Hi everyone, I am new to these forums and love what I see so far seems like alot of you really know your stuff. Anyways I am looking at buying a new atv and am just looking for a little advice. I have been looking at the Polaris Hawkeye 300 4x4 and also been looking at the Artic Cat atv's. I learned how to ride on an old Polaris Trailblazer 250 years ago so I still classify myself as a rookie rider. Do you guys think the polaris 300cc engine has enough power or should i look at something bigger. I am 5' 11" 225Lbs. I plan on mainly trail riding and using it a little for hunting and maybe a plow. Any input would be greatly appreciated. If you think there would be a better model out there that would be better i am open to suggestions. I would liked to keep the price around $5000.

 

i would look at a 350/400cc class machine if i were you
i would take a look at the suzuki eiger, honda rancher, yamaha bruin, kawi prairie 360, as well as the hawkeye
i think some of these machines are a little over $5000 though
go to your dealer and test ride a few different machines to find the one that feels the best to you, every quad has its pos/neg aspects
good luck

 

I'd look in the 400 and up class. Plenty choices in that size range. Outlanders, Eigers, Foremans, Kodiaks etc........all pretty good and reliable quads.

 

Hey Bob,

my wife has a Kawa Prarie 300 4x4 and have never run into a problem of not enough power on the trails...
We ride mostly hils (some of them are fairly steep), wooded trailes some mud out at the Land Between
the Lakes in Ky.. don't know about the plowing, but if it wern't for that I'd say the 300 is plenty of power.
Depending on how close you want to be to that $5000.00 mark, you shold be able to find a new
400cc for right at $5,000.00 . also find a dealer that isnt going to add those phony charges to the sale
like set up fee, or dealer prep.. good luck in your search

 

First - I think using a quad for hunting changes everything.

My Polaris is a camo-remington special edition and its not a very good machine compared to Arctic Cat with plug-in rack-adapt options in carrying my hunting equipment.

Choosing the right utility quad is a difficult decision. For some (like me when I started) – we really don’t have the experience with ATV’s to fully know what we might end up useing it for – we just want to get into riding one. For others there is a more defined use and expectation. Some want to trail ride with friends or join clubs and make new friends, some want to use it as family recreation or some want it for hunting. And some owners are into more technical or competitive riding in mud or up mountains where a specific use helps dictate specific features or functionality. Unfortunetly many first time buyers do not look at the full lineup of different manufacturers before they buy and later find themselves regretting not doing that.

For the most part all of the major ATV brands are pretty close in areas of dependability and reliability, ease of maintenance, parts availability, performance, top speed etc etc. Some brands stand out slightly more then others but there is no cast in stone rule that says a Honda will out last a Kawasaki – truth is, more has to do with how you drive and care for the machine. I’ve seen plenty of trashed out Honda’s over the years. My brother has one that has been a POS lemon since day one. My cousin has a 98 Arctic Cat that looks and runs like new. Arctic Cats are not fast and some say always in the back of the pack - but they pass the broke down, stuck in the mud and tipped over quads on the trail.

Most important to the “right” machine is what you intend to use the machine for.

If you are like me then you want to have the best all around most useful machine that you never regret purchasing…ever.

A perfect ATV! I wish they made one - but they don’t!

Way to many variables! Your decision should be based on the full spectrum of what you intend to use it for - that deserves the most pre-purchase thought and attention.

There are so MANY uses - trail riding, hauling, mudding, swamping, mountain riding, transportation, recreation, riding together with friends, carrying a passenger, carrying loads of dirt, towing trailers, rock crawling.. I know one guy who’s specific and only use if his ATV is to ride it in Parades! His needs are way different as are the needs and options for all of these uses. But unless your really really lucky – you likely get to choose only one machine to meet all of your needs no matter how diverse they might be.

