I am looking for my first atv. I have been looking at the Artic Cat 400, Yamaha Big Bear 400 and the Honda Rancher 350. It will be used for hunting and slow, rough trail riding. Reliablity is first and price is second. Can anyone give me some advice from your experience.

 

I'm not trying to start anything by this post.. just my thoughts on your choices. To me, arctic cats are UGLY. If the big bear 400 is like the kodiak, it's good! It takes a while go get going, but it does have an impressive top end. I haven't ridden a rancher, but i heard they are very reliable and a good all around atv. Just my opinions here, hope you have good luck. Later,

 

i love yamaha and all but hondas are the most reliable quad out there and i have a 98 recon and it runs awesome, i dont want to start anything this is just my opinion

 

You shouldnt get a work quad get a raptor

 

I just went throught the same process as you. I started with the BigBear and the Honda RancherES. I really liked the Honda Rancher's Electric Shift and was leaning that way until I road a 2001 Kodiak. I bought the Kodiak for the In/Out 4WD, Automatic, and a little extra rack capacity(to carry those big DOES outta the woods). My wife wanted to ride the quad also and said no way to the foot shifting so I was left with the Electric shift Honda or Automatic Yamaha. I liked both rides and did ride them both, either way I don't think you'll go wrong with the Yamy or Honda - I don't know much bout the other machine(s).
Hope this helps,
GIZZ

 

If it was between a big bear and TRX300 4x4 Id say Big Bear. But with the newly improve Rancher Id get the Rancher. Orange and Foot shift.
But thats what Id do.

 

I just got a new Big Bear 400 and I love it. It runs great, and has plenty of power. More cc's than the Rancher and more ground clearance than the Foreman 400 or 450. It's also less expensive than the Foreman. I've got mud tires and a lift kit on the way for the East Texas muddy weekends, but I bought it mostly for hunting my dry west Texas lease. If you don't mind shifting, you can't go wrong with the Big Bear. As far as reliablity, I strongly believe that it has more to do with care and maintenance than brand name. I haven't ridden the Kodiak, but I think it's basically an automatic Big Bear.

CrashGordon

 

Yeah go with the big Bear its basically the same as my 99 kodiak and does it have the GRUNT of a bear

 

They all look like good quads, but I would suggest seriously looking at the Artic Cat.

I've heard nothing but good things about them (some people don't care for the looks) and they appear to be built like tanks.