Need advice on buying my first ATV
Apr 20, 2012 | 08:08 AM
#1
Thread Starter
|
Weekend Warrior
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Need advice on buying my first ATV
Hey guys, although I grew up around 3 wheelers and quads (northern ontario) I've never owned one. Most of my riding time was on a sled, I've driven a quad maybe a few dozen times, mostly to haul wood and other work stuff.
Anyways, we're purchasing a 23 acre spread in the northern Toronto area and I'll need something to haul wood out of the bush as we're planning on using the wood burning stove as much as possible to cut down on oil costs. Secondary to a work horse it will also be to run around the property, get us to the pond and river at the back of the property, the odd excursion, kid rides (4 and 7 years old) etc...
I'm not planning on a plow, we have a small driveway I can hand shovel so most important is the work feature of a trailer and hauling capabilities.
Anyways, we're purchasing a 23 acre spread in the northern Toronto area and I'll need something to haul wood out of the bush as we're planning on using the wood burning stove as much as possible to cut down on oil costs. Secondary to a work horse it will also be to run around the property, get us to the pond and river at the back of the property, the odd excursion, kid rides (4 and 7 years old) etc...
I'm not planning on a plow, we have a small driveway I can hand shovel so most important is the work feature of a trailer and hauling capabilities.
Apr 20, 2012 | 11:46 PM
#2
Trailblazer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: South GA
here's what i posted in another thread. you might find some of it helpful.
i'd rather have my 16 year old polaris sportsman 500 or my 15 year old honda recon 250 before i got a brand new knock off quad.
if your looking for something reliable. you absolutely cannot kill a honda.
best bank for your buck i think is polaris. and they're pretty tough to boot.
Kawasaki's are good too from what i've seen. (rode with a few all last summer)
i know yamaha makes some awesome sport atv's but i havent been around their utility atvs enough to have an opinion.
Can-am's are bad *** but you pay a good bit for it. their base model outlander 500 is $7800 where the base model polaris sportsman 500 is $6200.
also, like anything else buying used will save you money. just dont go jump on the first POS that rolls by. make sure you check it over THOROUGHLY. and if you find anything the seller didnt mention use it as leverage in price negotiation.
if you have a little mechanical know how you can build your older used quad to be just as good and in many cases better than a brand new one off the show floor for much cheaper.
for my sportsman, when it's all said and done i'll have just under 3k in it. that is the cost of the atv, wheels and tires, quite a few oem replacement parts, and good bit of upgrades.
3k and having an atv exactly the way i want it sounds a lot better than 6k or better for a completely stock quad that i'm have to put another 1500 in to get it how i want.
if you buy used just make sure you buy one that is worth having. like i said earlier, dont buy the first pile of junk someone's dumping. when you go to look at one try not to want it right this second (hard to do, i know). try not to get so excited about getting one that you unintentionally overlook some important issues. I've learned my lesson on that.
just shop around. any major brand quad will be worth having. new and used one's that havent been neglected and beat.
if your looking for something reliable. you absolutely cannot kill a honda.
best bank for your buck i think is polaris. and they're pretty tough to boot.
Kawasaki's are good too from what i've seen. (rode with a few all last summer)
i know yamaha makes some awesome sport atv's but i havent been around their utility atvs enough to have an opinion.
Can-am's are bad *** but you pay a good bit for it. their base model outlander 500 is $7800 where the base model polaris sportsman 500 is $6200.
also, like anything else buying used will save you money. just dont go jump on the first POS that rolls by. make sure you check it over THOROUGHLY. and if you find anything the seller didnt mention use it as leverage in price negotiation.
if you have a little mechanical know how you can build your older used quad to be just as good and in many cases better than a brand new one off the show floor for much cheaper.
for my sportsman, when it's all said and done i'll have just under 3k in it. that is the cost of the atv, wheels and tires, quite a few oem replacement parts, and good bit of upgrades.
3k and having an atv exactly the way i want it sounds a lot better than 6k or better for a completely stock quad that i'm have to put another 1500 in to get it how i want.
if you buy used just make sure you buy one that is worth having. like i said earlier, dont buy the first pile of junk someone's dumping. when you go to look at one try not to want it right this second (hard to do, i know). try not to get so excited about getting one that you unintentionally overlook some important issues. I've learned my lesson on that.
just shop around. any major brand quad will be worth having. new and used one's that havent been neglected and beat.
Apr 21, 2012 | 12:54 AM
#3
Trailblazer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Suzuki makes the King Quad in 3 flavors...400, 500 and 750cc. Can't go wrong with any of them. 500 and 750 have independent rear and liquid cooled. 400 has a oil cooler and you can get it as a full or semi auto. Tough quad. Plus they have 0% financing for 5 years right now. Sometimes you don't need the biggest motor to get the work done.
Apr 21, 2012 | 08:38 AM
#4
Thread Starter
|
Weekend Warrior
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Thanks guys, I should have mentioned I'd be looking for a used ATV and my budget would be to try and keep it around $5,000 but up to $6,000 if a really good deal came up. I live by the adage you get what you pay for so I never even really considered the knock off brands. From my sledding days I was thinking either polaris or Bombardier which were the brands that I always trusted back then.
After thinking about it automatic would be best, although I'd prefer a manual my wife will have to use it on occasion and she hates manual anything. However, again a great deal trumps all.
So for hauling a trailer loaded with wood for splitting what size engine should I be looking at as a minimum?
After thinking about it automatic would be best, although I'd prefer a manual my wife will have to use it on occasion and she hates manual anything. However, again a great deal trumps all.
So for hauling a trailer loaded with wood for splitting what size engine should I be looking at as a minimum?
Apr 21, 2012 | 09:56 AM
#6
Trailblazer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
You could probably score a new King Quad 500 for close to your 6k cap. But why not take advantage of the 0% financing? It's a free loan, hold on to your cash and get some interest. Lots of used options available for that amount but I found out its not so easy to judge its actual use/condition. Low miles is not always a good thing and you never know if they followed maintenance schedule correctly.
Apr 21, 2012 | 07:01 PM
#7
Super Moderator
Well, golly JimBob!
Well, golly JimBob!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 40,210
Likes: 55
You can get a used Polaris Sportsman X2 for that kind of money. It's the best workhorse in the quad world. Nothing quite like it. It has rear springs rated at 400 lbs. and I can tell you it will haul that weight without an issue. There is a unique dumpbox in the rear that converts to passenger seat in about all of 10 seconds for the times you want to bring someone along. I've pulled a 4' wide x 4' long x 3' deep trailer (about 1/3 of a cord) full of wet fresh cut hardwood up and down the hills of Vermont and New Hampshire with no issues other than staying on the brakes going down steep hills to keep everything under control. It's worth a look. Just got back from a good ride we took in NH.
Trending Topics
Apr 21, 2012 | 10:42 PM
#8
Weekend Warrior
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
I agree with bowiesrt8 for 6k you can find what you need new. I have a Suzuki 230 I just bought as a project and let me tell you if you can't do all of the work your self go with a new one if possible labor charges kill a good deal. there is alot I don't know yet that I will be learning on this project. new or used however you go good luck!!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bpegram84
Kids Quads & Other ATV's - Ask an Expert!
0
Jul 22, 2015 08:15 AM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)