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Author Topic: Best Quad?  (Read 4351 times)

Offline fishngamereaper

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Best Quad?
« on: July 10, 2019, 10:05:12 PM »
Looking for thoughts/ experiences with newer quads. Best bang for the buck. 5k range  400 class.
Can am, polaris, Honda, cf Moto, kymco. Mostly used for hunting, work around the property etc.

Offline KopperBuck

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2019, 10:11:23 PM »
I’m partial to Yamaha, but own a Honda in that class too. Either one.


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Offline KFhunter

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2019, 10:24:13 PM »
Kodiak 450 EPS

careful buying used, some are garage queens that never get ridden and some are snorkled and beat to hell. 


I'd just put a huge down and make payments with a brand new quad or keep pinching pennies until you can cash out a new one. 

Offline Mudman

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2019, 10:44:06 PM »
We bought 2 last year.  Polaris 850 and Polaris 450.  450 has power steering and is really a smooth rider.  So far so good, no complaints other than a weak battery.  Has plenty of power, does 50+mph.  Time will tell.  $5400.  I do think the Yamaha and Honda are best built with Susy close behind.  Performance goes to Yam and Suz over Honda.  Comfort is Polaris then Can am and Yam imop.  I don't trust the Off brands but acknowledge they are getting pretty good.
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Offline fishngamereaper

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2019, 05:24:40 AM »
Im definitely looking new. Don't want anyone else's problem. Besides some guys think their used bikes are better $$$$$ than new ones.  :chuckle:

Offline trophyhunt

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2019, 05:35:07 AM »
Yamaha for me, I have an 07 700.  Been a good machine, my next quad will be a yami
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Offline Wolfdog2314

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2019, 06:36:22 AM »
Really enjoying my Polaris sportsman 570. No bells and whistles other than power steering. Going on three years with it and no problems. Taken it on multiple hunts and used around the house a bit. Couldn’t beat the price for a new quad.

Offline Buckhunter24

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2019, 08:03:06 AM »
Honda rancher has been good for me. Shop around on the price as it varies widely. I got mine new for 5700 before tax. Saw the same machine for as high as 8k at other shops

Offline KFhunter

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2019, 08:50:20 AM »
The EPS is worth it, even on a midsize machine.   If you're tooling down a trail not looking where you're going (I do that a lot) and hook a tire on a log someone cut (I do that a lot) off it'll spin those bars right into your thigh and leave a huge painful bruise (yup, I do that a lot)


wishing I had EPS, there is a kit though for older machines, just haven't done it


Offline bearpaw

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2019, 09:12:14 AM »
I sold all my Polaris machines of all types after too many times walking out and having to pull out dead machines with blown engines. We went to Hondas and they have been great, extremely reliable and long lasting. I more recently bought a Yamaha 700 Kodiak EPS (mostly because our Vikings have been so good). The Kodiak is very nice riding, it should last even better than the heavier Vikings, but I haven't had it long enough to verify the longevity. The EPS is absolutely awesome, I will look for that on any brand of machine I buy in the future.
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Offline Tikka300wsm

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2019, 09:13:14 AM »
Can am outlander 450/570. Nothing compares at that price

Offline BKMFR

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2019, 11:21:58 AM »
I've owned Honda, Kawasaki, Can Am, used Yamaha and Polaris... tough use, Hound hunting, Trapping, hauled and used all over western U.S.  Personally use all Can Am now, but had great luck with Honda. Only two I would use based on my personal experience.

Offline Skyvalhunter

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2019, 11:41:19 AM »
So you stand behind Can Am and Honda?
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Offline KFhunter

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2019, 12:52:43 PM »
I don't like Honda, slow and not much suspension.  rode with guys on them, sloooooooo

I don't like Can-Am weight, they're pigs and heavy but go like stink on the nice roads but brakes suck

Yamaha has mediocre suspension, but they're light and nimble and reliable, best brush and technical bike where you're not sure if you're going to tip over or roll it.  dual brakes like motorcycle is a big plus, also real 4x4 with difflock

Polaris has plush suspension, but pig heavy and prone to breakage and I hate the single braking system plus fake 4x4 system you can't control

 :twocents:

Offline TC_outdoorsman

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #14 on: July 11, 2019, 12:54:48 PM »
Ive had yamaha and suzuki and I currently have a Honda. All were good but I prefer Yamaha. I have Yamaha outboards and generator and have never had an issue with those either.

Offline fishngamereaper

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #15 on: July 11, 2019, 01:14:05 PM »
No cf Moto fans yet...was hoping at least one guy owned one for some feedback...some pretty good deals on all the major brands now so I guess a guy just needs to roll the dice.

Offline KFhunter

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #16 on: July 11, 2019, 01:27:16 PM »
No cf Moto fans yet...was hoping at least one guy owned one for some feedback...some pretty good deals on all the major brands now so I guess a guy just needs to roll the dice.

