Which ATV to purchase

[Two Bears]

No bubble burst here, I know what I got.
Ive rode the 700 grizz and don't think they have much under the hood, not much acceleration. They have plenty of power but its not near a brute. I am talking throttle response and acceleration the grizz was a dog so to speak when you mash the gas.
They are good machines and build very well but if you want any excitement in your ride buy a 750 brute.

[ourway77]

I have an Arctic Cat 400 and I love it I've had it for three years and runs like the day I got it I have made it across cut areas that my fiends got stuck, hung up on logs. It has VG clearence compared to some. Yes you can get some very good deals on used ATV's. I've had it serviced every year, and It hasn't been driven hard at all just to go and pick up a Deer. My friend got a heck of a deal on a Honda the man died before he got to use it and his wife said make me an offer, I just want it out of my garage. $3000.00 for what was brand new. Cost new $7500.00. lou

[team101]

Got it narrowed down to two: an 06 grizzly 660, like new, 100 miles, $4500 and a 08 big bear 400 IRS, like new, 60 miles, $3400.    Any opinions?

[glockman55]

Go with the Grizzly, I've got one I use to plow snow, very dependable..or you could go a little bigger if you want a real thrill..

[Dave in WV]

Get the 660 and you'll never look back. More power, more fuel capacity, more towing capacity, and auto transmission. If you get a used ATV run some Lucas fuel system cleaner of Seafoam fuel treatment in it. Low mileage like you listed means there most likely be some lacquer in the carb and fuel system. My 660 was four years old with 238 miles on it and the float wouldn't hold the gas back so I had to close the fuel cock on the tank if it wasn't running until after I ran a couple of tanks with Lucas fuel system cleaner in the gas then had no problems. I mix Lucas fuel system cleaner in my gas cans all the time now and run high octane gas.

[Spirithawk]

My son has a Honda Rancher 4x4 that has been put through H*** and back (two teenaged boys)  and the only thing he's had to replace in 5 years is brakes, oil and a choke cable. We've hauled many a deer out with it and have confidence it will go anywhere we need it to go. It even did cart wheels down a 80 yard long embankment, end over end, and started right back up no problem. Just bent the racks and the handlebars slightly. Luckily nobody was hurt. My son hit a rock hidden in tall grass at the crest of a steep hill.  Luckily he was able to use his legs to push it on over him when it flipped. It just goes to show how rugged that ATV is though. Not many would have survived that kind of fall and been in any kind of shape to just drive away. That was 4 years ago and it still runs like new.

My daughter has an Artic Cat and likes it but it hasn't been put through anything near what the Honda has.

[bobg]

  I agree with Spirithawk on the Rancher. Great machine. I put it places it had no business being. Never had a problem with it. Just like most Hondas. Kind of hard starting though. So were the three Honda motorcycles i had.

[Cheesehead_67]

Last spring I purchased a new grizzly 550, it has locking differential and power stearing, the only reason I went with power stearing is because that's what they had on the floor, I am now glad I have it!! The 550 fuel injected grizzly has one less HP than the carbed 660. I don't know about now but when I bought my Grizzly I financed it through Yamaha and got a 2% interest rate, that's why I went new. If you plan on financing any of your ATV I would consider checking into a new one.

The last ATV I had was a Polaris Magnum. I purchased it new in 1996. After looking at the polaris and a few others I went with the Yamaha, so far I love it!!

[team101]

I chose the Grizzly.  110 miles, 46 hours, field/trail ridden only, with a rack mounted passenger seat and storage box. 

[Drilling Man]

  I have a Grizzly too, and it's been an excelent 4 wheeler...  It's probably what i'll buy next time too...

  DM

[Lloyd Smale]

my nephews have kaw. brutes one a 650 and the other a 750. Sure there a bit more powerful but they look like a 1940s army vehicle sitting next to my grizzly. the fit and finish is crap on them and theyve both had reliability problems. they also both admit when the going gets tough my grizzly is better and it rides so much better that the little lack of power is trivial. If i want to go fast on a 4x4 quad ill get an 800 renegade and do it right. these arent race bikes and driving them like one is a sure way to get yourself a visit to the the emergency room or morge. Ive driven quads and 3 wheelers since the mid 70s and have owned about every brand at one time or the other and alothough i do admit i wish the griz did have a good 800 twin in it, it is still the best overall 4x4 utility quad made right now.

No bubble burst here, I know what I got.
Ive rode the 700 grizz and don't think they have much under the hood, not much acceleration. They have plenty of power but its not near a brute. I am talking throttle response and acceleration the grizz was a dog so to speak when you mash the gas.
They are good machines and build very well but if you want any excitement in your ride buy a 750 brute.

[Old Syko]

I chose the Grizzly.  110 miles, 46 hours, field/trail ridden only, with a rack mounted passenger seat and storage box. 

Without a doubt you made a good choice.  Spend a little time getting used to the thing, pull proper maintenance on it and it should last you a long time.  I got rid of my hard box in lieu of weatherproof bags.  If you spend much time in heavy brush like I do you'll likely do the same.  If you're not in close quarters a lot you'll love the hard box.

