Wanted some opinions please. I'm going to try and go used. What are some recommened rides? Price ranges? What are some things to look for as this would be my first? I've been told that I shouldn't buy more than two or three years old if I can help it. I been riding my bud's arctic cat, seems great, but I wouldn't know bad from good. Think maybe price new ones tomorrow to have as a comparission against the used. Gonna be used for mostly trail riding if that matters. Thanks for any input on this area, Blair

 

I've always had good luck with suzuki's. Had 3 of them and ran the first two into the ground 80 and a 160. Now I have a LTF 4wd, i didn't want to go to an old one but it only had 1000 miles on it and priced at $1700, can't beat it. It all depends on what your looking for, make sure you ride it and feel comfortable on it first. Alot of the newer 4wd's are large and feel like driving tanks. Don't go too well in the woods if your making your own trail.

 

Depends on the type of riding you intend to do and who is going to ride it. I had a Polaris Trail boss that was great for where I rode it, mostly trails in the brush. It was also good as my wife could ride it without having to shift gears.

Just something to think about.

 

Deffinatly depends on your ridding!!! I ride at the beach with my bike. all in what you want 4x4? 2-stroke/fast? 4-stroke/slower


My opinion----Get a Banshee

 

we have a 2000 kodiak that's a blast to ride trails and roads with. its plenty fast with plenty of power for any hills and have a real hard time sticking it. only wishing for more top speed on the roads

 

IMHO you cannot go wrong with a Honda. I've had mine since 1986. It's a 2 stroke racer and has never let me down. Before that I had a Honda 3 wheeler, same thing, very reliable. My second choice would be a Yamaha.









1996 F150 SC 4x4
1999 Explorer Sport
1988 Celica GT convertible
1986 Honda TRX250R

 

I too have been looking(daydreaming) about quads. I cannot believe the prices those things go for. I just want to ride the trails. I looked at all the brands and I think I have settled on the Polaris Trail Boss 330. It's 4x2, auto, and has a large 329cc engine. It also has racks front and rear. I can buy it new for $3800 out the door.

I have another comment about the youth size 90cc quads. My son and I went riding with a buddy. He has a youth quad. I noticed that it's bounces over the bumps, and is hard to control. My son actually tipped it over on one occasion. It seems to me the youth quads should have a wide stance and longer wheelbase than they currently do. You'd think the manufacturers would try and make them as safe as possible. He had a better time riding one of my buddys Bombardier Rallys. Makes me think to just skip buying him a youth quad and go straight to a larger one. At least that way he'd get many years out of it before having to buy a larger one later on.

 

If you want a mid size 4x4 with lots of go i would say a polari 400 4x4 2 stroke scrambler. if you want a cheap smaller quad thats a blast to drive i would say a polaris 250 2x4 trailblazer(these can be modified to go like a scrambler) That is what i have and it will keep up and do more then a person relizes. I went riding with a bunch of friends on motor bikes, a couple of them were on yamaha 250 modified for racing. we were riding on some mountain trails with a couple of pretty nasty hills and mud holes, and i was keeping up with them just fine on the regular easier trails and i was burning them on the steep hills and the mud hills.

 

I would say from what you plan on using it for you want a 4x4 and four-stroke for sure. Like somebody else said, two-strokes are faster, but four-strokes are more steady and more reliable, that's my opinion anyways. I personally recommend a Honda. I have a Honda Foreman S. It is a 450 with a manual transmission (auto clutch though). I haven't had any problems with it and have about 4500 miles and over 500 hours on it in 2 years. It has plenty of power and I've done a lot of climbing and going places I probably shouldn't have. Honda's are notorious for being reliable. When I bought mine I test drove a two year old one that had 10,000 miles on it, and it was practically like a new one.

I myself don't like the other brands out there with automatics that use belts, such as polaris and yamaha. What I've drove of them they just didn't seem to have the power right off like mine does, but they did go fast. I do think I'd get a new Honda Foreman Rubicon with the auto if I could afford it, but really big $$. It isn't a belt driven auto.

I think you'd be happy with anything that is a 350 or bigger, but the biggest motor ones do get big in size too. The biggest thing is knowing how to handle them safely. It's really a tough decision when you're completely new to them, but ask a lot of questions from others and you'll probably find something you like. Good luck and have fun

 

If you get one, just please don't dress it up like this:

 

That is by far the biggest discrace to any atv'er out there. Thank god the police are there to arest the no good people and save that poor yamaha. That makes m want to

 

I also recommened Honda. I have seen (also inflicted) first hand various sized 3 and 4 wheelers take much abuse and never have a major problem.

 

i've done tons' of wheeler cranks, but i've never done a honda.... if you asked me, that's gotta say something.....
plus we've got a '81 110, '84 200 big red, and a '85 250 big red...

 

My parents have 2 honda 250 4trax a 1983 and 1986. These have been abused like nothing else, but they keep going. Used them irrigating, fencing, spraying, and screwing around. My brothers and i have rolled these things so many times. Top speed around 50-60mph. Oil changed every couple years, whether they need it or not. Ran them down the highway wide open for 10 miles to our pivot 20 times per summer to spray weeds. There is no spedometer or hour meter so i have no idea, but they have gone thru 4 or 5 sets of tires.

Tony Warren

 

I have an 2001 trail boss, I've had no problems with it. I use it for ditch riding through shakopee. There are some nice storm drains that I go through, wedged it in one of them once but because it doesn't have 4x4 its much lighter to muscle out.

It won't do deep mud too well but for most cases its all I need. Its good to have with lack of snow for the sled.

edit: Oh yeah I too have had it on top of me.(its a guy thing) Just rolled it back over and went on my way.