Hello all.

Newer to ATV riding, I was convinced to get a 400 arctic cat auto, but the wife sat on it and was way too intimidated.

So now i have to start from scratch:

I would like a sporty Utility ATV, I will not be doing any work with this, I just need the 4wd for riding in winter and making a mess in mud.

We would like to find something that we could both ride (hence the need for a smaller size), but would like to be able to ride 2up.

We live in MN, so i want to hit spider lake, etc. The top speed doesnt matter as much, i would like something that handles pretty well, decent clearence (not tippy). I really love the idea of the new Sport Utility Wolverine, but I am pretty sure that you cant ride 2up on that.

What would you guys recommend?

 

sorry - the reason she didnt liek the arctic cat was because it was 'like straddling a geo metro"


she doesnt mind my bro in laws 2004 ac thats about 4-6" shorter. but unfortunately there arent any more new non current 2004's runnign around.

 

I love the Arctic Cat, but i like to climb over EVERYTHING[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] I also love Spider Lake, ive been riding and hunting there fro 13 yrs. I would check out a 450 Grizzly as my next choice.

 

I think polaris and canam make 4-500 class 2 up atv's. Just me but I woudlnt ride 2 up unless the atv was designed to do it. Especially with my wife. I wouldn't want her to fall off or get hurt because she didnt have the proper places to rest her feet or grab on to. my $.02

 

I would check out the 450 Yamaha also,its a smaller framed 450 with the wolverine engine but must have a nicer ride with its IRS suspension plus it has racks.

 

If you ride 2 up then get a 2 up machine or maybe even the new polaris razer side by side. The razor is almost the same size as a utility quad but you sit side by side. Very cool machine. This way either both or just one can ride in comfort but still ride the same places as the rest of the quads.

 

Yamaha Grizzly 450 4x4. Amazing machine. I owned one and felt like I could do anything on it (until I rode my dad's Kawasaki Brute Force). For inexperienced riders, it's the perfect quad.

 

check into the Vinson. that was my first purchase since i worked on the farm in NE!!

i did the reaserch checked the #'s and tested out 4-5 different ATV's before our purchase! me and my wife can fit on the Vinson great. it pulls us both with ease! i compare the Vinson to driving a jacked up 1ton 4x4! it's stable, and built strong.

i was set on a Forman till a friend let me test his Eiger (vinson's little brother) alittle bit. so then i started checking into the vinson! i was hooked and sold with one ride!

and mechanical wise then Vinson has the highest #s of the 500 class atv's!
-493 (actual cc, compared to Forman's 473cc)
-10.2:1 compression (better for towing and pulling a load, better acceleration, compared to Forman's 8.9:1)
-solid suspension!

the only thing i'd say it was lacking was a diff lock........BUT Suzuki's limited slip diff is AWSOME, when i put it in 4x4 i have yet to have them unlock when pulling threw the mud!!

 

Solid rear axle and no locking differential were what made me choose the Kodiak over the Vinson.

 

this is true, and YES i wanted a locking diff.........after talking to a Suzuki tech he said that the new suzuki atvs have a redesigned limited slip diff, and that i WOULDN'T be dissapointd not having a diff lock!

i'v had the front tires digging hard and they have yet to unlock! i've pulled while turning (although tough) they still stayed locked! even our friends w/ the 660 Griz asked if i'd installed a locker. even they noticed that when i was digging threw the holes, and climing and pulling the front didn't skip a beat!

as for the solid rear axle, yea it does ride rougher (i compare the bike to a lifted 1ton 4x4)! but i've seen where it's more stable also! once again that propably falls into a "personal choice"! but i've cleared everything that our friends Grizz has cleared!