Atv S I Z E

[airborne]

How big is to big. A female friend of mine is interested in buying an ATV. She is concerned that they are to big to handle. My quadrunner is 500cc and small framed. I handle it instead of it handling me. The new machines look so huge and I wonder how hard they are to handle. I have not driven one and wanted your opinions on what whould be best ATV for her. She wants it for trail use and fun. She is 45 and avg build and height. She doesn't fear the power, it is the ability to handle and control it.

Thanks

[Yooper]

It really depends on the machine. Arctic Cats are all pretty much the same size from 400cc up to the Thundercat.

What does she want the machine to do?

[airborne]

Ride trails through the woods and haul the kids around on. It should be easy to handle and turn tight to get around trees. It needs to be 2x4 and 4x4.

Thanks

[birdhunter1]

If she can do with a 2wd machone I'd suggest a Honda Recon.
If she ahs to have 4wd I'd suggest a Honda Rancher. I've got a 350 Rancher 4wd 5-speed manual that is a horse of a machine.

[winchesterwon]

My wife rides the Grizzly 450. Its smaller size fits her well and she likes the handling to. She also rides my grizzly 700 with power steering which is a much larger machine. The power steering makes it easy for her to handle. Yamaha will probably redesign the 450 and add power steering and fuel injection in 09

[Todd G.]

In all reality, a ATC90 is big enough. After all, for just simple trail riding etc., you don't need a monster machine.

However, if you intend to use the machine in mud, soft sand, etc. the extra horse power will come in handy. At the same time, most of the large machines are meant to work. That means pulling and hauling loads that are of decent size. Also, having a larger displaced machine will help maintain speed if you drive it on the road. After all, its not whether the machine will go 75 mph, its a matter of how well the machine will hold 40 mph on the road.

I have owned a Rancher 350, Brute Force 650 & 750 and a few others. I also currently own a KFX 700 and ride many othe rmachines. My family runs a couple racers, a Foreman 400, and a Bayou 220. Quite frankly, any of them will handle what you mention for her riding.

If I was going to get an ATV for general use and didn't want to have problems fitting it in the back of the pickup, I'd probably look at a 400 to 500 cc machine.

[texasboy92]

well, in my opinion you cant get TOO big, but still there are some overkill ATV's out there some pushing 700 and 800cc which is outrageous...i would stick with a 250-500cc limit...

Matt

[H2O Dog]

Airborne;

Like Winchesterwon, I own both a ’03 Yamaha Kodiak 450 and just purchased a 700 Grizzly. I bought the 700 only because I ride with a group of folks that take over night and weekend trips that require riding several consecutive long days. The 450 is my primary hunting and scouting machine because it is smaller and more than I need. I know a great many guys that have purchased larger machines thinking that more power must be better. It’s my opinion that just like ____ ____, bigger isn’t always better!

H2O Dog

[winchesterwon]

We go on weekend trips on our quads like you waterdog. We just rode Moab on a three day weekend. The power steering on the 700 grizz is really nice. Hopefully Yamaha will update the 450 with power steering and fuel injection. We ride anywhere from 5000 to 13000 ft. FI solves the jetting problems with altitude changes. I will say the 700 is much more comfortable with two riders than the 450. Its also more comfotable solo.

[H2O Dog]

Winchester;

I take rides here in Ohio and Michigan, but mostly back home in New York and Pennsylvania. With the Grizzly's new steering you can ride all day and not feel tired like the ride was more work than fun. However, the engine and set-up of the 450 is still hard to beat. More than once I've had another hunter on the back riding out with a deer on both racks. If I didn't take the trips I would've been more than happy with just my Kodiak. I've ridden several other machines, but I feel the Yamaha products are still the best.

H2O Dog

[winchesterwon]

Weve been riding alot lately. My wife has been riding the 400 kodiak and I ,the 700 grizzly. We came to a stream crossing that was running pretty fast and deep with the snow melt. My wife was afraid to take the kodiak across so she took my grizz. She now wants to ride it all the time. Thats the last time I rode my 700 grizz. I agree with all of you guys that a 500 is all the motor you need. But until someone makes a 500 thats as smooth and easy to ride as the 700 grizzly with power steering, the grizz is still the king.

[buckgitter]

I also have a Grizzly. Its the 600. I really don't like it unless I am in the open. I hunt the mountains and really uneven trails and its top heavy and the suspension stinks. I am thinking of trading or selling to get a smaller more controllable bike. I had a King Quad 300 and like it. Wish I never sold it. Since they no longer make the same bike, any suggestions?

