I am considering a Bruin for my wife. She thinks she wants to go riding with me, but on her own bike. I think it is a nice bike for the $, but am concerned because it doesn't have low range transmission. We do alot of pretty slow trail riding and I think she would be more comfortable with lower gearing. Anybody have positive or negative feedback about the Bruin?

 

I would buy the Bruin 350 4x4. I have one and absolutely love it. It will go through about anything I want it to. It also has decent speed and power for a 350. I can beat it up all day, and it hasnt let me down yet. The only complaint I have is the stock tires. But You would run into that with any atv you buy. Oh well hopefully soon I will have the cash to fix that problem. Good luck in your decision!

 

My brother in-law just bought one. We have had it out twice and all I will say so far I'm pretty impressed. The no low gear so far has not even been an issue, and we do a lot of tight trail riding with a lot of elevation changes 4000ft to over 8000ft.

 

My g/f bought a used Bruin 4x4 for 1000 dollars and loves it! It's a 2004 model and she really likes the fact she doesn't have to shift any gears. My 95 Kodiak has a dual range tranny but I have yet to have to use it on the trails on her mom's 230 acres. In my opinion...it's not needed for normal driving. The Bruin is faster than my Kodiak.....but my Kodiak pulled her on her Bruin in a tug-of-war......when I dropped the tranny into the low range.

 

Its a trade off for low price, some of the features of the more expensive quads arent there.
For just riding along on trails and light chores, it shouldnt be a problem. Dont worry about belt slippage, on the ultramatic because the belt is always tight, and wont slip unless it gets wet.
The advice for running in low range for slow going , is for polaris and kawasaki, because of the design, on those two, the belt does go slack at idle, and its hard on the belt , when it first engages.
Yamaha , suzuki and a/c, have centrifical clutches, and the belt always stays tight. But i know what you mean, about having more control over the speed and power in low range.
I think the tow rating on the bruin is almost the same as the kodiak 450, which has a low range. So its still capible of doing some serious towing. I know a guy at work who has one, and he hasnt complained about the quad, just the tires.
Id say go for it.

 

Thanks for all the feedback. I'll probably get one when I get some dough saved up.

 

You wont be sorry with your decision. They are a great machine!

 

ive been through mud up to the breather for the belt on mine but i have itp tires and it goes like a grizzly

 

crude machine that will go anywhere. no engine braking whatsoever. i learned not to sit on mine and bounce over rough descents at a generally unsafe speed. This thing will boggle the mind. It dances over obstacles and leaves my pals long behind. Just let it find its own speed on descent and ride it like a trail bike. Incredible! ..... Did I mention crude? The rear brakes squeak and always will. the brake pads used to not last very long and my wife will burn em up. now she likes my rubicon so maybe i can go back to fun on the bruin. Maintenance on this thing is a joke compared to the rubicon.simple crude machine built to ride and last. In hindsight i woud buy a rancher -S- FM. but i guess i just think hondas are pretty. Did i mention this machine is crude.....


beagles

 

i had a 2004 bruin 350 4x4 for two years, just traded it in for a new wolverine 450 about 3 weeks ago. Never in the two years i had it was having no low range an issue.

beagles, have you even road a bruin 350? Right off when you said there is "no engine braking whatsoever" told me and everyone else on this site that has rode an automatic yamaha that you have no clue what you are talking about. The second you let off the gas you feel the engine braking. Have you ever road an old polaris? Now they have no engine braking, the model i road anyway did not anyway, you let off the gas and it was as if you were in neutral.

The bruin is not going to win any shootouts, but it does everything well.