Hello everyone.

This is my first time in the forums. I am looking to get an ATV. I need help with deciding what to get. I want something powerful, automatic, and shift on the fly 4WD. I want the shift on the fly 4WD because I hear of too many people getting stuck and not being able to move the machine to get the 4WD engaged. Please let me know what you think.

I appreciate it.

 

I would say look at something bigger then 500. All of them would then be autos, and all are shift on the fly too. Good luck.

 

New or used?
All of the newer ones will shift on the fly, and at a standstill.
You may want to narrow the search down by describing whether you want irs or solid axle. Speed sensitive or torque sensitive or locker, for the front diff? Is tow rating important?
Are you going to work with it , or just trail ride?
Is a belt drive cvt tranny ok? Need low range?
Some have longer warrentee periods than others...is that important?

welcome to the forums

 

If you're new to the game then get a used machine to play with until you really know what you want and how you want to ride. The older Polaris and Honda models (2000+ year wise, 450-500 cc) are a good choice to get started, were easy to maintain and operate and can be found for good price as they sold so well and are all still running.

Buy one and beat on it for a summer then use that knowledge to buy BIG next time around. You'll want the second one anyway for friends and tag alongs as well as a spare for those weekends that you drive one hard and blow it up [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Keep in mind that Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawi tend to keep their machines weight limits at 600 pounds max. Honda in particular tends to keep its center of gravity lower in the frame, plus Honda has its engines mounted transversely in the frame, for more efficient power delivery.

Not so with some of the other manufacturers (Polaris, A Cat, Bombardier) who often have a dry weight of 700+ pounds. If you don't think that that extra 100 pounds is a big deal, that's like carrying a passenger with you all the time!

Personally, I am giving up on utilities and switching to dirt bikes for technical riding conditions! My concern involves saftey issues. You roll one of these huge top heavy utility beasts on you, and it's going to be a life threatening experience (vs a little 225 pound dirt bike that you can just lay down if you get into trouble!). (Mud isn't an issue here in the desert southwest and mostly you have to go deliberately looking for snow at high altitude, so traction issues aren't the same here as some parts of the country.)

 

Well I dunno if this machine has shift on the fly 4x4, but the Polaris Scrambler 500 is a nice 4x4 quad. Although its a 4x4 it's a sporty machine.

 

Go for the Polaris 700 EFI, since theyre very powerful, and have Polaris On-demand 4X4 (Shift-on-the-fly).

Ive also heard good things about Bombardier outlander 800 or 650 H.O. EFI. They have in my opinion, the best 4 wheel drive in the industry. Or if youre a light-weight (180-220lb) the Outlander 400 is for you.