Who owns a quad? Recommendations on purchase?

[rjfguitar]

Another thing I haven't seen mentioned is most if not all of these Polaris models are 2 stroke.. Like the Scrambler being mentioned for towing and utility.. A 2 stroke wheeler is the last thing you would want for utility because it lacks the power or for hunting due to the noise..Now a 2 stroke quad is fine for a play bike but it lacks the torque for any pulling power.. A buddy of mine has a 400 Scrambler that has a button to push on the right side handle bar to make it be 4wd.. It is a good for when your playing and get a little stuck then the 4wd button does provide some added traction.. But even in 4wd it dont have the torque to pull much weight.. To give you and example I still have my old Honda Big Red 250 3 wheeler and when we hook them back to back with a strap I can pull him backwards even though he is in 4wd.. The 2 strokes motors are not designed to pull weight because of the lack of torque they have.. His Scrambler has held up pretty good for a Polaris but there again it is belt driven that has slippage issues..

Polaris no longer produces a 400 Scrambler, or a 400 2 stroke period. If you are going to poke at a model.....at least stay up on current models.. All Scramblers come with the 500 high output single cylinder engine 4 stroke, arguably one of the best engines on the market and known for it's torque.

The reason why you can drag a Scrambler with your larger Honda is because it's a different chassis. I'm sure I could drag around a stock Jeep Wrangler in my Dodge Cummins, without even needing to put in into 4wd. Two different chassis made for two different things. Now, head down a small nimble trail and the Wrangler would cruise right through obstacles and tight spaces, my big heavy, bulky Ram Cummins wouldn't go one foot. Same idea with a Scrambler and big utility ATV. The Scrambler will pretty much go through anything that a larger 4x4 Utility ATV will. It's light enough and powerfull enough to drag itself through almost anything in 4x4. It's like having a built SBC in that same Wrangler.

 

[rjfguitar]

Then I go back and talk to the mechanic. There is a Polaris sitting there. I tell him that I am thinking either Yamaha or Polaris. He goes on a tear about Polaris and says they are in their shop constantly. He claims that they are poorly made with cheap parts and to stay way away from them. The mechanic says Yamaha or Honda.

If the other manufacturers sold as many ATV's as Polaris does they would have more vehicles in the shop too. There may be more Poo's in the shop, but that makes sence when there is three times as many out there.

 

[Brocky]

I had a 450 honda es with a big wheel and rim package. It was the greatest machine. I own 11 4 wheelers and besides the electric shift it was a great machine. If you want something fast it is not the bike for you. 88 km was top speed roughly. The Yamaha Grizzly was faster than mine but I spent the whole day towing that heavy machine out of the bog. So in my opion buy a 450, snorkel kit, raise the tail pipe and install the big wheel kit and rims with Bear Claws all the same size all around and you will have a nice capable machine.

Cheers.

 

[mudslinger99]

Polaris no longer produces a 400 Scrambler, or a 400 2 stroke period. If you are going to poke at a model.....at least stay up on current models..

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Ok now Polaris once again I don't have much seat time with the newer models other then my buddies 400 Scrambler and a 500 Sportsman but they are 90's era.. I did have a older 250 Trail Blazer and it was the biggest piece of junk I have ever owned.. It was 2 stroke so it made to much noise for hunting and not reliable enough and lacked the power for any out of the way wheeling..But in no way would I compare it to the newer models because I am sure they have made some improvement since then..I do know that the smaller Polaris kids quads are made by the same company that makes all the cheaper brands like E-TON and Polaris just puts their name on them..

There read what that says, it clearly states I DON'T HAVE MUCH SEAT TIME ON THE NEWER MODELS.. It also says IN NO WAY WOULD I COMPARE IT TO THE NEWER MODELS BECAUSE I'M SURE THEY HAVE MADE SOME IMPROVEMENT.. I stated my experience with the ones that I have some experience with.. I think I gave a unbiased reveiw on all the models that I mentioned.. I pointed out the good and bad in both.. Everybody has there own preferences with ATV's just like with trucks.. I mean it's like arguing Chevy vs Ford vs Dodge there is no point in it..Just state your experience and opinion good or bad and move on.. This thread is about DESERT RAT trying to gather some info on different ATV's so he can make the best decision for him and his kids..
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The reason why you can drag a Scrambler with your larger Honda is because it's a different chassis. I'm sure I could drag around a stock Jeep Wrangler in my Dodge Cummins, without even needing to put in into 4wd. Two different chassis made for two different things. Now, head down a small nimble trail and the Wrangler would cruise right through obstacles and tight spaces, my big heavy, bulky Ram Cummins wouldn't go one foot. Same idea with a Scrambler and big utility ATV. The Scrambler will pretty much go through anything that a larger 4x4 Utility ATV will. It's light enough and powerfull enough to drag itself through almost anything in 4x4. It's like having a built SBC in that same Wrangler.

