Any suggestions on what might be the best deal in the ATV world these days. Looking at Arctic cat, and Polaris. Any of these American made? Really would rather keep the money here in the states if possible. Looking for a utility sport 4x4 model.

Yamaha is probably the most popular brand up here. Everytime I hunt with someone on a Polaris, we spend half the day fixing it. I own an older Honda and I love it but will buy a Yamaha next time around.

Have a pair of artic cats..500&650 really good machines..two years old and no problems at all

Sneak up behind them in the dark - then disconnect the battery cable.

I can't count the number of deer we've hauled on my grandpa's honda 300 4X4. Honda 4 wheelers to me seem very reliable. There have been 2 grown men and 2 deer hauled on it one time, that was over 600 pounds it was hauling.:D

I've got 3 Yamaha's and 2 of them are 20 years old.Those 2 little bikes have been through hell and back and have never ever let me down.They are little MOTO 4's and people are amazed where they will go.I bought a brand new 450 Grizzly in April and it is a great bike.My son has an old Suzuki that he beats the crap out of and it has held up quite well also.Stay away from Polaris...great sleds.....lousy ATVs.

We have 2 Kawasakis. 750 Brute, and 650 Brute SRA. We've always had kawasakis, never had any problems. Polaris makes a great 4 wheeler also. They all (manufacturers) make a good 4 wheeler. Polaris is an American company, and I believe Arctic Cat is as well. But even the Japanes bikes like ours are made here in the states. If you want something primarily for work/hauling, Polaris is the way to go. They are the tow trucks of the ATV world. If you want REAL 4 wheel drive, dont get a Honda. Unless they have changed in about the past year, they dont have any 4 wheelers with a locking front diff. If you want to have fun, and still do some work, go with Kawasaki. Like I said, we have never had any problems. We go all over the southeast and ride and we also use them for chores around the house (3 rail road ties on the front rack and 4 on the rear and it was fine) and they have no problems.

Polaris or Arctic Cat, They are the workhorses, and made in USA except for electronics (BOSCH) I love my 500 EFI Polaris sportsman (2006). My best friend has a 500 Cat and the 2 are comparable. Mine goes thru more rough terrain because of the 27 inch tires and ITP wheels. Hondas dont seem to have the true all terrain thing down. I have pulled out quite a few Jap bikes. I got rid of my 04 Grizzly towards my Polaris because it steered hard and after a few hours riding soulders. Now they have power steering on the new ones. For my money though Yamaha is the best Jap atv out there. Polaris is hands down the most comfortable machine out there also.!

I have a polaris trailbazer, I would never buy another again its been nothing but problems- Had it for 6 years its been broken down more than its been running. My neighbor has had 3 polaris' of various sizes and has had the same results. I would stay away from them

also honda is an american made option.......
http://atvillustrated.com/node/729

also honda is an american made option.......
http://atvillustrated.com/node/729


Might be made in America but still stands for Japs. I am looking around, everyone I talk to says Polaris is the best ride, best handling and never has any troubles so I am leaning that direction. Thanks for all the replies.

I think they changed the name to can am now but the bombardier atvs seem to be really good machines as well. The ones I have ridden were 4wd with front and rear locking diffs and it was darn near impossible to get those things stuck without high centering it. In the past they had gotten really good ratings in the magazines but i haven't been shopping in a couple years. For what its worth, my grandpa also has a honda 250 2wd that hasn't given an ounce of trouble in over ten years.

I must be one of the few Polaris owners that has had very little wrong with it (2002 Sportsman 700 twin ). Had 2 recalls. 1 for intake manifold and the other for water pump. Never had a problem with either before I recieved the recall notices. Dealer did the recall work in 1 day each time. Picked up the ATV very next day. Only down side to my ATV is battery life. I need to invest in a battery tender for it I think. I would and likely will buy a Polaris again some day. I've owned Jap stuff to. Just cost more to ship parts if nobody in the states has the part you need in stock. Ran into that once. My own fault for not asking what shipping would cost. Ended up costing more to ship a side case cover for a 200X ATC than the actual part itself cost. Live and learn. Buy what you want, In the end you are the one stuck with the bill/ bills.

I'm going to build up a golf cart similar to the Bad Boy Buggy. I want something that can haul 4 guys out into the woods and be able to throw a deer on if needed. The BBB is a 4 wheel drive cart. But if you build up a 2 wheel drive it will go anywhere. I figure about 5-6K will build a bad azz cart. Plus I can make is street legal to drive around the house and cottage.

