What are the top things to look out for and questions to ask ?
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What are the top things to look out for and questions to ask ?
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Look over an ATV like you would a car. When buy an older used be prepared for repairs. When I bought mine I discovered it was leaking Rad fluid a new rad for mine was 900.00 I found a new one on ebay for US sent it to my parents in Florida who then brought it back to Canada for me.
Does it start easily when cold (tell the owner not to warm it before you get there)
Check oil level, rad fluid
Check shocks (these can run several hundred dollars each even for cheap after market)
Look for oil leaks (look around all of the engine for oil spots)
Check brakes make sure the cable is not at the very end of adjustment or it will need to be replaced.
Test drive does the engine seem to miss?
Check exhaust if it is rusted out they are expensive
Check cables, lights
Check Tires (New Tires cost 100+ each)
While GW's response above is excellent, he forgot the most important thing to look for: Make sure it's a Honda :)
Also, depending on how old it is and how much you are planning to spend, you could ask about previous maintenance history and any service records.
Practically, you don't really 'need' for than 350/400 cc if your doing mostly bush trails etc.
If you plan on doing Poker Runs etc...then go for a 700+ cc and look for power steering.
Or a Yamaha Kodiak
Quote:
Originally Posted by rf2
Around 400 is what I’m looking at. Honda’s are very expensive for the age of them. Yamaha would be great but finding alot of arctic cats. I have heard some failures with atv and side by side with the cats. I remember the sleds being good back in the day. Are they not still made in usa?
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Yes mostly trail riding and snow clearing will be done. Automatic so the wife can drive, and 4x4 with diff lock. Snow plow and jump seat also. What is normal amount of km per year roughly?
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I'm looking at only Kodiak and foreman something 2004 and up. Hopefully around 3500. I have a 2000 Suzuki ltf 500 giving that to my kids.
The prevailing sentiment..stay away from Arctic Cats.....costly to maintain. Honda's hold their price well because they are worth it and everyone knows it so you can ask more. Same as Toyota and Honda cars/suv/trucks.
One other thing GW forgot to mention is to check for torn boots on the C V joints. If they're torn then the joint would likely have to be replaced.
Check for bent brake levers. They tell you if the machine has been rolled, and if it has been rolled then it may have been driven hard. Which leads to the next question....any teenagers in the house and/or how old is the owner/operator.
I also agree with the others too. Stay away from the Cats and be very suspicious of Polaris.
Avoid Arctic Cat(Textron), Polaris and Canned Ham like the plague. Honda, Yamaha Suzuki and Kawasaki's are far more reliable. Stick your finger in the exhaust and feel for any oily residue. On cold start up, watch for the blue puff of smoke or white exhaust. Blue can be worn rings and valve guides. White can be burning rad fluid. Dinged up plastic parts can point to abuse although minor scratches, etc are fair game. Dings and dents in the rims can point to "hold my beer and watch this" type of use. Oversize tires often lead to wrecked bearings, ball joints and tie rod ends. Snorkels are another dead giveaway to playing submarine in the swamps.
Make an automatic search on Kijiji unless your in the Ottawa area than don't as I am also looking for another ATV
well i just went through what your about to I ended up buying a older cat 2008 650 trv h1 it was a trade in at a dealer good price for a two up I was leaning towards a Suzuki but found them on the high side for year and miles on them , honda same boat when I did see one it was gone . lust as someone else said treat it as a used car if it looks like it been rode hard and put away wet then it must have been
I have generally found that when you buy something exclusively according to price, cheap = questionable product. When I bought my 09 Yamaha Grizzly, I could have had a similar Pooplaris for about $2000 less. I was advised to steer clear of the Poop's, the money you feel you save will burn holes in your wallet for repairs.
Used Honda’s are expensive and sell quick for a reason........... I personally wouldn’t consider any other brand but that is my OP, moose group (when it was still together) was 95% Honda’s, the 5% who didn’t have Hondas were always the ones with issues.
Love my Polaris. Mind you I bought new but have no reason to sell it. Polaris is quite popular in these woods....
I think it depends on the model.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
I had a basic Arctic Cat 400 Core, non-EPS, single cylinder carbed, and quite honestly, it was damn near bullet proof.
The engines are made ( or were at the time) by Kymco, who also make engines and components for BMW, Kawasaki, and a few others.
Simple machine, that never let me down. Of course I then sold it to buy my SXS.
Polaris makes a great machine. The most comfortable by far, quite stable and the best out of the bunch in snow. Unfortunately the new ones are following Can am down the electrical rabbit hole.
Can am, just, no.... bad frames, bad electrical, can not repair without 10K in tools. They do go like a bugger when they go.
I currently run a beat to snot Cat. 2005 650V2. This thing has been beat and worked like no machine should ever be. The machine had its share of issues but I could make all the repairs myself. No special tools needed. The reason I haven't traded up is the stability. I can sit on my seat and traverse a side hill and nobody aside from the brute force will follow, no matter how hard they lean.
If I had to buy new today, Polaris. I am hopeful of the day Yamaha puts their new SXS power plant in the grizz, I'd have one here the next day.
