<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DCT

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: 00XJ



This is my favorite Polaris.











Well dang... it's mine, how about that![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]







Trash the Hawkeye all you want.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]</end quote></div>



I for one won't trash your Hawkeye that's for sure! I think it's a sweet quad. As a matter of fact, my sons lady friend has an 250 Cat. It goes "almost" anywhere we can go. However, the "almost" gets her in some bad situations (and keeps us from having more fun [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] ).



With that said, I've told her and my son that the new Hawkeye (I think the 400 HO) might be the perfect quad for her. If nothing else, at least it will have AWD.



Let me ask you a question if I may... How easy does it steer and handle? She is not that big, and my son doesn't want her to get something she can't handle.</end quote></div>

Some want to refer to the Hawkeye as a "starter" quad. Never have understood that one. It will go anywhere the larger quads will go, IMO 50 mph is plenty fast enough on bouncy low pressure tires. A low range is not needed, I know I pulled my son and his quad up a very steep hill with mine with no problem.

I don't plan on pulling a bush hog with it, though I'm sure it would and I have my testostrone under control so the Hawkeye is the perfect quad for me.

As far as how it handles, it steers great, not real heavy so it's easy to manuver around in the woods on trails. Example, my 17 year old, 98 lb daughter rides mine and has a blast on it.

If I have any complaints it might be the rear is sprung alittle stiff IMO compared to the front. I don't want to stiffen the front up and make it ride rough so I just live with it.

 

Thanks for your response. I've read several other posts and just about everyone that has a Hawkeye feels the same way. Being that it is less than 50cc from the 500, but weighs around a 100 lbs less must make it pretty "snappy". [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Sounds like it would be a great quad for my son's gal.

Thanks again.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DCT

Thanks for your response. I've read several other posts and just about everyone that has a Hawkeye feels the same way. Being that it is less than 50cc from the 500, but weighs around a 100 lbs less must make it pretty "snappy". [img][/img]



Sounds like it would be a great quad for my son's gal.



Thanks again.</end quote></div>

Just so you know, mine is an '07 Hawkeye with the 300cc aircooled motor, not the 400 HO which is water cooled. I have installed the accessory oil cooler which I feel is needed from the factory. I have never had an issue with overheating even when riding all day in 85-90* weather.

 

Thanks for pointing that out. We'll have to look at both the 300 & 400 to see the difference in ride, handling and performance.

My son had an old Suzuki 300 King Quad that was air cooled (I think). The only time he had overheating issues was when he was plowing.

 

Unless there's a big difference in cost I'd go for the 400. Liquid cooled 455 in a 300 frame. I sat on one and it felt the same way my friends Grizzy felt when I rode it. Like it was made for someone about 1/2 foot shorter than me.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: jumbofrank

Unless there's a big difference in cost I'd go for the 400. Liquid cooled 455 in a 300 frame. I sat on one and it felt the same way my friends Grizzy felt when I rode it. Like it was made for someone about 1/2 foot shorter than me.</end quote></div>


For sure Frank. If the she can handle the 400, it would be my choice. She sat on a 366 Cat, and didn't like it. However, the Cat seemed to be a higher machine. We'll see how the 400 fits her.