Hey all, Justin here.. I am getting ready to buy my first ATV and looking for suggestions. I am a big guy.. 6'1" 320lbs.. Looking to just trail ride and plow snow so I am thinking at least a 500cc or above. Budget is $5k. Suggestions?

 

You are starting in a pretty good place. Keep in mind a plow, mount, and winch will run you close to 1k if you purchase separate from the machine. I think with a little patience you will end up with a great machine.

 

Lots of good choices for 5k. Yamaha Grizzly 660, Suzuki King Quad 700 and Polaris Sportsman 500 would probably be my top choices for that price range. I got my 06 Grizzly 660 for just under 3K, for example. Might be able to find a Grizzly 700 for under 5K as well.

 

Thx guys. Thoughts on a 2006 Sportmans 455? Found one for $3600 with 850 miles. Just worried it's a bit underpowered given my size.

Also, are most lever shifting for 4WD? I'd think push button would be easier for when plowing.

 

The 455 is not under powered at 32hp, it has push button AWD. 850 is low miles.
Its really a 500 sportsman just with a smaller displacement and smaller 34mm carb. Make sure it has the ECM brainbox recall was done http://www.atv.info/article.cfm?id=632.

When you plow your in low range and any ATV in low range will break traction well before wheel turning power. My old 1989 350 4wd in low range would snap a axle or CV before running out of pulling or pushing power.

 

In looking at the pics.. I am seeing the level not push button.. also owner has no idea if the ECM repair was done.. Polaris still honoring this?

2006 Polaris Sportsman 455 Blue

 

Shifting won't matter much. On the polaris, you out it in 4wd and it stays a 2wd until the rear tires spin a touch anyway. It switches the front wheels on and off as needed. A 450cc machine will be fine for most applications. Lake effect on the other hand...

 

No limit on the recall just ask the owner if he did it. The shift lever is just for Park, forward , reverse , neutral and low range. A push button operates the AWD. It can be switch from 2wd to AWD while moving which is nice.

Here is the difference between the 455 and 500 Sportsman http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...e2=22596&go=Go which is not much. the 455 is 32hp the 500 is 35hp it was kind of odd to even have two models so close together.

Nice rims and tires BTW.

 

Got it! EFI is fuel injected right? Does that make a huge difference? Is there a push button Fwd, Rev, etc in my price range? I am just wondering how big of pain it would be to continually switch when plowing.

 

No ATV has bush button forward reverse all have to come to a complete stop to be put in low,High , forward and reverse.

The Polaris is actually the easiest to switch from forward to reverse. Most have a safety button to hold down or a brake to apply to get in reverse Polaris does not.

I rode many EFI ATVs and besides needing no choke on cold starts you can't tell them apart once warmed up and riding.

The 450 Sportsman does not have EFI.