I'm ready to get a utility quad in the next few weeks and I've narrowed it down to three. This is my first quad, and I have little exp. on them. The Honda Rancher AT, Kodiak 450, or Polaris 450. I was settled on the Polaris until my friend in NC said stay away, lots of various problems from people he knows there. The Honda doen't seem to have any real low end power for working around my house (pulling trees, snow plowing). Have not heard anything much on the Kodiak. I would prefer the Polaris or Yamaha, as they are 450's and the Honda is a 400. I'll be using it for mainly trail riding, no mudding (not on purpose anyway), and some work around my house. I' 6'1 and 185. Oh yeah, I also want it with automatic tranny. Thanx for the help!!

 

I wouldnt get any of those. But if i had to it would be the Kodiak. My Dad has a 2000, and has had no problems yet. So it seems like a decent ATV.

 

I don't like automatics, so I personally wouldn't pick any of these. My other bias is that I wouldn't pick any Polaris, as I have seen a lot of problems with them. I don't think that company has really ever gotten their act together, either in terms of quality or simplicity of design.

Of the other two choices, the AT has a reputation for having no low end power, but I do like Rancher handling. My buddies Kodiak seems a little narrow and tippy to me.

 

Have you looked at the Suzuki Eiger 400? It is a very good machine. It has a Hi/Lo subtrans so you have plenty of low end pulling power and it can get on down the trail at a nice rate of speed too. I got the Auto because of problems from an old ankle break 8 years ago. Don't know why I hadn't switched sooner. You put it in gear and never miss a shift again. Fun trail rig and good workhorse, cleaning up after Katrina proved that. Give it a look.

 

I agree with Mr DEERHAWK, The Suzuki Eiger, the low range will climb a telephone pole plus it has a limited slip front axle, you cannot get it stuck, its a work horse it will pull anything, I was using my Eiger to scrape up 4 inch thick blacktop from my driveway hooked up a angled metal plate under the blacktop and chained it to the Eiger and it pulled it up just as fast as a D9 bulldozer, peeled up the blacktop like peeling a banana. It will also pull my full size pickup truck with the wheels locked up on the truck. Im looking for new and heavier things it won't pull, never found it yet.

 

Thanx for the Eiger info. Gonna give that one a look see also.

 

Well I would get kodiak 450 the polaris 450 you have to put it in low gear to go up steep hills which is a pain in the a** to me and the honda has a swing arm in the back but paying for the price for the 450 polaris you should add a little more money and get a polaris 500HO and it comes in the same colors as the 450 polaris.

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