Well I'm thinking about buying a 220 bayou for my son and I was just wondering how the reliability is on these machines. Also if $2900 dollars seems fair for this bike new. Any other input would be helpful thanks!!

Jarvis

01 500 4x4 manual Arctic Cat,winch,blade,gps

 

The 220 has to be one of the most reliable quads ever built. i have never even seen a post about someone having a problem with them. depending on how old your son is, the bayou 220 should be a great first quad for him. i think everyone will agree with me that the bayou is a good all-around quad.

 

A very dependable quad no doubt, however a pure utility ATV that many kids soon become unhappy with once their friends run off and leave them on their more sporty rides. I cannot count the number of posts I have seen in the past from kids looking for ways to get more speed and power from their Bayou 220.

Still a very good ride for the level-headed kid who just likes to get outdoors.

 

depending how old your kid is this is a great starter machine although he may want more sport when he grows up. u could look at the 250ex. But the bayou 220 is good for starting off. It is by no means a race around type of machine. Read reviews on it.

 

The bayou 220 is a great starter quad. I am 28 and own a 220, I purchased it from a man that was 32 and used it to go hunting on. I have a 1988 bayou 220 and tracing the history on it, I found that the only problems that it has had is replaced starter brushes and a broken gear shifter. I have not had any problems with and I have gone through some really ruff places on it. I have modified it a little by adding 24x11x10 tires (rear) 22x8x10 (front) K&N power kit and cobra exhaust. It is still not a sporty machine but I have hit 54 mph on it with the mods. If it is your sons first quad then it is a good choice, he can always sale it or trade it when he gets older for a more sporty quad. The price seems about right, try looking on www.cycletrader.com for comparisons. As for the bayou, it is a good machine to have. I here all of these people talk about buying raptors and banshees for speed, they forget that you can't fly through the woods and speed on quads is a disaster waiting. I got friends with broken bones from fast quads now most of them own utility quads.

 

Jarvis, I have a Bayou 220 and its a great bike with pretty good power and reliability. The only thing that kinda steers me away from it is those damn brakes!!! I have had them took to the shop to get fixed like 3 times, about $30-40 each time and I always have to be doing something to them. Mines a 98' model and I have had no trouble with it. Just brakes. I dont have front brakes, I just done away with it b/c im tired of fooling with it. If I was you, for utility, get a Honda Recon 250. For Sport/racing, get a 250EX. The 250EX has reverse, drive shaft, well its just like the recon, just with better suspenision and the racing body style. I also have a Recon, its a 00' and the brakes on it will stop on a dime! I bet I done put like 4-5 brake pads on my Bayou. But hey, im not saying to not buy it just on count of the brakes, that can always be fixed sometime. As far as jumping and wheeling, I can't do that on my Bayou, but my Recon I can. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] C-Ya!

Ps. anybody else have any trouble with their brakes on their Bayou???

 

Thanks everybody for your input!!!! I'm in the rat hole money saving mode right now so maybe someday soon I'll surprise him with one. Happy riding everybody.