Yep, it's one of them threads. Looking to pick up a used Utility 4x4 Quad, but not sure what brand it is I want, been researching Craigslist, here, and a few other places to gather information.

Mostly trail riding, slower mountainous terrain, with some farm work for me. I'm used to riding relatives old 1990's Honda Fourtrax' and Foreman's, but they also have a newer Kodiak that I have not ridden on the Family Farm.

Something 500CC and below, 4x4, and reliable that can sit without being ridden and start right up without issue. Anything else is a non issue (Air cooled vs. Water cooled, Power steering, etc.) Ideally, I'd love to find an older Fourtrax or Foreman but they are hard to come by.

A shop about an hour and 45 minutes stocks a good selection of used ATVs, over 50, with the majority being Polaris... that to me say's something.

Not sure on a "Budget, but let's say under $5,000. 2005 and newer, I've been looking at Honda Rancher 420's, Foreman 500's, Suzuki Aiger (sp?) or King Quad, as what I'm most interested in. What say you to this amateur?

 

I bought a 2007 350 Grizzly as a low maintenance gas and go machine.(Love it)
Just for the fact it,s a ail/oil cooled machine rather then liquid,you remove prudential problems like coolant level thermostats,water pumps,air locks,radiators, Rad fans and thermal sensors.
The oil coolers have fans also but the just to assist,if it fails your not dead in the water like a water cooled rad fan quiting out.
Straight axles in the rear rather then IRS removes four CV joints ,two axles ,and four CV boots two worry about.

While trail riding It stays with the big boys no problem.
Other options is the 400 Suzuki Eiger/KQ, Yamaha 350/400 Big Bear and 500/450 Honda Foreman.
All are air/oil cooled with straight axle. But unlike the 350 Grizzly/Buin and 450/500 Foreman's the 400 Eiger/KQ have a low range,which is nice to have .

You can,t break a optional feature if you did not have it in the first place. Keep it simple.

Lots of old school basic ATVs running around after 20 years , but you will not see some big bore loaded with every feature made running around for that long.

 

Thanks, good advice. Those models you listed were the ones I was looking at currently.

I definitely would prefer air cooled, carburetor, and less complicated as possible.

 

if your budget is $5000,then I know of a dealer in Tennessee that sells Polaris 500 for $4999 brand new. not sure where your located but maybe worth a look. ill post the exact "In stock,to date" web page/link for you to look at. Not sure what type of riding you do but if mud or rocks are involved scratch the honda. Every other manufacturer out there pretty much makes an atv with a front locker of some sort which will give you a TRUE 4wd(all 4 tire spin at once,honda does not.) to name the top yamaha,suzuki,arctic cat,polaris,kawasaki have good lockers. can am has a locker but depending on year,it takes too long to kick in(i own one) and by that time your stuck. IMO.


Heres that link. Scroll down to the 2013 polaris sportsman 500 $4994.00. Or there is a 400HO(high output,455cc i think) for a little less.Current New Inventory | Abernathy's Cycle

 

I'm in Maryland but the family farm is in west virginia. We actually have opposite luck with Honda, even on the mountains. They've been great, two older fourtrax and a foreman.

 

Everybody's always comparing everything else to a Honda.What's that tell you? If you feel a locker is that important you can add one for about 300.00. The limited slip front end works fine for me. Reliability= Honda.Everyone else is trying to compare in that department.

 

I never said honda wasnt a good machine. The OP said he may look into a Honda,so i gave my experience that ive had. I said if your riding rock and mud your better off with another brand simply for the diff lock and ground clearance. If you want to throw in some new technology then we can add that in there too but some dont like all the electronics on atvs. sure honda has EFI on certain models and was one of the first for EFI,maybe they were the 1st.
With my experience,honda is a great atv for work and trail riding,but youll never see one rock crawling or deep mudding and for a couple reasons, no diff lock or ground clearance. "Suggestions" were asked and i gave a few suggestions.
To the OP, i hope you werent taking my opinion to heart and think i was trying to talk you into another atv. I currently own 3 atvs,a polaris RZR, arctic cat 700(with the suzuki motor),and an can am outlander. so im not trying to convince you on choosing anything you dont want. Nor am i brand loyal. its 2013 and EVERYONE makes a good atv it just depends on what you want. that place that i sent you the link on in Tennessee also sells suzuki's and hondas,or they did. im guessing since you are in Maryland that you probably wont go there,but at least you can use the price to bargain in your own town.

 

No, it's cool. That's why I posted for some diverse opinions. We don't voluntarily do much mudding or any crazy rock crawling.

Like I said, there's a shop about 2 hours from me I'm going to check out. They have basically every brand of utility 4x4 Quads available, and they're all used. I'm basically amateur as it gets, but I do have experience and somewhat know what it is I'm doing.

 

never said honda wasnt a good machine. The OP said he may look into a Honda,so i gave my experience that ive had. I said if your riding rock and mud your better off with another brand simply for the diff lock and ground clearance. If you want to throw in some new technology then we can add that in there too but some dont like all the electronics on atvs. sure honda has EFI on certain models and was one of the first for EFI,maybe they were the 1st.
With my experience,honda is a great atv for work and trail riding,but youll never see one rock crawling or deep mudding and for a couple reasons, no diff lock or ground clearance. "Suggestions" were asked and i gave a few suggestions.
To the OP, i hope you werent taking my opinion to heart and think i was trying to talk you into another atv. I currently own 3 atvs,a polaris RZR, arctic cat 700(with the suzuki motor),and an can am outlander. so im not trying to convince you on choosing anything you dont want. Nor am i brand loyal. its 2013 and EVERYONE makes a good atv it just depends on what you want. that place that i sent you the link on in Tennessee also sells suzuki's and hondas,or they did. im guessing since you are in Maryland that you probably wont go there,but at least you can use the price to bargain in your own town.


That's cool,I wasn't singling out your post,I was giving my opinion based on the op's post

 

never said honda wasnt a good machine. The OP said he may look into a Honda,so i gave my experience that ive had. I said if your riding rock and mud your better off with another brand simply for the diff lock and ground clearance. If you want to throw in some new technology then we can add that in there too but some dont like all the electronics on atvs. sure honda has EFI on certain models and was one of the first for EFI,maybe they were the 1st.
With my experience,honda is a great atv for work and trail riding,but youll never see one rock crawling or deep mudding and for a couple reasons, no diff lock or ground clearance. "Suggestions" were asked and i gave a few suggestions.
To the OP, i hope you werent taking my opinion to heart and think i was trying to talk you into another atv. I currently own 3 atvs,a polaris RZR, arctic cat 700(with the suzuki motor),and an can am outlander. so im not trying to convince you on choosing anything you dont want. Nor am i brand loyal. its 2013 and EVERYONE makes a good atv it just depends on what you want. that place that i sent you the link on in Tennessee also sells suzuki's and hondas,or they did. im guessing since you are in Maryland that you probably wont go there,but at least you can use the price to bargain in your own town.


That's cool,I wasn't singling out your post,I was giving my opinion based on the op's post