Hey guys I am buying a new bike this summer for around $3500 and want a Honda of course. What bike should I buy? I don't see that big of a difference between these three bikes. Has anyone had any problems with these bikes. I would like to know. Also is there any other bikes in this price range I should consider in any brand? I want something 2004 and up please. Thanks

 

I paid less than that for my Grizzly 660. A lot more power than a Foreman 500 and irs(better ride) and diff-lock. For $3500, you should be able to find one in good shape. Here's a 2007 660 close to me for example in great shape for $3200 with some nice aftermarket wheels and tires too 2007 grizzly 660. I think a Grizzly 660 would be the best bang for your buck. I put Yamaha reliability right up with Honda as well.

 

The Hondas in my area are all different prices for each year. I was looking at a 2004 400 rancher with light bar, halos and hand guards. He said it's worth around $2700 so I could get him down to $2500 easy. There are all kinds of Hondas for around $3000 that are 2004 and up. I do not like Yamaha bcc there simply not as reliable as a Honda. Thanks for offering a griz but I can't afford to buy parts all the time even if it's little stuff. I'm 16 and only have a summer job that I will make just enough to buy a new bike. I want something I do not have to work on or change anything except the odd bearing.

 

The 400 A.T rancher had that short lived odd ball full auto tranny without a low range , something like the 680 Rincon has which is another dog tranny . Stay with a foot shift 350, 420, 450 ( foreman) or 500 with Honda. All the foot shift Hondas have a ultra low 1st gear when you need it.

Yamaha are as reliable as your going to get. Your know how many 1980 and 1990 Yamaha ATVs are still running around? My old 1989 350 Big Bear I sold is still running around. My friend bought a new 660 Grizzly in 2003 and its still on the original belt and never has been to a shop.


I really do not know of a unreliable Japanese brand. Kind of like their cars.

 

Honda probably is #1 in reliability but don't discount Yamaha either. Any quad that is abused will eventually break down, no matter what it is. In buying a used quad, the reliability will be determined by how well it was maintained by the previous owners. As a general rule, the older the owner the better. Its less likely to have been sunk in every mudhole and have everything trashed. Might get lucky and find one that was just used to putt around the property or only used hunting. Major mods like snorkels or huge tires are a sign of abuse most of the time too. If someone spent the money for stuff like that, you can bet they used it. I had a chance to buy a really nice used Brute Force 650 before I got my Grizzly but I was beaten to it by someone who lived closer. It was owned by an 80 year old man and had very little miles on it. He had actually died and the family just wanted to get rid of it. Other than being in storage for a few months and needing a new battery, it was in excellent shape. Someone else got a very nice quad.
Something like a Kodiak 450 or Big Bear 400 would be less expensive than a Grizzly but both are very reliable machines.