China vs Japanese/Canada/USA = no contest


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Offline JoeE

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #17 on: July 11, 2019, 01:47:08 PM »
I’ve got an 07 Yamaha 450 grizzly that I’ve had since new. I’ve used it hard and have no complaints. It’s also been pulling double duty as a light snow plow on my uncles property near Colville every winter too.

Offline Buckhunter24

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #18 on: July 11, 2019, 01:52:12 PM »
Cf moto looks like Hisun, which I have ridden and suggest not buying. Everything about it felt cheap, and resale will suck compared to the other brands

Offline Mudman

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #19 on: July 11, 2019, 08:32:17 PM »
All I know is the $800 saved will soon be spent on repairs needed...  Maybe a Honda or Kawa 2wheel 250-300 class would work for your needs?  Recon?  420 Rancher is a great quad too!  450 Sportsman best bang for buck.
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Offline fishngamereaper

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #20 on: July 11, 2019, 08:49:17 PM »
Not to concerned about a few hundred bucks...just trying not to dip to far into my hunting funds.. Alaska is calling...

The sportsman, outlander and rancher have been top on my list just need to shop around a little. 

Offline Buzz2401

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #21 on: July 11, 2019, 09:06:46 PM »
Between my hunting partners and I we own 6 hondas and only bought 2 of them new.  I will never buy another new one. They are tanks.  We beat the crap out of them and they just keep going.  Out of roughly 12,000 miles and almost as many hours combined only issue we have had was one small brain type thing went out.  It was a pretty cheap fix. I will agree with others that Hondas aren't as plush or powerful as others but Ill take reliability and longevity of either of those other qualitys. 

Offline KFhunter

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #22 on: July 11, 2019, 09:55:08 PM »
If everyone's on a honda then its good  :tup:

Seriously



I had some friends with 200cc Yamaha blasters and we all had a hoot!..........until someone showed up on a banshee.

Its the same principle in the 4x4 quad, if your buddies are on 1000cc rockets and you're on a 450cc you'll be wanting more quad. 

Since you don't have any riding partners you'll be fine on a midrange quad and once you get good at it you'll be able to go in places they can't with the bigger machines.

I went riding with about 20 quads in an early spring ride and I smoked them all, I was on a 660 grizzly. 
They had coolers of beer, big boxes on their racks, tons of junk in the trunk and I didn't have anything. 

first decent patch of snow I kept going like nothing floating on top, they all buried and high centered.  No one could follow me.

Offline Bango skank

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #23 on: July 12, 2019, 03:50:33 AM »
I bought a new arctic cat 450 in 2012.  ive put over 5k miles on it, beat the hell out of it, hauled a bunch of heavy crap with it, plow with it, its still going strong even with all the abuse ive dished out.  very comfortable ride too. 

Offline Caseknife

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #24 on: July 12, 2019, 07:13:48 AM »
One thing to keep in mind is the drive system.  Yamaha is bullet proof in that the belt stays engaged, with a wet clutch similar to a chainsaw creating the connection for power transfer.  We don't sell many Yamaha belts at all, some guys have 10-12K miles on machines and haven't changed belts.  Polaris is another story, some can smoke a belt in 200 miles.  All you have to do to keep a Yamaha happy is clean oil and clean filter.

Offline Mudman

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #25 on: July 12, 2019, 07:39:10 AM »
It is dependant on the use you intend.  If you plan to work the heck out of it, Slow ride basic trails etc go Honda 420Rancher.  If mixed use, plush trail riding, comfort, price and not going to abuse it Sportsman 450 is a value.  All Yamahas are tough and good in most ways but pricey.  I have a 450 sportsman for the wife and I enjoy riding it so far.  CF 400 for $4300 is cheap ya, but there is a reason for that imop.  You should ride some of these first to get your opinion and comfort level.  They are more diferent then they look.  If ya have cash seriously look at used.  Some out there are adult cared with little use and warranty isn't concern as they are short term and ya can always buy one for used bike I think.  Have rode 420 Rancher and it is a great bike.  Low hp slow, torque with elec shift gears.  Rides decent, little small.  Not great in tough 4x4 stuff at all.  Reliable, good bike.  Grizzly is a beast, almost bought one but decided on Sportsman sp850.  Comfort and $ and power for me.  One thing awesome on Polaris is the storage and plush ride. I really wanted plush ride as tired of bouncing around.  Yama is expensive but ya get what ya pay for too, great quads 450 included.
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Offline Bofire

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #26 on: July 12, 2019, 10:54:43 AM »
depends on what you want. I have found the Honda around 400 Recon/Rancher/foreman to be incredibly durable and trouble free for years and years, they go plenty fast enough for me. I do not like the big quads the 750-800 etc. They are too big for what I do.
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Offline KFhunter

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #27 on: July 12, 2019, 11:04:54 AM »
I like my grizz, I use it like a cutting horse on cattle, they can't get away from me  :chuckle:

I should video that someday  :tung:

Offline Magnum_Willys

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Re: Best Quad?
« Reply #28 on: July 12, 2019, 11:17:49 AM »
You may end up here: Rzr 900 50”
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