Sure there a bit more powerful but they look like a 1940s army vehicle sitting next to my grizzly. the fit and finish is crap on them and theyve both had reliability problems.

The only reliability issues with Kawasaki that I've been aware of are 99% owner/rider induced.  There are a lot of Kawasaki owners around here and I assure you none of us will be convinced they're more unreliable than any other, including Yamaha.  As a matter of fact, just the opposite. 

Unlike most folks, I'm not brand loyal.  I've spent at least enough time on just about everything available to understand their good points and their failings.  Most differences, such as appearance, are nothing more than personal preference and really have no bearing on performance.  There's only one brand out their right now with consistent reliability issues and it ain't Kawasaki or Yamaha.

[Lloyd Smale]

mostly little things. Plastic pieces breaking, carb problems. One nephews 650 is using oil after only 2000 miles and hes not one that beats on it.

[Cheesehead_67]

This is the one I bought last spring, so far I'm loving it!!!

[team101]

I'll try to get some pics up soon.  Right now the plastics are off, the fluids are being changed, an inline fuel filter is being installed, and everything is getting a once over before I ride it.

[deerhuntertyler]

I'm a Polaris guy myself, have tried every major brand but Kawasaki. I also like the cats, and the Yamaha grizzlies but the Yamaha 670s can't touch the towing power of my 01 sportsman 500. And The cats can't go half the places my explorer 400 will take me in still in 2wd. One thing i can't argue about though is that the yamaha grizzlies are fast and fun to ride, but i would not want to own one. I went on a ride with a bunch of buddies and a few people i dint know up in northern MN earlier this summer, i took my Polaris Explorer 400, and all Th guys with 670s, 700s, and 800s of all brands were nothing but stuck. one thing i wish it had was shaft drive, but i can deal with tightening a chain every once and a while. Polaris has had some really bad models, but most are good. I routinely pull two full 500 bushel gravity wagons with my sportsman 500 up steep gravel hills from our fields to the dryer. And my 400 explorer will take me places you wouldn't believe and places i probably shouldn't be. And i have only had minor repairs with both and have owned the 400 for 8 years, and bought the 500 new in 02. just my experiences...

[Drilling Man]

I'm a Polaris guy myself, have tried every major brand but Kawasaki. I also like the cats, and the Yamaha grizzlies but the Yamaha 670s can't touch the towing power of my 01 sportsman 500.

  That i'd have to see, cause i've pulled more than one load with my 600 Grizzly, that neither of my neighbors 500 polaris' could pull.  They couldn't even get it moving without the belts squaking and slipping!

  The Grizzly doesn't use the "belt" for the clutch like a Polaris, as it has an oil cooled clutch that works perfectly...

  They also have two 700 polaris', and they wouldn't hook to the load, because they said the belts were too expensive to replace...  lol

  I use my Grizzly for a tool, it has to work and earn it's keep daily, it's never had a belt replacement since new!

  BTW, Are you are refering to the Grizzly 660?  You said 670...

  DM

[deerhuntertyler]

I'm a Polaris guy myself, have tried every major brand but Kawasaki. I also like the cats, and the Yamaha grizzlies but the Yamaha 670s can't touch the towing power of my 01 sportsman 500.

  That i'd have to see, cause i've pulled more than one load with my 600 Grizzly, that neither of my neighbors 500 polaris' could pull.  They couldn't even get it moving without the belts squaking and slipping!

  The Grizzly doesn't use the "belt" for the clutch like a Polaris, as it has an oil cooled clutch that works perfectly...

  They also have two 700 polaris', and they wouldn't hook to the load, because they said the belts were too expensive to replace...  lol

  I use my Grizzly for a tool, it has to work and earn it's keep daily, it's never had a belt replacement since new!

  BTW, Are you are refering to the Grizzly 660?  You said 670...

  DM

I have replaced the belts once since i bought it in 01, and trust me its been well used since then. I agree that the belts are a bad design, but lets face it, they all have there pluses and minuses. One thing that could contribute to your neighbors wheelers is that they have the wrong belt, my cousin's kept shredding belts in there 05 500, it turned out to be they were using belts made for the newer models with slightly longer belts and a greater pitch, which caused it to get pinched and eventually shred. and if you don't believe me, your welcome to come on over some harvest and put the ol' grizzly to the paces beside the sportsman. And yes, i did mean the Yamaha 660, my bad...

[Drilling Man]

  It wasn't the wrong belts, it's just a pizz poor polaris design...  The Yamaha belt is under tension all the time, and with the separate "oil cooled" clutch, the belt isn't constantly getting flat spots burned into it when you try to take off with a big load.

  No question about it!  Yamaha has the best belt tranny drive line in the business!  I have a farm too, so i know all about pulling big loads with a 4 wheeler, and my neighbors polaris' squaking/slipping/belt burning tranny is no match at all....even they admit that.

  DM