Best small ATV to buy?

[jager]

I'm looking for a new or used ATV with or without 4 wheel drive. The main requirements I need are a short overall  length (under 75"), light weight (under 550#), and short turning radius. I currently have an older ('97) Honda Foretrax that is neither light, short in length, or has a short turning radius. I is, however, very reliable! What would any of you suggest? It will be used in the mountains and it will see some snow on very narrow trails.

[DCRthe3rd]

My favorite smaller quads were the 250 bear trackers by yamaha , 2 or 4wd pick one , if you get the 2wd and hit snow just make sure your rear tires are wolly boogers , I never cared for the smaller quads in really rough terrian esp in 2wd ,as they have a tendency to stand up while climbing dirt banks , berms , big rocks , what have you , standing up is part of the fun until she stands up and comes over backwards , I would often climb while having my right knee on the seat and if she stood up too much , I would just let go and slid off the seat and get the heck out of the way , if you're straddling the quad when she goes up like that , God help you

[Old Syko]

I have no idea what your intended use is for this thing is but from what I hear a 3 or 400 cc sport quad sounds in order rather than a utility of some sort.  They're short, light, very maneuverable and manageable as long as you aren't packing a lot of equipment along.  Limit cargo to what you can carry on your person, a tank bag and maybe a 6 pack rack on the rear and you're golden for a minimal amount of $.

[DCRthe3rd]

sport quads , sure , I know I seem to push yamaha alot ....... but the warriors 2wd and wolverines 4wd by yamaha are good sport quads

[30-30man]

In a 250 class atv, you can't go wrong with the Kawasaki Bayou.  I bought one in 2wd after ridding a Suzuki and a Yamaha at my dealership.  The Suzuki had more power but it had the biggest engine, I think it is actually 248cc while the others are around 230cc.  The price is what swung my wallet out though.  The Kawa was $600 less and was just as good minus the full floor boards.  The Kawa comes with a fuel gauge and a 12v accessory plug. It also has a two year warranty.  None of the others offer this at this price.  You can get a new one for less than $3000 out the door.  I paid $2800 and got a free helmet.  It will even outrun my Yamaha Bruin 350.  I don't know if it will pull as much but with the gears, I bet it will handle its own.  What ever you do, don't buy the Chinese junk.  They will not last and parts are a joke.

I have a nephew that got a 150cc Ching Chong, something or another.  It has an automatic trans and doesn't have enough power to do anything.  It has no trailer hitch, so it is worthless as utility is concerned.  It has been back to the dealer four times since Christmas with carb problems.  I think it was about $800 but that was too much.

[jager]

Thanks to all for the good info. I'm leaning toward the Suzuki Ozark, but the "Kawa"  Bayou looks sure looks like a bargain.

[Sweetwater]

Hmmm-
Very interesting pieces of information. I've never owned an ATV, but have ridden many in 3-wheel and 4-wheel configuration - 2wd, 4wd, and 4x6. Only one I ever tipped over (backwards) was a 2wd. It got exciting real quick. It was light enough and I was strong enough to keep it going right over me as I kept my feet on the foot pegs, and it went into a tree downhill from me. Not sure how I did that - but my back remembers.
Am looking for one to use in my work (surveying) as the years have caught up with my mobility (or lack thereof). My partner just bought a Bombardier for crowding $7000 - a bit rich for my blood - I'd be buying a Freedom Arms 97 in 41mag first, I think. I didn't think about looking at a sport model. Everyone I've talked to here are pushing the utility models of which I really like the 4x6 Polaris Ranger (I used one several years ago in Wyoming and it was great for where I was using it). I also used a 4x6 John Deere Gator which was great under certain conditions, but not as good in snow and mud as the Ranger.

Will stay tuned here for more tidbits of info.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Hunter_Smurf]

I HAVE BEEN RIDING WITH MY BROTHER AND HIS FRIEND ON HIS BAYOU 220

They have a Polaris 700 and I'm not sure of our friends.,  but that little 220 surprised me..  It held its own with the bigger boys..

we went upstream and all around the trails threw mud and muck and water and dirt... i had to shift and they didn't ... it was about 4 inches lower than the rest so i had to watch there ruts and space myself between the real deep ones..lol  ... i had to slow for the turns the front tires wouldn't dig in for me to turn sharp. but i am a very inexperienced driver so maybe the turning was me not doing it hard enough.. i also had to take it easy for medical reasons..    but other then that it held in there..  they were taller so they could go faster and deeper than the 220 but ....

I WAS VERY IMPRESSED... 

I WAS THE BIGGEST MAN ON THE LITTLEST MACHINE BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY ....

I WAS TRULY IMPRESSED


other than this i have no comparison.. lol     sorry