How reliable is your atv

[12Bravo20Bravo4]

I recently had a scare while ice fishing in a remote part of northern WI when my Polaris Sportsman decided that the started was going to engage on its own even with the kill switch on and the key out of the ignition. Needless to say I was a little panicked and after disconnecting the battery and a very lucky call to a dealer I made it home with some interesting engineering going on. So I am looking at a new wheeler since Polaris knew that this problem might happen and did nothing to tell me. The part is a recall item on 2004 and 2005 Sportsmans yet my serial number wasn't in the proper range and so it ended up being a accident waiting to happen. I was lucky to be there when it did go wrong others have had their garages burned down since the starter gets so hot from not disengaging that it starts on fire. I am looking at other options right now and am wondering what other peoples wheelers are like and how reliable are they. I am waiting on a responce to a letter I wrote to Polaris in reguards to what happened. I am looking at Honda and Can Am wheelers at the moment because I know people who have them so I can ride them and ask questions. Thanks for your time.

[Todd G.]

Quite honestly, all of the major manufacturers of atv's have a pretty good record for reliability. Of course, most everyone I know ranks the Honda at the top of the list. But, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Can-Am, and the others are pretty top notch also.

Most issues of reliability are centered around maintenance. If you take good care of your atv, it should perform without any glitches. Of course, having a recall is something that can also happen to anyone and I would imagine you could have had the same issue no matter what the manufacturer. The only downside I have really heard about Polaris and their reliability is the cost of repair compared to most of the Japanese models.

[henpecked]

2002 Yamaha Grizzly 660's 2 of them one with 5150 miles the other with 3980 miles.
No problems........
Nothing like being stranded many miles from help.


Sorry to hear about your problem. I looked long and hard before I bought my 2. We travel 33 miles from the closest help. If we were stranded it could possibly be fatal.

Steve

[New Brunswick Bam]

Have you ever considered an ARGO?

Very reliable, amphibious, great wood’s vehicle in all conditions snow, mud, water etc

On our’s we have the track kit for winter and will go were no wheelers can go,
Great for fishing I have a 5hp air cooled Briggs and Stratton engine on it, and with a winch in back and front and with the turfer jack and chainsaw in back not many places she will not go a little more expensive than a wheeler but IMO allot more efficient for the outdoorsman IMO
Here is a couple pics

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj191/bam442008/2008_1012SeptOct080048.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj191/bam442008/IMG_0014.jpg

Towing deer across lake

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj191/bam442008/IMG_0012.jpg

IMG]http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj191/bam442008/IMG_0016.jpg[/IMG]

Just a suggestion
Bam

[lanman89]

2002 Yamaha Grizzly 660's

I have a 2002 Yamaha Big bear 400. It showed over 5000 miles when the speedo cable got ripped off. It has seen a VERY rough life. I knocked off most of the skid plates, missing a fender and I have changed the oil in it ONCE...

It has never been in for service, is stored outside and starts as good as any new one could. one day this abuse will wear it out. When it does, I'll buy another yamaha.

[12Bravo20Bravo4]

An argo would be nice but they are not allowed on the trail systems here in WI because they are to wide and heavy. I have seen them out on the ice before and they look pretty rugged. Yet my atv needs to do a multitude of things including trail riding fishing and farm work and traveling down paved roads to check crops and get to hunting spots.

[270shooter]

I have a 2002 Yamaha Big bear 400. It showed over 5000 miles when the speedo cable got ripped off. It has seen a VERY rough life. I knocked off most of the skid plates, missing a fender and I have changed the oil in it ONCE...

It has never been in for service, is stored outside and starts as good as any new one could. one day this abuse will wear it out. When it does, I'll buy another yamaha.I think it is time for an oil change.

I have honda rancher 350. 4x4. It is one tough ATV.

[pre6422hornet]

I vote for Honda.

Bought my Fourman 400 4x4 back in spring of 2000. The only thing I have done is change the oil and it needed a new battery two years ago.

Every time I turn the key, hit the starter she purrrs like a kitten.

[luke46]

honda. My brother had one and the front diff froze. Blew the housing apart but the four wheel drive still worked flawlessly and without a sound.

[Cam]

When I hunted with an eskimo in Arctic Circle he said Arctic Cat was their toughest and most reliable..I am very satisfied with mine..Kawasakis I have owned were excellent as well...Paper is always full of used Polaris,this should say something about them!

[tc scout]

Hi Folks, New to this forum.

I had to chime in on this one.

I have been strictly yamaha for over 30 years,motorcycles,snowmobiles,ATV's and OB motors.
They have all been reliable.

Back to subject: My workhorse ATV of many years is a little 94 250CC Timberwolf 4X4
NOT fast but does everything asked of it including plowing snow, hauling deer, pulling my deer blind on trailer. Nothing fancy or hi-tech, just a utility ATV.

Just can't bring myself to sell her and buy a new one (Yamaha)

Don't want to offend any Polaris owners and that is not my intention, just MHO, but Polaris just
never made the transition from snowmobiles to ATV's. One of my hunting buds has one, don't recall how many times it has been back for dealer repairs.