For us – I knew after the first ATV went over backwards with the wife and I on it – that we really needed a two rider ATV. Polaris, Bombardier and Arctic Cat make those. But since starting to deer hunt (which I NEVER thought I would do) my eyes have turned to a Arctic Cat TBX for its multi-function rack options and that rear box to carry my deer stand on. Not having any chance at getting that - I have taken full advantage of the MRP options using my Artic Cat MRP rackage. A look at my PICs here will expose the over indulgence in accessories for my TRV with both hunting and ice fishing and other equipment attached there to. Again – who’d of thought! When I bought my first ATV I never imagined my using one for ice fishing or hunting - Never. Now look at it. 1st Runner up for the Beverly Hillbilly’s truck.

The point is – its all about Options and Flexibility and Specifications.

Not all ATV’s score high in all of these areas. I think Polaris has likely the 2nd best score in the O F S (Options and Flexibility and Specifications) area as they do have a few box choices, accessories and bag options and their specifications are pretty good –

But first place has to go to Arctic Cat as their catalog of Speed Rack (MRP) options are 2nd to none and the flexibility to re-provision the machine for whatever mission is required is unmatched by any manufacturer. The Arctic Cats own the specifications area also with the best ground clearance, IRS and ruggedness over any other brand. In the 400 and 500 class of machines the Artic Cat is the value choice for single and two rider quads. Go out and price them. If your into arm pulling raw power the new 700 is outrageous in performance.

As I said - I hunt with my machine. This means I'm not on ATV trails and I'm often a ways from anyone else. And it means that I'm carrying everything with me. Tree stands, bows, arrows, food, dry clothing, rain gear, back packs, fanny packs, electronics, ropes, knives, lanterns, stoves, water sometimes sleeping bags and tents.... geesh - a pickup truck load of stuff! but with the plug-in Arctic Cat baskets, equipment racks, tool holders, bags, boxes - well.. its all there - SECURE - and functional. And towing a trailer! (gotta have something to haul that buck back with..)

Ok – so I’m a little biased about the Arctic Cats. After previously owning 3 Polaris and 1 Honda I will claim a little expertise and beg a little leeway... I did put a lot of work into considering the O.F.S. of each brand BEFORE I bought the AC's.

Whatever quad you choose – just be sure to give it a LOT of thought and try to see how flexible each brand is going be and how satisfied you are going to be with your decision.

Good luck!

 

previous post makes many good points ,only addition from my perspective and experience is to shop non-current [new,1 or 2 year olds] for best price pointing, a little leg work can save you major dollars[ you might also have to drive a little too] i have both suzuki and ac machines, both are fine choices across the boards....

 

I own a cat, and couldnt of asked for anything more that i would need for this atv. The Speedrack is amazing, definately un matched, along with ground clearance, independent suspension, diff lock, and power (I love the V-Twin)!

 

Thanks for the advice everyone I just want to make sure I get something that I wont have to turn around and upgrade to something bigger a couple years down the road. The advice you give is greatly appreciated since I still consider myself a rookie at this. Anything else you can tell me to help me with this decision is greatly appreciated. I have been thinking about maybe looking at used atvs(1-2 years old) so I can be a bigger machine. Do you think I will have trouble finding a good used ATV that isnt to beaten up? Thank you everyone for your help.

 

bob as stated in my earlier, look at noncurrents[these are new, but not current model year], why buy used when you can connect on a new machine w/warrantee for same money or substantially less in some cases, for example my 05 tbx/400 was $2100 under list[and unless your a power freak you would never need more machine from an engine standpoint] and i dont think the 06 was substantially a different bike, a no brainer........

 

I agree - try and find a new left over 05. There was a 05 400TBX on ebay a few weeks ago and they DIDN'T SELL at $4700.
I missed it by hours. Could have shot myself over missing out. And it was a local dealer to boot! Just shoot me.

I know first hand that guys take these machines out and beat the living crap out of them and then go trade them in or sell them on ebay or the newspaper. Its hard to ID a machine thats been at the bottom of some lake and rinsed out well. I was on a two day 300 mile ride that one fellow did everything bad and abusive the the machine possible - becuase he was trading it in on Monday. The good news is - it was a Arctic Cat and it was still running when we got back on Sunday.

I don't see many people selling GOOD used ATV's. Why would you do that? LOL - Ok I've sold a few extremely well taken cared of machines and the buyers were the luckiest people in town but I think thats pretty rare.