need a sugestion on a quad

[puckhead]

Well with my leggs getting worse and now the doc has told me to stop shovleing snow and since my wife cant do the shoveling herself i'm thinking about getting a quad wat is a good choice for a good machine that will plow snow and sport me into the high country this summer i hate to sell my bike but it looks like im going to have to i realy have trouble getting it started in tight trails if i kill it so i pry need someting with ele start any sugestions?

TIA

Ken

[Chris Halvorson]

Yamaha Grizzly 660 or 700, depending on your budget. Here are some of the reasons I chose the Grizzly:

-Lightest quad in their class (600 lbs for the 700). This helps with maneuvering, and hopefully this never happens to you...but if it lands on you. The Polaris quads can weigh in over 750 lbs.

-Power is smooth. The 700 is fuel injected.

-Electric Power steering. (700) If the power steering fails, it just defaults back to "powered by Armstrong". This will be easier for plowing and atv'n.

-These quads are some of the best riding, most comfortable 4x4 quads I have ever ridden. You can actually ride them all day long.


Since you are getting a snow plow, you will have to get a winch. Please do yourself a favor and get a quality winch. The other day I was in Divide atv'n with a friend and we got stuck quite often. I was on a Sport quad (wasn't a good idea) and my friend was on a Suzuki King quad. We found out the hard way his winch didn't work. The quad I was on is 365 wet...his was around 800 lbs. Digging his quad out was the only option. We could just lift mine right out of the snow.

[benboggan]

The grizzly is a great quad. Never rode one with power steering but herd great things about it. EFI would be nice for power and altitude. What ever you get just make sure it has low range. A must for plowing. Like chris said they are lightest in class. Those polaris's are heavy and can take you for a ride. Besides that they have plastic racks.:shrug:And they should all have elec. start. Just my .02

[Chris Halvorson]

EFI is a good thing. The other day I was so pissed that the YFZ-450 wouldn't start...and when I did...didn't run worth a crap. So I had to swap all the rims to my Raptor. The Raptor hasn't been started since my accident in Oct. The quad started right up.

[RJsfun]

I'll agree with the Grizzly. I've got a 660 and have not loved too many things much more.
Even with-out FI, I have never had a problem running at 13,000 feet plus, or with cold starts. Power steering would be nice with the front locker engaged, but I don't have any problems now, even with a 54" plow.
When it comes to shoveling vs plowing, no doubt in choice. I now stare out the window waiting for snow and the chance to plow. I guess living in the mountains with a 1/4 mile driveway gives me a good excuse anyway. Get some heated grips and thumb warmer. I never knew what I was missing until Christmas!!!
I have also slowly started to migrate from Jeeps and 4x4's to ATVing. I found I can explore triple the areas in half the time, and with the suspensions being independent front and rear with high travel coil-overs makes the bumps in a Jeep seem like just an old nightmare. I also can't beat having my girlfriend straddle the back, wrapping her arms around me for a mid-summers day picnic ride and frollic in the woods.
Just my 2 cents, but I love being able to just drive the quad in the back of my truck and head for the hills.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/RJsfun/grizznight.jpg

[Chris Halvorson]

Nice quad. They now have the 660 in FI, so that is an option.

I agree with you on the Jeep thing as well. I can buy an ATV or motorcycle every year and still come out cheaper than when I was Jeeping....and that isn't even counting fuel costs to get to the trail with the tow rig.

[yzergod]

My 2? is to forget the plow blade and look for a used tractor with a flat blade or bucket (if you get a lot of snow). ATV's are good for light snow, but the massive amounts we had this year made mine useless! So, I still had to pay to have my ? mile driveway plowed. If you search off season, you should be able to find one for about the cost of a good plow blade set-up. Then, spend the money on a nice ATV for play. The ones with power steering are quite fun offroad, as in not as brutal on the forearms when climbing rocky areas!

[RJsfun]

I don't think my atv plow set-up is useless in any way. I live at 9200 feet, and have seen snow at least 2-3 times a week since late November.
Obviously an ATV plow blade is smaller than a truck, so it's a no brainer about the amount you can push, along with moisture content of the snow, ground and air temp, etc..
Yes, on somedays I might plow 3-4 times in 8 hours to keep up with the snow, but I have NO problem using the ATV as the only source for the winter driveway maintenance.
I usually start to plow when about 6 inches builds up. This is tonight from todays snowfall.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/RJsfun/quadnight.jpg

You just need to keep pushing the snow and banks AWAY. I kept pushing the snow over the edge, building out and out, and hit a soft spot on a warm day.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/RJsfun/P1050028.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/RJsfun/P1050032.jpg

Needless to say, self recovery led to no-where real fast, so the Dodge and a strap were called in to get me back to plowing.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/RJsfun/P1050041.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/RJsfun/P1050319.jpg

And as far as winch cable, GO ROPE!!! The cable cannot with-stand repeated verticle pulls. I found this out quick.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/RJsfun/P1050006.jpg

Sorry for all the pics, but a pic is worth a thousand words, and there is the Grizzly real world plowing.

