Wanting to know if anyone can relate these two bikes. i currently own a 1992 Honda 300 4x4 and am looking into a AC 300 4x4. Speed? Hill Climbing? Mudding? Maitenance? Arctic cat Service? Also for people in Canada how does $154 a month including tax for 60 months sound for a 2001 AC 300 4x4? Please help out? Thanks

 

Got experience with Hondas and a friend with a 3oo Cat. The Arctic cat handles/rides better, seems to have either more power or at least gears matched to the power better. Hi/Lo is nice, Hi/Med/Lo is almost overkill, but always has a gear for the situation. Arctic Cat also has higher top speed. Hill climbing - depends. Honda seems to be lower, less likely to flip, but the Cat suspension follows ground contours better & seems to have a little more clearance.
Mud - no idea
Maintanence - both are about as easy as it gets
Reliability - Honda has a reputation for long life - A/C seems good but only time will tell.
Service is all up to your local dealer. Hope this helps,
Farmr

 

Honda has reliabilty covered but I like my 300 cat, much better suspension, high/low/superlow can't be beat, & with a little tinkering lockable front dif for true 4WD.

 

i dont know what they cost but isnt 9 thousand dollars alot for a quad? especially a 300 .i dont know the differnce between canadian and american on the dollar but thats alot of money for any 300

 

I have a 2000 AC 250, I bought it from Brad which is probably the same dealer you are looking at. As for the dealer he is probably the best around to deal with, the others could care less if they get your buisness, as for my bike which has the same engine as the 300 only the 300 has been modified to get the extra 50cc, the engine is great; quiet, smooth, enough power. A word of advice don't let it leave the showroom without the boot gaurds because you will split a boot, which I did and let it go for a while, It eventually cost me over $300 to get it fixed along with having to get new brakes after 7 months which cost $100, tomorrow I have to take it in to get my electrical checked out because the bike won't start and my lights are going crazy. My girlfriend has the same bike she also had a torn boot, other than that it has been pretty good. I don't drive my bike hard but I don't drive it easy either, I drive it like they are made to be driven, but I don't abuse it. Would I buy another one of these bikes? Probably not. Would I buy a 400 or 500? maybe, reason being they have a straight axle where there is less to go wrong. Actually if my electrical is messed up real bad I will probably get rid of the thing.

 

I have both quads and this is MY opinion. Speed wise they are about dead even, the AC is one or two mph faster. Hill climbing, AC. Mudding, the AC has a unfair advantage with the locking front axel, so its not even close. Maintenance, change oil and clean the air filter. Arctic Cat service, I don't know, over 2,000 miles and been to the dealer yet. I have had great luck with the AC and good luck with the Honda.

 

The 300 4x4 should sell for around $6000.00 Cdn . I bought a 400 4x4 for $6700.00 in Windsor N.S. in April but I priced the 300 and in April on a 2000 model it was $6000.00 I am told that the top speed on the bike is between 35 and 40 MPH and that the 5th gear is to low and does,t pull that well. Having said that, you get fully independant rear suspension,3 speed sub tranny and a front differential that is easily modified to lock.These features combined are not available on any other Quad. I had a hard time deciding between the 300 and the 400. As far as Honda goes the new 350 is a great improvement over the old 300 but it lacks a low range tranny and has a solid rear axle and the stock tires are not as good as the Titan 489,s that come on the Cats. For me the low range tranny is a huge deal. I do a lot of trails that are quite rough and speeds can,t go over 5-10 MPH. This would be a real pain without some gear choices. The Honda would be in first alot and second alot and lacking power in second due to very low RPM,s and screaming in first. That alone pushed me off the Honda and into the AC. The upside of the Honda is resale and an awsome reputation for quality. The AC so far seems very good but it is still to early to tell. If the Honda had a 2 speed sub tranny I would probably have gone that way instead. I love my Cat and have no regrets, sorry for being so long winded but I anguished over the same decision as you for 2 months. Hope I was of some help.

Cheers Jim

 

We are soon going to get a new ATV, my dad and I really like the AC's. We think a 400 would fit us perfectly. We want one around a 1997-1999. that will be about $4000-$5000.
We will use it for Mud trails(mostly), dirt trails, very bumpy trails, pulling things, plowing snow ect.
What is the AC400 a limited-slip differential??...how fast does it go??

 

Thanks jason24,
Can I ask you did you finance the 250 or buy the bike with cash. If you did finance it how did it work out. Could the bike be easily bargained at Brad's or is he pretty strict with the prices?
Also where do you ride in Cape Breton? What are the best places to ride? I've been in the highlands and have done some of the Mabou rail trail. I mostly ride in the Leitches Creek and Frenchvale area.
Thanks

 

Yes I did finance it, and it worked out pretty well. When I bought my bike he came down $300 at that time the 300 was $6300, He did have a deal on the 400 for $6700 with winch included if that deal is still on you would be better off going for that, and you will find a big difference between the 300 and 400. I mostly ride on the outskirts of sydney in Mira, Louisbourg, and Birch Grove.