ATV purchase

[matthies]

Son wants to buy a 4 wheeler, what makes are good and which ones to stay away from. I never owned one but operated a few, Honda would be my choice, but would like to hear what others think. This would be a used one under $2K. Gas and 4WD. He is 13 and a well sized kid.

 

[dpendzic]

I have a honda and a polaris---the honda by far is much more trouble free

 

[tomNE]

honda by far

 

[JayinNY]

I agree, Honda, I have a Trx 300 4x4 I bought used 13 years ago, only thing iv done to it change the oil, put a spark plug in it, and get the starter rebuilt, it dosent get used a lot but it?s been trouble free.

 

[dlbuck]

Honda.

 

[J Hamilton]

I agree get a Honda, that's what I have too

 

[Blackhole49]

I have a Honda and a Polaris. Both have been excellent machines. Bought both used. Have had the Honda for 5 years and the Polaris for 21. Only problem with the oil injection pump went out so we just run it on mixed gas. The Honda is 4 stroke and more of a tank, but has been bulletproof so far.

 

[Farmer Rock]

I bought a utv 3 years ago,and if you look in the right place they can be found for that price.mine is a 07' yamaha rhino,4x4,diff lock,and it had a top end rebuild before i bought it and was very well maintaned.utvs are much safer since they have a roll cage and seat belts.as far as the machine itself,i would get another one,because it has been completely trouble free,all i have done is change the oil throughout the machine and filters once a year.whatever you do get,be sure to use 4 stroke atv oil,because engine oil is also used as the trannsmission fluid,so it has to be slip clutch rated

 

[JDEM]

I live by a state forest four-wheeler trail . Called ORVs here in Michigan. They are everywhere. In the woods and on the great lakes during ice-fishing season. I buy them cheap when I can and work on them. I have 12 of my own that our family uses at three different rural properties. Here is my take. Most are built well and most have good parts availability (new and used). It makes more sense to me to mention the ones to stay away from. Like Polaris, Can-Am, John Deere, and Arctic Cat.

You mentioned wanting 4WD. I have a few 4WDs and also two AWDs. For most riding, I find the 2WDs more fun because they are lighter. Also easier to push out of hole if stuck. That said, the 4WDs and AWDs have their uses.

You did not mention what sort of riding you kid wants to do? Deep woods just to get into bad places, or riding fast on established trails?

I see Honda mentioned a lot. I find nothing special about any of the Hondas, good or bad. Some of the older ones from the 80s I find annoying with the procedure required to get into reverse.

In my area of northern Michigan, when it comes to used 4WDs, under $1500, I find more Suzuki King Quads then anything else (LT4WD models or similar). GREAT machines. If you want a rugged utility machine, hard to beat them. Differential locks, three ranges in the transfer case, independent suspension front and back, and parts easy to get (except carbs for some years). Second to that are the AWD Yamahas like the Big Bears. With 2WDs, I have two 80s Suzukis that have indestructable. My 16 year old boy rides a Kawasaki Bayou that is just the same.

I suggest you find any four wheeler in your price range, and IF in good shape, check parts availability before you buy.

I have a John Deere and a Can-Am, both with water-cooled German engines and parts are either non-existent or horribly overpriced. Good ones to stay away from. Some Arctic Cats are the same way.

One warning if near any big lakes. I come across quite a few "bargain"four-wheelers that have fallen through the ice and sat under water. I just got done fixing one and never want to do one again.

 

[Steve@Advance]

As long as it's a name brand, haven't heard anything bad about any of them.

But there are some knock off clones out there, beware! Easy to spot, they won't have the name brand badging. Avoid!

Hard to say what you will find, they come in all variety's from low mile barn finds to used and abused. Just have to look them over carefully.

If you find one that has a lot of performance extras, jacked suspension, oversized wheels, performance clutch (grabby and radical)... Real good chance someone put all that on because they wanted to push it to the limit, and probably did!

 

[Russ from MN]

I have a 98 Honda 400 Foreman, bought it new, over 6000 miles on it now. Have put in one starter brush, that's it! Other than tires, adjust valves, and oil changes.

 

[dr sportster]

I have a Honda .I agree with JDEM -- hard to get reverse at times. Nothing special about the Honda. I had Kawasaki and Yamaha .I would probably go Yamaha again for a new one.

 

[JDEM]

Here are two I suggest you NEVER buy. Parts new or used are either not available, or so expensive you would never buy. Too bad because they are fun machines to ride and not built bad. Just oddities and very limited production.

I have one of each. Why? I got both in almost new condition and cheap. Paid $700 for one and $500 for the other. Both have water-cooled Rotax engines and variator belt drive. The Bombardier in the photo was bought new in 2003, used for one month and then lost all its oil pressure. Dealer said it was too expensive to fix. No warranty since it had been parked a long time before it first got used. I paid $500 and it is literally just like new. Fixing it was a horrible job. Ends up the coolant in the engine must of gotten ice in it. The owner started the engine cold and the water-pump also drives the oil-pump, so the fiber oil pump gears broke. Great running machine but I would NEVER buy one unless an outrageous deal.

I put Arctic Cat from certain years as something to avoid like the plague too.

 

[KCTractors]

I also have 97 Honda Foreman 400 with 920 hours, 4954 miles. I bought it used and I didn't know a thing about a ATV. It shifted hard in and out of reverse. Then one day I couldn't get it out of reverse.
I took it to a ATV repair place guessing this is going to be expensive. Best $75 I spent. They adjusted the clutch and now it shifts like a new machine.
The shop tells me the clutch should be adjusted once a year and at almost 5000 miles they thought that the clutch was never adjusted.

