I am looking to buy a Chinese ATV and I have a budget of $3,000. This will be the first time for me buying an ATV. I have read a lot of reviews about the Cougar Monster 300 and Roketa 250cc ATV Type 02A. I have looked at Youtube videos and read as much as I can about them. I am 5'7 220 lbs and my kids or 10, 8, and 5. My wife is 5'5 110 lbs and we need something we both can handle.

I also have been looking at the 2014 Yamaha Grizzly 350 which was new $4,699.00, the 2013 Kawasaki BRUTE 300 which was used $2,699.00. I know a lot of people will recommend getting a name brand one and that is fine. I will just need to save more then what I already have. It is just exciting knowing I am close to my goal and summer is almost here.

We will just be taking out to ATV trails with our kids so there is no plan to be doing any hard riding on it. I picked these two because I think I can fit on it with one of my kids easily. I do not plan to put heavy use with it and we will only be going out a few times a year. I am just looking for something we can take out camping with us or whenever we go visit my wife’s dad who has about 20 acres.

 

I always bought used and never bought a bad one. My 1989 350 Yamaha Big Bear is still running strong I sold it to a friend 7 years ago and I bought it used and rode it for 4 years.

I bought my 2001 500 Sportsman in 2005 and I may of put $400 tops into it over those 10 years and Polaris is not known as the best in reliability out of the big names.

I rather have a used brand name then a new China ATV, don't bother with the brute 300 its just a subcontracted Asian ATV with a Kawasaki badge.

On this site just look at the Asian ATV posts "No Spark" they eat stators for lunch because their components are low quality. Its like shoping for tools at a Dollar store.

I bought my 2007 350 Grizzly last summer with only 1500 miles on it and I have no doubt it will out last a 2015 Asian ATV by a long shot.

That's why I bought a simple air/oil cooled 350 4x4 they are just a gas and go reliable ATV. The Rancher and 400 Eiger/KQ are two more worth looking for.

 

The 2014 Yamaha Grizzly 350 Automatic is $4,499 in my area. I plan on going to some dealerships tomorrow. It looks big enough for Myself and one of my kids to ride.

 

Like TLC I'd rather have a used name brand than a new Chinese knock-off. I've read too many horror stories about Chinese quads.

 

2015 Can-Am Outlander L 500 and the 2014 Honda FourTrax Recon our some of the other ATV's I have been looking at. I am basically looking for a full-sized ATV. Buying used is the route I will mostly go.

 

The Recon is a small chassis and the 350 Grizzly is a Mid chassis. The best priced full size chassis is the Sportsman 400 (455cc) http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...cleCode=315263 but I,m not sure if they still make them.

If I was buying new I think the bang for the buck champs are the 570 Sportsman ,Suzuki 500KQ and 550 Grizzly. The 420 Rancher is also nice but its a smaller Mid Chassis.

 

I also would recommend staying with the brand names. I had a Chinese quad that I bought cheap as my youngest son wasn't as interested in trying it as my older son. It was a horror show to keep running. Constant carb. adjustments, starter went, etc. Problem after problem.

 

You might almost be better off buying an older side by side but they are quite a bit more expensive than most atvs. Something like an older Polaris Ranger or Yamaha Rhino would give the ability to haul 3 of you at one time. Probably can find a nice one in the $5000 price range though that is obviously more than you were wanting to spend. An older Kawasaki Mule would be a less expensive option but they're quite a bit slower, they were meant to be work only machines. But you can safely haul 3 with a full rollcage and have a big bed to haul stuff if you want to use it. In many towns they're street legal as well.