Most Brand names subcontract their sub 350cc models to a Asian manufacturer .

I think only Honda and Suzuki build their 250cc ATVs now.

 

which is a serious shame in my book

 

Have either owned to worked on most brands before. Honda, Kawasaki, Polaris, Suzuki, Can-Am are all great reliable quads and as long as you buy them to suit your intended purpose. What I see often is that someone buys, lets say, a Honda Rancher and then proceeds to ride with people who all have sport quads. After a couple of weekends trying to keep up and a couple trips to the hospital the quad is trashed. Thus buy with purpose in mind. One brand I can tell you absolutely to stay away from is the Chinese made quads and definitely don't put your kid on one. They may run ok for a short time, but then they start falling apart. I have worked on several and they are made so cheap they are just flat out dangerous.

 

to say all of them are equal if you take care of them is false. its close between all the Japanese manufacturers as far as who is the most reliable, but arctic cat, can-am and Polaris don't compare in that department from all that ive seen

 

This was our first "new" atv in 2008. Incredible reliable atv and just right mix of sport and utility.

2008 750 Kingquad

 

2005 Polaris Sportsman 700 EFI. This piece of #@&! has left me stranded on many occasions. I keep getting towed in by Honda's. I've taking excellent care of the it. Replaced nearly every part of the ignition system, to include a complete new wiring harness and control module. NOT CHEAP! Now the transmission is making noises and hard to shift. For a bike that's barely seen water or mud this is unacceptable. Polaris stamps their name on the parts box, then marks the price up 10x or more than it's worth. I have found some cross referenced parts for less, but they're hard to find. Of course Polaris says you can't do that. FU Polaris! You've stolen enough of my money. I'm buying a Honda.

 

Very simple just go to consumer complaints on whatever product your looking for. When I shopped for a UTV in 2015 I found the Kymco brand had the fewest complaints per 100 units made. Polaris had the highest. Bought the Kymco and have no regrets. Now..I take care of my toys, many people dont, and I also use them for there intended purpose, many people dont, I do not abuse my machine, many people do. Just look at all the worn out junk for sale on the used market and that will tell you how folks take care of there toys! Mine still looks like new and runs like new!

 

If you go for a post 2014 Honda 500 auto, try before you buy. I found the previous 500 auto a lot better bike, slightly softer ride and smooth CVT. Not so with the manual versions, the newer ones are as good, and in the case of the 420 far, far more reliable. Don't buy a 680 at all. One of Honda's worst, no idea why it has outlasted the better, smaller models.