I have been riding atv's all my life since I was 7. I currently have a 98 Sportsman 500 that is lifted, wide tires,winch, and so on. My wife finally said I can get four wheelers for my sons. My oldest likes to mud more than anything else and he is overly cautious so I am not worried about the size of it as long as its within reason. Please provide some feedback on what is out there, pros and cons, and what you wish you knew then that you now know. He is 12 and is very athletic and tall. I myself go 6'6 300 so he is a big kid.

The other son is 8 and We are looking at either getting a matching 90 Sportsman or similar bike.

I have narrowed my choice on the 4x4 models to Magnum 330, Sportsman 400, or Rancher 350.

I love my Sportsman but grew up riding Honda 3 wheelers so I tend to like them also.

Please help me with this decision.

 

I've no experience with polaris myself, but 2 friends have had them & had many problems. Based on that I personally wouldn't consider a polaris. Of the choices you list, that leaves the Rancher which would be a well handling quad with a better reliability record although they are a bit mellow.

 

If this is the size range that you are considering for your 12 year old, I'd make a big part of my decision based on the weight of the ATV. I too, have a 12 year old (13 in a few weeks). He has 7 years riding experience and is about 5 1/2' tall (and growing daily). The thing is, he weighs about 110. Currently he sometimes still rides a TRX 90, even though he's getting a little big for it. He fits much better on an Ozark 250, and I think that size will last him for a while. I feel pretty comfortable with him on the Ozark, as it weighs right at 400 lbs - he can control it with his weight. Size wise, he will fit on our Eiger (he is as tall as his mom after all) but at 600 lbs, I feel that the Eiger is too much machine for him to handle yet if he got into a difficult off-camber type situation. So of your three choices, I'd say the Rancher by far, however it could be worth a look at a Recon, Ozark or the 250EX, 250Z sport versions of the same.

You don't mention the experience level of the 8 year old, but most 90's can be restricted if needed. Most kids are growing out of the 50cc size by eitht years old so I'd take your pick of the available 90's.

Jaybee

 

I have considered lesser size bikes but I haven't found a 4x4 in them. If there is one out there please let me know.

 

If your looking at 350cc models I would look at the Yamaha Bruin, my roomate has one and he is 21, and prob 220lbs and he likes it very much. They are the lightest 4x4 quad in the 350 class and they are very inexpensive. I have rode It and I am looking at buying one for farm use and the girlfriend to ride. Everytime you get on the throttle it seems like there is tons of power. I think its a great quad and worth a look.

 

Wolvy with a Warn 424 kit

 

Id go with the wolverine for size. Its the smallest 4x4 and the lightest. It is also quick for a 350

--------------------
04 Honda Rubicon
03 Kawasaki Prairie 360 4x4
01 Yamaha wolverine FMF pipe. K&N exaust. warn 1500. moose fender extensions. oxlite boot guards maier hand guards and full running boards.

 

Used- Timberwolf 250 4x4. (same as Beartracker 250 & Bruin 250 but a 4x4)
Suzuki Quadrunner 250 4x4
Artic Cat 250 4x4 (also new)

New- Artic Cat 250 4x4


350's- Wolverine, Bruin, Outlander (330) and Rancher.

 

I was going to say if you don't mind used.
Polaris had an Xplorer 4X4 250 uptill 02 i think thats a nice small 4X4 auto ATV.

 

i would say go for the sportsman 400 because:
1. you already own a 500 so you are familiar with the workings/maintenance
2. your son likes to mud and the sportsman is good at that
3. the honda rancher is rather small and it sounds like your son would outgrow it quickly
4. get the 90 sportsman along with the 400 and talk them into a good package deal.