I am in the market for a new ATV. I currently own several Yamaha's and Polaris's. The Yamaha's have held up much better than the Polaris's I think. I am looking at a Honda this time.

Any feedback welcome as to the kind of ATV you run and the one that has given you the least trouble.

 

I have a TRX-450R. Great quad but I'm going to get rid of it to get a dual sport bike so I can ride gravel roads and trails.

 

How will you be using it?
I love my Raptor 700. Great performance and enough low-end grunt to be fun on the trails as well.

 

i keep everything i buy for a LONG time.

 

Do you want a Utility model, sport model, dual model..things like that? What type of terrain will you be riding most? Already got the impression you want a long lasting engine...which Honda's are usually fairly good for lasting awhile.

 

As far as Honda 4x4's go, I've got a 680 Rincon and a 500 Foreman.

The Rincon is Honda's only independent rear suspension machine. It's snappy, handles well, and has a total cadillac ride over rough rocks and roots. The transmission is the only one on the market like an automotive automatic. It has three speeds and a torque converter and operates in auto mode, or you can elect to choose your own shift points via push buttons on the bar. It's biggest drawback is that it is fairly high geared with no low range, and there's really no compression braking below about 10 or 12 mph, so you are riding the brakes constantly on technical steep stuff that requires 1-2 mph... Four valve, liquid cooled, EFI. If you plan on super huge mud tires, an aftermarket gear down kit will be needed.

The Foreman is available in 5 speed foot shift, or push button electric shift, and power steering is now an option. Clutch is automatic. Solid rear axle slides better, but has less ground clearance, and can beat you up on all day rides in the rough stuff. Two valve, air/oil cooled, carb... Stone axe known for long term reliability.

The 420 Rancher is liquid cooled, snappy, solid rear axle, and physically smaller. The Rubicon is a 4 valve liquid cooled 500 with a hydromechanical transmission...

Anyhow, I've had really good luck with Hondas, though they are often on the trailing edge when it comes to features...

 

my dad has a polaris dealership, if you owned anything under a 2005 polaris you probaly had problems with it, if your looking for something super fast polaris built an outlaw 525 with a ktm engine in it, its the fastest accelerating stock four wheeler made, also is buit from the factory to race, and its at a good price also

 

Get the new can-am Renegade. My boss just picked one up he has intake pipe and a few other gismos. He said that it stomps all over his Raptor 700. Plus it is 4wd and an auto so trail riding would be no prob.
62hp 800cc v-twin.

 

This one looks better.

 

If you are used to yamaha, dont downgrade to honda.

honda = more maintenance and i dont think they are as comfortable to ride. I have two of them just because I got good deals on both... otherwise I would have gotten a YFZ450 and a Raptor....

 

onch! dura, im going to have to disagree.

Grandpa, Dad and I have owned 7 or 8 hondas in the past 10-15 years, we ride them 3-5 thousand miles a year and change the oil every year or so...(or just when we get around to it) I've had to install a new set of tie rod ends on two bikes, a new battery in one and a starter on another. And thats it. And i've rolled them all (except dads new one and my new one) at least twice. Just bend the handle bars back and keep going.

I've ridden yamaha's, but they just dont impress me. i hear horrior stories about them and polaris's from the tech at the dealer. I dont have time to work on a 4wheeler. So ill stick with my honda's

 

Never had a problem with Yamaha. Never had any of the others, but have ridden a few, and my personal opinion is Yamaha has some of the better offerings out there and are real reliable. My Raptor 350 has been solid and will do until I (finally) jump up to the 700R. After that, Ill be getting a Grizzly 700 EFI w/ power steering, then a Rhino stretched to a 4 seater. I wont knock any other manufacturers, as I have no first hand experience. Ive heard this and that, but until I witness it, its just hearsay.

 

this right here is a bad SOB 07 Polaris Sportsman 800EFI Deluxe

 

I've been through Honda and Polaris. My bud has a brand new 07 500 sportsman 500HO that takes at least 5 mins to start, and has numerous electrical problems. Out at my land, I've seen a few honda's bite the bullet. My Grizzly and YFZ450 have held their own since I've had them new and both have been through pure hell!!! My yfz450 puts out 54 hp on 307lbs, its a rocket on wheels (full intake, edelbrock carb, full exhaust, cam mod). We also have a brand new brute force 750 that has both headgaskets blown.

 

How does the Rasor stack up against the Rhino ?

Bob