I've posted this once before but had no replies, so i'll give it one more shot. I recently sold my honda 300, and will be buying a new machine very soon. I am pretty sure it will be the new Honda 350, but i am also considering the yamaha big bear 400. Any preferences or advice out thre?

 

I recently bought a 2001 big bear 400 4x2 at my yamaha dealer for $3599.00
(end of year clearance) and added a Warn 2000# winch for $69.00. To say that I have been impressed would be an understatement. I have a buddy with a Rancher 4x4, and other friends with several different models of 4x4 hondas. While I like their quads, I must say that I have gone everywhere they have been able to go and have ended up actually pulling a few of them out of holes.
I think the bigger tires, added power, and ground clearance gives the Big Bear a major advantage. I cant imagine what a 4x4 would do.

 

You say that you have a buddy with a 4x4 Rancher and others with other honda models. If you don't mind, tell me what you can regarding a comparison of your big bear and your buddy's rancher. You say that you have pulled out 4x4s with your 2WD. Would you say that you can go places on your 4x2 that they cannot go on their 4x4? (especially the rancher). That would indicate that the big bear 4x4 would be one hell of a machine. And what do you know about the longterm reliability of the yamaha machines. I'm confident in the reliability of Honda, but have never owned a Yamaha.

 

My buddies rancher is very nice. It has more bells and whistles than my big bear, Digital speedometer, esp.........I like the esp but I have the habit of down shifting instead of up shifting when I am going fast and not paying attention. (instant whiplash) His rancher is full time 4x4 and does not have locking diff. The Big Bear has push button 4x4 and I believe the 2002 model has locking diff. Locking differential would be a big deal to me if I had a 4x4. I watched a Kawasaki 650 with it go through a mud hole I would have bet my whole paycheck he would never get through. He was actually plowing about a foot of mud when he came out of it. As far as reliability, this is the first four wheeler I have ever owned. I have had two yamaha motorcycles that were perfect and my buddy sold his 86 yamaha warrior to get his rancher. He had the warrior for ten years with no engine work. I believe the reason The Big Bear 2x4 gets the traction it does is because of the ground clearance, rear tire size and massive tread pattern, and overall weight. Don't let the weight fool you though, it will fish-tail and do dounts on command. The thing handels like a dream. My buddy with the rancher also has a wolverine. The only thing I did not like about it was the way it took hills. It seemed to bounce around way to much, probably because it is one of the lightest 4x4s out there. As far as my take on my other quads my friends, here is a list of what they have; 2001 fourman 4x4, 2001 warrior, 2000 lakota, 2001 rancher 4x4, 2001 rancher 4x2, 200? fourtrax. I have pulled every one of the 4x2s out of mud holes that they were trying to follow me through and have also pulled the 4trax out of a few. The kawasaki 650 pulled me out of one, but the rancher has yet to be able to do it. He has tried twice to pull be out and has sat there spinning. I also have had mine in really deep water and it floats.

 

Great Canadian,
I am sorry but when some guys talk about them pulling other quads out of holes or blowing away someone on a bigger CC machine or any story of this( I am better than him) syndrome, let me tell you it ALL depends on the rider and their inabilty or lack of experience of properly operating an A.T.V.! So let me give you a hand and lead you to a post entitled " Big Bear or Rancher". It is in the Mud hole section under the forums. The website is Highlifter.com. I do not remember what subtitle it is under but its before you get to the brands( honda, suzuki,ect.)Go find this and read it. It is full of a lot of great info on both models. Better yet all of the posts are mainly non biased. Look for mine aka. hennyhog.


Good luck

 

First of all I will tell you, I have no horn to toot. If anyone can be branded as inexperienced, it would be me. I have owned my quad for three months now and it is my first one. I did do alot of research before I bought, but my final decision was based purely on price. Everyone I ride with has years more experience than I do. I really do not feel that reliability is a problem with either of these quads if you take care of them. The reason I ended up pulling the other quads out of jams is because I am the only one with the winch. I was just very impressed that my bike made it through. Every time I have ridden with someone new they think that I have a 4x4 because of the performance. They are very surprised when I tell them it is 4x2. Every one has their "Brand preferences", but to me it all comes down to features for money. I will buy whoever offers more features for less money.

 

Hogmaster,
Thanks for the help. And you were right...postings were quite helpful until the bragging started!!...i've heard all that s**t before...just looking for advice...i'm no rookie to quads by any means....just wanted to hear other peoples preferences, not their bragging...thanks.

 

Parts wise Hondas are cheaper than Yamahas. Something to consider for future service.

 

Crassydog,
I did not mean to come across to you with any disrespect. I sometimes get a little sarcastic when someone posts something I know a lot about. NOW, I am not saying I am a Quad Guru but certain ones I have been around for a while. You made a great choice in the B.B.. I am extremly partial to Honda's and Yamaha's but cant even think about ripping on another brand. However I might joke here and there but never slaming another persons quad. Take care. Also Canadian, glad I could help.


Ryan

 

I just got an 02 Bigbear 4x4.. Personally I love it. Can't say I know anything about the honda other then the reliability factor. But then I've yet to have a problem with any of my Yamahas or Kawasaki's..Ride them both and then decide...