I have a 91 Honda 4-trax 300. It is unbelievable what these things will haul, pull, or the terain they will go thru. I had a brake cable break a year ago, and that has been the only thing that has gone wrong. THe guy at the parts counter said the early 4 wheelers were the best ever made. In later years, as sales started to go up, and more were being built, the quality went down. I may be wrong, but I believe the front diff is locked, maybe the newer ones aren't.

Might be made in America but still stands for Japs. I am looking around, everyone I talk to says Polaris is the best ride, best handling and never has any troubles so I am leaning that direction. Thanks for all the replies.

Just keep in mind that the bigger Polaris' are around 800lbs, where most others of the same engine CCs are around 600lbs.

I think they changed the name to can am now but the bombardier atvs seem to be really good machines as well. The ones I have ridden were 4wd with front and rear locking diffs and it was darn near impossible to get those things stuck without high centering it. In the past they had gotten really good ratings in the magazines but i haven't been shopping in a couple years. For what its worth, my grandpa also has a honda 250 2wd that hasn't given an ounce of trouble in over ten years.


The new Can Ams are nice, but they are very expensive, and are also more 'sporty' and less of a work vehicle. Plus they are French/Canadian.

I have a 91 Honda 4-trax 300. It is unbelievable what these things will haul, pull, or the terain they will go thru. I had a brake cable break a year ago, and that has been the only thing that has gone wrong. THe guy at the parts counter said the early 4 wheelers were the best ever made. In later years, as sales started to go up, and more were being built, the quality went down. I may be wrong, but I believe the front diff is locked, maybe the newer ones aren't.

Does it have a small lever somewhere on the handlebar to lock it? If not, its highly doubtfull it does. If it was always locked, like the rear, it would make it hard as hell to steer.

I really liked my polaris 330 it was a good balance between a sport and work ATV and it went places just as quick as the sport quads. I had ppl on the trail tell me I wouldnt make it up some of the hills in wellsville Ha it went every where they went no problem. I also liked the fact I didnt have to shift it. I broke it but it was my fault hit a very big rock at full throttle all it did was knock the tire off the rim and strip a aluminum shift lever linkage peice was a $12 part guy at dealer said it was made to break in case of a crash so the trans wouldnt get damaged. put three plugs in the tire till I got a new one. wish I had kept it but money got tight so a few toys had to go it went first.

Plus they are French/Canadian.

Meaning?

Plus they are French/Canadian.

What the hell does that mean!!!:sad:

Meaning?

What the hell does that mean!!!:sad:


He said he wanted something American. I was just stating the fact that Can Am is a Canadian company.

Just so you are aware the adding of the phrase, "...plus they are French Canadian" would be similiar to someone saying, "Thats an American company, plus it is run by a Black American". It has the potential to be offensive.

Just so you are aware the adding of the phrase, "...plus they are French Canadian" would be similiar to someone saying, "Thats an American company, plus it is run by a Black American". It has the potential to be offensive.
agreed

After looking at new ones and dealing with pushy sales people trying to sell me a revolving credit type loan, I have decided to look at used ones. So far it looks like there are some real good deals on the used market. The pricing is all over the place on these things.

Unless you are VERY knowledgeable, I wouldn't touch a used ATV. It's very easy to hide potentially big problems. Plus, most have had the snot beat out of them if there are any number of hours on them. Maybe a dealer demo with full warranty but that's the only "used" one I'd consider personally.

Unless you are VERY knowledgeable, I wouldn't touch a used ATV. It's very easy to hide potentially big problems. Plus, most have had the snot beat out of them if there are any number of hours on them. Maybe a dealer demo with full warranty but that's the only "used" one I'd consider personally.

I'm a bit more positive than that. As with cars one can usually tell what they are getting into and if there are any hidden problems I am prepared to handle whatever it may be. Thanks

I have bought a new Suzuki and Polaris and used Kawi and Honda in the last few years. You'll get the most bang for your buck with Suzuki and Kawi--- hands down.

Suzuki and Polaris usually will have decent financing deals in December-February.

My Polaris 'seems' more fragile than my Suzuki, but its a very nice quad overall an is good for work/hunt/and moderate to heavy trail play. I am having some issues with the Auto Trans Belt, squealing away after my son buried it in the mud on a few occasions.

My Suzuki however has been ridden very hard on the trails and mud, water and snow, and Ive pulled a 1500 lb water caddy up some decent hills with it. It puts up with lots of abuse and is more of a basic design with easy and inexpensive parts come the rare time for repair.

