Quads / ATV

[bigshot]

Anyone hunt with a quad? I have been a die hard Honda guy for about 15 years, but lately my 07, Honda, Foreman, 500cc, has blown up for the second time. So, I'm shopping for a new one. I can't decide if I want to stay with a Honda, or switch to a Yamaha Grizzly, or a Polaris Sportsman 550. I would like to stay with a mid size quad, but if the big bores are better, then which one do you recommend and why. I would like a quad that I can depend on...

I hunt all the western states and California's deserts. I also hunt/ride late and early seasons just about year round.

 

[kcaves]

I have a Polaris sportsman 850, and I love it. I hauled out a lot of big Elk with it this year with it. Love the power of it too. I would recommend upgrading, you are messin with old technology with honda's. They are just now bragging about having independent suspension and everyone else has had that for more than a decade. I would upgrade personally


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[bigshot]

I've been thinking hard about the Polaris Sportsman 850, but not familier with them. The salesman at the dealership said they are the #1 selling quad right now. I did not know if that was a sales gimmic or if they were selling cause they are great! I asked if he owned one, he replied, "no," and said he did not hunt.. All my buddies and have always owned either Yamaha's and Honda's and they have done great, except for my last quad (Lemon). I agree that Honda has gotten left behind in the engineering department.

 

[bigshot]

Have you heard of, or have any negatives regarding the Polaris 850

 

[Musket Man]

what happened to the honda? they usually run forever. my old 300 is still going bent frame and all!! guys i know with yamaha's are happy with them. I know the full independant suspension handles alot better then the old ones did. I would look at artic cat too if i was looking for new one. Never rode 1 but they look wide and stable with good clearance.

 

[bigshot]

My poor Honda......well lets see where should I start. First off, let me say I luv Hondas!! my first was a used 1987 350 Foreman. Had that one for ten years before I sold it for a 2002, 350, Rancher. Then sold that one for the 07, Honda 500 Foreman. I never had a problem with my Honda's until then. Before all I had to do was just change oil, clean filter, and adjust the valves. When I bought the new 07, 500, Foreman, the first year I owned it the electric shifter (ES) broke and had to be replaced. It just stopped shifting gears during the hunting season. The shifter broke again a year later right before my Colorado trip, arge!

Then the gasket where the head meets the case blew! Found out all the case head screw threads stripped, so had to have them re-threaded with "Time serts." Recently, I learned the heat sensor broke and caused the head gasket to blow again! My mechanic advised, I buy a new quad or find a replacement engine. I still can't believe all the problems I've had with it.

 

[Musket Man]

Damn. sounds like just bad luck on that one. Hondas usually run forever!

 

[CrimsonArrow]

My uncle and myself have both been riding newer Hondas for years, and have had multiple problems with both. His had the electronic shifter go out, then the tranny finally blew-up. My manual shift linkage broke, and the engine has required tuning twice. That being said, my 86 Big Red just went in the junk heap a couple years ago, and I love Hondas. Most problems with Hondas have been since they started using the electronic shift. Finally, unless you're doing a lot of trail riding with your quad, I wouldn't be too concerned if a particular model didn't have independent rear suspension. They're not as stable as a solid axle under a heavy load.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I have 2 quads, both Polaris. I bought a new Sportsman 500 in 2004. All I have ever done to it is change the oil & filter. I use it almost every day here on my place. It is a workhorse. Several years ago I helped pack out my neighbors cow elk with it. We used the winch to winch it up in a big pine tree, tied it off and then I backed under it and we loaded it (whole, just gutted) on the back rack. He sat on the front rack and away we went with the suspension bottomed out. Made it about 1/4 mile to the road and then back to the truck. Its one great machine!

I bought my wife an older 2 stroke Sportsman 400. It runs great too, just a little louder. She says it "stinks". We don't hunt with either of our quads, just use them to get where we hunt and walk from there. We also do a lot of riding in the summer. I recommend Polaris highly. The only advice I have is ...don't buy something bigger than you really need. I agonized over mine when I bought the 500. Should I get the 700 or the 500? One of my friends bought a Honda 750 and we do a lot of riding together. Yes it's faster, but it also uses almost twice as much fuel as I do. If I can carry out a whole elk and 2 hunters, why do I need anything bigger!

