OK JACK IM TELLING YOU THE TRUTH I HAVE 2 HONDAS A HONDA RANCHER 4X4 ES,A HONDA FOREMAN RUBICON,AND A ARCTIC CAT 4X4.OUT OF THESE THE RUBICON IS A FAR BETTER MACHINE PUT I THIS WAY HONDA.THE WORD HONDA SAYS IT ALL THERE FAR MORE ADVANCED THEN ANY OTHER ATV .PUT IT THIS WAY HONDA WROTE THE BOOK ON ATV'S ON RELIABILITY A HONDA HAS IT ALL.ARE ARCTIC CT IS A 01 HAS ALREADY WENT THREW 4 PLUGS.AND THERE TO HEAVY.IM NOT EVEN SURE WHY I BOUT IT,OK HERE IT IS THE LIGHTER THE BETTER YOU WANT MAXIMUM FLOTATION.FOR PLOWING I USE THE RUBICON IN DRIVE I DONT NEED TO PUT IT IN A LOWER GEAR.AND AT LEAST HONDA DONT USE A BELT TO CONTROL THEM,UNLIKE THE 660 GRIZZ,OR THE BOBARDIER.SO MY CHOICE FOR MY NEXT MACHINE IS A RINCON COME SUMMER,I WILL STICK WITH HONDAS............BEST ON EARTH............

 

Hey Jack. I own a Kawie 650 but if I was going to get a pure utility 4x4 I would buy a Bombardier Traxter. Easy to get off and on with the step thru design, a good 4wd front end, lots of power and they are bulletproof.
Rotax engines are tough. The ride is a little rough(haha) but if you want to plow snow, it's a contender. On the downside, they weigh a bloody ton, but if you are pushing snow, that is gonna work to your advantage. Just my opinion.

 

I agree with mastrblastr, the Quest is the way to go. Lots of traction because of the weight, the radiator is in the back so you can still get some airflow to it that a plow would block, and it has lots of power. Plus, when you're all bundled up for the cold, the Bombadier is easy to get on and off.

The Kawasaki 650's front suspension is too soft to carry the weight of a plow and it has a small radiator which requires a lot of air to keep cool.

The Rubicon is a solid machine but only three wheel drive (btw - it has a hydraulic drivetrain, not a geared drivetrain).

The Polaris Sportsman line of ATVs require quite a bit of maintenance, not repair work, but constant maintenance. If you buy one, get a good grease gun.

I don't know enough about the other machines to judge their capabilities for your needs. I chose my machine for different reasons than you and have been very happy with it.

Good luck,

 

I have posted my thoughts on this in the Utility forum. I have no particular choice and started thinking that the SP700 or the Kawi 650 would be the ones. But after riding the bikes and talking to dealers, users, reading articles, etc., it really opened my eyes.

The Grizz 660 looks like the one if I were to buy today. That may change when the Rincon comes out. It all depends on what the deal is.

It's been very interesting riding all the bikes. I also have had second thought about selling my SP500. I'm not so sure that any of the new bikes are that much better at all.

The SP500 and 400SS are both sold now. So I'm ready to deal . . .

 

HI Jack,just a few answers on a rubicon.Power,it has plenty.I towed my friends busted 4x4 in and out of his garage.The enterance to his garage has a slight incline,no problem,top of the line tranny.Ride comfort,fine.Reverses slow but I plowed fine with it this winter.Durability ,I owned a 99 kodiak and lost the top end so I came back to honda.Also polaris has a great ride but dont forget the 18 grease niples to get that.My hard earned dollers goes to honda.Hope I could help.

 

Well it is kinda obvious which machine I like, but for doing everything that you want to do, I already do, with my 99 SUZUKI LTF 500 4X4. It will conquer anything from a 40 foot tall snow drift to a 30ft wide swift moving river, plowing snow, hauling loads, whatever you want. If you are nuts like me, I have it decked out too, 2500 warn winch, tank bags, rack bag, fender bags, tail lights, 180,000 cp KCDAYLIGHTERS, hand warmers, thumb assist. The 99 has even hauled out 3 hunters and a bear, at the same time![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]
So my suggestion to you is to go for the suzuki LTF 500 4X4

 

I did say "top end big bore atv". I don't consider the Artic Cat, Honda or Suzuki in that elite category. If you really want to know, the Honda power is anemic compared to many of the machines. I've ridden Hondas and they have no guts at all in my opinion.

I'm not a Honda fan anyway, and I hate their "con" nick names. What's up with that ayway, Rubi"con", Rin"con", Re"con". Sorry I don't need to become a Hondaphile and play the "con" games. I don't think I could even stand thinking about that. I don't know and don't even care what a Rin"con" stands for anyway. EVen "Big Red" would have been more palatable.

It would do a lot of you well to get out and ride other bikes and compare for yourself. Brand loyalty only makes you blind.

 

If you're looking for the biggest, fattest quad, you may want to take a look at the Traxter XL (the one with the box on the back). I rode several Traxters, including the XT, before I made my purchase. I was surprized at the heavy duty feel of the XL model. It is longer and wider than the other Traxters, and also heavier. The rear suspension rode quite stiff, but that's cause it's designed for carrying a 600lb load on the back. The shifter button was easy to get used to, and allows you to keep the machine in your gear of choice. And like others have said, the engine and drive train are bullet proof, as well as getting true 4 wheel drive. They are fairly costly and that may be a concern. The Traxter XL will be one of my top choices when I upgrade my Quad to a larger one. And if the price is right, it will be my choice. Hope this helps a little.

 

Rancherrman,
To say that Honda has it all is crap....blind brand loyalty...i prefer honda over any other brand but i would never say they have it all...they don't have true 4-wheel drive....they don't have the ride of the polaris...many machines in the same class are faster....i like honda because IN MY OPINION they are the most reliable....that's important to me...it may not be to someone who is more mechanically inclined....there are a lot of machines out there that i would buy other than the honda, if i believed they were as reliable...

Hey Jack
i agree...those "con" names are gross!!

 

If you have that kind of money buy a sp700 because it has loads of power and has the override button on the grips to eliminate the rev limiter . i have a explorer400 and it rocks for plowing and the override button helps a whole lot when plowing with it.




Explorer400