ATV'S ??????????????

[SB]

The MDWFP had the Artic Cat 400s on contract 2 years ago. The one I've got has been good to me, but I wouldn't say it has been used extensively. The other ones bought by biologists and area managers have not passed their tests. They have run hot in the summer time and motors burned up because of faulty instrument gauges. I don't expect to see them again on the MDWFP's purchasing contract any time soon.

[ March 18, 2002: Message edited by: SB ]

[swampland]

Started with--185 Suski(MS)185 3 wheels
tough bike
Honda 250 4 wheels/2wheel drive
Never had trouble
Honda 350TRX (before Foremans)4wheels&drive
never got stuck except 1 time & that was STUPIDITY!!!
Polaris 425 Sportsman 4 wheels/with on&off 4wheel drive-- nice feature SHAFT DRIVE?MAN TRANS.
PERFECT BIKE--But had to sell
Honda 200S 3wheels
CAN'T BEAT THEM HONDAS FOR DURABILTY!!!

A NEW POLARIS IS THE WAY I WOULD GO.

[catfishbill]

i had a 1986 honda four-trax 250 i got brand new.rode it rough as heck till last fall,after flipping and end over end and some broke bones i finally had to let her go,but only to a friend with the stipulation that i get first shot when he gets ready to sell it.i bought a new rancher 4x4 manual shift so far it has held up fine that thing will drag almost anything short of pulling stumps.granted i'm not as brave(stupid)as i was a few years ago,but honds are tough machines,so its honda for me.

[bear]

In regard to riding all of them. You can do so, but it will not tell you about their dependability. If it rides great to the middle of a flooded rice field, but will not start or floods out and you have to walk out, your opinion about the ride will certainly change. I have never had that happen on a honda. 4 wheel drive is a must have. You might as well walk if you consider a 2 wheel drive in mud.

My $.02 worth, but review the comments about dependability above and you will make the correct decision! [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[Junior P]

First was a yamaha 125 three wheeler and put it through hell as a kid. Next was a 225 yamaha four wheeler, put it through hell as a kid, teenager, and 17 years later it is still hauling my dad around. Two years ago I had to decide on one for myself. Had such great luck with Yamaha I couldn't go against them and I am sure glad I didn't. I bought a 350 big bear and I love it. I have a lot of friends who ride honda's and those are some great bikes also. Both Yamaha and Honda have been around for a while and make good quality machines.

[peewee]

Hey TMoore you can save yourself some money if you shop around a get a good used one. I see them in the paper all the time. With these Hondas and Yamahas these days they are pretty reliable and some people buy them and just dont hardly every use them. (Wanna be hunters). I believe the next one I buy thats what I will probablly do. Being my Honda 300 is only 3 (going on 4) years old that will probablly be a while.

Although I wish my wife would let me have 2, one for the camp and one for the house.

[ March 19, 2002: Message edited by: peewee ]

[DR.DUCK2000]

I have a Yamaha Big Bear 400. It has been a good bike so far. I have had no problems with it and have not been stuck. I think the comments about 4-wheel drive, being a must have, is correct if you plan to hunt the delta fields or WMA's. On WMA's you may even get some use from a winch. I haven't needed my winch yet but I think it is B/C the aftermarket tires on there. I have freinds with Honda's and they seem to be good bikes too. The belt slippage on the Polaris bikes worries me...Just my $.02

[judge jb]

i got a Honda 350 and a Yamaha Big Bear... i like em both... i kinda like the high bars on the Big Bear... they fit a man of my size quite well... i lean towards the Yamaha for a comfort ride but i like the Honda as well... hell, i don't know which i like best.......

judge jb

[featherduster]

Don't own one at the time, but I've ridden as well as owned quite a few different ones. Always heard for years that Polaris was crap. Local dealer for Polaris said they were in the early years but have made big improvements. My brother in law bought one and I borrowed it a couple fo times during the last season and I'm here to tell ya that ain't nothing else even close in my book. He has the 500 Sportsman and it has the smoothest ride of any I've ever ridden. Plenty of power and does drive in the water. Even parked it in water up to the seat and left it for 3 hours came back cranked it up and drove back out. No spitting, sputtering or slipping belts. One tough machine expensive but well worth it.

[BPT]

We have a Polaris Xplorer and it is a 96 model. We have had no problems out of ours just a few spark plugs and a battery. We have gone through some of the thickest mud and it hardly ever gets stuck. I like the automatic because when the mud gets thick just lay on the throttle and it will get you out. My uncle has a Kodiak and i li9ke it alot too. They will all last long if you take care of them. I know a couple of people that can tear up anything and they have. They have tore up Honda Yamaha and Polaris. But the Polaris took a whole lot more abuse than the others.

[TMoore]

Alot of good comments so far. Looks like most people prefer Honda, Yamaha or Polaris. SB, thanks for the comments on Arctic-cat. They are a sharp atv, but I don't know too much about them.

[Meeka]

I absolutely LUV my Arctic Cat, as I have said before. It is a 4WD, 500 auto.

The pluses are the disc brakes, which still perform brilliantly and without any adjustment or work in 3 seasons, the power, the ride because each wheel travels independently of the others, and the comfort.

he drawbacks I have detailed here before: (a) the drive belt on the auto slips when wet, so the drive belt housing intake and exhaust ( it has a fan or something that takes air in and out for cooling purposes) needs to be modified; and (b) it is liquid cooled, which is good, but requires a fan. The fan blows a fuse when the bike is driven through high water, which I do often. My bike does not overheat even with the fan not on, but if you ride like that when it is hot for long distances and very slow speeds, the light will come on. It goes off if you go faster to get some air circulating.

It will flat out go in the mud.

My 2 cents.

[HARLEY]

I bought a new Polaris 500 H.O. before this season, and love it! Went through mud and water everyday that came almost to the seat and never had a problem. The reason I bought Polaris is due to the fact it is true 4-wheel drive, Honda and Yamaha are kinda like a truck with that limited slip crap in the front end. Just me but that makes a differance when crossing them rice levees. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[black dog]

I am no expert on ATV's but I do sell the things so here is my 2 cents worth.
Honda's are good machines and have good resell value. Yamaha's are good machines but can be a little cold natured. Polaris is a good machine but the Sportsman requires a little more maintenance because of the rear independent suspension(more moving parts) but you can't beat their smooth ride. The Kawasaki Prairie 650 is hands down the most awesome machine I have ridden. I don't know much about Suzuki, but are probably good. As far as the Arctic Cat, I prefer not to trade for one. Look at them all, test ride and find the machine that suits your needs.

[black dog]

You can get one a little under 7K and just think, at 65 mph you would never lose a race to your honey hole on public land!!