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Stick to Honda or Yamaha. They go forever and are extremely reliable. The 400 class “utility “ ones aren’t what the sport riders tend to buy and beat on. Many ( like myself) only use them minimally during moose/deer hunts. Mine is a 1999 and still runs and looks great.
my 1999 Yamaha Big Bear does things I won’t even list as most wouldn’t believe it. Let’s just say dragging out moose “whole” or a deer on the back rack is not a problem.
we had a guy with an Arctic Cat hunt with us. It spent 4 days dead in the bush and we dragged it home after the hunt.
pull the seat off and have a look under there. muddy/dirty, its been in deep.
Really, have an 8 year old Arctic Cat 500. Replaced original battery and oil changes is all its cost, nothing broken or worn. Haul tons of wood every year and trail riding. Pretty cheap to maintain for nearly a decadeQuote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
And I've had no problems with my 2016 Can-Am.
This thread is like the Ford/Chevy/Dodge debate.
Everyone has their favorites.
I picked up a 1990 honda about 5 years ago, plan on doing all the fluids in the summer this year but other than that just oil changes and new tires. She's never let me down other than a couple fuel pumps which were cheap replacement
I good article to help you with what to look for ..Quote:
Originally Posted by boddah
https://www.familyhandyman.com/autom...-buying-guide/
Ya but everyone knows Chevys win that battle hands down...........just like Honda’s in this battle........hahaha!Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodsman
I love my 1994 Polaris Sportsman 400. The old 2 smokes had lots of low end.
Whenever someone starts picking on Polaris I tell them "lets see how your 25 year old quad runs?"
Pulled this of a Consumer Report poll: Most Reliable and Best Utility ATV
...pretty much mirrors what's been said on the thread.
Best Brands
Polaris 800 EFI 44 vote(s) 19.9%
Honda 680 84 vote(s) 38.0%
Arctic Cat 10 vote(s) 4.5%
Suzuki King Quad 14 vote(s) 6.3%
Yamaha Grizzly 69 vote(s) 31.2%
I had a neighbour that had a used Honda and bought a new Arctic Cat and both did really well so we ended up finding a gently used Arctic Cat and have had nothing but problems with it. We regret not holding out for a Honda or Suzuki.
We had one fella in the hunt camp that had an Arctic Cat. We had to load in on the trailer and take it to the dealer twice to get it fixed so he could continue hunting. He brought a Polaris the next year. HaHa..Quote:
Originally Posted by Tacomaboy25
I also had a friend who had a Suzuki and all he did to it was put gas in. He started having problems once it hit 13000km but that's to be expected.
I've got an 06 Kodiak 450 I've had for 12 years and all I've done is oils changed and break pads. It plows snow and rides year round. Bought a used Cat 4-5 years ago, and the whole electrical system melted 2 weeks after I bought it. It was sold for parts for $400. Bought my wife a brand new CanAm in 2018, it's been back to the dealer 4 times for an oil leak at the crankcase seal. All warrenty'd , but missed a lot of prime weekends due to it. My 11 yr old is getting my kodiak this yr as he's outgrown his 90, and I'll be purchasing either another Kodiak, or possibly try a sxs.
The reality of the situation is that if you buy a used quad that wasn't looked after, it's going to be a headache. I've ridden with guys that wonder why their bike wouldn't idle half way through a ride. I would pull out the dipstick and it would be bone dry. Its amazing how many people think you don't need to change oils in their toys.
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Agreed you can find old machines that have been looked after and will work like a top. I have a 95 honda 300 that my dad bought new. Service it every fall and it never misses a beat.On other hand you can have a newer model and not worth looking at as they have been mistreated but look great.
Looking at 2013 cat 500 with 400km.
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No diff lock on this model. Will it still be capable in 4x4?
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For general getting around the property and trail riding you would be fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by boddah
For breaking trail in deep snow and getting out of a mud hole diff lock is a must.
If you are looking at a arctic cat google reviews for it and join the arctic cat forum ask questions those guys know there stuff google any bike for that matter .
Contacted a shop about a 2003 Kodiak for sale that came up yesterday in mint, it was still available this morning. I emailed them to say I was coming down today after lunch.
They contacted me an hour ago already sold.
Sounds like me. I’ve had 2 sell with no notice. Set up a time in the morning and they don’t respond back and find ad deleted in afternoon.Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhite
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Must be a prime buying time for atvs right now. I'm looking at a Can am outlander 1000r and had multiple dealers say they sold a few bikes this week. Might have to wait for a 2021
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Put a deposit on Polaris 500 sportsman 2007
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Great choice. Enjoy. :thumbup:
Had one, great machine.
The question which is the best atv? Very similar to what is the best retriever, what is the best pick up, what is the best deer caliber?
Buy what you like and enjoy it....
check all the control arms make sure the guy doesnt have anything other than what is suppose to be there holding it together, ended up buying one and right when we brought it home it started to miss fire running ty etc. also the guy had a clamp keeping one of the control arms into place. ran us a couple hundred bucks to fix it to our liking, we got a really good deal on it anyways but check everything, its even better if you can show up before the thing was started thats the key thing. good luck !