I am wondering what features are needed on a new 4x4 atv. I will be using it to push snow in the winter and do yard work in the summer and to always play on. Do you need IRS? Do you need a locking front axle? Do you need a winch? Do I need a big bore machine? What other features are also good to have? Please give your thoughts and input on other things that are possibally needed.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

67gto,

Unless you have a friend who always rides with you and is willing to pull you out then I would say yes, a winch would be wise. You can also come up with other things to use the winch on when you are doing your yardwork and it can be used to lift your plow, I know you can get the lift handle but they tend to break with usage.

IRS or solid axle, well I have ridden IRS for a long time and now I ride a solid axle and noticed it rode stiffer but it does not squat when I hook a meat wagon to it. So it is upto you on that one.

Locker up front? I use mine for rock crawling and pulling heavy loads up steep hills and would not own a quad without one. Some people disagree over wether you need one or not saying they go anywhere a locker can go and that is true to a point, but it depends on what you are actually going to do with it. The locker is a bugger to steer.

Big bore/ Do you mean 500 and up? I have a Kodiak450(421cc) and it does everything I require of it but I also did everything I do with it with a King Quad (280cc) but it had lots of gear options to get the job done. Which leads me to add one other thing to your list, LOW GEAR capabilities. A must for plowing heavy wet snow or pulling heavy loads or deep mud.

What about transmissions? Are your partial to shifting or just put it in gear and go? Manaul is nice to take advantage of the low end grunt and shifting is fun but it is nice to put it in gear and only have to worry about giving it gas. Beltdriven are very realible as long as you use low for the heavy and thick stuff and the belt will last you along time.

Now what are your brand preferences? I am thinking you have something in mind?

What about tires? Are you doing serious playing?(Thick bottomless mud) If so you might want to add a set of mud tires like 589's or MudLites or whatever else thatstrikes your fancy, if you do I would go bigger to get the added clearance and yes you will lose some speed with larger tires.

Ah, more questions. Hope I helped some.

AlaskaBoy.

 

Thanks Alaskaboy. I do have a few in mind but I do not want to name brands because of the brand bashing that goes on. I am looking at 400ci and up models though. I do not think I will be in very deep mud, but you never know. I am also wondering about the belt driven trans. I rode manual shift quads in the sand growing up and do not mind shifting, but now that I am older and married, I want something that I can take my kids on and that my wife could also ride (when I let her, that is).

 

Don't be a girlyman ! Go ahead and bash some brands, that's what this is all about !

Good advice AlaskaBoy, all good.

Spud

 

The main thing I wanted was a selectable 4x4. It all depends on where and how you ride.

 

coyote,

Forgot that one, selectable fourwheel drive is very important unless you have arms like Governor Arnold to help steer it all day.

Bashing does happen, try to read between the lines and use the search mode to get more info on the one you think. 400 is plenty of enough power.

AlaskaBoy.

 

Do you think the 660 grizzly is worth the extra money or is the 450 kodiak a better buy? I do like the idea of having selectable 2 or 4wd. What other brands offer selectible 2 and 4wd, have a high and low gear and also have a locking axle?

 

I think COMFORT is one of the biggies!

 

67gto,

I looked at the Grizzly and it is a nice machine but in my case it was over 8 grand compared to 6700 for the Kodiak 450 and I realy enjoy it. A solid axle does ride stiffer. I have heard that the Grizzly is tippy but that has been said of the 450 and depending on the situation that is true, learn to ride them and you will have no problems.( You just have to know your limits, when in doubt don't do it)

Comfort is a nice option for trailriding but I crank the shocks up to max to carry heavy loads so I throw out the comfort mode.

As for any other quads that offer in and out selectable with a locker I can not think of another quad at this time but there must be one out there.

The Kodiak450 rides like a sport quad until you put in 4x4 mode then it is all work. The belt drive is very nice feature, I thought it would be a problem and it was at first due to a vent tube being off but after re-hooking it up it has been flawless. There is no noticable noises on engagement or disengaging and it almost does away with the need to use brakes and like I said before by using the low gear range the belt will last forever and hopefully the dealer was not lying because the belt runs 200 bucks compared to the 40 or so for the others.

I have the same features as the Grizzly except for the IRS that I can tell and saved about 1700 to 2000.

AlaskaBoy.

 

Another quad you haven't talked about is the P650 or P700 Kawasaki Prairie. Low center of gravity, has a real solid, planted feel in corners and hill traverse....has all the features you've talked about plus real good engine braking for downhill....I don't use my brakes much....has a great engine...I like the belt drive, it's easy to maintain.