I've been looking for a good ATV to buy for my 10 year old son. He started with a polaris 90, moved up to a Kawasaki Prairie 300, he never rode the 300 alone as I didn't think he was to that point yet. Anyway, his Prairie is no longer running so im looking for a different 4x4 atv for him.

I have been looking at an 08 Yamaha Grizzly 350 4x4 with IRS for him. Only has about 35 hours, about 215 miles. Another one im looking at is a 2014 Artic Cat 400 4x4 with IRS that has about 105 hours and 850 miles, appears to be in excellent shape as well.

Which ATV would be best for a 10 year old. I will be riding with him until I feel he is ready to ride by himself. We will mainly be doing trail riding, very light mud where necessary and up and down a few hills. Which one of the 2 atv's mentioned will be best for him in the long run?

 

Have him get on both and see which one fits him best.

 

Im looking for the best overall atv that would last him 4 or 5 years before I have to upgrade again. Which ATV is usually better quality? I'll still have him sit on both but wanted to see from other users that may have had one or the other ATV and their opinions.

I know each ATV is different. The Artic cat has low and high, where as the grizzly only has forward and reverse. How important is that?

Like I said, we aren't doing anything with mud except for what we may encounter on an average trail, but we may be going up and down some hills, so I want to make sure he can climb a hill if needed without issue.

 

I just sold an Arctic Cat 400. It was a great ATV. I traded up to an Arctic Cat TRV 700, but honestly, the little 400 did everything that I asked it. 66 year old , 250 lb 6' tall man. Mine was very reliable and trouble free. Low and Hi is very important, btw. If you are driving slowly on the trail or plowing snow, etc you need Lo range. My 400 would top out above 55 mph in Hi. My 2 cents, let him decide, but the Lo and Hi range would be the tie breaker. BTW, MY 700 Cat is a 2014, I'd say the build quality is A1.

 

iv rode a few grizzly and have never been impressed with the way they handle. To me they handled like a bag of bricks, heavy and unresponsive. Found them tippy in all directions.
I ride a AC 500 and its been a great machine and can go where the big boys do. Machine is extremely stable.

 

I am guessing your Praire might be a 2wd? I owned a Praire 300 4x4 for 16yrs without a single issue. Used it like a tractor around my property, plowed 300 ft of drive every winter and also trail rode it all those years. In my opinion that 300 was an awesome machine and the engines are known for being bullit proof with proper care. Most all atvs made in the last 20 yrs are good if taken care of and not abused. Choose which ever one he is comfortable on. Ergonomics makes a big deal on long rides so finding the one he is most comfortable on is key.

 

I was thinking the Arctic Cat 400 may be better down the road if he wants more power but it's only 18cc bigger than the Grizzly 350. Hydrex is right about you needing low for driving slow. The belt will get hotter and maybe cause problems if you drive slow in high gear.