Here's another relic, one of the 2 quads I regularly use: an '86 Kawasaki Bayou 300 4x2 Differential. It has original rubber and plastic, but new piston, electrics, Chinese carb, LED lights, stainless steel fuel tank, seat. Old, but decades younger than I am. Great ATV.

 

I need to change my vote too since I still have the same one. Now it's 7 years old.

 

One is ten, another is 9, next is 2 and the newest is less than a year. Will also be picking one up that is currently 27. Belongs to my father. An 88 Suzuki LT250F.

 

I remember when they first came out Had the ability to lock/unlock the diff for easier turning. It was the most noteable quad I had seen until the 350 Big Bear came out. I remember thinking how HUGE that thing was. And now ... LOL

 

2000 Xpedition 425 2xxx miles on it runs great 15 years old but just broke muffler so it's out of commission for the moment

 

This ATV is the most nimble quad I have ever owned or operated, due to the rear differential. Only the 88 Yamaha TerraPro and the current Polaris x2 Sportsmans with Turf option have that feature, as far as I have found in my research. Until you have driven an ATV with a rear diff, you don't know how truly BAD conventional ATVs are on pavement, esp when turning or pulling a trailer.

Believe-it-or-not there used to be a Police Option for Kawasaki ATVs back in the 80s, including on one of their 3-wheelers. I suspect the rear diff was offered cuz these units were driven on pavement.

 

I think there was an episode of Dukes of Hazzard where Roscoe and Enos got a set of those police specials (Boss was mad because of how often the police cars got wrecked). My 200 Kawi 3 wheeler had the differential and was much safer than others. I never locked it in.

 

Cool! Please post a photo if you have one.

Kawasaki used to own most of the police M/C market with their KZ1000. That was in the 80s, mostly. There were some street trikes in San Francisco, based on the Honda CX500 m/c. I have never seen a Kawasaki Police ATV, 3-wheeled, or 4.

I never lock the diff on my Bayou 300, either. Love it.

 

Not mine (brochure pic) but an exact match (until I added the rear rack and the optional foot rests behind the pegs). Still wish I could find a red 250 w/reverse (and the differential of course).

 

My oldest bike is a 1985 Honda ATC250SX built in 1984. It accelerates fast for being only a 250 4-stroke. I can pull away from my friends 700 brute force. But once we get to about 45mph my acceleration drops off.