Hello,

I am looking for some opinions on the 450 to 500cc utility atvs. I currently ride a Honda 400ex and have had great luck with Hondas in general, But I now do alot of my riding with my 3 yr old son sitting on my lap so I was looking for a newer automatic style quad.

I had originally though I wanted a honda Rincon but have had a few people steer me away from it due to lack of power and the tranny issue, This and I had planned on selling my 2001 400ex for a down payment. Quite a few salesmen have told me for the rocky wooded trails around here (northern NJ) I would be better off keeping my 400ex for playing and buying a less expensive 400 to 500cc machine.

Some of the things I definately want is the IRS suspention due the the amount of rocks around here and Fuel injection, I have not had any chance to ride any utility quads but i am used to fast toys. So the dealers around here it seems like I can get the best price on a 2008 suzuki KQ450 for low $5000 then it jumps to about a $6500 for a 2008 Sportsman 500, followed by $7000 for a 2009 rancher 420at. I have not had much luck in the past with Yamaha and the Kawi is carburated.

Any thoughs and or advise OOH and the finace rates are 0.9 honda, 2.9 suzuki, 4.9 for 2yrs only Polaris. Making the suzuki by far the cheapest of the bunch

 

The Suzuki KQ 450 is a good machine to fit your needs. Also, it is now available in a 500 version. Yamaha has a new 550 out that is basically a Griz 700 with a smaller engine - also comes with power steering. Since you are going from a sport bike to a utility, take a serious look at the Can-Am 500. It's a V-twin and definately leans towards the sporty side.

Jaybee

 

the KQ450 and the rancher420 are solid mechines. both worth the price tag... but you may be able to pick up a KQ450 or an older Vinson 500 auto for cheeper. i also do not like the honda autos...UNTIL the 420at came out. totally unique twin-clutch setup, efi, irs and water cooled. i would alomst look at buying a used ATV over new, plenty of nice autos out there!

 

Yes I would agree you really should check out and "sit" or drive a Can-Am they are one of the nicest riding machines out there. I've done a lot of quad shopping as of late and if I was buying a 500 it would be a Can-Am. I was at a dealer and on paper when you compare the honda 500 to the Can-am 500 the Can-Am was the the better deal for price, features and ride.

 

The Ricon is only under powered if you are either drag racing other 700 class machines or doing some major mudding. There is no better handeling and riding 4x4 on the market. The transmission is considered bullet proof. The same people that don't like the transmission are the same ones that think it is under powered (they are the mud riding crowd). I have owned sport quads and other utilities and the Rincon is by far my favorite, it handels amazing in the woods and has more than enough power for most riding. I was looking at the 2009 RancherAT myself I rode both it and the Rincon and and decided for the extra money I was better off with the Rincon. I got my Rincon for $7600 and that included a 4 year warranty a 4 year service plan ( I don't pay a thing to get it serviced for four years). I don't know what your trails consist of but i ride my Rincon in both NC mountains and WV mountains, both have any kind of terrain you can find, and i have found that the Rincon handles all of it with extreme ease. I just hate to see someone miss out on something great because of missguided opinions. Good luck with whatever you choose. TG

 

A neighbor of mine who rides alot has an 03 rincon and helped steer me that way as well. He told me that all of his riding buddys who have bought the 400-500cc machices have endedup turning around and selling them after a year or 2 and moving up to the larger machines. As of now it has boiled down to a rincon or king quad 700-750. I have looked at a few used machines but they all have been too well riden for the money these people are asking.

PS no good Can-am Dealers near by I have been told to avoid those dealerships for other reasons

 

Get the KQ 450 for that price here is a link of a 450 KQ winning a shootout for every 450-500cc Utility made.http://www.atvmagonline.com/output.cfm?id=1220599

A 420 Rancher would not even be invided to that comparison and it cost more! ?LOL

The larger more exspensive 500 Rubicon came in dead last .

 

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

Get the KQ 450 for that price here is a link of a 450 KQ winning a shootout for every 450-500cc Utility made.http://www.atvmagonline.com/output.cfm?id=1220599



A 420 Rancher would not even be invided to that comparison and it cost more! ?LOL



The larger more exspensive 500 Rubicon came in dead last .</end quote></div>



Looks like they gave it to Suzuki due to value....which I agree they are a good value for what you all get. I checked out the Suzuki 450 before I got my Kodiak.

However when it comes to power, rider comfort etc. they said Can-am was on top.

""If this shootout was based on pure power output, the Can-Am Outlander 500 would have ran away the winner""

Sounds like they didn't like Can-am's gearing or price.


I've driven a 2008 Rubicon 500 and yes it's a nice machine, engine and fluid drive trans are nice an smooth.... However my Kodiak seemed have a smoother ride on the trail.

 

I have not driven a kingquad 450-500 but after riding my Vinson since 2004 I would not hesitate to buy another Suzuki if I were in the market. Almost 7000km those are true offroad driving through mud, snow, towing heavy loads of logs breaking trails through deep snow in low range and only minor repair ie. wheel bearings 2 times and swing arm bearings 1 time.
Aparantly the efi on the 500 puts out more power than my carb 500.
My father has a kodiak 450 (he would have gotten Suzuki but he wanted IRS and the 450 was not borne yet lol)its noticable smaller when you sit on it the IRS seems smoother on the bumps of coures he still has stock tires vs my hard Bugs. When you get on the gas hard it doesn't have the jump and go of the vinson. Turning radius is much wider on the 450 I would guess 5' wider.

 

i have a 03 rincon with around 3000 miles on her. I never had a problem with the tranny or power, and i have 27" itp mudlites on her and the rincon does just fine. Just do a lot of research of the quad's you like then make your choice.