First time ATV buyer

[AnthonyT]

In search of my first ATV? What are good older 4x4 models?

[AnthonyT]

Everyone talks about Honda atv’s. What are the other reliable atv makes? Are there specific models to target? I’m currently looking at a 96 Kawasaki bayou 300 4x4.

[bagagagaga]

in my experience having polaris sportman 335 and a trail boss 330, ihave had no issues in the past 20 years with them regular maintance all thev needed, however purchasing a artic cat prowler is a complete can of worms, dealer network is pretty poor help as well  

[Gwbarm]

Hondas are great. I also like the Big Bears and Kodiaks early 2000s, Kawasaki Bayou is a great one. Also the Suzuki King Quad. Always heard good things about Polaris but never owned one.

[Mech]

Depends if you want sport/performance, recreational riding, or work-horse, and the local terrain makes a difference when choosing. I think most of the jap bikes are very reliable.

[Chucksta]

Back in '22, the wife was looking at getting a brand new ATV. We were at a Dealership that sold both Polaris, and Honda, and the salesman kept pushing the Polaris ( which he had a LOT of stock ), over the Honda, which he said we would have to wait for. We ( I ), have a 1996 Honda Foreman 400..... I asked her how many times the Honda had broken down, or been in the shop. The answer was "Never"..  Which was basically true, as it had only been in the Dealership for the first couple of services when purchased. Ten seconds of silence, and then she said, "I'll wait for the Honda."

Yup, 20 years of neglect, with only occasional maintenance, ( It's been treated WAY better since it became my problem), and it never left anyone who used it on the side of the trail. One set of tires, and a few batteries, other than that, nada. 

I've got a '97 Suzuki King Quad, and my neighbour has a Polaris.. Can't say the same for either of those.

The Honda is the workhorse 

[Mech]

I think you're right Chuckster.. Honda are super simple and super reliable.. If it wasn't for the really steep land i live on, (which the suzuki super low is really handy for), I'd have a honda,.

[Chucksta]

A couple of thoughts on that...

My old Honda's first gear, is called ( in the manual ), "Super Low".. you don't use it unless it's uphill with a load.  For normal use, it's only the top 4 gears. ( 2nd through 5th ). The wife's 2021 had a dual range on it, low or regular. And you van pick between 2 WD, 4 WD, and 4 WD, with the front diff locked.. Also in dual range, so effectively a ten forward speed transmission. It also gives you your choice of auto shift, or manual shift. To tell the truth, the auto shift is amazing! Just when you think that it should be in  another gear, it changes as smooth as if you'd ridden it forever. 

The Suzuki King Quad , ( mine is a '97 ), works out to be ( I think), around 16 different drive train configurations / ratios. Way over kill! but cool as hell if you want to yank on something big, without abusing the clutch.

[Mech]

Yeah.. I put heavy loads on front and rear, and can still lower myself down, or back up, on hills to steep to trust your footing on. That's one of those old fifteen speeds with three reverses..  haha.. It is a bit excessive but I have really steep land and it's brilliant.. And I've tried other quads here as I worked on them.. Hard to beat the creep along speed.

The dairy farmers though on rolling land, and all the guys at the beaches, they all love hondas..

[Gwbarm]

You guys know a lot about Hondas, i have an older one 87 great machine and am looking to get a newer Honda something newer early to mid 2000s, what is the difference between the Rancher and the Foreman and why would i pick one over the other.

[Mech]

haha.. I'm not a mechanic that remembers model specific details..

I keep finding that a name in one year, or market, can mean something different elsewhere or in another year.

You know what I'd say though.. manual transmission, suspension/drive as simple as your riding will tolerate, carby... japanese.

Red is good.

[Gwbarm]

Good call, the Red ones always run better. Worked on both also very rarely never major problems so i also never paid attention to the difference between the models. 

[John Sinclair]

There are several good models to choose from, I PREFER HONDAS OR YAMAHAS.  DON'T GET TOO FANCY WITH ALL THE OPTIONS THAT YOU CAN GET ON AN ATV.  BUY A PLAIN JANE.  BUY A USED MODEL, BUY An EARLY 2000 OR A LATE 1990S MODEL.  THEY ARE EASY TO REPAIR AND KEEP RUNNING.  KEEP IT SIMPLE!

[WeeBee]

I've had good luck with my Used 2003 Arctic Cat 300 4x4 w/ Hi Lo trans-!

 

[jen]

I am looking at a Honda on Ebay.  rubicon...Manual Trans..  Says Title not available ..?????

Is the manual trans good better than auto...I like shifting gears and no CVT

[Gwbarm]

Cant go wrong with a honda, of course i say that, but it also depends on how bad it has been abused and neglected, you can usually tell by looking wheather the previous owner cared about his machine kept in garage or out in the weather.