[Erik.300ULTRA]

I vote for Yamaha. I have a 1988 Big Bear 350. It has only made me walk home once. Busted U-Joint for the front wheel drive. I don't baby the thing either. Jumps, mud, knee deep water, in the woods, on the road, on the rocks, on the ice and in the snow. The starter is shot, so I have to pull start it, but set the choke, turn the idle up two turns and it will start on the first pull every time.

I can't decide whether to rebuild it, or get a new Big Bear 400. Good lord they want $6000 for a new four wheeler, I only paid $1900 for the one I have.

Erik

[redneck ron]

I have a 05 600 polaris with 3400 miles on it and the only part truely broke was a starter selnoid. I do have mine seviced regularily and the one thing that does were on a polaris is the clutch system. I do have my clutch serviced every 1000 miles and there hasn't been an occasion where there were not parts replaced. Also, my belt is still in excellent condition after 3400 miles.

There are pretty much good now days and truely up to individual choices.

Ron

[buckgitter]

1999 Yamaha Grizzly 600...Loved the bike up until last fall...been fighting electrical problems since Aug and after having it at 2 different shops and 1200.00 it still isn't fixed. I am taking it back in today for another diagnostic test.......I am losing my patience with this thing!!

BTW it only has 1100 miles on it.....

[270shooter]

1999 Yamaha Grizzly 600...Loved the bike up until last fall...been fighting electrical problems since Aug and after having it at 2 different shops and 1200.00 it still isn't fixed. I am taking it back in today for another diagnostic test.......I am losing my patience with this thing!!

BTW it only has 1100 miles on it.....
Just buy a honda! LOL

[buckgitter]

Just buy a honda! LOL

all donations accepted!!! you need my address?

[Todd G.]

Was at the cycle shop today and had a nice talk with one of their technicians. They sell Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki. I asked him which atv was the most reliable and easiest to maintain. When I asked him the question, he told me to follow him.

We went back into the shop and he showed me a 1997 Honda Foreman that was about as ugly as they come. In some areas of the fenders, you could see daylight because the gravel had chipped it all away. But, when you looked at the odometer, it had 23,000 miles on it. I asked what was wrong with it, and he said nothing, he was simply doing regular maintenance and changing the oil. The machine ran perfectly.

Next, he showed me another Honda in the shop. It was a 2003 Foreman and had been owned by a company that does inspections on power poles and electrical lines. They had traded it in on a new Foreman. By the looks of the machine, I questioned why they wanted another Honda, but, a look at the odometer said it all --- 48,000 miles!

The technician finally said that without a doubt, Honda is at the head of the class when it comes to reliability and longevity. In his opinion, everyone who has done mechanical work on atv's will agree.

I have owned Hondas, Kawasakis, and Can-Am (BRP) and have liked them all. However, when my current Kawasaki gets traded in, I will most likely look at a Honda.

[mstarbird2000]

I use a 400 Kodiak to plow my 500 ft long 50% up hill at better than 30 degrees, dirt driveway every snow storm. I think it may be getting less reliable evey storm. 2 feet of snow plus ATV= looooooong day. Cold too!!!

[beretzs]

I have two Suzuki's (King Quad and Z250) and one Artic Cat (400 Auto). all three of them are ridden pretty hard, but with regular servicing, they are holding up really well. My big 700 has the most miles on it and with 1500 miles it is ready for a new drive belt, but other than that, it is really reliable. Same with the Artic Cat. It is newer, but has less stuff on it, so it seems to be pretty reliable also. Either way, get whatever one you like the looks of and fits you well.

We have Polaris's at work and they are not my idea of a great machine. The new ones are alot better, but the older ones are trash. Very underpowered for their size. Scotty

[7iron]

I've got a 2003 Yamaha 660 No problems so far.

[mtswampfox]

my 07 recon 250 honda runs like a champ. have built custom rear tool box to carry chain saw,blade trimmer,gas, cooler , hand tools, and away i go for a morning of trail clearing,what a blast. small but easy to maneuver in the woods

[youngbuck17]

go for a honda i have a 1994 honda fourtrax 300 and it still runs perfect we haul a 25 foot wood traler with it no problem it even outruns my nieghbors articat 700

[mtswampfox]

haven't seen this thread in a while. sold my 250 to a buddy and bought a rancher 420. its good so far . only ran it over labor day for putting out food plots . the rear suspension is nice along with fuel injection, no warm ups. been using it in auto-shift mode. haven't tried the 4-wheel out yet. doesn't have power steering , but my riding doesn't really need it.

[Curlewdogbanger]

Had an 02 660 Grizzly. The carb started acting up. So I gave it to my wife . I bought an 08 650 Can-Am.
She traded HER Grizzly in and bought an 09 400 Can-Am. She got $3500 trade in !!!!!!!! Anyhow, I really like the EFI, tons of power and comfortable too boot ......