Hey guys & gals,

I am in the market for a new ATV my old 97 425 Polaris 2wd just isn't cutting it much anymore and I am lost on what is good in the market now. Personally after my dads 05 500 Honda Foreman I will not own a Honda, I have been looking very hard at a 350 Grizzly 4x4 with IRS & diff lock. With the rebates now I believe I can get one for 5200 OTD ( tax exempt).

I have also looked at the Yamaha Big Bear as well for the same price. I am looking for a utlity ATV not a sports quad, I really like how the IRS rides but I heard it is a little skiddish in some areas. What is everyones picks, whats the good and the bad. I would like to stay within the 5600 mark, around 350-450 style machine 4x4 is a must and so is ground clearence.

 

I have ridden all the big bore 4x4's and like the grizzly the best. Absolutely hate the free wheeling (ride your brakes all the way down the hill) Honda Rincon. As far as smaller class 4x4's I don't know. I would be looking at the grizzly and Honda Rancher too.

 

Justin, if you're going to post off topic, then I'm going to hijack you're thread (sorry). I don't know about the new ATV's, but I have a 99 Polaris and the belt drive is rubbing against the plastic housing cover. I can't figure out how to adjust anything to make it quite rubbing. I've stopped driving it since the cover is almost worn through below the front pulley. If you get a chance will you remove the cover over the drive belt and post a picture of what yours looks like? Maybe I can figure out what's wrong with mine that way.

 

Well this is the only forum that I use and this is wear all my friends are and I don't know any ATV forums lol. Derek, I have a friend that I ride with that has a 07 700 FI Special Edition Grizzly with Mud Machine tires and that thing is a BRUTE I love how this Grizzles ride, but I also like the Big Bears for there 5sp manual and factory ITP mudlite tires.

Chris I heard the early Polaris models with the belts were bad to do that, go to walmart and pick up the latest issue of Dirt Wheels they have a write up about the new Polaris belts and how to maintain them.

 

Will do. Thanks.

 

??????? I have the Rincon and I love mine. Automatic downshifting and engine braking keeps me from touching my brakes most of the time when going downhill. Just don't let in-laws drive it or they tend to do stupid stuff and cause major damage.

 

Justin, I have a Kawasaki Prarie 360 awesome machine. Good ground clearance, 4x4 with diff lock and plenty of cookies!!! Very comfortable ride.

 

My brother and I each bought the 06 Polaris 500 Sportsman Browning LE. 3 buddies have also bought this model in 07 after riding ours and we all love em. The Sportsman 500's always rank up there in the ATV consumers guide. Not the fastest, but easily one of the most comfortable. Tonnes of storage room too. I have a lot of friends who ride other machines like the Arctic Cats and Kawasaki's and they don't ride as nice, although the Kawi can pull wheelies! I also have an old 96 Yamaha Grizzly 400 I use for snow plowing and as a spare for friends to ride. This is also an awesome old workhorse, but ride quality definately suffers compared to the new technology. Any new machine you go with I don't think you can go too wrong.

 

I have an older Polaris Magnum 330 that has a dead battery right now. I will say that it is not the fastest, or most powerful. Having said that, it is fast enough to kill myself on, and has always done everything I ever asked it to. I say Polaris makes a great machine. Most do nowadays. Shop smart and get what you need. I don't need anything bigger than I have for what I do. Make sure you know what you want to do and match it up.

 

get a rhino

 

Justin, whatever you get will, in time, be fine for you. Once you get used to a machine then it will be ok. I have an '02 Arctic Cat 500 Auto 4x4 that gets the job done but isn't anything outstanding. It replaced an old Yamaha YFM 225 2x that was bullet proof. Although the two machines are years and size different, the Yamaha was the better machine. Definitely a stronger, better built frame. The AC has a Suzuki engine that isn't anything great. I think that they use a different motor now. I don't think you can go wrong with a Yamaha as that is what I will get for my next one.

 

Do yourself a big favor and go with a higher cc. A 350 will get old pretty fast, especially for a guy of any kind of stature. My dad had a 550 Grizzly that he just absolutely loved, and he knew a lot about ATVs and dirtbikes. I have a Kodiak 450. Its a fun quad, nice and light and I can fling it around the corners, but I find myself looking for more throttle many times.

For right around the 5k mark you should be able to get a 2006 or 2007 Grizzly 550. I definitely suggest going with a Yamaha. They are fantastic bikes, "bulletproof" was was mentioned earlier. My Kodiak is a '00 and has only had its regular maintenance and a pair of rear brakes. thats it! Still runs like brand new and puts up with all the abuse I throw at it.

 

i would go with polaris they ride and handle like a dream. if you are thinking about a suzuki DON'T. the suzuki will feel like it is very tippy stay with polaris the riding and handling of a suzuki DOSEN'T even come close to a polaris.
Good luck with your search.

 

I have an 800 EFI and the wife has a 500 EFI. Both Polaris Sportsman. Love them both.

 

Go to Arctic Cat and get a Diesel 4x4 700 , its not a utility.
I have one, and love it.