 

[Russ from MN]

Yes, frequent clutch adjustments are necessary, there are good instructions in the owners manual, all you need is a 14 mm wrench and a flat screwdriver!, takes 5 minutes. Also when changing oil do not use automotive synthetic, either conventional of MC synthetic, as the clutch runs in the oil.

 

[Mule Meat]

You said that he was 13 and a good sized kid.

A good Honda 500 Foreman. Popping the seat off of one will tell you alot about how it was treated. Battery box, Air filter box and other places under the are good for packing dirt and mud. If you see a lot under the seat. Walk away.

The Honda Rubicon 500 is also a good machine (daughter has a 2008 with over 12k miles). It has never had the plug out of it or the air filter replaced. Only drawback to the Rubicon is oil changes. It takes 6 quarts to change the oil with a new filter. So paying $45 - $50 per change is not exactly cheap. Another thing to watch with a Rubicon. Two or three model years have 11" tires on the rear (stupidist thing Honda did). Makes buying rear tires limited to certain ones.
You cant go wrong with a Honda.

If you consider something built by Bombardier. Get a Can Am. Stay away from rebadged units such as John Deere. With nothing more than the stickers and color of the plastic being different. Does not justify paying two or three times more for parts at a John Deere dealer.

 

[dpendzic]

both of mine state no one under 16 allowed to operate it

 

[buickanddeere]

Depends how sensible your son is with that kind of speed and power.

 

[David G]

Always get a slower first vehicle for kids.

Neighbor lost his two twin 13 year old boys to ATV accident a couple years ago.

 

[JDEM]

I cannot speak for anyone else's kids but . . . I hear about many more adults getting killed on four-wheelers where I live. Often over age
65. Kind of strikes me as odd that a person can make it that far in life and then drive an ATV like an idiot and get killed. Not just men
either. And that is on the ground on trails. We get quite a few people go through the ice on four wheelers and get killed too - and it is
usually older people. To be fair, I live right in the middle of where most of the ATV happens in the entire state.

My son has been riding a 250 cc Kawasaki Bayou since he was 10 years old and he still likes it at age 16. Never had any issues but he has
never operated it alone. Kids under age 16 can not legally operate an ATV without adult supervision here in Michigan, along with the legally
required proof of passing the State ORV test.

 

[buickanddeere]

(quoted from post at 15:08:09 04/28/20) Always get a slower first vehicle for kids.

Neighbor lost his two twin 13 year old boys to ATV accident a couple years ago.

Last winter near Listowel. A 16yr old boy on his snowmobile was following his 14yr old sister on her snowmobile on a sled trail in a snow storm.
The sister did not see the curve and went over the edge. The brother followed her tailights,landed on top of his sister and killed her.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

4 wheelers scare me. I know a man in a wheelchair for life because of 4 wheeler.
4 wheelers are a hot item for druggies to steal.

I bought a handy side by side, Kawasaki 4010 mule. It's a handy tool around the property.

 

[David G]

You are a good man, kids should never operate without an adult present.

 

[glennster]

i have been riding for a lot of years, at 62 i still ride quads and occasionally get the old suzuk rm 250 motocross bike out. any of the big name machines are pretty decent. honda, yamaha, polaris ect. each have their own quirks. if he is after a 4x4 quad, stay at 500 cc or less. i assume he is going in the mud and woods with the 4x4. get one with a winch so he can self rescue. they are heavy and hard to get un stuck. personally im a sport quad guy, i have a couple polaris, a yamaha 350 automatic and a couple old hot rodded yamaha warriors. . had a yamaha banshee years ago, it was an insane ride. 350 two stroke. i recommend you get him good riding gear safety equipment. motocross helmet, goggles, boots and body armor and riding gloves. dennis kirk is a good source for gear and parts. also bike bandit dot com for parts too. here is a link to dennis kirk
poke here

 

[Kid Shileen]

I have an 03 arctic cat 500 4x4. I bought it used 2 years ago. No problems. This thing is a great working atv and a pretty decent trail bilke. Used atvs are like used cars . A lot of it depends on how the previous owner used and maintained them.

 

[cannonball]

don't get one with a snorkel or pipe sticking up on front...been muddied..got 3 Honda here.. 93 95 2004

 

[matthies]

Thanks for all the replies, he is a responsible kid and I have no problem with him jumping on our tractors or old pickup to take for a spin or clean up around the place. Now his sister is another thing. LOL

 

[gears]

I'll give a +1 to 2wd - much more fun and if you're getting it stuck a 4x4 would likely get stuck too. I like my Yamahas - especially if you can find an older Timberwolf/Beartracker or BigBear.

My kids have been riding the 250 sized machines since they were 10 - I'm around and we do backwoods riding. No racing, jumping - they don't go off on their own until they've been riding with me a few years.

I would stay away from the Polaris simply because I've fixed too many of them over the years for their delicate electrical systems...

I would look for something shaft drive versus chain and sprocket.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Honda Recon. Simple, light, inexpensive, easy to fix. Not 4x4, but you don't need it on a 250cc machine.

I've heard good things about the Taotao knockoffs. They're not really knockoffs, not even close to the machines they supposedly knock off. Friend of mine bought a couple of 110cc quads for his grandkids, and he's fussy about what he buys. No complaints.

 

[jallen]

(reply to post at 08:54:38 04/ 280)

gotta go with honda I bought a 1994 300 4trax still runs good and goes over just about anything good tires are everything !