ATV brand recommendations?

[DeltaV]

Below are the brands of ATVs (aka: 4 wheelers) most commonly available here on the eastern side of Georgia:

Arctic Cat
Can-Am
CFMoto
Honda
Kawasaki
Polaris
Yamaha

Should any of the above brands be avoided like the plague? T.I.A.

I'm not going to consider CFMoto. Also, Kawasaki & Yamaha seem to be the least available brands except for those really expensive enclosed utility ATVs. I am not looking for a large ATV. I keep gravitating towards smaller ATVs with engines between 450cc and 600cc...around 1,000 lbs tow capacity.

My use of an ATV will not be for racing or mudding. I need something compact that I can use on my wooded property to haul cart loads of whatever and drag felled/fallen trees out of the way. Also, The ground around here can be very squishy at various times throughout the year and the forest floor is always slippery with pine needles and leaves (decades of accumulated matter).
_________________________________________
BTW, ATV folks seem to be more passionate and opinionated about their stuff than us "car guys".

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

I own a 900 polaris. I am not saying it’s a bad UTV, but I would look at other brands. I think the Can-Am might be a little better quality.

 

[69 Sleeper Bee]

I have a Trail Wagon 2x4 which is now American LandMaster. They used to be only available through Tractor Supply but have since gone on their own. These are a lets say a more no frills type of side by side but are cheaper than the big names. They are more compact and with less amenities as the bigger names and do ride a little rougher. It has a Honda 390 with a solid rear Dana axle that locks both tires with a shifter. I bought mine 8 years ago and have not had any problems except for a shifter cable that broke once.

It has 1100 #lbs towing capacity and 400 #lbs max bed weight.

American Made UTVs - American LandMaster

American made UTVs in Columbia City, Indiana. The best full lineup of UTVs for under $10,000. These UTVs are America's best value when it comes to performance, price, and reliability. Now rated with a best-in-class suspension system

americanlandmaster.com

 

[OKDart]

My experience is with older ATV's (handlebar type), I'm sure lots have changed over the years but I'll give you my opinion. I've had:

2004 Honda 400ex
2008 Honda 700xx
1998 Arctic Cat 4x4 454
2006 Kawasaki Brute Force 4x4 750

The Hondas were great, lots of power, easy to work on. But they were sport ATV's.

The Arctic Cat I bought used in 2012 and has been a workhorse around my place. It has a Kawasaki engine that fires up easily and has never given me any problems. All I've had to do to it over the last 10 years was oil/filter changes, and air filter changes. A ball joint broke last year (rusty, lube was gone) so I had to replace that and the CV boots.

The Kawasaki is very powerful. it had been sitting for years when I got it. I haven't used it much yet, but working on it after it sat for so long was not pleasant. All the plastic has to come off just to get to the radiator cap. Pulling the twin carbs was more of a pain in the *** than it should've been. What I got out of it was that the Kawasaki engineers gave zero thought to ease of maintenance and repairs.

If I had to buy one now, I'd go back in time to 1998 and buy a new Arctic Cat. I've heard the newer ones aren't as good as they used to be.

 

[Photon440]

Bombardier BRP Can-Am.

 

[Xp29h]

Below are the brands of ATVs (aka: 4 wheelers) most commonly available here on the eastern side of Georgia:

Arctic Cat
Can-Am
CFMoto
Honda
Kawasaki
Polaris
Yamaha

Should any of the above brands be avoided like the plague? T.I.A.

I'm not going to consider CFMoto. Also, Kawasaki & Yamaha seem to be the least available brands except for those really expensive enclosed utility ATVs. I am not looking for a large ATV. I keep gravitating towards smaller ATVs with engines between 450cc and 600cc...around 1,000 lbs tow capacity.

My use of an ATV will not be for racing or mudding. I need something compact that I can use on my wooded property to haul cart loads of whatever and drag felled/fallen trees out of the way. Also, The ground around here can be very squishy at various times throughout the year and the forest floor is always slippery with pine needles and leaves (decades of accumulated matter).
_________________________________________
BTW, ATV folks seem to be more passionate and opinionated about their stuff than us "car guys".

I’ve had a Honda 450 es since 2000! Still going! No issues at all! I also have a Polaris Rzr Xp4! Love that as well! I’ve never owned anything Arctic Cat. Always saw them broke down and just hard to deal with. I know some people love Tom. But not sure you can go wrong with any on your list. I’ve heard good things about CanAm too! Good luck!

 

[PlymCrazy]

Bought a Honda Rancher 420, fuel injected, new back in 2007. In 15 years, besides routine maintenance, only replaced (1) spark plug and an IACV. The IACV started acting up after about (10) years of service. Took about ten minutes to replace, no issues since. Bought the electronic shift package with it new for mama's ease of use on our 6 acres. Put a 2500lb Warn winch and plow on it when new also. Plow nearly 200' of driveway each snow season. I'm still on the same battery and tires too after all these years. I'm pushing it with the tires.

