I'm planning on buying my first ATV in about a month and I need some advice from outside the people I'll be riding with. I'm mainly gonna be trail riding, but also on trails that may have mudholes three and four feet deep. I know about snorkeling and that, but I keep getting told that if I get anything other than an AC I'll be upset because nothing else can get through the holes. I looked at a Rancher 400AT and really like it and really like Hondas in general but is there any truth behind the AC being the almighty? Everyone I rode with last did have AC's and the one I rode was too and it did ride great but I just want some advice before I sign away my paychecks.

 

Theres more to atv'n then going thru big mud holes. But if thats your top priority, then yes the a/c has the ground clearance advantage over any honda.

 

Bingo -

Choosing the right utility quad is a difficult decision. For some (like me when I started) – we really don’t have the experience with ATV’s to fully know what we might end up useing it for – we just want to get into riding one. For others there is a more defined use and expectation. Some want to trail ride with friends or join clubs and make new friends, some want to use it as family recreation or some want it for hunting. And some owners are into more technical or competitive riding in mud or up mountains where a specific use helps dictate specific features or functionality. Unfortunetly many first time buyers do not look at the full lineup of different manufacturers before they buy and later find themselves regretting not doing that.

For the most part all of the major ATV brands are pretty close in areas of dependability and reliability, ease of maintenance, parts availability, performance, top speed etc etc. Some brands stand out slightly more then others but there is no cast in stone rule that says a Honda will out last a Kawasaki – truth is, more has to do with how you drive and care for the machine. I’ve seen plenty of trashed out Honda’s over the years. My brother has one that has been a POS lemon since day one. My cousin has a 98 Arctic Cat that looks and runs like new. Arctic Cats are always in the back of the pack - but they pass the broke down, stuck in the mud and tipped over quads on the trail.

Most important to the “right” machine is what you intend to use the machine for.

If you are like me then you want to have the best all around most useful machine that you never regret purchasing…ever.

A perfect ATV!

I wish they made one but they don’t! Way to many variables! The decision should be based on the full spectrum of what you intend to use it for - that deserves the most pre-purchase thought and attention.

There are so MANY uses - trail riding, hauling, mudding, swamping, mountain riding, transportation, recreation, riding together with friends, carrying a passenger, carrying loads of dirt, towing trailers, rock crawling.. I know one guy who’s specific and only use if his ATV is to ride it in Parades! His needs are way different as are the needs and options for all of these uses. But unless your really really lucky – you likely get to choose only one machine to meet all of your needs no matter how diverse they might be.

For us – I knew after the first ATV went over backwards with the wife and I on it – that we really needed a two rider ATV. Polaris, Bombardier and Arctic Cat make those. But since starting to deer hunt (which I NEVER thought I would do) my eyes have turned to a Arctic Cat TBX for its multi-function rack options and that rear box to carry my deer stand on. Not having any chance at getting that - I have taken full advantage of the MRP options using my Artic Cat TRV. A look at my PICs here will expose the over indulgence in accessories for my TRV with both hunting and ice fishing and other equipment attached there to. Again – who’d of thought! When I bought my first ATV I never imagined my using one for ice fishing or hunting - Never. Now look at it. 1st Runner up for the Beverly Hillbilly’s truck.

The point is – its all about Options and Flexibility and Specifications.

Not all ATV’s score high in all of these areas. I think Polaris has likely the 2nd best score in the O F S (Options and Flexibility and Specifications) area as they do have a few box choices, accessories and bag options and their specifications are pretty good – But first place has to go to Arctic Cat as their catalog of Speed Rack (MRP) options are 2nd to none and the flexibility to re-provision the machine for whatever mission is required is unmatched by any manufacturer. The Arctic Cats own the specifications area also with the best ground clearance, IRS and ruggedness over any other brand. In the 400 and 500 class of machines the Artic Cat is the value choice for two rider quads. Go out and price them. If your into arm pulling raw power the new 700 is outrageous in performance.

Ok – so I’m a little biased about the Arctic Cats. After previously owning 3 Polaris and 1 Honda I will claim a little expertise and beg a little leeway... I did put a lot of work into considering the O.F.S. of each brand BEFORE I bought the AC's.

Whatever quad you choose – just be sure to give it a LOT of thought and try to see how flexible each brand is going be and how satisfied you are going to be with your decision – when something you never dreamed of doing – turns out to be the true passion in your ATV riding.

Good luck!

 

Arctic Cat are Polaris are the best mudding machines on the market, however, as far as one being better than the other depends on the driver. Hardcore mudding is what we do with our machines at Busco Beach ATV park. Mostly AC and Polaris are what ride here. Polaris has a few features that the AC doesn't and the AC has a few features the Polaris doesn't. Overall they are equally as good. There are also other machines out there that do fine in the mud, but these two are the best. I would price them both and go with the cheapest, then drive it like you stole it!

 

The Arctic Cats win big time in the mud bogs, if you want to see some video's check out Arctic Chat under the ATV section, and the Video gallery. They snorkel them so the whole ATV is under water. Good luck and be sure to test drive first! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

went up against alot of really good machines in the mud and mine has been better then them all. there was only one that was better then me and that was a 6x6 with tracks [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] . and a couple others that were about as good cause they had vampires or some other hardcore pure mud tire on but for just my lil tires it is pretty much untouchable specially if you can handle it well in the mud.

 

Definantly AC over the Honda. You can put a little money into honda to help it out, but at that point you would just be equal with the AC stock.

 

Honda utility's are the most under featured and over-priced ATVs on the planet and are also the worst 4x4s of all the major players in the mud. Drum brakes,lack of a front differential locker, poor ground clearance, all make the Honda a poor choice IMO, especially against the Artic Cat 4x4.

 

Go with the Cat H1. If mud's really that important to you. Can't beat it.

DT