I see your in NC so this probably is not an issue but it could be depending on where you are in NC. I live in Illinois where we get some snow and we all love to ride in the snow, but, 2wd ATV's are vertually worthless in the snow. Where as 4wd's are good in snow up to 8" or so which is about all we ever get in where I live.
Anyway there all fun, I rode 2wd for ten years before I bought my first 4wd and I had a ball with every atv and atc I've ever owned.

 

I guess as far as the most important reason to get a 4WD is inclines. It is much safer (based on my experiance) to go up an incline in 4WD. If it snows in your region (unless it is light or hard packed) a 4WD is a necessity. About two years ago, we got 18 inches of snow in 24 hours. We had some guys on 2WD's. They had to follow the 4WD's to go anywhere. The rear wheels would just spin. Unless I planned on racing or just puttering around, I would lay out the extra cash for the 4WD...

 

I had a 2001 Big Bear 2x4. Great bike. I had it about 7 months....then wanted the selectable choice of 2 wd or 4 wd. I bought the Kodiac 4x4. I did not want a full time 4x4. The 2002 big bear gives you that choice. I would go with a 4x4. Just my input

 

Hi! I have a Honda Rancher 4x4 and can go over large logs that I
used to have to go around with 2 wheel drive.

 

4x4 just makes everything alot simpler. I would go with it.

 

Once again,Thanks for all the feedback from everyone!.Even though most of you recommended the 4x4 I cheaped out and bought the 4x2 today,figured it would do for 95% of the riding I'll be doing (and cost me alot less $$). Most of the guys I talked to at the various dealers said I would do fine with a 4x2 because of where I live and the kind of conditions I'll be driving in.Got the bear home this evening and tried it in the 10-12" of powder snow we just got and althought it slid around and spun its tires a little it went better than I expected-up some decent hills and through the woods with little prob.If the snow was heavier I know I would have less luck though-but since thats rare here in NC,I'll live with it.Can't wait till daylight tomorrow-the bear and the hounds are gonna go chasing some rabbits!!.Later,DanB.

 

Congrats on your new purchase. If it was up to me, everyone's 'first quad' would be a 2wd, with the possible exception of someone who HAS to drive in conditions needing 4wd.
1) A 2-wd is lighter, usually steers easier, and handles better. Also, it doesn't hurt as much if it falls on you. One of the hardest lessons to learn are your limitations.

2) they are simpler, with less to go wrong. There are less moving parts, and thus less to worry about on a 2-wd. You will have enough to learn about your machine at first.

3) Hopefully, it will teach you how to drive. I have seen too many people who merely sit on the machine and steer, and never learn to DRIVE, because of 4wd. They never learned about weight transfer, body english, and throttle control (they never had to, they just used 4wd to get them through). A GOOD driver on a 2wd will go almost anywhere a bad driver with a comparable 4wd will. You may need a bigger run, or have to approach things at a little different angle, but except for starting from a dead stop in poor traction conditions, you would be surprised. Also, before you go run & trade off for a 4x4 the first time you get stuck, put a pair of 489/589s on the back, and amaze your friends.

4) Maintanence costs are quite a bit less with a 2-wd. Most of the drivetrain problems I see are to the front wheels. Tires wear out faster unless you have selectable 2wd-4wd, and if you do have that, it is just one more thing that can break or wear out. These new 4wd machines are built really well, but if it moves, it will wear out.

 

Farmr123:Good points.I am a fairly experienced dirt biker but am getting older and although i still like high speed fire-roading, throttle sliding,flying through the air,berms,whoops,wheelies etc,I don't recover from the crash and burn episodes as well (and now I have 3 kids and a wife who need me healthy and productive!)Hence my new- found entertainment via quad.Its a whole new body english thing-something like snowmobiling (which i did little of up north years ago)-and as you said I need to learn to really handle this 2wd well so i can rely on skill rather than luck or pure mechanics in a given situation.I'll get a 4 WD once find myself wanting to go places that the combination of new skills and 2wd won't take me anymore.Thanks DanB.

 

I used to be a dirt bike rider, myself. Not motocross, more like off-road trails/poker runs/hare scrambles type of things. The forward/backwards body english are almost identical with a quad, and the side to side is similar, just that YOU have to lean into a fast corner, rather than have the machine lean. Snow is a GOOD teacher of throttle control. Usually, once you spin out, you have more trouble getting going than if you ease into it.
Good luck chasing rabbits. There is very little that is more fun to go out on a moonlit night, with a fresh layer of snow, and chase rabbits out in an open field.
(For you animal lovers, I only chased them, never tried to actually run them over - it wasn't cruel, it was excercise [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] )