ATV's

[archerjg]

I have been looking at several models for a while and my neighbor just bought a Honda 450 quad. I Have narrowed it down to three models the Polaris 500 H.O, The Kodiak 450, and the Artic Cat 450. Anybody have any problems or knowledge of problems with any of these atv's it is mainly for hunting and some use on the farm.

Archerjg

[OJR]

If I were going to get a new ATV, I would only consider a Honda! I've had one for 16 years and it is great!

[dogdoc]

mine isn't on your list so can't help you--i have a Yammie Big Bear 450 4X4

love it
todd

[fisherguy]

i have had quite a few friends buy polaris and regret it!! of teh three you named i would go with the Yamaha. They make a quality product. I would suggest Suzuki or Honda first, but if you have it narrowed to those three take the Yamaha.

[Chrud]

I too would love a Yamaha Kodiak 450. Of course, I'd spend the extra $300 for the Hardwoods HD Edition.

[Finn]

Out of those....the Yamaha

If it were me, the Honda Rubicon

[AaronS]

Polaris had problems in the past but seem to have them worked out, especially on the 500 because it's been out so long. All the major companies are producing good quads nowadays and they will hold up as long as you take care of them with some minimal maintenance. Ride each one that you like and see which feels best to you.

[JimT]

Out of those three I would get the Yamaha for sure.

[wtnhunt]

Watched a program on the outdoor channel or on oln rating atvs in the 450 size a couple weeks ago. The arctic cat was rated one of the lowest. Yamaha, honda, and I think suzuki were rated the highest. Polaris was near the bottom of the list too. Bombardier was also rated very poorly and think kawasaki was near the top.

We were looking between a rancher 350 and a 350 bruin and ended up with a 450 foreman. Like the idea of the shaft drive on the honda over a belt driven yamaha.

[bowhtr1]

The forman 450 es is the way to go. The new ones are now a 500 cc for 05. You wont be sorry. I love mine.

[Swamphunter]

I believe the Arctic Cat has a Suzuki engine in it. If so, I have had a Suzuki Quadrunner LT250 since 1992 and it still runs strong!

[Strut_Buster]

We Have a Sportsman 500 H.O and 700. Both run like dreams, we have them go to the shop just for a checkup and matinence every year but we have never had any problems with either. And both ride like cadilacs. I wouldn't hesitate to buta Yamaha either, but polaris I would say is the wat to go right now.

[archerjg]

I priced them all out tonight and I talked with a lot of people at the dealerships and the other people that were looking as well. The Honda is about $6600 for a base Foreman ES 4wd, the Kodiak is about $6300, and the Sportsman 500 H.O. is the same as the Kodiak for a larger machine. Neither dealership had anything bad to say about the other ATV's so tomorrow I am going to look at the Sportsman 500 H.O. as I can order what I want where the other dealerships say they can't order anything. I will keep my options open though and let you know what I get. Thanks for the input.

Archerjg

[JimT]

My buddy paid $6200.00 for his Foreman 450 ES...? I am willing to bet the Yamaha will outlast the Polaris also. Pay now or pay more later. Thats the real question. I still would buy the Yamaha. Little less power or not. But thats your decision...lol...

[VTbowman]

My Polaris Sportsman 500 (pre-HO model) has been going strong since 1999.
Love the suspension and engine breaking it offers. Plenty of power and I use it hard for hauling firewood out of the woods. I put my 5x8 utility trailer on the back of it and fill it with chucked wood. Let me say VT is not exactly flat either....
Unbelievable how strong that low gear is on a belt driven automatic tranny.
I plow with mine too and pushed 18" of wet snow last year. I say pushed because my banks were already to tall to throw the snow over and I literally pushed the snow out into the road. I have a 600 foot driveway too...
The only thing I had go wrong is a belt broke after being submerged in a beaver pond way to long and working it hard while pulling others out! LOL
It broke several days later.
My fault too, I never let the water out of the belt housing... Seemed to me it would of leaked out but it did not.
Good machine I would buy another in a heart beat.
if this one was stolen or trashed.
JMO