I currently have a 2002 Raptor, I love it but I am looking for an older cheap 4x4 to do some mudding with and just beat on. I came across a 93 Honda Fourtrax 300 4x4 in my local classifieds for $2200. Can anyone tell me anything about this machine? I know that Honda made this machine forever. Was there any major problems or quirks with this machine? I was thinking about maybe calling the guy and offering him $1800, the ad says the machine is in good shape. I'm basically just looking for anybody's thoughts and opinions over this machine and whether or not this would be a good machine to go mudding with.

Mitch
02 Raptor - GYT-R blue lighting graphics kit, silencer, front bumper, K&N filter and jet kit, GYT-R headpipe on the way.

 

The honda 300 4x4 was honda's best selling atv in America!!! They are totally bulletproof(like every honda). My brother had a 1996 and it work great with no problems and they have good power. There are also many mods for it to perpare it for mudding. I think the price is a little high but oyur offer is resonable(unless it has many accesories).

 

IF THAT WHEELER WAS CLOSER TO ME I WOULD LOOK AT IT, AS UP HERE IN NORTHERN WIS THEY GO FOR MORE THAN THAT, YES I SAID MORE THAN THAT. MY YOUNGER BROTHER TRADED HIS 93 300 4X4 ON A NEW 2000 450 ES AND GOT $2,800 ON TRADE AND IT WAS ABOUT USED UP AND HAD 10,000 ON THE ODOMETER. HOPE THAT GIVES SOME IDEA.

 

5th gear is a little tall, and for mud ridding, if the motor is stock, i suggest no wider than 10" rear tires. Dad has 12.5" bear calws on his 300, with a cam, and in the deep, thick musd it won't turn 2nd gear. the cam out of a '86 250sx honda drops right in ($80 cdn)

 

I bought a new one in 1992 and sold it in 2000 for $2600. They're slow, the stock tires are small so the ground clearance isn't much, and they steer like a truck. The reliability was good, as it was only in the shop once and that was for a torn CV joint boot.

 

I have a 1996 Honda TRX300FW (4X4) that I purchased new in 1996. I have had no problems with this ATV, other than a clogged main carb jet which was easy to clean. What a great machine. I hauled a lot of deer out of the MI Upper Peninsula woods/swamp with this ATV. NEVER had any mechanical problems...just changed the oil when required. Since that time, I have installed a WARN 424 Select on this ATV. I cannot say enough about the WARN unit on this machine. No longer does this machine steer like a truck, quicker acceleration, tighter turning radius, etc. Anyway, a great machine and if the 1993 Honda 300 you are looking at was for sale in MI (and in decent shape with no mechanical problems), it would already have been SOLD at $2,200. A tough unit to find, and sorry to see Honda halt production on the 300 after the 2000 model year. Check out the condition of the ATV you are looking at, see if it has been used or abused, calculate any repairs and go from there....and have fun.

 

I guess I'm the lucky one, I just bought 2 of them on is a 1995 and the other is a 1996 and both are 300 4x4 for 1400 and they run great. The main issue I have seen with these types of four wheelers is the rear ends, but if you keep an eye on them and change the gear oil like you do on the motor it should be fine. They are great bikes and fun to ride.

 

I wish I had mine back.
Small by todays standards. never had to work on it. Just rode it. Never abused it.
Sold it for $1400 4 years ago.

 

Since this thread was started back in 2002, those people have probably not posted on here in years. But since its been revived from the dead, I guess I'll add to it. The older Yamaha Big Bears were pretty tough too. Honda started building the Rancher 350 in 2000 which had quite a bit more power than the 300 so no need to continue building it too. The Rancher was a very reliable quad too. Unfortunately Honda still had the full-time 4x4 until the 420 came out in 2007. Yamaha had selectible 4x4 first on the Grizzly 600 back in 1998 when it came out. Being able to push a button on the fly when you want 4x4 and then instantly disengage it when you no longer need it is a feature that we all take for granted now but it was a big deal back then.

 

While the 350 did replace the 300, it doesn't have that instant starting and rock steady idle that the 300 had. Only the Kawasaki KLF 300 came close. Now there is a big jump from the 2WD 250 to the 4WD 420 there is a gap that the 300 could fit. We are finding that farmers, who now have a 400-500cc bike and a Mule or Gator, are wanting a smaller machine as well, because of the lower fuel consumption when used as a runabout. The 300 could have had a 2WD/4WD dog clutch in the front transfer box for very little extra cost. Suzukis, even the 250s, had switchable 4WD and diff lock in the 90s.