Hello there, I'm new to the quad scene as well, the wifey decided we needed a quad (after years of begging). We will mainly use it for trial riding and pulling the kids in the snow, plus the occassional burst of speed every now and then. My only question thus far is should I go for a utility with 4X4, or will a sport model be sufficient for pulling family and friends around in the snow. We don't get alot of thick deep snow here, I'm talking around 6-8 inches is the most. I appreciate any advice and/or suggestions. Thanks.

 

If you don't really get that much snow, I think that 95% of the time you are going to be happier on a sport machine! Sport bikes are way lighter than utilities, and that is their huge advantage (350 to 375 pounds). Plus, they carry their weight lower to the ground, so they aren't as top heavy. And, they are wider than utilities, and therefore more stable in turns. Sport machines have better suspension as well. Their disadvantage is that they are 2wd and have lower ground clearance.

I have to say that I am disapointed in utility development! These things (in spite of an effort to make them more "sporty"), really show their "farm work tractor" heritage. The machines are just getting bigger and bigger (heavier and heavier), and the manufacturers insist on piling on more and more "features", until they have become ridiculous hulking beasts (most are 600 to 700+ pounds). What makes a good 4wd truck, aren't the same things that makes a good quad........the market hasn't seemed to catch on to that fact yet! But, sometimes you have to have high ground clearance and 4wd, and what they are selling is all that you have to choose from.

My personal choice in the utility category has been the Honda Rancher. It is mid size and lighter than the average ute, so at least it isn't the hulking beast that many utes are. In the future though, I will be selling my utes and switching to dirt bikes for technical riding in the mountains. (Keeping the sport bikes for the desert however!)

There is one in between machine that might work for you??? It is the Yamaha Wolverine. It is selectable 4wd, shows a lot of utility heritage, but at least it is lighter than the big bore utilities (but just as heavy as a Rancher). I personally don't care for its belt drive automatic trans, however. Its design is a half-hearted attempt, but it's a step in the right direction toward a true "hybrid" machine just the same (which is what most of the public actually needs).

 

Thanx a zillion for your input their reconranger. Quick question for ya's, is it Recon or is it Ranger?....lol. I prefer one, but respect both.......(just giving ya hell)

 

Actually, the reconranger thing came from my kids. We have a Honda Recon, and it is desert tan and looks kind of "military". The kids use to do a jody call when I was getting on the quad, so the name just kind of stuck...........