I am looking at buying my first ATV as I've only ridden family members ATVs up to this point. I plan on visiting some local shops and getting some first hand experience but I was recommended this site from another forum I participate in.

I just got back from a camping trip and rode family Honda Rubicons and Rincon. They were both fine for my riding.

We typically do trails, most mild, some pretty rugged IMO. I have no interest in high speed running. I think I topped the Rubicon out at 50 and that was more than enough for me....EVER.

I liked the Rincon's 2wd/4wd option and the independent suspension. On the rough trails the Rincon was much easier to handle then the Rubicon.

That said when I go to buy mine I am not stuck on any name brand. I like the Honda well enough but wonder if I should consider the Yamaha Grizzly or other brands (CAN-AM?).

I like the looks of the new Grizzly and the fact that it has a lockable differential, power steering, and indep suspension. I don't know that I like that belt driven transmission. The hondas appear to be a variable speed enclosed tranny. Seems more reliable to me. I would imagine that belt system could be a mess in mud and water.

Again these are a novice's opinions and may be completely wrong.

I'm looking for opinions on the different units. Leave the manufacture loyalties out of it please, unlike my Ford devotion I have zero when it comes to ATVs.

I'm looking for reliability first and foremost, features and comfort second and speed a distant third.

Thanks guys and gals....

Jim.
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First welcome to the forum second don't let a belt transmission scare you as Honda is the only manufacturer not using one but that will soon change as a belt transmission is so mutch easy'r to use than a old school cog tranny. You can put allot more power through a belt vs a cog tranny that is one of the main reasons most manufacturers are using them as well. If you are looking for a allarount quad the Grizz is hard to beat.You can look at allmost any big bore quad shootout and the Grizz will have won or came in a close second. But to each man his own you just need to sit and ride each and go with the one that feels best to you!!!!

 

The Grizzly 700 has a huge following and for good reason. If you are going to spend that much cash to buy a new big bore the Grizz is a wise choice. You can do a search and get more opinions on belt v gear trannies than one man can possibly tolerate. I look at what is winning in the mud competitions if it bothers you that much, and it is almost exclusively belt driven machines. Mud and water CAN be an issue for any quad, and not just the tranny. The ones made in the last 5 years or so have proven very reliable when properly maintained. Not sure I agree with Dodge57HEMI on what style can be built to accept more HP/torque before failure, but that is a different topic, lol.

 

I've seen thread after thread about belt driven vs the rest and it really seems like it is beating a dead horse. I know on the truck site I'm a regular participate in we old timers are sick of seeing the same topics over and over so I apologize for posting the same drivel you guys have seen a 1000 times over. Unfortunately in this forum I'm the noob so I appreciate the feedback.

I've seen posts about belt driven guys having to stop and "gear down" in order to climb hills and frankly that is odd to me, not sure I understand that. Is is really a point where you have to stop and go into a low gear to climb hills or is this a case of over blowing an issue when really you can climb 90% of the hills you find but that 10% gets all the attention.

My only first hand experiences are on the rubicon and rincon and they both are nice though I like them both for different reasons.

Frankly I've been told over and over that "yea the honda won't outrun the others but it will run forever". Being an IT guy with little practical mechanical skills other than the basic automotive stuff, reliability is important to me.

I love the looks of the Rincon but the Grizzly looks great too. I like the power steering option, especially for the wife who will occasionally go riding. I'll go out this weekend and take a look around but sitting on a ATV in the show room can't compare to running a trail.

Thanks for the welcome and putting up with just another noob. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Time to shop around and see what you like ans what fits your budget.

The "gear down' thing is no different from any quad that has a Hi and Lo range. I rode an Eiger for six years - 5-speed so it's gear driven, no belts. However, sometimes you hit that really steep hill or deep mud hole and it's time to shift into Lo range. You still have to stop to change grear ranges - no matter if you have a belt drive or not. With my Can-Am (belt drive automatic) 99% of my riding is in Hi range. I'll use Lo if I'm slogging through a thick mud hole - it's just smarter and better for the machine.

Reliability on all the major brands of quads is very good. Maybe 20 years ago there was a measurable difference between Honda's and all the others but no longer. Competition is fierce and one major area is reliability. I'd have no qualms aroug reliability of any of the mojor brands out there.

Unless you really want all the features or if money is no object, it sounds like you should be looking in the 400-500cc range. ATV's of this size are in the $5K to $6K price range compared to $7.5K to $10K+ for the big bores.

BTW, if power steering is attractive for the wife, keep in mind that not only does the Griz have it but it's also available on the Honda Foreman 500. To date, those are the only two with power steering.

Jaybee

 

Do you think the foreman will be able to hang with the rubicon and rincons that the guys I will be riding with will have.

PS for the wife is on the list of features but frankly down the list. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I posted a question a couple of weeks ago asking what to get after my Rincon 680 (finally decided a Brute Force 750i was the way to go but not got it yet) and the reason I wanted to change was because I wanted more power.
I can honestly say that if I was in your position and speed/power was not the big issue I would have the Rincon. I said at the time that it was a great machine and was only contemplating a change to get a more powerful machine.
I absolutely love the 'clutchless' gear change you do by hand and the way you sit so comfortably in the machine rather than on it. It is still a very powerful machine.
Having said all that, I'm a complete novice myself.
Good luck with your decision. I know from experience that the more people you ask the more confused you'll get!!

 

The Foreman will have no trouble hanging with the Rubicons - both are 500 cc machines and the Rubi is suspended more like a ute than a sport ute. the bigger Rincon will be faster.......but........it really depends on what kind of trails you are riding and how your friends ride. When I rode my Eiger (376cc) with my brother on his Prairie 650, there was no question that his bike was much faster than mine. However, on the tight woods trails that we typically ride, both machines were basically equal. The bigger bike could only distance itself on open fireroads.

Jaybee

 

Empire - you are right, the more you talk the more you get confused but....

I am learning more and more for every poster, tidbits here and there, even if they are passing comments that seem innocuous to some, the comments spark questions for me to consider. In the end I know I have to make the choice myself as there is no "right" answer, but going in with as much information as possible is better than walking in and depending on one salesman and their knowledge, or lack thereof, to make my decision.

Jay, I kinda figured my limit was around 8k though 5k is a lot more attractive and with that price I could get the trailer, gear, etc.

As for the guys I ride with, you have one or two speed freaks who like 50ish but most ride around 25 -30 tops and often we are under 10 on the hard trails. I've been to 50 once and I can tell you, the idea of 50 on a ATV isn't all that attractive to me. My wife, my kids, and my life are more important to me than ***** to the wall speed. I look like the wuss of the group rolling up 30 seconds after they reach the end but they've both wrecked hard and I never have. (Knock on wood)

I'm currently leaning between Rincon and the Grizzly. (I tend to buy the best even when I don't need it, which is stupid) but so far these two seem like the best of the group. I am going to consider the Foreman now whereas before it wasn't even clicked on when I browsed Honda's site. Off for more forum browsing and reading [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Of the two machines you have thought about the two things I don't like about the Rincon that is no low gear for crawling (yes I know it has a low first but not low enough) and no EFI compared to a Grizz! JFYI [img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img]