[puckhead]

Well I was talking to adam at b+b sport cycles in evergreen I work in kittredge and live in littleton and since i've had really good luck with honda I think I may stick with honda unless they dont offer power steering does anyone know if they do? I was going to head down to britt and see what they have this afternoon

[Chris Halvorson]

I believe they do on some models. I seen a side by side comparison with the Honda and Yamaha in an off road test. The Yamaha took home the Gold. They said that both machines were good...they just preferred the Yamaha's better ride, control and ease of the steering geometry.

[Mobcore911]

Well you cant beat a honda for reliability hands down...

They don't always have all the bells and whistles but are an awesome band for the buck.

The foreman 500 ( not rubicon) is now offered with power steering.

However depending on your size don't discount the re-designed Honda rancher 420. They are the only Fuel injected midsize atv, selectable 2/4x4 and are liquid cooled. you can get either a footshift or electric button shift model and the list price is in the 5k range instead of 7-8k like a 700 griz. I have firsthand experience with both and found the honda was perfect for me, the best "suv" as far as quads go for the money. Test ride a rancher and im sure you'll agree they have plenty of pep.

If you're a bigger guy, the foreman 500 is a stellar choice as well. The posi honda front diffs can work just as good as a locked front end with careful front brake manipulation...:thumbsup:

[Chris Halvorson]

True, Honda's make a good bike. All the ones I have owned...beat the living piss out of them...and still ran like a top.

[puckhead]

yea hondas are the king as far as reliablity you can still find running mid 80's 3 wheelers/oddseys and seeing that kinda made my decision up for me. plus the fact I can get a bigger quad with plow setup that only weighs abour 60 lb more for the same price as most other smaller machines plus i still have to buy a plow

[XtremeXJ]

Grizzly's rule - I have 3 - I have a 07 350 IRS, which the kids love and I have 2 08 700 Grizzlys. The power steering is great (that is why we have two - the wife wanted power steering). Here is the link the my grizzly thread.

http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=108336

[Pioneer]

I have two Polaris Sportsman 400's and they were the best option for what I use them for, which is 15 miles of 48" sidewalk (I own a snow removal company) and have never had a problem with either machine. I didn't go Honda because they are (were) a bit behind the times. They still have (had?) a solid rear axle and are belt drive. You get a belt drive machine stuffed with snow the belt starts to slip. Second was they ride like crap.

The Yamaha Grizzly was next in line but I got a better deal on the Polaris machines. They both have Warn winches (they do get hot fast and tend to stop working after a bit and need a cool down). Both have Rockstomper winch rope. After going threw traditional winch rope I stepped up and since I did I have not had a failure. One has a Cycle County straight blade and the other has a Polaris V. Once and awhile I might need to chain them up, but as long as we keep them in low range they will push a crap load of snow.

[mtntj]

Never heard of a honda with belt drive, and I been ridden em for 25+yrs.I have a rancher 350es, Used it for landscape work this yr. it's amazing the amout of weight even the 350 will more. You can't go wrong with a Honda.

[Mobcore911]

I have two Polaris Sportsman 400's and they were the best option for what I use them for, which is 15 miles of 48" sidewalk (I own a snow removal company) and have never had a problem with either machine. I didn't go Honda because they are (were) a bit behind the times. They still have (had?) a solid rear axle and are belt drive. You get a belt drive machine stuffed with snow the belt starts to slip. Second was they ride like crap.

The Yamaha Grizzly was next in line but I got a better deal on the Polaris machines. They both have Warn winches (they do get hot fast and tend to stop working after a bit and need a cool down). Both have Rockstomper winch rope. After going threw traditional winch rope I stepped up and since I did I have not had a failure. One has a Cycle County straight blade and the other has a Polaris V. Once and awhile I might need to chain them up, but as long as we keep them in low range they will push a crap load of snow.

Honda has never and will never use a belt drive for one of there ATV's. actually your polaris quads and the grizzly use a belt drive....

Completely backwards :flipoff2:

[Mobcore911]

Although I wouldn't argue that for straight utility use like you do ( almost need a little tractor) the polaris is a good bike since they are horribly over-weight.

[mtntj]

OH... Those little details, what belt drive? Maybe he has two Hondas!!:flipoff2: :flipoff2: