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View Full Version : Opinions on a new 4 wheeler....


johnjay06
02-05-2012, 08:32 PM
I am considering buying a new 4 wheeler this year. I had a 2000 honda rancher, that my brother destroyed a few years ago, and haven't had one since. I gotta give my truck a break. So......how are the new Polaris? I know back in the day, 2000ish, they were crap and constantly had problems. I hear the new Honda's are just way behind with technology, and I've never owned a Yamaha. I don't need anything big, just something to ride around with on the lease so my truck don't get so much action. Any suggestions on something that is reliable?

Armand16
02-05-2012, 08:39 PM
My uncle has a Polaris that is a few years old and that thing is unstoppable. It's a auto and is super quiet.

But I always a Honda fan when it came to four wheelers so i would look harder at Hondas

weedeater
02-05-2012, 08:40 PM
if you want somthing that will last buy a Honda or if you want somthing bad in the mud and fast pick one of the others but good luck with them lasting long or holding value..... just my opinion

fishaholic82
02-05-2012, 08:43 PM
My brother-in-law just bought a Suzuki 400 and its nice. Very comfortable.

jldsc
02-05-2012, 08:49 PM
I would stay away from artic cat, and Honda's will outlast everything...PERIOD!!, other than that Yamaha and Polaris are both good bikes as long as you dont tear 'em up.

"W"
02-05-2012, 09:00 PM
Growing up on a farm and around 4wheelers all my life
Honda

They are the most durable and reliable on the market

jdm4x43732
02-05-2012, 09:03 PM
Honda , Nuff said already.

wtretrievers
02-05-2012, 09:13 PM
Have several guys at our camp that have the Honda 420 ranchers & all love them. Haven't heard a negative word on them. I have 2 '06 Ranchers the 350's

Bluechip
02-05-2012, 09:21 PM
I have an 07 Honda Rubicon. Strictly adult ridden and it's just as reliable as the day I bought it.

PaulMyers
02-05-2012, 09:27 PM
I have an 07 Honda Rubicon. Strictly adult ridden and it's just as reliable as the day I bought it.

You make it sound like its for sale. LOL

+1

johnjay06
02-05-2012, 09:45 PM
Well, guess I'll check out the Honda's. Gonna look at a rancher I guess

Montauk17
02-05-2012, 09:47 PM
We have a honda 420 and a yamaha 400 at the deer lease.....I prefer the honda hands down. Another guy that hunts with us has a polaris and he is always working on it.

wtretrievers
02-05-2012, 10:01 PM
Well, guess I'll check out the Honda's. Gonna look at a rancher I guess

Check Brookhaven & Natchez, they'll make it worth the ride! They're alot cheaper than any where close to BR!

Hopedale Hustler
02-05-2012, 10:44 PM
If ur looking to do simple stuff and for it to last long I'd go with Honda no doubt...if you wanna be a bad azz and mud the piss outta it deff Polaris or kawasaki or can am if you can afford it.

H2OFwlKlr
02-05-2012, 11:43 PM
The Honda 420 Rancher is fuel injected. Turn on the key, the light tells you when to start, when fuel pressure is satisfied, very nice. I have always had Honda's and love 'em, I have an '07 500 foreman, great bike, but cold natured as all hell. Have to use the choke everytime I start it. The older Rancher 350 was cold natured too.

Honda did something to their engines when they turned them sideways and did away with the transfer cases. The old 300's were the best, I still have a '93 model and it runs great.

Bluechip
02-05-2012, 11:56 PM
You make it sound like its for sale. LOL

+1

No it's not. I wouldn't take what I paid for it. I love that bike.

PaulMyers
02-06-2012, 12:08 AM
No it's not. I wouldn't take what I paid for it. I love that bike.

It just sounded like an ad! LOL

+1

speck-chaser
02-06-2012, 12:28 AM
My son has a honda 250,the thing is near bullet proof. Hes on it "every" day. I have a honda Rincon,thing is a beast. No problems with either one.

Shawn Braquet
02-06-2012, 07:56 AM
Heres what artic cats are good for. My buddies broke axles on both bikes this weekend and my berry pickin honda rubicon had to pull'em out, and they still havent heard the end of it.

ckinchen
02-06-2012, 08:19 AM
I have a two year old Honda Rancher I have been very happy with it.

fishaholic82
02-06-2012, 08:34 AM
Heres what artic cats are good for. My buddies broke axles on both bikes this weekend and my berry pickin honda rubicon had to pull'em out, and they still havent heard the end of it.

Is your honda lifted with oversized tires? Only reason I ask is because if you lift a bike and put big tires( like those artic cats) and don't put Gorilla axles it doesn't matter what u ride u will eventually snap your axles.

BigChaf
02-06-2012, 09:12 AM
I have a 97 Honda 300 Fourtrax, starts first time, no oil burn, would take one just like it over any of the new state of the art units.

"W"
02-06-2012, 11:01 AM
I have a 2001 350 rancher only problem I ever had was brakes ...

huntin fool
02-06-2012, 11:44 AM
Do consider the 420 Honda. Great bike. However its hard to beat that Honda 300!!

Big Flounder
02-06-2012, 11:50 AM
Is your honda lifted with oversized tires? Only reason I ask is because if you lift a bike and put big tires( like those artic cats) and don't put Gorilla axles it doesn't matter what u ride u will eventually snap your axles.

That is correct. I had a new Suzuki 400 and I just put bigger wheels and tires on it. It didn't take long to break the axles. I put the gorillas on it and when I sold it 2 years later they were still in great shape. I paid over 3 hundred a piece for them but worth it

wtretrievers
02-06-2012, 11:54 AM
That is correct. I had a new Suzuki 400 and I just put bigger wheels and tires on it. It didn't take long to break the axles. I put the gorillas on it and when I sold it 2 years later they were still in great shape. I paid over 3 hundred a piece for them but worth it

You sure it was the bigger tires that broke the axles? ;)

Big Flounder
02-06-2012, 12:03 PM
You sure it was the bigger tires that broke the axles? ;)

Hahaha!!!!! You so funny!!!!

Shawn Braquet
02-06-2012, 12:10 PM
Is your honda lifted with oversized tires? Only reason I ask is because if you lift a bike and put big tires( like those artic cats) and don't put Gorilla axles it doesn't matter what u ride u will eventually snap your axles.

I have a lift and 27's, they run gorillas and still bring spares. They say its not if but when they'll break. They rebuild the axles themselves now to save money

Hopedale Hustler
02-06-2012, 01:38 PM
It's always when will they break no matter wat u got they WILL break if your running in the mud gettin silly

longsidelandry
02-06-2012, 02:00 PM
I have a lift and 27's, they run gorillas and still bring spares. They say its not if but when they'll break. They rebuild the axles themselves now to save money

Been down that road and they are exactly right. I know I snapped 7 axles just off the top of my head. As an axle would break, I would replace it with a Gorilla. I ended up snapping 2 Gorillas mid shaft, looked like it was cut with a saw it was such a clean break. I had 29.5" Outlaws and had a big bore kit, programmer, few other things on a 700 Grizzly.

Shawn Braquet
02-06-2012, 06:21 PM
Been down that road and they are exactly right. I know I snapped 7 axles just off the top of my head. As an axle would break, I would replace it with a Gorilla. I ended up snapping 2 Gorillas mid shaft, looked like it was cut with a saw it was such a clean break. I had 29.5" Outlaws and had a big bore kit, programmer, few other things on a 700 Grizzly.
yeah one runs 31" outlaws and the other runs 32" terminator 2's, bad to the bone when they aren't broke, my buddy with the white one is actually selling his for 3500 with the broke front axle and is going to get him a Razr.

jlincecum
02-06-2012, 06:31 PM
Heres what artic cats are good for. My buddies broke axles on both bikes this weekend and my berry pickin honda rubicon had to pull'em out, and they still havent heard the end of it.


hard to bad mouth artic cat for breaking axles when they look like this and are just run through the mud. any brand with these lifts and tires would snap axles. I have an 04 artic cat 400 with over 1200 miles on it and its never been to the shop. Have had good luck with hondas also but a lot of it depends on what you plan to do with it and how you maintain it. also have a 650 prowler and would buy another artic cat in a minute

Shawn Braquet
02-06-2012, 06:54 PM
I do like the prowlers and agree on any bike breaking under that bind but they've fought engine issues as well which may or may not be related to the big lifts.

davidkyle323
04-08-2012, 08:30 AM
Honda is hands down most reliable, but one of the biggest reasons they are more reliable than the others say the artic cat that was picture is cause they have WAY less power, they don't have the power to really snap axles and other drive train parts. I own a rincon with a gear reduction and it does not com close to my buddies can-ams and kawasaki brute forces. but if u just want a good reliable hunting bike that will never leave u stranded and requires very low maintenance stick with the honda.

DannyI
04-08-2012, 10:47 PM
I have the Honda 500, son has Yama 650 Grizzly, both have been good bikes. Mine manual shift, his auto. Weve had both 4 years, I have to say I really like the auto trans.

toodeep
04-10-2012, 09:53 AM
I have an 03 honda rincon with 27x 10 vampires on it and have not had any problems. it has been to hell and back riding the rice fields and marsh. i can not complain.

7and7fish
04-10-2012, 10:05 AM
Have a Yamaha 450 also had a 400 i sold both bikes no problems one 4yrs and 1 6yrs still crank every time. Honda is reliable butt can't get the options on a smaller honda that you can on a smaller Yamaha. Run mine on deer lease also have a 700 rhino.

Yakbum
07-19-2012, 03:54 PM
Had an 06 500 foreman with 28 inch outlaws, rode it pretty hard and never had any axle problems whatsoever. Honda is the way to go

all star rod
07-19-2012, 05:00 PM
Honda or polaris.

bearwash87
07-20-2012, 07:02 AM
Can am!! The ride says it all..

bullcroaker
08-08-2012, 01:43 PM
I have 02 honda recon. Never had any problems. I have only replaced the spark plugs and changed the oil. It starts up very easy every time. Where I used to work they had two early 90's honda four trax and they still run perfect. I wish everything I owned that had an engine was as reliable as a honda four wheeler.

SULPHITE
08-08-2012, 02:09 PM
late 90's hondas were indestructable...once the first frame rusts out...put a new frame on the engine you good to go...

kcinnick
08-08-2012, 10:34 PM
The Polaris Sportsman 500 is a great value in an ATV. Dollar for Dollar it will go more places than a Honda will, you need to jump up a few grand to get the same features in a Honda. Now I have lots of Honda Products, but I would choose a Polaris 500 over a Honda priced the same.

Kajundave
08-08-2012, 11:31 PM
I have 02 honda recon. Never had any problems. I have only replaced the spark plugs and changed the oil. It starts up very easy every time. Where I used to work they had two early 90's honda four trax and they still run perfect. I wish everything I owned that had an engine was as reliable as a honda four wheeler.
I have 02 450ES with about 16K miles and over 2000 hours, havent replaced nothing , it has one headlight out and a CV joint making noise, told the wife its getting time for a new one, I will be buying a 420 didn't even look at the other brands!