no to argue with TOP but, the atv itself isnt dangerous but they are dangerous in the wrong hands... the machine itself doesnt crash or roll over on its own its generally the knuckle head that is riding it....... listen to me defending atv's, i dont even ride one anymore im a 2 wheel kind of guy when it comes to offroad riding. anyway as TOP said just becareful.... scott

 

Safety is important, as is learning how to ride responsibly. I also don't mean to disagree with Top, but I just read in the latest DirtWheels magazaine that ATV injury rates are declining:

The following is from a website the DirtWheels points readers to:

"Specialty Vehicle Institute of America Calls on Consumer Organizations to Join in Efforts to Promote ATV Safety ATV Industry Supports State Legislation, Rider Training/Education, and Parental Supervision as Keys to Improving ATV Safety
Irvine, Calif., October 31, 2003 -- A report released this week by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows:

• 5% decline in the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) injury rate from 2001 to 2002;
• 31% decline in the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) injury rate from 1988 to 2002;
• 14% decline in the fatality rate for the period of 1999 to 2001;
• 15% decline since 1997 in the proportion of total ATV-related injuries that involve children under 16.

The full report can be found here: CPSC ATV Safety Report
(The report is in .pdf format)

This is good news

 

Hey kid, take a look at the new Yamaha Ranger. It is like a MULE on steroids. It is an automatic with selectable 2wd/4wd and traction lock. A bud of mine bought one to use down in 3-Rivers on his deer lease and let me use it while hunting with him. The thing worked flawlessly over rock terrain, mud, flowing creeks etc..... If I did not already have a Kaw Bayou 300 I would have to seriously rethink my choice. The Ranger allows you 2 passengers to sit beside you, has tremendous suspension at road speed (60mph +) and has a tilt dump bed to boot. We carried 3 guys and 600# of feeder filler on my last trip out with it.

Good luck with your choice and safe 4wheeling with it....

Gary

 

I have a '99 Prairie 300 4x4 with the CVT. Been great, no problems other than replacing a battery.


MikeyB

 

Palm, have you tried your dad's quad in Low gear? He's got the exact same one I do (ours is the ducks unlimited edition though) and in low gear, mine is great. It yanks our fourwheeler trailer full of horse manure and 30 bags of 80lb concrete with ease. The only problem I've had with the transmission is mom keeps putting it in high gear to tow with. I've beat the bloody pulp out of mine and it has kept on ticking. I've done power brakes (which probably haven't helped the tranny much either ), wheelies, slides, logs, rivers, ravines, 4' mud pits, lakes, rocks, and sand and I have never had a problem with it other than the one's I've caused.

 

I to love the ATVs. Unfortunately every time you look there is a good chance you Will buy. We all ride and we have a Raptor, Lakota, and a Blaster. The Raptor is of coarse the fastest, but speed isn't everything. I think if you are just tooling around and riding on trails the automatic is the way to go. They have come a long way and are very responsive and durable. Don't get to big, they are just to awkward to handle. I think 400 is about perfect in size. Don't get caught up in the power thing, and try to impress any but yourself. Truth is you don't need much power to troll along the trails.

 

I know what ya mean Y-Knot. Back in the day all we had were 2wd 4 wheelers. The old honda fourtrax 2wd 250's. We thrashed them, and it didnt matter if we got stuck. Because all you had to do was get off, pick the rear up, and move it. You definately cant do that with the big boys they make today!! Thats one reason I am leaning toward a 400cc 4x4. not too big, but big enough that me, the wife, and my dog can ride on.

I will put some plywood with carpet on top of it on the back rack for my dog to ride on. She loves go everywhere I go, and she is not scared of anything.

I will probly go test drive some Polaris' between 400-500cc 4x4's, and some kawi's. I have a feeling I will go with Polaris. They are proven in this part of the country. They are just so loud though. Does someone make a super quiet muffler for these things?

 

PK,
This is something I have thought about getting to see if will quiet my Polaris 400 down : Kolpin Exhaust
Cabelas sells them for about $200.00, don't know anyone that has them, so I don't know how well they work.

We have a Sportsman 400 4x4 and love it. Very reliable and bulletproof. Enough power for me to take it out on the hunting lease and have fun with it. It is also very easy for my wife to take out on the trail to follow me on the dirt bike. It is automatic, you can shift easily between Hi and Lo, it is has a 2WD/4WD selector switch and one brake lever applies both front and rear brakes. We really like the independant rear suspension. My wife is very small (chicken wings for arms) and can pilot the machine with out to much effort.
Try to find a place that sells many makes/models and test drive as many as you can back to back.

Good luck on your decision.

Rob

 

Oh yeah,
I just saw in a magazine, some guy made his own stealth muffler out of two lawn mower air cleaners and some pipe and some hose clamps for about $30.

~Rob

 

if your looking for an all out work/utility bike check out the honda rubicon,i love mine.....just my 2 cents.....

 

My two cents if the Honda: I have a Honda Rubicon 500, great machine, when you push the throttle it responds. As noted it might not be the fasted but in my opinon it is one of the most reliable.

 

I have a 2004 Prairie and a 2002 Grizzly, both great machines. If you want low end power, check out the Prairie. It has gobs with that V-Twin. It's like a Cummins ATV If you want IRS, go with a Grizz. I had a Polaris once, and never again. Unreliable and they're tanks! No need to have a quad weighing over 700 LBS.

Check out my ATV pics here...MY ATV PICTURES

 

If you go with the Polaris you lessen the chances of getting stuck by this I mean 4X4 not 4X3 plus you wont have to get a piece of plywood for the racks or the floorboards, just a piece of carpet for the dog just my $.02

 

RamCummins-we're just over the mountain from each other. I'm in CC.
Anyway, both the Grizz and Prairie have diff. lock. So does the Kodiak. Kodiak is a 450 and is lighter than a 330 Polaris.

 

PK,
To get more low end grunt out of a Polaris, try this website:
Heelclicker
I have not tried one yet, but I believe member darrellb has one.

~Rob