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I have a Yamaha Kodiak 450. My hunting partner has a Grizz 660. The Kodiak will out perform the Grizz. The real only difference is the Grizz has more power but we have never been able to go or do anything with the Grizz that I couldn't do with the Kodiak.

 

[Montana]

You cannot go wrong with a Polaris. It is all I have ever owned and they are rock solid machines. Oh by the way i am selling my 500 Haha... Too bad you are in Cali

Seriously amazing bikes.

 

[kcaves]

Only problem I've had with my 850 is a seal in the waterpump went bad, and I have over 2500 miles on it


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[IdahoVandal]

I have purchased 3 Polaris 500's for work last fall and all I can say is they are worth more as a paper weight than an atv. In the shop more than in the field (broken belts, bad cv joints, won't idle, fuel injection problems). Polaris quality has gone way down hill lately. We used to have awesome luck with Polaris but the new ones just don't hold up. Find a good used older polaris or buy anything else. just my .02

 

[Musket Man]

Technology seems to be making more things worse and less reliable all the time. New Honda and Polaris having problems when the old ones were pretty much bullet proof. Ford has had lots of diesel engine problems since they dropped the old 7.3L powerstroke and Dodge has had problems with the 6.7L when the old 5.9L ran forever. Also the EFI 4 wheelers I have been around dont have a rope or kick start. Seems like in trying to make everything 'better' alot of reliability has been lost along the way.....

 

[kcaves]

I have purchased 3 Polaris 500's for work last fall and all I can say is they are worth more as a paper weight than an atv. In the shop more than in the field (broken belts, bad cv joints, won't idle, fuel injection problems). Polaris quality has gone way down hill lately. We used to have awesome luck with Polaris but the new ones just don't hold up. Find a good used older polaris or buy anything else. just my .02

Like I said 2500 miles, replaced the belt once because of piece of mind, if they are taken care of they last a long time, cv joints and belts break due to operator error. If one breaks on me, I'll admit to it


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[xtreme]

I would look closely at Can-Am. I have probably sold and delivered as many Hondas as anyone in America and they still donot have the suspension and handling to compete with Can-Am. I have two Honda 500s one a Rubicon and the other a Foreman. The Rubicon is the best utility atv I have used, the Foreman is very dependable and always liking in ride and handling, and ability. I also have a purpose bought Tandem seat Bombardier, great brakes handling and suspension. It will climb steeper hills safely than anything else I have tried. I have retrieved a bull elk from a canyon that no other atv has been in much less dragged a bull elk from.
Same thing in the side by sides, clear winner is Can-Am. I am using a Rino, but its not my first choice.
I use the two wheel Honda Fatcats of the 1986 and 1987 vintage with great success when the trail narrows.

 

[Drelk]

I'm a Polaris guy myself. Have had no problems with the sportsman 500. Ranger xp 700 is pretty good machine. I have heard some amazing things about can-am. My next machine might be a can am

 

[jenbickel]

I have a Kawasaki brute force 750 and I love it. It is bullet proof. I would highly recommend Yamaha though. I work at a dealership and so I get to see all the ups and downs of all the brands. Yamaha to me is definitely the best. Can am are pretty amazing too.

 

[bigshot]

Thanks for the great replies, seems like you can get a lemon in almost any make of quad. I decided to first look into a used engine and see what it will cost to fix my quad one more time. If its not too expensive I'm tempted to fix it and use it as a backup or loaner quad. I just saw a Honda Rubicon my buddy purchased used, and like their side mounted gear shifter. Looks like you can shift it to a five speed (ES), or an automatic with Hi, low, and super low settings. My buddies is a 2005, 500cc, and only paid $2,600. It had 300 miles and really likes it so far. It rides like a tank.

Anyone know where I can buy a used or rebuilt Honda motor.

 

[Howahunter]

GO Suzuki!