Hey guys I am going to get a new ATV in the future and was wondering what you guys all have. My current one a Kawasaki 300 Bayou has been an excellent machine for. No issues at all. Well my starter doesnt work right now so I am hand pulling it to start.I think the solenoid is bad so will be getting a new one off those. Other then that I use this thing everyday an it goes through hell an back and has never left me down. I am going to get a 360 4x2. Everybody tells me to get 4 wheel drive but to me thats just more things to wear out. My current machine gets me everywhere I want to go an then some. I am leary off this belt driven one because its hard to beat wet clutch on my current machine. They go forever. Thoughts guys.
Need new ATV leaning towards Kawasaki
- Thread starter Agboy
- Start date
R.T.
Well-known member
I have 2004 360 4x4. I have had problems from the
very start with sensor belt and 4x4 sensor lights blinking
and or staying on all the time. Dealer managed to reset the
sensors once during the warranty at not cost. Soon after
Warranty ran out started having problems again. I have
done the plug and reverse procedure recommended by dealer
without success. I have just decided to ride without worry
until it quits- Still going strong over a year later. I almost
forgot my son has a 2003?? with the same problem they ride the heck out of it and it's still going strong blinking lights
and all.
R.T.
very start with sensor belt and 4x4 sensor lights blinking
and or staying on all the time. Dealer managed to reset the
sensors once during the warranty at not cost. Soon after
Warranty ran out started having problems again. I have
done the plug and reverse procedure recommended by dealer
without success. I have just decided to ride without worry
until it quits- Still going strong over a year later. I almost
forgot my son has a 2003?? with the same problem they ride the heck out of it and it's still going strong blinking lights
and all.
R.T.
Ronald Boggess
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2006
- Messages
- 49
I have a '98 Honda 4500 ES. I really like it. I use it for herding, mowing, trail cutting, checking fences, stringing wire, and a little pleasure riding thrown in. Very few problems. I wouldn't be afraid of another Honda.
Ron
Ron
oscar p
Well-known member
Honda is the only way to go. But I dont care what brand you buy, always buy the extended warrenty, theres good ones and bad ones in all of them. You just cant beat them Honda engines.
Herefordcross
Well-known member
Don't buy Polaris, 125 miles on a 500 4x4 and it never ceases to break down.
Nowland Farms
Well-known member
Hereford,
Sorry about the problems with your Polaris. I had a 1998 Polaris 500 but lost it in a shop fire when it was about a year or so old never had any problems. In 2000 (when I got the shop built back) I bought another Polaris 500.
I have had this Polaris 500 for 6 years and it gets used daily. No problems except that the speedometer stopped working a couple of years ago. I don't need a speedometer anyway.
Sorry about the problems with your Polaris. I had a 1998 Polaris 500 but lost it in a shop fire when it was about a year or so old never had any problems. In 2000 (when I got the shop built back) I bought another Polaris 500.
I have had this Polaris 500 for 6 years and it gets used daily. No problems except that the speedometer stopped working a couple of years ago. I don't need a speedometer anyway.
Good info guys. Over 100 lookers I thought everybody on this baord has a 4 wheeler. I thought there would be over 50 replies by now. Speak up guys. Tell me what you got? This forum has got to get more active.
AB, we just have one of the small Kawasakis - Bearcat or some such thing. I , like you, felt no need for a 4WD. Nor did I feel a need for a big engine. Out farm is flat and this little thing does all the running around we need. BTW this is our second one, our first was stolen.
I would say we think it was a great machine for the price.
just my 2 cents
tom
I would say we think it was a great machine for the price.
just my 2 cents
tom
Grippie
Well-known member
I have a Yamaha 600 grizzly. I work it hard and have had no problems at all. I know several Polaris owners and most of them have had problems with the drive belts, CV boots,spedo's etc...
My Polaris ranger has been put thru he11...my brother's brother-in-law AND my brother tried their best to beat it to death working cattle, but it still just keeps on goin'.
High gear is a little tough right now, 'cause the "brother-in-law" felt as tho it was ok to go from reverse to high without stopping it, and polaris really did a poor job with the battery placement so the battery box/holder doesn't last as long as we think it should, but other than that, it's been great! Just like Timex...it takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'.
Alice
High gear is a little tough right now, 'cause the "brother-in-law" felt as tho it was ok to go from reverse to high without stopping it, and polaris really did a poor job with the battery placement so the battery box/holder doesn't last as long as we think it should, but other than that, it's been great! Just like Timex...it takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'.
Alice
edb130
Well-known member
I have a Yamaha Kodiak 450 4x4. Dad hit a tree at a speed of nearly 40 mph and bent the front wheel up. Had that fixed and other than that it has run great for two years. Dad's in worse shape. Hurt his leg pretty bad and is still having trouble with infections in the leg two years later. Currently in the hospital for the fifth time receiving iv antibiotics to remove the infection.
bigbull338
Well-known member
i run a 500 honda rubicon 4x4 automatic.its almost 5yrs old an no problems what so ever.i know this i wont go back to 2wd drive.
I have a honda 350 rancher 4 wheel drive manual shift.Great machine It is bullet proof, plenty of power,and was the cheapest I could find. Oh and it doesn't have all the extra electrical junk to give ya trouble.
Bullbuyer
Well-known member
I'd get 4WD no question about that - sorta like having the 4WD truck - might not need it very often but great when ya' do. Go Kawasaki 650 - runs like a top and will fly if needed.
J
Well-known member
Get one that RUNS fast. I was checking cows for a neighbor that was out of town and he told me just take the 4 wheeler if I wasn't putting out any hay, well one of the days I rode out in amoungst some new mamas that were standing around the hay eating, as I rode through them counting heads one decided I was TOO CLOSE to her calf and decided to get on the four wheeler with me..... :???: I got on it to get the heck out of her way, the take off on his old 4 wheeler was alittle slow and we had ourselves a bit of race for just a second or two.
OklaBrangusBreeder
Well-known member
We've got both a Kawasaki Bayou 300 (which I'm thinking may be like a 94 model) and a newer Honda 250.
The Kawasaki is giving us problems and will be replaced shortly. But up until recently, it has been a very good and reliable machine. We bought it new and have gotton over a decade of trouble free use out of it.
We bought the Honda used from a neighbor. It has actually been a VERY trouble free machine, just as fast as the Kawasaki.
I've never had a 4WD and frankly can't see ANY possible reason for needing one. I've never been in a situation where I felt like I needed 4WD at all.
The Kawasaki is giving us problems and will be replaced shortly. But up until recently, it has been a very good and reliable machine. We bought it new and have gotton over a decade of trouble free use out of it.
We bought the Honda used from a neighbor. It has actually been a VERY trouble free machine, just as fast as the Kawasaki.
I've never had a 4WD and frankly can't see ANY possible reason for needing one. I've never been in a situation where I felt like I needed 4WD at all.
kjones
Well-known member
What ever you buy, go with at least a 500. You'll be glad you did. You wont have to work it as hard as a smaller one, and there will be plenty of speed to elude mad momma cows.
nebraskadave
Member
For what its worth, I traded my 300 bayoo for yamaha 450 kodiak. The kawasaki was a good old machine. I got to talking to a dealer who sold kawasaki, honda, polaris and yamaha. He convinced me yamaha had the best machine for me and I didn't buy it from him either. He was just to far away for any service if I needed it. I can say I love this yamaha too.
