What ATV are you riding?
02-10-2009, 07:46 AM
#51
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Darien, IL
Posts: 6,744
RE: What ATV are you riding?
ORIGINAL: WIbuckchaser
2000 Kawasaki Praire 300 4x4. I haven't had a bit of problems with it. I bought it new and it has hauled many a deer out of the woods.
2000 Kawasaki Praire 300 4x4. I haven't had a bit of problems with it. I bought it new and it has hauled many a deer out of the woods.
The Kawasaki Prairies and Bayous along with the Honda Fortrax 4X4s are seldomly parted with. Not the biggest (by any stretch) or the baddest but always seem to get the job done. You won't see many Fourtrax 4X4s for sale.
02-10-2009, 08:04 AM
#52
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Darien, IL
Posts: 6,744
RE: What ATV are you riding?
kdsberman is right though. There are indeed alot of good ATVs out there. Quality on all of them has come a long, long way. Heck I have even seen evaluations & comparisons in mags that rank Kimco higher than some of the big 4.
It is really important to suit the ATV to the job. And I think it is when that isn't heeded that issues arise. Things like the 300+ lb. guy who sez "A 250 will get me around.". OK fine it will get you "around". And the problems start when he tries to get "up", "down" or "through". Just ain't nowhere near enoughthrottle for the poundage. And likewise the frame, suspension and other components are smaller and get beaten up and before you know it, the 250 that would be great and pretty trouble-free for a 150/200 lb kid is always needingattention for this, that or the other.
Another thing I think alot of guys make a huge mistake on is not getting 4WD and going the 2 wheel drive route. It isn't that you don't need 4WD 98% of the time - it's the having it there the 2% of the time you do need it. And I would say go one engine size larger than you might think you will get by with. Look at it like getting the larger optional engine when you buy a car or truck. With the car or truck it isn't that you are going to goas fast as you can all the time, foot to the floor. It is just nice to have the power if you need it. Merging into traffic or pulling a trailer, hauling a load, real fat girlfriend or whatever.
In closing - look very seriously at the used market. There are tons of ATVs out there being sold by people who just thought they would use them more than they actually do/did andare selling them. I have seen fantastic deals.
My buddy picked up an 07 Sportsman 500 with a winch, racks and bags for like $3000. Not a scratch on it. I think those were $6000+ new easy.
It is really important to suit the ATV to the job. And I think it is when that isn't heeded that issues arise. Things like the 300+ lb. guy who sez "A 250 will get me around.". OK fine it will get you "around". And the problems start when he tries to get "up", "down" or "through". Just ain't nowhere near enoughthrottle for the poundage. And likewise the frame, suspension and other components are smaller and get beaten up and before you know it, the 250 that would be great and pretty trouble-free for a 150/200 lb kid is always needingattention for this, that or the other.
Another thing I think alot of guys make a huge mistake on is not getting 4WD and going the 2 wheel drive route. It isn't that you don't need 4WD 98% of the time - it's the having it there the 2% of the time you do need it. And I would say go one engine size larger than you might think you will get by with. Look at it like getting the larger optional engine when you buy a car or truck. With the car or truck it isn't that you are going to goas fast as you can all the time, foot to the floor. It is just nice to have the power if you need it. Merging into traffic or pulling a trailer, hauling a load, real fat girlfriend or whatever.
In closing - look very seriously at the used market. There are tons of ATVs out there being sold by people who just thought they would use them more than they actually do/did andare selling them. I have seen fantastic deals.
My buddy picked up an 07 Sportsman 500 with a winch, racks and bags for like $3000. Not a scratch on it. I think those were $6000+ new easy.
02-10-2009, 03:45 PM
#54
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: arkansas
Posts: 3,163
RE: What ATV are you riding?
I use a Kawasaki 750 brute force with real tree camo. Had a 650 prairie before that sold it with 5200 miles on it. My wife rides a Yamaha Kodiak 450 with real tree camo. Both have been terrific bikes. We just use ours to haul deer out with.
02-10-2009, 06:55 PM
#56
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,673
RE: What ATV are you riding?
Quick question..(odd question i guess too)..how do you guys wash your ATV's? Will soap/water on the seat or guages/electronics hurt anything? Nice pics by the way.
02-11-2009, 08:29 PM
#57
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Darien, IL
Posts: 6,744
RE: What ATV are you riding?
Well real men do not wash their ATVs. Atleast not like with soap and water. It is acceptable to rinse the bulk of mud off.
I will refer you to the following - do not forget it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M7g4JuLn7A
I will refer you to the following - do not forget it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M7g4JuLn7A
02-13-2009, 04:13 AM
#59
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: VA, USA
Posts: 3,116
RE: What ATV are you riding?
Ihave a 99 Polaris Xplorer 400 4x4. It has been an excellent bike and has quite a bit of power to boot. The Polaris AWD worksas advertised and has taken me places that I would not have hunted without it.