Where do you come up with that I have a LARGER HONDA compared to the POLARIS ? Did you not read it correctly ? Go back and re-read where I said HONDA BIG RED 250 3 WHEELER.. Now how is a 1985 250 3 wheeler bigger then a 199# 400 Scrambler ? The Scrambler has a bigger motor by 150cc and has 4 wheels compared to 3 plus it has 4wd compared to the 3 wheeler having only 2wd.. The 400 is BIGGER then the 250.. So the 400 should have the advantage over the 250 that is SMALLER wouldn't you think ?

So your comparison of a Dodge pulling a Jeep is not correct.. To put it in the same context you used it would be like a 2wd Jeep pulling your 4wd Dodge backwards

 

[Brocky]

I know from my experience that I love Chev, and in ATC or ATV Honda is my choice. But hey like everything else to go and buy something new, it is all junk. They stopped making my choice rig in 91.

 

[jhellwig]

I bought a honda rincon this weekend and it kicks butt.

 

[rjfguitar]

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There read what that says, it clearly states I DON'T HAVE MUCH SEAT TIME ON THE NEWER MODELS.. It also says IN NO WAY WOULD I COMPARE IT TO THE NEWER MODELS BECAUSE I'M SURE THEY HAVE MADE SOME IMPROVEMENT.. I stated my experience with the ones that I have some experience with.. I think I gave a unbiased reveiw on all the models that I mentioned.. I pointed out the good and bad in both.. Everybody has there own preferences with ATV's just like with trucks.. I mean it's like arguing Chevy vs Ford vs Dodge there is no point in it..Just state your experience and opinion good or bad and move on.. This thread is about DESERT RAT trying to gather some info on different ATV's so he can make the best decision for him and his kids..
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Fine, relax.

Where do you come up with that I have a LARGER HONDA compared to the POLARIS ? Did you not read it correctly ? Go back and re-read where I said HONDA BIG RED 250 3 WHEELER.. Now how is a 1985 250 3 wheeler bigger then a 199# 400 Scrambler ? The Scrambler has a bigger motor by 150cc and has 4 wheels compared to 3 plus it has 4wd compared to the 3 wheeler having only 2wd.. The 400 is BIGGER then the 250.. So the 400 should have the advantage over the 250 that is SMALLER wouldn't you think ?

So your comparison of a Dodge pulling a Jeep is not correct.. To put it in the same context you used it would be like a 2wd Jeep pulling your 4wd Dodge backwards

I'm not going to go back and look for your post, to find how clear you stated it was a three wheeler or not. I got the impression that it was a larger four wheel drive Honda. If I misinturprited it, oh well.

Rgardless, I call it BS anyway. A junky old 3 wheeler could not pull a Scrammy in 4wd. SInce this is an older Scrammy that you mentioned than it may have had gummed up hubs and wasn't actually engaging in 4wd. I don't really care anyway.

Sit down and have a tall glass of relaxation, geeze.

 

[short sub]

the atv you pic depends on how you ride, where you ride, and what you are looking for in your atv. I just bought a kawasaki brute force 750 and this thing is awesome. Independent front and rear susp., v twin, and for trail riding and even sport riding it does it all. if you want a big bore i recommend getting an atv magazine and reading the reveiws they do over them all. well good luck later Ryan

 

[Desert Rat]

I went out to Carnegie and hit up every person I saw with a quad. I got a lot of interesting responses. One family with a nice sleep in trailer had three. The Dad had a nice Kawasaki but the two kids were riding some no name brand that they got from an Internet site that I can't remember now. They said they started the kids out on cheap ones to see how they did, and because they were still growing.

Then I ran into a guy on a utility type quad, I believe a Yamaha, that told me his was a 750 I think. He said he kept up just fine with all his buddies on smaller, but sport style 2wd ones. The summer is half over and I have a couple of trips planned. So, by the time I get around to the purchase it is the end of summer. I may wait until the beginning of next year to do it.

 

[mudslinger99]

That might be a good idea then you can get a good deal on a new left over.. Summer time and hunting season seems to be when the dealers around here are a little harder to bargain with.. If you catch them when they want to sell the brand new models they will make you a good deal on last years model.. Even though they are left over from last year they are still brand new and carry the same warranty and some times you can save quite a bit.. Good luck