Venemous, of the machines you mentioned, the Suzuki Quadmaster, Yamaha Kodiak and Grizzly, and Prairies all are belt driven. And yes, when Andy said automatic, he meant belts. But the Yamaha Big Bear is a 5 speed.

 

One more thing is do any of you Big Bear owners have any problems with cooling in the summers heat. I was wondering since they're just air cooled if they heat up when it's hot. I know the 500 Suzuki has air and liquid cooling so I know that ought to stay frigid. Would I be better off getting the blackwater tire kit with the Big Bear or should I just get it stock and get some Vamps.

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Jeremiah Lucas

1989 Yamaha Banshee

 

I bought my 00'Big Bear 4x4 in September, 1999. I live in central Florida and rode quite a bit breaking it in during the month of September which I would say has an average daily temp. of high 80's to low 90's. The oil cooler fan came on frequently, usually when traveling at a snail pace when air is not passing over the cooling fins of the cylinder, but the "engine hot" light never came on, never has either. I'll let you know more when I ride in the August Florida heat when the average daily temp. is mid 90's.

 

I know the final decision is all mine but what would you all do if you had the choice between a 99 Suzuki 500 Quadrunner for $5100 or a 00 Yamaha Big Bear 400 for $4900. I gread in a mag that the Quadrunner almost hits 50 and I haven't heard how fast a BB will go. Is there that much of a power difference between them. I just don't know what to do since I can get my second choice quad for just $200 more with 100 extra cc's but I'm not going to pulling boats around or trailers full of stuff that will weigh it down and make it struggle to move so does it really matter. I plan on getting the 27" Vamps and the dealer said the BB had plenty enough power to get the 27" Blackwaters that were already on there a moving, but he is trying to sell me a quad and make some dough.

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Jeremiah Lucas

1989 Yamaha Banshee

 

I'd choose the Suzuki for it's hi-lo range selection and the larger motor for handling the big tires. The price difference seems negligible in my opinion. There's some talk on the 500 Zuks in the Suzuki forum in case you haven't already looked.
Z

 

The Suzuki will have more power and will be faster than the Bear. I like the Yamaha design better myself though. It would be a hard choice. ride them- make dang sure to ride them! Yamaha's turn very well, and so does the Suzi500. My AC has the same motor as the Suzuki and I can say that is a powerhouse. It will get over 50 easily though. I won't say that its a racing bike, but it will probably make at least 53 safely. I get around 53-57 mph on pavement depending on the gas. I don't know the speed of the big bear, but it probably isn't too far off. The big bear also has a little better suspension.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

Deciding just gets harder and harder. I too like the looks of the Big Bear better and it looked pretty dang good with the camo and bigwheel kit on it. I doubt if I can afford to get the 27" tires on it at first but I will deffinetly get them some time so I want to be sure I don't suffer from lack of power with either. So does the Big Bear suffer from large tires or the 500 Suzuki too. I know both come with 25" tires so I don't know if the 2" will make much difference but I hear Vamps are pretty heavy tires. My fiance likes the Big Bear better because of looks and when I told her I think I'm going with the Suzuki she sounded dissapointed and said I thought you liked the other one and I said yeah I do but the 500 has 100 more cc's. Do you have to lift either one to fit 27" tires. Is the Suzuki that much more faster, powerful and torquier than the Bear. Thanks guys.

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Jeremiah Lucas

1989 Yamaha Banshee

 

I had a big bear, had alot of rear brake problems could not keep mud and water out of the drum no matter what. I had the pads come loose from the shoes twice. sending me over the handlebars on one occassion when the thing locked up. Never had a problem with the dics brakes thats why i bought the new kodiak dics brakes all the around , i to was not crazy about the belt drive or the fact that it was an automatic but now that i got use to them i think i like better then shifting.
I don't know where your from but i have not run across a single dealer in my area that has refused to let me test ride one of the atvs i was concidering buying. I guess i am lucky to live in a area that they still let you do this.

 

I have heard that the Foreman 450ES are one of the most reliable and heavy duty 4bys. I have heard of guys hunting with their Polaris Magnums and getting a deer in some thick woods and when they strap the deer to the back rack that the shock would bottom out badly. Then i have heard of guys with their foremans and doing the same but not bottoming out. that is what i have heard and i can believe it.

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RangerSX 1987 Honda 250X(completely stock)

 

Thanks for all the info guys. I'm gonna probably get the Suzuki tomorrow if my credit is good enough and sell the Banshee whenever and pay off some of the loan then. The way I hear is that the Suzuki has more power than the Grizzly or torque any way so this concludes my decision. Also the cheapest I've seen a Vamp tire & wheel kit was $470, is this the cheapest around or not. I'd like to get a winch but if it doesn't come with it or costs more than like $50(some special offers give you winches cheap or free, hope they still have these offers) then I don't think I'll be getting one since I shouldn't have a problem getting stuck. Any other mods I should consider for the Suzuki. I'm tempted to put a CB on it and deffinetly gonna put my high power spotlight on it for Varmint hunting.

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Jeremiah Lucas

1989 Yamaha Banshee