What are you riding??

[Sprocket]

Honda 420 Rancher 4x4, Best all around quad ever! Fuel injection (no choke and runs great as soon as you start it), Inexpensive, Very reliable. I prefer the Manual shift models over the Electric Shift.

 

[foreman Etexas]

 

[WilliamBos]

Im sure if your doing that kinda mudding and in that deep of water your asking for problems with any ATV/UTV on the market. I can go to the local shop and I bet you will find one of each brand in there.

I agree . Mudding is expensive. You see how much the OEM mud machines are?? Big dinero...

Keep them coming.

 

[twoone]

Honda 420 Rancher 4x4, Best all around quad ever! Fuel injection (no choke and runs great as soon as you start it), Inexpensive, Very reliable. I prefer the Manual shift models over the Electric Shift.

I like my Rancher ES as well I haven't had a problem with the carb. system as yet but knowing what FI is I wish I had it.I use it here on the ranch to get around, Love the ES no missed shifts there. Am getting a front basket now so I can carry some surplus and the only other things I added was a tire kit and a 2500 winch.

 

[CowwFace]

I have a 2004.5 Polaris 500 <no EFI> and it's been a great machine.

I rode with a guy who had the Can-Am 600'ish double up machine and the Can Am was much faster than my Polaris .. BUT when we got to some deep snow and downed trees, my Polaris 4 wheel drive system was superior.

Thusly My advice:

If you want to go Fast = Can Am

If you want best 4x4 system = Polaris

Tractor on.

 

[whiskywizard]

I've got 2 CanAm Outlander Max XT's. One is the 500, the other a 650. 2010 model year. I'm really happy with them. They are quiet and capable machines.

The Max version means they are proper 2-up quads. You can run pretty technical trails with a rider on back and they praise the ride, comfort and security they felt. But they have a longer wheelbase, so the turning radius goes up. There are times when the guys on short wheelbase quads can pull a u-turn and I have to do a 3-point turn.

Both have more power than their same-displacement competition. It takes a strong 750 to beat the 650 for climbing power and top speed.

The 650 uses about 20% more fuel than the 500 but both are pretty miserly. A half-day of trail riding uses less than 3 gallons in each. The 500 uses about the same amount of fuel as 24HP zero turn mower, per hour.

the 500 gets the most hours put on it - my wife uses it to pull a small garden trailer around with her tools, plants, garbage etc in it. She loves it - if it died on a Monday, I'd have to find a replacement before Thursday!

 

[WilliamBos]

I have a 2004.5 Polaris 500 <no EFI> and it's been a great machine.

I rode with a guy who had the Can-Am 600'ish double up machine and the Can Am was much faster than my Polaris .. BUT when we got to some deep snow and downed trees, my Polaris 4 wheel drive system was superior.

Thusly My advice:

If you want to go Fast = Can Am

If you want best 4x4 system = Polaris

Tractor on.

Thanks. That looks like the way I will go, a2012 sportsman 400HO. (same chassis as 500.) and can't beat the price!!

 

[grouseridge]

Drove atv's while hunting and then just bought a Polaris 500 crew and this thing is a blast to drive. 48mph and 100% 4wd

 

[cdaigle430]

Looking to buy an ATV (eventually) and wondered what every one is riding??

I love the all new design of the Outlander (800R/1000) but do not need anything that big. Going to wait till early summer next year, as the rest of the Outty line up should get the new design.

Choices are ... Grizzly(Kodiak) 450 EPS, Outty 400 or 500 base model, or Sportsman 400. May even look for a used Outty 500, My requirements for used are Rear IRS, CVT/PVT, and liquid cooled.

All opinions welcome, regardless of brand.

If you want, post mileage and things you like, dislike, and custom add Ons.

I have a 2000 Honda Foreman ES 450 and a 2004 Honda Rincon 650-both are tanks, I use the Rincon to plow and haul around the house plus trail riding. The Honda RIncon is liquid cooled and the newer models are EFI. Whats cool about these things is-no belt maintenance.

