Advice on buying an ATV

[PapaPerk]

Thought about buying an utv but I don't own a pickup or a trailer to transport it so decided to go with the atv. I can rent a pickup from uhaul to take it in for servicing whenever that is required. Definitely going to purchase the Honda.

The UTV with unlocking rear diff is awesome! Very handy!!!!! I have a Polaris 400 Ranger.

 

[PapaPerk]

I've always been partial to Honda, I've had a few. I had a 2002 Foreman ES, nice machine. Have you thought about a Rubicon? It's a little more expensive, but has a tranny with low range, for down hill descents I remember wishing I had the Rubicon at times. I also had an 07 Rincon which was nice as well, I just always wished I had given the Rubicon a try. We currently have a Rancher 350 4x4 manual shift which doesn't get used much. One thing I'll say is go with the electronic shift over the manual, you'll be glad you did.

I love my 2003 Honda Foreman ES 4x4! Other rig is 2012 Polaris Ranger. It's really nice.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

I love my 2003 Honda Foreman ES 4x4! Other rig is 2012 Polaris Ranger. It's really nice.

View attachment 367173

Still wish I never sold my 02 :thumbsup:

 

[Will_C]

I bought a RTV last spring-I planned on selling my 04 Foreman 450S, but just can't bring myself to do that. It has been downright reliable for over 10 years-even now, I only use once every 4-6 weeks, but it starts and runs everytime.

Will

 

[Happy Gilmore]

I bought a RTV last spring-I planned on selling my 04 Foreman 450S, but just can't bring myself to do that. It has been downright reliable for over 10 years-even now, I only use once every 4-6 weeks, but it starts and runs everytime.

Will

I vote keep it, you'll be glad you did

 

[troutsqueezer]

I've had three Honda ATVs and one Yamaha. The Yamaha has been the better machine for me. Doesn't mean Yamaha actually IS the better machine, just means you shouldn't take any advice that says Honda is the best choice. Brand preference usually has little to do with reality.

 

[PapaPerk]

I've had three Honda ATVs and one Yamaha. The Yamaha has been the better machine for me. Doesn't mean Yamaha actually IS the better machine, just means you shouldn't take any advice that says Honda is the best choice. Brand preference usually has little to do with reality.

In what ways is the Yamaha better? Not trying to argue... I'm just curious about your experience with the Yamaha. I've always wanted a Big Bear with IRS.

 

[troutsqueezer]

In what ways is the Yamaha better? Not trying to argue... I'm just curious about your experience with the Yamaha. I've always wanted a Big Bear with IRS.

I bought it new in 2003 and use it almost every day. I use it to haul big trailers, sprayers and used to use it with a three point box blade attachment to maintain my long gravel road until I got my tractor. To this day, when I start it, it almost starts before I press the starter button, meaning to say that it starts instantly. Nothing on it has ever broken or come loose. I take care of it, change the oil annually and clean the air filter, etc. It lives in my wood shed and the plastic and seat still look like new, ok the plastic has a number of scratches but is not fading. It is a well-built and well-designed machine. There are no weak points that I can see. Power is way more than I need. This is a Kodiak 400, or is it a 425? Heck, it might even be a 450, I've had it so long, I don't even remember.

All of my Hondas developed problems of one kind or another. I don't want to bash Hondas because I think they are good machines, it's just that my experience hasn't endeared me to them. The last one I had must have been built on a Monday because parts kept falling off of it. Big parts, like the engine mounts, the entire rear axle assembly, the muffler, the front rack. It also had some serious rattles going on somewhere that I never could track down. The two models I had previously go back a few years of course and those were the product of Honda finding it's way perhaps and so the problems went with the territory. That said, you may have an entirely different experience with Honda as it seems many others here do. My point was that Honda is easily matched in quality, if not surpassed, by other manufacturers.

 

[PapaPerk]

I bought it new in 2003 and use it almost every day. I use it to haul big trailers, sprayers and used to use it with a three point box blade attachment to maintain my long gravel road until I got my tractor. To this day, when I start it, it almost starts before I press the starter button, meaning to say that it starts instantly. Nothing on it has ever broken or come loose. I take care of it, change the oil annually and clean the air filter, etc. It lives in my wood shed and the plastic and seat still look like new, ok the plastic has a number of scratches but is not fading. It is a well-built and well-designed machine. There are no weak points that I can see. Power is way more than I need. This is a Kodiak 400, or is it a 425? Heck, it might even be a 450, I've had it so long, I don't even remember.

All of my Hondas developed problems of one kind or another. I don't want to bash Hondas because I think they are good machines, it's just that my experience hasn't endeared me to them. The last one I had must have been built on a Monday because parts kept falling off of it. Big parts, like the engine mounts, the entire rear axle assembly, the muffler, the front rack. It also had some serious rattles going on somewhere that I never could track down. The two models I had previously go back a few years of course and those were the product of Honda finding it's way perhaps and so the problems went with the territory. That said, you may have an entirely different experience with Honda as it seems many others here do. My point was that Honda is easily matched in quality, if not surpassed, by other manufacturers.

Good info! What Hondas did you own?

 

[troutsqueezer]

1996 Fourtrax 300, 1990 TRX300, 1985 TRX125. The 1996 is the one that fell apart on multiple occasions. The others weren't as bad which is why I continued to buy Honda for awhile. Now I like Yamaha.