Hello, i want to get a atv soon and want to know the pros and cons of diff manufacturers. I know all of the big manuf or good but is there any insite on what you like and why. ALso ive seen alot of Polaris Sportsmans for sell.. is there a reason? is something wrong with them? thanks

 

First off EVERY mfg builds a different kind of machine to fill different need in a bike. Ever rider looks for different things in a bike and has diffrent that the bike will be used for. I for on want a good all around bike that does everything I ask of it and then some. The nice thing about my choice in a bike is it might not be the best in any one category but it does do everything well and with great reliability and function! I would suggest you list the things you want most in a bike and choose your bike according to YOUR needs not someone elses!

 

P.S. Welcome to the forums!

 

yes thanks. WEll i guess im not asking for alot, mainly A atv for hunting, and a little light mudding. Would like something with atleast a 450cc motor, very dependable of course, speed is not that important. A good utility atv, and occasional light mud play.

 

Also what do you think about the Polaris sportsmans? ive seen alotof good prices on them. Im a honda man myself, for no particular reason. just used to have one and like the way they look..

 

I agree with Dodge57Hemi. Let us know what kind of riding or chores you expect to be doing. There's everything from super fast Sport Utes with little utility to heavy duty 6x6s that are 98% work oriented. Utes come basically with engine sizes from 250cc to 1000cc, with just about every size in between. Unless you're a speed freak, you probably wouldn't ever need more than 500ccs. Some get by with less than that. See if you can let us know your intentions so we can help you narrow it down some.

 

In the 450-550 range there are several models. My personal favorite is the Polaris Sportsman X2. Mine is a 500 and the most recent model is a 550. It has a dump box that holds up to 400 lbs. of weight. The dump box also converts to a passenger seat. I mostly use mine for work like moving firewood around. Suzuki, Yamaha, Polaris, CanAm, Honda, and Arctic Cat have machines in and around this size. Most are belt driven automatics. Some are semi-automatic where you shift with your foot and don't use a clutch. CanAm tends to be the fastest per cc, Polaris is a good all aroud machine with a heavy duty frame, Yamaha has good all around quads around this size, Hondas tend to be most reliable but lack a full locking front end, Suzuki tends to be the bargain priced machine. There are a lot of Sportsmans out there for a couple reasons. One is the recession. Two is they are the most sold utility machines out there if I remember right. So, there are a lot of them out there. Hope this gives you a good start.

 

ohh that deff helps. What do you mean by honda lacks the locking front end?? Yes i am looking for a 4 wheel atv, something i can fit in the back of my truck. Glad to hear the sportsmans are good, they are deff growing on me. Also i would deff like a automatic or automatic clutch.

 

Like Moose said and for what you are looking for something in a 500-650 range I would suggest. Best way is to go to a dealer that has multiple brands and to first sit on them and get a feel for what you like. If the saddle don't feel good to you there ride wont matter one bit. i personaly would reccomend a Grizzly 550 Sportsman 550 or a Suzuki King Quad 500. All great quads with different approaches to ATVing and would fill your needs. I would also suggest no matter what you choose get one with Power Steering well worth ever dollar!

 

Not to knock the Honda's as they make one of the longest lasting quads on the plant. The bad thing is Honda are known as the one MFG to make the quads with the least amount of bells and whistles. This means you get 4wd with a open front diff where others have 4x4 with a locker or limited slip. Honda is also known for having the least amount of Horsepower compared to other similar sized ATV's thus meaning if you want longevity get a Honda if you want something that goes everywhere is faster and is probably just as reliable look elsewhere!