it's hard to make it spin in 2wd. In 4wd it'll just about climb trees.

 

[Rich M]

What SxS would you buy for $10k? They seem to cost multiples of that.

Kawasaki Mule is close to $10k. Good rig.

 

[Dakota Dude]

Don't buy a Polaris. Another vote for a yamaha grizzly. I bought me Grizzly 660 new in 2006. It is unstoppable.