Buying an ATV

[shootbrownelk]

You probably already know from your research that they're different machines. If I had your cash, i'd spend it on the Outlander. That said, I have an Outlander. I've had a few Polaris' and it's the only bike that's left me stranded in the woods... and it did it twice.

I towed out a friend's Polaris 500 twice in 2 years. 5 miles from where we could retrieve it with a pick-up. Both times in a boulder field on a steep incline. My Rhino saved his bacon. He has a Yamaha Grizzly 700 EPS now.

 

[Fatrack]

I've also been in research mode for a new (to me) ATV. Question for you guys: Would a Honda 300cc be too small? The primary use for the four wheeler will be hunting; ie. dirt road riding, trail riding with some steep and rocky terrain, some limited off trail riding through rough ground, carrying hunting gear/camp (at most 100lbs), carrying me (180lbs) and when successful hauling out game (250lbs at most).

 

[802flyfish]

From my limited research, the only thing going for a 300cc is how light it is. Everything you mentioned (steep/rocky, hauling capability and Etc) would warrant something bigger.. Your total weight listed is more then the atv itself.. Were looking to do the same exact thing and I would say the majority on here have suggested something in the range of 400cc-570cc.

 

[The Hedgehog]

Kyle- I disagree with needing bigger than a 300cc. I have a 90s era Honda 4trax that has carried me and 2 others (rich and Jesse) from the bottom of the Taylor fork to the top, nearly to carrot basin. I’ve ridden double on it tons and it continues to run. When it gets stuck - I push it out. I’ve never needed a bigger one.

 

[dcopas78]

When it gets stuck - I push it out.

That is definitely overlooked when choosing the size of a 4-wheeler! My dad's old 350 is easy to get unstuck. I had a Foreman 500 for a work 4-wheeler several years ago and good luck lifting that thing out of a rut by yourself.

 

[The Hedgehog]

Back when the trails were open and you could ride all over in the gallatin and upper Madison, I used to ride with a gal and a 80lb dog, everywhere. On that Honda 300 ATV.

I'm sure the statute of limitations has passed, but back in the mid-90s I almost had that little blue ATV on the summit of Sage Peak.

 

[tzone]

I've also been in research mode for a new (to me) ATV. Question for you guys: Would a Honda 300cc be too small? The primary use for the four wheeler will be hunting; ie. dirt road riding, trail riding with some steep and rocky terrain, some limited off trail riding through rough ground, carrying hunting gear/camp (at most 100lbs), carrying me (180lbs) and when successful hauling out game (250lbs at most).

It would be fine. The honda fortrax was made forever. You won't win any races, but you'll be able to throw that thing around quite well.

 

[Fatrack]

Thanks for the replies on the smaller Honda...I've heard similar from people who have had them. I'm really leaning towards this route over one of the bigger ATV's.

 

[Sask hunter]

My old Suzuki 400 pulling a moose out last fall. Was a workout but doable. Life be easier with a good ATV trailer to load moose or elk into

 

[huronmtns]

Kyle- I disagree with needing bigger than a 300cc. I have a 90s era Honda 4trax that has carried me and 2 others (rich and Jesse) from the bottom of the Taylor fork to the top, nearly to carrot basin. I’ve ridden double on it tons and it continues to run. When it gets stuck - I push it out. I’ve never needed a bigger one.

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Greenhorn is spot on. You really do have enough power with a 300. I worked at a Yamaha dealership as a mechanic in the mid 80's when the Yamaha YFM 200's came out. The two hundreds even have plenty of low speed gearing for torque that they can pull a big load. I took one of the 200's out in the woods pulling a double wide snowmobile trailer for hauling firewood out. I broke the axle on the trailer it had so much weight on it. The 200 still pulled the load and broken trailer out of the woods.

 

[MT_Chad]

Kyle- I disagree with needing bigger than a 300cc. I have a 90s era Honda 4trax that has carried me and 2 others (rich and Jesse) from the bottom of the Taylor fork to the top, nearly to carrot basin. I’ve ridden double on it tons and it continues to run. When it gets stuck - I push it out. I’ve never needed a bigger one.

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I agree with this. My personal favorites are the old suzuki quad runners and king quads which were 250 cc and 320 IIRC. My dad has 2 quad runners that are awesome, I would rather ride them over his suzuki 400. It's almost scary where those little wheelers will go and they are so light they are easy to handle. Also with the narrow front tires they steer like a dream, which is probably why I like them so much.

 

[Rhino Hunter]

Honda makes great quads. I'm partial to Yamaha though. Their quality is top notch, as is Honda. Both will last for years and won't leave you stranded in the mountains. Yamaha has the BEST CVT on the market...bar none. You won't have to bring/change your belt in the boonies like the PoPo owner's do.

The Yamaha Grizzly is a Cadillac ride! Take one for a test ride, but have your wallet ready when you do. You're probably going to buy it when you dismount. LOL.

 

[choc dogs]

For just trail riding, it's hard to go wrong with a Honda in my book. My dad bought a new fourtrax 350 in 1994. The only thing he has replaced is the tires, changed oil and filters, a few spark plugs, a starter solenoid, battery, and had his friend(small engine mech) adjust the valves once. It's still a great machine and starts on the first try.

I bought a pioneer 500 utv in 2016. I had to have the shift adjusted after the first 30 miles, and I've done oil and filter changes. It pays to buy from an independent shop in my book. In my case, I have a family owned Honda dealership that I buy from. They are great mechanics. They have saw the problems (if there are any) associated with any particular model of machine and will usually have a fix for it. With the shifter on mine, they just told me to run it 10-20 hours and bring it back in to get adjusted. It hasn't been an issue at all since. It shifts smooth as ice after the adjustments.

I bought a pioneer 500 in 2017. I've done fluids, and adjusted the clutch. It's so much smoother than it started out, but if I get it stuck, I'm gonna bet on the winch, not me pushing/pulling it out. It's a ton less effort to ride than my old polaris atv, in fact, it's so easy the dog can drive