Poll: Most Reliable and Best Utility ATV " For My Described Use "

Nobody mentioned this one... Kymco 500 its like 70 series LandCruiser in ATV world. Build simple, lasts and its sold and popular everywhere except US.

 

Iv had Yamaha, Polaris and currently arctic cat. Mechanically the Yamaha is stout and honestly my dads 2001 big bear is still chugging along. But iv never had good luck with the plastics especially in cold weather. The Polaris is awesome but iv been having trouble with the tranny. The arctic cat has a simple no frills get shit done look imo. it neen reliable and really enjoyable the only thing I don't like is the cv boots are like a magnet to every stick.

 

Although the Rincon 680 has the most votes in the poll, I would advise against it. I love Honda fourwheelers, and have an 09 Rancher 420 myself, I have to tell you that for hauling a 1000 pound trailer, the Rincon is gonna suck. Honda geared the Rincon WAYYYY to high, especially compared to other Hondas, so it has no torque. This is gonna make it a nightmare hauling a trailer on anything more than pavement. I would actually say look into the Polaris 550. They are the little brother of the 850 XP, and they are made well. They have way more horsepower than the Rincon, and while that may not be very important as far as speed is concerned, with a Low range, it will turn that power into torque needed for hauling.

 

I know a guy that has his own power sports repair shop. Very respectable and well liked successfull guy. He says Honda hands down. "Polaris's keep him busy". I've always been a Honda guy and his words only confirm my sentiment. To each their own. Somebody will have a horror story about every brand and model. They are all good machines but the human variable determines alot about how well they hold up.

 

I heard the same thing about Polaris. Can-Ams apaprently have massive problems too. Arctic Cat was way to expensive for me, so was Honda. I dont like paying extra for a name brand.

 

Cant go wrong with a Yamaha Grizzly. My wife had a 450. I think I rode more than she did. Zero problems. Even after rolling it down the mountain side.

 

HECK yea grizzly FTW

 

I myself plan on getting a suzuki king quad 500 someday. But I will get it mainly for trail riding. But way in the future, my girlfriend and I would like to have horses so I would probably put it to work. I'm not very good with info about ATVs, but I really like the king quads. My girlfriend's uncle has one and he loves it and the looks of them are good. Looks aren't the main thing, but still. Plus I've been reading specs and reviews and haven't heard a bad thing about one.

 

Honda Yamaha or Kawasaki, maybe suzuki

Never been a big fan of Polaris ATVs, we had one and I had problems with it. Though I liked my RMK800.

Arctic Cat I just don't know.

That's just my opinions based off a little exposure to quads/experience.

 

Thread revive! Been curious myself, but my options are a honda foreman 500 or suzuki king quad 500. Idk what's best because it will be my first own ATV. What are the ups and downs of both? Which do you think is most reliable?

 

I’d say the honda will be more reliable. i don’t know many people with Suzuki atvs, but the few i do know that have had them had problems all the time it seamed like.

 

Oh. Well my girlfriend's uncle has one and I like it a lot. I haven't heard many issues with suzuki, but I have heard some. I've heard suzuki has a little more features. Unless they updated them the past couple years. But our friends bought a used 2007 honda 420 and it still runs like new. I guess it will have to come down to test drive and what feels better.

 

Any other input?

 

Honda. I think the foremans are fuel inected and have ps now bit still have rear drum brakes (suck) and straight rear axle.

 

As long as they stop the ATV well, good enough brakes for me. Disks are better though.

 

What's the difference between the rubicon and the foreman? Other than the cc's.

 

Rubicon is selectable esp and automatic with a low gear. Hinestly id go with footshift manual but im simple.

 

So the rubicon is automatic and the foreman is manual foot/electric shift only?

 

Yes. Im not quite up to date on em anymore they may have an option of ps or it could be standard. Look on Hondas website.

 

You can get the Rubicon with ps. I have a 2011 Rubicon and love it. The auto tranny is the best in the business. no belt to burn,auto or electric shift at the flick of a switch and engine braking out the ass.One thing to remember about a solid rear axle is it's more stable on sidehills and no matter how heavy a load you don't lose ground clearance. I will say my wife's Polaris and son's Yamaha both have irs and are a plusher ride but I'm more comfortable on the Rubi.