Need Recomendations...

[Old Syko]

Well these days 400 to 500cc bikes are considered mid sized due to the advent of 650 and 700cc bigbores with some 800cc models slated for release in just a few months.  As far as 1 brand being junk or another being absolutely trouble free, it just ain't that way any more.  A lot of guys get brand loyal which I guess makes them feel better about what they themselves bought and want to bash everything else.  Just gotta read between the lines and decide for yourself.  

I always tell people to check out their local dealers, especially their parts dept. to make sure they have parts available.  It doesn't matter what you buy you're gonna break something some day and you don't want to park the thing for 2 months waiting for parts.  Talk to the guys who ride where you live and see what they're riding.  This is one time you're not better off being different.  For example; around here Arctic Cat is a no-no for the simple reason there isn't a dealer within 100 miles.

As far as being competitively priced goes, they're all competitive all right!  They're all competing to see who can charge the most!  329cc Honda Rancher, 290cc Kawasaki Bayou, 362cc Kawasaki Prairie, 376cc Suzuki Eiger, and all the rest in this size range have a suggested retail that is within pocket change of 5 grand one way or the other.  The bigbores are only 2 grand more for a whole lot more bike.

By the way, East Tenn. where you're from has some of the most beautiful countryside to ride through and hunt in ever was.  Best of luck with your choice.

[markc]

seeing that you wanted a manual tranny, I recommend the Yamaha Big Bear 4X4.  They are proven quads and are pretty basic.  If you decide on an auto and like Yamaha, go with the Kodiak 400.  Good luck.
markc

[Old Syko]

Big Bear 4x4 = $5,199

Kodiak 400 = $5,499 standard
                    $5,799 camo

Suggested retail

[markc]

http://www.atvconnection.com/atvconnection/2004-Yamaha-bruin-350.cfm?cs_LoginTime=205859
markc

[markc]

http://www.atvconnection.com/atvconnection/Departments/Dunes/2003-Yamaha-Big-Bear-400-4x4.cfm

I guess you could do a side by side comparison with the Honda's.  I don't think you will go wrong with Honda or Yamaha.  For that matter, these days I don't think you will go wrong with any of the major ATV makers, Honda, Polaris, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Artic Cat.  Did I miss anyone?  Alot of it boils down to personal preference or customer loyalty to a particular brand.    Seeing that you wanted a manual tranny, I recommend the Yamaha Big Bear.  I have spent some time on one, 2000 model and it was a mighty fine quad, 4X4 was good.  Now days, they have a few more features than they did, even as recently as 2000.  
markc

[Old Syko]

OK Chris I give up!  You're going to buy a Yammy Big Bear.  Only thing is you need to get it soon because this bike is soon to be discontinued due to lack of interest in manual shift, no frills 4x4s.  The selectable belt drives with front diff lock are what every one is after nowdays and with (in my opinion) good reason.  Don't get me wrong!  I'm truely not trying to hold you to my beliefs.  I do ride with a large number of folks who own an example almost everything available and Tom, who rides the only Big Bear in the bunch is soon to switch.  

I would suggest you get together with some lecal riders and make a few test rides.  Other than that, you'll just have to come up to my place when I can get a crew together and we'll go from there.  By the way, it may take 30 minutes to an hour to get a crew together so call ahead.

[dbuz]

I've got a 500 Suzuki and a friend has 2 400 Suzukis. They are very nice. My Vinson is a manual shift with a 4wd push button on the handle bars. It has a low and high gear selector if you are pulling something heavy. It tops out around 62 mph. It has 2 headlights on the front and one on the steering wheel. It is liquid cooled, digital speedometer, it has a rev limiter to keep you from blowing the engine, and a small storage box in the rear and a dry storage compartment on the rf. I've had a lot of fun on it this past summer. You are right about the full time 4wd's. They are hard to steer. My friend fixed his Yamaha so it wouldn't  be full time 4wd and ended up buying a Vinson because he was tired of his trying to roll over all of the time.

[AAAJohn]

Better go with the Honda Rancher or the 450 Foreman, or if u can find a new 300 4X4 that someone has kept in the garage and never rode. I ask a salesman why they discontinued the 300 and he said (because they never wore out).
I've oned ATV's since 86 and for trouble free service get the Honda.

[DES]

Chris,

I looked at several and ended up buying the Yamaha Bruin, I paid $4550 out-the-door. I wanted the full-auto (easier for the wife to drive) and the selectable 2/4 wheel drive. I've only had it a couple of months but haven't found anything I don't like yet.

Dwayne