looking into buying a sport quad and a ute when i get back from this deployment (early 2010). for a ute, i would really prefer a simple machine. i have never owned a belt, or any full automatic for that matter. i have a top 3 right now of a honda foreman s, yamaha big bear 400, and polaris sportsman 300. i have done my research on paper, and plan to test ride these machines on my leave (which will be during winter, in wisconsin, so should be a decent abbreviated test of their attributes). It will be used for plowing snow, towing trailers around the yard and back 40, deer hunting, and some trail riding. i am looking to keep the price around 6500 max. i value any opinions and / or experiences with other who have or have ridden these quads, or have another quad they think would fit my needs.

 

From what you say you want to do I would say the Foreman. It uses an old school Over Head Valve air cooled engine and is manual shift. Since it's air cooled there is no worrying about coolant levels so that takes a bit of the maintence away. Plus, it's a Honda so you know it will last.

 

For that amount of money you could get a Polaris Sportsman 500 HO. Some of the best towing and toting numbers out there and the Fuji built 500 is as close to bulletproof as you can get. It would easily do everything that you talked about and more. We have almost 1500 miles on both our machines and had only 1 belt issue. It turns out my son was leaving it in high when he should have been putting it in low. Just a thought.

 

Also consider the Honda Rancher 420 (fuel injected and water cooled...this is a great engine)! While it does sound like you need mostly a work machine which the Foreman 500 is, one of the magazines was testing a Foreman and Rancher toghether, and they said the Rancher was way more "fun"! And, the base model Rancher is the best value for your dollar of anything on the market.....

 

ive seen one of my friends honda foremans those are nice the bombardier outlanders and renegade are nice machines.

 

having a '95 king quad 300, i am used to having diff lock if i need it (use it every year, a situation never fails to present itself at some point throughout the year). i am leaning towards a honda rancher or foreman because i am a firm believer in their reliability (have a 1984 trx 200, zero problems in 25 years of owning it), but the diff lock on the big bear and the true AWD system on the polaris are great features....still not completely decided

 

If you want a Foreman with a little more features than you could look at the Foreman Rubicon.

 

my mind was all but made up on the big bear 400, but after a few hours of researching actual people's experience and ownership of the rubicon, i am now being swayed back that direction. i am starting to think that the reliability of a honda will make up for the lack of diff lock and IRS. i have decided that price is not a factor anymore, but i still dont need the biggest quads. remember, i am used to a 280cc being all the power i have ever needed. any more opinions?

 

The Rancher 420AT has IRS, fuel injected, water cooled, and a totally unique gear-on-gear dual-clutch transmission. Check it out......

 

for 6500 you should get a rubicon. its pretty fast, but the hydro trans is the smoothest you will ever find. if you like deer hunting the rubicon is the quietest atv when you want it to be. i like it more than my rincon and outlander and dont think that the ride with a solid rear is as bad as people act