I bought an ATV from a local guy who tinkers with them, and it wasn't quite what he said. It runs great once you get it started and it warms up, but it smokes, burns oil and is VERY difficult to get started. So I feel a little suspicious of him.

.Now he has a 2001 Yamaha Grizzly he offered me today for $1,750. The price sounds good, but I'm wondering to myself what's wrong with it. He pushed the button and it started right up, and he shifted it into 4WD and back. And it had less than 600 miles on the odometer. I didn't take a test ride because it was pouring rain, but I'm interested.

So how are these machines in general? Is that a good year? Any common problems to look out for?

Thanks for any insight you can give. Here are some pictures of the one I'm considering:

 

I notice that the speedo goes to 70. Is this a 60 MPH machine?

 

I have just replied with this to someone else. I've only worked on one. They seem rugged machines but they are SLOW. If you want to do low speed off-road trailer work or logging with them, I think they will be fine, but you had to rev the nuts off the one I fixed to get any speed at all.

 

Thanks, Merryman. That is good information. I don't need a racer, but it needs to keep up with the others, which all do 55 MPH or so. And they are a 300 Kawi Lakota, a 450 Kodiak and a little 250 Bayou. If this 600 won't keep up or pass them up, I might just pass on it.

Hopefully, you just had a dud!
Thanks for the reply.

 

Link to the other thread, so it isn't just the one I fixed, https://atvconnection.com/forums/yam...ed-higher.html 90k/ph is 53mph which I suspect is absolute, engine screaming, top. Let us know what you think of the one you are going to road test.

 

I will. My neighbor has kind of disappeared since I agreed to buy it. Maybe he thinks he isn't asking enough, not sure. Or maybe he's just busy. I guess we will see.
Thanks for the experience. If it will do 53 I's be okay with that, but 600 cc's seems inefficient, unless it's geared low for towing, like my Prairie. That is a nice machine, but definitely not fast.