The book calls for a oil change after the 1st 100 miles and every 300 miles afterwards. I think this is resonable.

 

I think you need to put it into perspective. If you drove your truck/car the way you drove your ATV it would die a miserable death. I have a very tough and well built/fixed up dakota but if I drove it at full speed as much as I do my cat, towed right at the max weight all the time like my cat does, rode around in mud fender deep, tossed it into corners hard, played in the sand, JUMPED it it would die. We do all these things with our cats so yes they need some extra maintence. 300 miles for an oil change is very reasonable to me. I have a friend with a polaris that is ragged out. Rust, never been lubed,broken stuff like fenders, bent bars, bent rims, has no brakes, and the list goes on and on. He won't pay 50 bucks for new pads but he will go spend 6000 grand for a new bike. Bottom line is some guys love their stuff and others don't care. me I love to work on my trucks and quads even when they don't need it. I don't have alot of time usually but you can bet I'll be up late this Friday night after work changing the brakes and oil(even if it is 50 miles early) on my dad's 400 and my 500 cat so we can go riding Saturday and Sunday together. I just enjoy doing it. Sorry to rant and rave here but I have a passion for automobiles and ATVs. Take care of your stuff and it will take care of you. Like I tell my students, "If you don't start taking care of business then business is going to start taking care of you."

Dakota R/T

 

Amen, I skipped a ride Sunday to take care of this first sevice, had the dealer do all but the fluids and I did the rest, glad I did to, found the front diff barely had any fluid in it. You hit the nail on the head with your "take of your equipment and it will take care of you" statement.