[airborne]

It seems that as big as the body is on some of these new ATV's it would be hard to get around trees and get around tight turns. How is the turning radius of the 700?

[winchesterwon]

The older grizz and the 700 with eps are to different machines. I used to prefer the kodiak over the larger grizzly, but not anymore. Turning radius on my grizz and the 400 kodiak are about the same. Besides one quick blip of the throttle while turning and your going the other direction. Have no problem on the atv trails here in Co. with the size of the 700. If Yamaha makes this machine in a 450 or 500 I will sell my 400 and replace it with one.

[WECoyote]

I can't tell you how many times in my life I have said "That size is perfect" later to find out after riding for a while I wanted more power. As a teenager I went thought mini-bikes, Hodaka 100, Honda 250, Kawasaki 370 trail bikes. Now as an adult I did the same thing with ATV's ending up with a Kawasaki 4x4 Prarie 700 cc. Just get the biggest one you can afford and let the rider get use to it.

FYI: If an ATV seems top heavy try getting the bias ply tires off of it and buy some low profile radials. It makes a big difference in the handling.

[Curlewdogbanger]

I rolled my Grizzly Memorial day weekend. Yes they are top heavy. I really was very lucky. Bruised ribs, head etc. WEAR a HELMUT, I didn't !!!!!!! STUPID!!!!!

[winchesterwon]

Glad you werent seriusly hurt. Rolled my kodiak last weekend. Did the old tuck and roll I learned from my harley flattracking days. Darned thing tried to roll over me though. Had a feeling it might do that so I turned on my back and seen it coming at me ,gave a heave with my legs and kicked it off me. My wife was riding my Grizz and watched the whole event. She wasnt to happy with me. Cant help it, Im a 49 year old who lives like hes 21.

[buckgitter]

Let's be careful out there guys!!! Glad you weren't hurt to bad....

[poochadamsville]

If you are wondering what size she would be comfortable with take her to a powersports dealer that distributes several different brands so she can test drive a few different ones. I would be willing to bet they are not setting the world on fire with sales of ATVs right now so this may be a good time to buy one. I would recommend Polaris but that is just my opinion I had a 700 sportsman but traded that in a few years ago for a Ranger I really dont miss the sportsman but I dont take mine off of the farm it is just for hunting or doing work.

[JimT]

My 350 Rancher has been a great machine. Not to big yet not to small.....

[GreatWhiteNorth517]

500 cc is just right. My Polaris sportsman 500 is an absolute beast. I bought it just after the 700 and 800's came out and have no regrets. Ice fishing is fun again! (Used to be work when it was 1 Jeffpower hauling the gear) My rig is pretty heavy, also very stable, tops out at about 50 mph. Don't know what the bigger machines will do. Can tell you from personal experience as an ER nurse that those machines (same holds true for snowmobiles) go faster, but do not handle any better or stop any quicker. This results in a negative experience for the rider-if you know what I mean. I've also known of a 350 pulling a 1000 # moose out of thick, wet, nasty canadian terrain. In short, I don't think anybody NEEDS that much power--they WANT it.

[fishingman_21]

i was younger i use to ride an honda 400 little red atv until the clutch broke on the honda michiane

[270shooter]

Can't beat a honda rancher 350. I put the warn 2x4 4x4 selecter on it and it will go anywhere a bigger ATV will. I wouldn't mind a rincon though hehehehe.

[Cam]

Go to your Kawasaki dealer and let her sit on a Bayou 220..They are very dependable and enough power..

[lojim]

I also have a Rancher 350. My advice: keep it 'stock.' I made the mistake of a performance filter - it was faulty and caused me to have to rebuild the motor.

The wife has a Recon 250 - which she LOVES.

To plow: an older 125.

All are Hondas and work great. I too feel that a smaller quad is better than a larger one. My wife can follow me through anything. I can go over and through any obstacle that any larger machine does. The best part: it's lighter so I can throw it around a lot more than someone on an 800!

[boondocker]

I like keep them smaller as we ride in a lot of swampy stuff and the small ones are light and easy to push.
Usually just step off grab the rear rack and give it a bit of gas and they pop right up. Now the big ones are a bit different story. First ya gotta hope there is something to hook the winch to within reach of the cable. Moral of the story never ride a 700 pound machine alone in the swamp lol
have had a 300 and 400 Honda and a 650 can am. Sold the can am cuz it was to big for the type of riding we do/ And it was belt drive. Not a fan of belt drive machines.