I like manual transmissions also i feel like they have more power in lower gears, and i like the control of manual on rough rocky terrain. Automatic is much easier just give it throttle and it goes nothing much else to think about. 

Not sure which one you are looking at but honda has an automatic transmission that is not CVT belt drive, very expensive to repair when it goes south , but they are very tough, if it has been taken care of you should get good service out of it.

[jen]

Yeah Manual transmission...I like being in control.  LOL.

Two questions.

1 a dealer has a used 2024 rancher ..it has a fresh air snorkle???

2. the ranchers have "electric ' reverse?   is that good?  I mean when i pull brush I like to pull backing up.

3. the Ebay dealer had no title???   He was in Mississippi.

[Gwbarm]

If i was buying one that new i would not buy it without a title. In Mississippi a title it is not required. Of course you have to have a title to tag it but even if tagged you cannot ride it on the road, they dont consider them road worthy. If i owned one that new i would want it completely legal with tag and title whether or not i could ride it on the road would not be considered.

I had one with a snorkel it got in my way more than it helped, so i took it off, but i generally dont ride deep enough in the swamp to need it, its not fun when you get stuck in neck deep wter any way, been there done that dont want to do it again.

I havent riden any new ones but im assuming the electric reverse is just electric shift, which is fine, no big problems with that i know about.

[jen]

I worry that the snorkle was put on so the guy / girl (haha) was running it in deep water. One salesman told me that deep water running required  more than just a snorkle.  

Yeah I have to have a title --proof of ownership --where i ride and even to trailer it.

I'll contact him and see if he has it and just did not list it.

[Gwbarm]

The last one i bought had a snorkle on it, i was also concerned it might have been abused had to make sure it ran before i bought it, it did run but not very good, bought it anyway,  had to replace the carb it had an aftermarket on it and the previous owner had drilled out the jets. Took me a minute or 2 to find a good OEM to rebuild and put on it now runs perfectly.

[jen]

The dealer is wanting me to look A  NEW fOUR TRAX  Rancher-- MANUAL foot shift  no clutch,  4x4, MANUAL STERING, 

Any advice before i go see him?

[sunn]

I have an old 2000 Honda Foreman which has been fairly trouble free all these years, with only the replacement of batteries and one cooling fan relay, and regular oil/filter changes.  I have abused this machine and it has always been reliable.  But, I have found that the Electric shift is quirky at times, and I really prefer the automatic shifting afforded by my Polaris and Cfmoto machines.  Everybody has there own preferences.

As for title, some states require it, such as Arkansas, but that is subect to waiver with only Bill of Sale and a waiver.  Minnesota does NOT require a title but only a Bill of Sale for ownership transfer.  

[jen]

The electric shift?? So yours did not need your clutch being depressed when shifting?  That is the way the new 'manual' transmissions work.  I wonder if older Foremans are te same as the new foremans and Ranchers.

I love the model name foreman as all of my "Toys" have men names.  Ha Ha

[sunn]

Hi Jen, glad to talk with you again.  My old Honda has a up or down button on the handlebar control which generates the electric shift in the transmission, no clutch action required.   However, the rpm/travel speed needs some coordination with which gear going into which is quirky at times and causes extreme jerkiness if speed/gear is not close.  I don't like it!

As far as toy names, I suppose I could call my Honda the "old girl".

[jen]

I have not found any used late  models of the Foreman.  The one I found was almost the same $ as new>>>>OMG

 

[Gwbarm]

The only quads i have seen with a manual clutch are the sport quads for high speed and racing quads. I have not worked on any new ones so im not sure if they work the same as the older semi automatics. The semi auromatic with manual shift have been around for decades. Just push the foot petal to shift has an automatic centrifical clutch. As. the engine speeds up the centrifical clutch plates move out to grab the drum and you move, then shift to another gear. Not quite as simplistic as the automatics,  but give you more control in rocky terrain. Surprized that new ones still have a foot shift i thought most had electric shift. Footshift must be for backup if the electric shift fails.

[jen]

I am going to visit a dealer this week..  Your input is invaluable Thanks..

[tartanpion]

Hello, 

I search a quad for hunting and country work, with no many money. I am looking for a bombardier 650 quest?

Does anyone had a advice on this?

[jen]

found new Honda Foreman  $7K

I need to be able to climb steep grades .  Honda appears more drivetrain rugged,  albeit I probably cannot work on Honda tranny. I know how to maintain a CVT machine.

 

[Gwbarm]

That sounds like a nice one, not a really steep price for new. You should not have any tranny problems for many years, but you are right their trannys are quite complicated, like a car automatic transmission.