I'd get the Honda Rancher ES 2WD and pocket the change!
If you must have a 4WD you probably won't have much change left!
I like the Yamaha and Kawasaki too, but the dependability of the Honda can't be beat!
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Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty or Safety!
Ben Franklin
I LOVE my country, I FEAR my government!
If your mother was an abortion proponent, would you be reading this right now?
Now is a great time to buy an ATV. The dealers are trying to get rid of the 04's. In my case, they had a left over 03. Yamaha Kodiak 400 2wd Automatic. I got it for $4,000 out the door. You can get a Rancher or Yamaha Bruin for around $4k (2wd). I almost bought a Bruin, until I spotted the Kodiak. They are all good machines these days.
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Stand and deliver, or the devil he may take ya
If you are going to be hunting or doing work with the atv get a 4 wheel drive. I would look at the Honda Foreman's, Honda Rancher's, Yamaha Kodiak's, or Yamaha Grizzly's.
well i need to know this.... do you want a true 4 wheel drive ATV or a 3 1/2 wheel drive? then i can answer your ??
Do you want a real automatic transmission or a belt drive?Do you want 4 wheel engine braking or 2 wheel engine braking?Do you want a lightweight machine that weighs 600lbs or less or do you want a porker that weighs 700lbs or more?
If you want a true 4wd, go with the King Quad from Suzuki. It has a locking front differential and also has independant rear suspension. For the money you're willing to spend, the King Quad would be my choice.
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T/C!! If you need more than one shot, you need more practice!
polaris has a belt drive, you will be fine unless you plan on mudbogging with it. would you rather have 3 1/2 wheel drive or 4? polaris has 4, yamaha and honda only have 3 1/2. in the places we ride, i would never ride w/out TRUE 4wheel drive.
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Do you want 4 wheel engine braking or 2 wheel engine braking?
polaris has 4 wheel braking so try again there! you were close though to the 700pounds or more though! the 500 h.o. weighs 677 pounds. do you want the inventer of independent suspension or the followers? polaris was the inventer. do you want the most pulling power or would you rather fall behind? polaris sportsman pulls the most too!
stubblejumper,
no hard feelings about this thread just expressing my opinions hope you understand
I own a Polaris 700 and while it has some good features, after riding with some Honda owners I think they have a better bike.
Mine is without doubt a powerhouse, and has a great ride, but the weight sometimes is a disadvantage and the high ground clearance makes it a little top heavy.
Just going by the normal indicators mine should be superior, but real world riding hasn't shown me that it works out that way. So far the Hondas have gone everywhere I have and some places I couldn't.
Maybe because I haven't been able to get off trails and into some rock and log climbing I haven't been able to wring mine out enough to take advantage of it's best features, but for the normal riding I am able to do I just don't see it as being better.
Maybe when I get to drag a big Bull Elk out of a canyon on the end of a thousand feet of rope all that power will pay off
As for the independent rear suspension-suzuki claims to have been the inventor.As to 4 wheel braking the front wheels on a polaris do not engage unless the rear wheels are rotating faster than the front wheels which is not the situation while engine braking is taking place.
If you had about $5k to spend on an ATV...