*Note, I've always stored it indoors when not in use. I personally believe this makes a world of difference in longevity. *

 

[Grabbergreendream]

A friend has a Honda 420 Rancher with a bazillion hard hours on it. He maintains it very well, but rarely babies it. He plows snow with it in the winter, hunts with it, pulls trailer overloaded with wood, Climbs hills like a suicidal teen, rides wheelies & jumps everything in his way. Its never had any major mechanical issues. Its about 10 years old but in great shape cosmetically also... If I were in the market, I'd look into one based on what I've witnessed.

 

[Matt B.]

I have a 2006 honda 500 rubicon. Love it. Abuse the hell out of it and barely maintain it.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I have a Yamaha 350 Warrior, Honda 300EX, Honda 250EX, (2) Suzuki Quad Sport 230S's, Honda 80, Suzuki LT50. The last two are from when my kids were little. Have owned most of these machines over 20-25 years. Yes, they are outdated by today's standards, but they take whatever you through at them. They have always been rode hard and abused but just keep on going.

 

[PlymCrazy]

I have a Yamaha 350 Warrior, Honda 300EX, Honda 250EX, (2) Suzuki Quad Sport 230S's, Honda 80, Suzuki LT50. The last two are from when my kids were little. Have owned most of these machines over 20-25 years. Yes, they are outdated by today's standards, but they take whatever you through at them. They have always been riding hard and abused but just keep on going.

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Dad started us kids on a new Honda ATC 70 back in '83. In my experience with bikes, trikes and 4-wheelers you can't beat the big (4) IMO. Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki.

 

[DeltaV]

Bombardier BRP Can-Am.

Rotax

Do you have a Can-Am?

 

[Photon440]

Rotax

Do you have a Can-Am?

Not I, a fellow at work just got one and really likes it.

 

[Richard Cranium]

How about going eco-friendly? They're boasting a whopping 35-50 mile range.

Electric ATVs/UTVs | Silent, Eco-Friendly | DRR USA

DRR USA's powerful adult electric ATVs and UTVs are completely silent. These four wheelers have 1,000+ less parts and will reduce maintenance cost. Additionally, this will help farmers and hunters protect the envoirnment.

www.drrusa.com

 

[Budnicks]

I've owned multiple Quads/ATV's, Yamaha's
(Banshees 2 stroke (same engine as ol' Daytona 350), or the Warriors 4 stroke)
& Honda's CRs,
the Banshee was a freaken' rocketship,
had a 4 into 1 FMC stainless pipe & 4-1 carb set up
way better especially trail-wise, climbing & crawling, than the dual pipes & 4 carbs
the Hondas were more race quads, wide open riding,
horrible on trails
but the 4 strokers were grunts thou
not the side by sides, big UTVs you ride inside

had a like 2002 (?)Kawi Mule, 2 seater UTV, with a lil' stake side bed, work rig,
for a short time, I sort of inherited it
I just sold it a few months after getting it, no room & didn't use/or need it
it was a nice rig, don't know how good they were
it's easy to high side them
(I was a Kawasaki dirt bike/KX guy when I was a youngster)

my cousin Stan has a Polaris 900 UTV (side by side) from about 5-6 years ago
(it was like $13k delivered) he loves it,
it's a workhorse too
he 'snow plows' has a cool blade attachment
for his driveway with it & he tows some 8' logs up the hills
he also tows a lil' trailer with 'bigger' log rounds or split lumber in it
at his place upcountry to cut/buck & split firewood

only thing I personally don't like is no shifting trans, it does has reverse too
(like a centrifugal clutch) just a wide belt like a snowmobile or golfcart
IMO seems like it needs a different gear every so often
he says he's used to it & it doesn't bug him at all anymore...

I'm a big Yamaha guy, well used to be anyway

 

[DeltaV]

How about going eco-friendly? They're boasting a whopping 35-50 mile range.

http://[URL]https://www.drrusa.com/adult-electric-atvs-utvs

[/URL]

The thought never even crossed my mind.

No.

 

[DeltaV]

Bombardier BRP Can-Am.

Only one 2023 model recently showed up at a dealership and it checked the important "boxes" for me...ground clearance, towing capability, two seater, and a winch. Rotax is a plus and Mrs. DeltaV likes blue as does our daughter Delta Dagger.

Arrived this morning:

 

[Budnicks]

Have fun looks like a good hunting/wheeling rig
Rotax 850cc V-twin EFI, it should be torquey too

nice back seat
I never had a quad with 'an actual rear seat'

good luck
watch out for hi-siding, it rides pretty high

 

[69 Sleeper Bee]

@DeltaV
That's cool with the 2 seats !
Have not seen that before