The transmission uses an automatic three speed torque converter I've has mine for 8 years and have done nothing to it in repairs besides a new battery-NOTHING! Even with the ethanol crap-she starts up first crank every single time-doesn't burn a single drop of oil. Been flipped over three times and drowned once. I use it in the winter even if its 30 below.

What do I do for maintenance? Once a year I change the oil and ol filter, check the spark arrester screen, and axle fluids, before every ride I check the tire pressure and check the oil, after a dusty ride I check the air filter-thats it.

No grease fittings, no belts to mess with and no hidden maintenance on these things. I have the origional spark plug as well.....

I'm due for a new set of tires-just about worn the nubs off the origional

 

[prehm]

I have a 2001 Honda Rancher ES 2wd. Have had many issues with this machine. Brakes have been a problem, tie rods fell off early in its' career, 1/2 crankcase required replacement, on and on. I'd never recommend electric shift.

Two months ago purchased a 2011 Kubota RTV 900 XT. So far I really like it. Temperature guage indicated high temperature from the beginning without the engine being hot. Kubota supplied a replacement that worked fine until tonight when trail riding it indicated in the red. The RTV has some design issues. The air cleaner is located in the worst place of all directly in front of the rear right wheel. Will have to convert to hi-rise intake to prevent sucking up excessive amounts of dust. The ignition switch is located directly below the steering wheel column. When exiting the seat, my knee hits the key switching it to accessory position, resulting in the hour meter to tick off like a clock, all without the engine running.

I'm impressed with its pulling ability. I pulled about 4 or 5 six inch diameter trees in one pass. My Honda would have given up to this feat prior to hooking up.

By the way, these vehicles are used for 99% farm work.

 

[the fat kid]

I own a 2010 grizzly 450 and love it. I chose it after I owned the Kodiak 450 and sold it a couple years back. I missed it so much I bought my new grizzly.
I've been on rides with all the big guys and kept up just fine also have winch and 27" mudlite tires. I do like the can ams they are pretty badaz but they also carry a hefty price tag. Looked at the sportsman but did not like the plastic rack system. Glad I didn't cuz a friend of ours bought two of them and some of the rack storage options and we found out last week they don't hold well without bungee cords.
The differential locking option on the grizzly is unsurpassed!! I joy ride with mine, go hunting, plow my driveway ( and we get massive snow drifts due to the fact of living on top of a mountain), move my two place trailer with sleds on it ect.... Never had a problem. My wife and daughter love it as well! Good luck and have fun

 

[WilliamBos]

Thanks for all the replies. A sportsman 550 base is also a consideration.

 

[whistlepig]

A Polaris Sportsman can be bashed any way you want except for the way they ride.

 

[WilliamBos]

A Polaris Sportsman can be bashed any way you want except for the way they ride.

Yeah, seems to be the case. They do get bashed quite a bit.

 

[the fat kid]

May be getting another grizzly tonight or early in the morning. Guy says it's a 660 2005 in mint shape so hoping to trade my boat fir the wheeler and a bit of cash! Love to have another grizzly to my collection!!

 

[djw250]

I have an '03 Honda Rubicon that is a lot of fun and very useful for hauling, spraying, and towing stuff around my place. So far no problems at all with it, just regular maintenance.

 

[rcrcomputing]

So I see here posts for side-by-sides.
My question is, are they fun to?

I'm looking at atv's and will use it for work and fun...

 

[nybirdman]

I have a Yamaha Rhino 450 ,2006 purchased new.It now has about 3,000 miles.I use for my business/hunting/joy riding. fun and fast enough(32mph) for me.I change the oil/filters in the spring,absolutely no problems,just replace the original tires.I don't think Yamaha offers the 450 motor in the Rhinos any more,the 660/700 are a little harder on gas but fuel injected.

 

[joemd11]

I have a 2000 kodiak and couldn't be happier with it. Use it for various chores around the property and for snow plowing. Simple enough for the wife to use when I'm not there. It still runs strong so I can't justify buying a new one.

 

[foreman Etexas]

So I see here posts for side-by-sides.
My question is, are they fun to?

I'm looking at atv's and will use it for work and fun...

I would say they are both fun,you can get just way more use from a side-x-side. I own both but would say i use my prowler more....