Hondas will run forever if maintained but IMHO they are expensive for what you get compared to other brands. They also rarely offer any good deals at the Honda dealer.

My Kawi puts up with abuse just like the Suzuki, but I never considered a new one because they never offer any deals either.

If you can buy a new one 3-500 bucks under the msrp you doing pretty good.

Hope this helps.

Unless you are VERY knowledgeable, I wouldn't touch a used ATV. It's very easy to hide potentially big problems. Plus, most have had the snot beat out of them if there are any number of hours on them. Maybe a dealer demo with full warranty but that's the only "used" one I'd consider personally.

I agree.I had my new grizzly out on a 25 mile run through the snow today.That makes over 1000 miles on it since I bought it in April this year. It still looks like new but I have driven the crap outta this great bike.I wouldn't buy it from me.:D:noway: I maintain it regularly and its a Yamaha so I know it will run forever!!:yes:

I wouldn't buy it from me.:D:noway:

Would you buy mine?
I'm the second cousin inlaws drunken friend that always gets blamed for destroying so and so's new quad. Here are a couple of frames clipped out of videos. The wild stuff never gets caught on film.

It's a Brute Force 750, which is not stock and sounds like a Harley. I've run it across Dumont Dunes at 65 mph, with three people in the saddle. My next door neighbors Can Am 800 will out top end it, but he has to catch me to do it. How many "Winnebago" quads have you seen that will stand it on the tail like that, in high gear too.

Nice ride Rowdy.....But where is your helmet?:thumbsup:

I've had 2 Yamahas and they are bulletproof.....and believe it or not, your face can stop a 550lb ATV as it rotates in mid air. but only once...after they put my eyesocket back together with enough metal to set off the airport alarm,, i recovered and went out and bought a full face helmet...still don't like it, but i wear it everytime i go riding...breathing thru your ears for 6 weeks is not fun.

I've had 2 Yamahas and they are bulletproof.....and believe it or not, your face can stop a 550lb ATV as it rotates in mid air. but only once...after they put my eyesocket back together with enough metal to set off the airport alarm,, i recovered and went out and bought a full face helmet...still don't like it, but i wear it everytime i go riding...breathing thru your ears for 6 weeks is not fun.

The ATV wreck actually improved his looks, he's an ugly cuss.

I've had 2 Yamahas and they are bulletproof.....and believe it or not, your face can stop a 550lb ATV as it rotates in mid air. but only once...after they put my eyesocket back together with enough metal to set off the airport alarm,, i recovered and went out and bought a full face helmet...still don't like it, but i wear it everytime i go riding...breathing thru your ears for 6 weeks is not fun.

And wearing a helmet without the strap is POINTLESS! Just ask me, I'll tell you all about how the 4 wheeler can land on your head! Its wierd telling people that you have a small rock in your upper lip, and some dirt in your lower lip. :thumbsup:

Would you buy mine?
I'm the second cousin inlaws drunken friend that always gets blamed for destroying so and so's new quad. Here are a couple of frames clipped out of videos. The wild stuff never gets caught on film.

It's a Brute Force 750, which is not stock and sounds like a Harley. I've run it across Dumont Dunes at 65 mph, with three people in the saddle. My next door neighbors Can Am 800 will out top end it, but he has to catch me to do it. How many "Winnebago" quads have you seen that will stand it on the tail like that, in high gear too.


Hell yea man! Brutes are awsome. Mine will out run my old modded KFX 400.

I've had my Artic Cat 650 for a year now with no problems at all. Its the TRV (two-up seating) and I also have the "pick up" box for the back rack. Simply pull two pins to switch between the second seat and the box. I use it to plow snow, and to pull a trailer with a 125 gallon water tank around my 5 acre lot to water trees. I bought it new through a dealer on eBay and even with the $450 freight charge, I saved nearly $2,000 compared with the local dealers here in Colorado.

http://home.comcast.net/~dcabral99/Images/DSCF2522.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~dcabral99/Images/DSCF2523.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~dcabral99/Images/DSCF2527.JPG

I've had my Artic Cat 650 for a year now with no problems at all. Its the TRV (two-up seating) and I also have the "pick up" box for the back rack. Simply pull two pins to switch between the second seat and the box. I use it to plow snow, and to pull a trailer with a 125 gallon water tank around my 5 acre lot to water trees. I bought it new through a dealer on eBay and even with the $450 freight charge, I saved nearly $2,000 compared with the local dealers here in Colorado.

Thats a good deal!