After many years of use and some abuse our 05 Vincent finally layed down on us. It has been a very worthy machine for the 6yrs we have owned it aside from the fuel shut off issue with the petcock. I am currently looking at a 2013 king quad 500 to replace it. They are asking 4200 for it which is around retail price and it appears super clean. Will it be a worthy replacement? I have an older 700 polaris sportsman and love the ride of the independent rear so that's kind of the selling point on the king quad as opposed to just buying another used Vincent. Oh and power steering too. Lol. Anything I should be leary of?

 

Frame cracks are a problem. 450s were terrible for them, 500s got better the newer you go, but next to the anti-roll bar mounts, just behind the foot pegs and just behind the front A arms, are places they crack on the lower frame tubes. Early 500s seem to wear the rear suspension bushes fast, again, newer ones are better. Aftermarket rebuild kits are not that expensive and fairly easy to fit though. Otherwise it is the best Auto quad I have come across, you always seem to be in the right gear (unlike the 400KQ and newer Honda autos) and the ride is comfortable. Engines are dead reliable, as long as you check the oil level occasionally.