Cheep used quad advice?

lloydguy · Sep 21, 2014

As per title,I am looking for 2 used quads for trail riding in central Sask.
My uncle and myself don't want 1000lb pig's that get 2mpg,just basic
machines. I have never owned one nor has my uncle,need some guidance
as to what machines had more than their fair share of troubles, ect.
Budget is MAX 2K each,prefer 1500 ish.
Option 1
250,300 and 400 trx's and foreman's from 91-99. They all seem to have had their ring's replaced or need the ring's replaced.(even with low km's) I assume honda cheeped out
a little too much on original part's to cause this?Can anyone tell me what year honda went
from standard to semi-auto?
Option 2
Quad runner's and King quad's.I like the idea of not having a full time 4x4 and having a
dif. lock for back up.I believe these were all 300 and 350 cc from the late 80's to 2000 ish.?
Can anyone educate me to the differences between the quad runner and king quad?
Option 3
polaris 2 strokes.(250,300,425,magnums and ect.)I assume these are going to use alot
more fuel than a small 4 stroke but how are they for reliable?

Any and all advice appreciated. Thank's

SwampRatt · Sep 21, 2014

If you're looking for reliability you can't go wrong with honda. Can't say that I'm any kind of expert on the years you listed but they're overall very tough. The last comment about polaris/2 stroke/reliable made me laugh a bit. None of those words belong together

Vance Matheson · Sep 21, 2014

Go with Honda foreman or Yamaha big bear\grizzly

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk

jjack · Sep 21, 2014

Ive got a 99 400 forman and a 300 king quadi keep around for extra machines,and they just never break down

LBZ · Sep 21, 2014

Can't go wrong with a Honda if you don't mind not having reliable or working brakes. I believe '03 was the first year of electric shift, '01 was the first year of the auto 500 Rubicon.
The Suzuki's are also a solid buy.

camoJoe · Sep 21, 2014

Honda is good for a starter... and reliability, "no belts" they have mechanical transmission, the statement about brakes by LBZ has some truth behind it,... the older ones have mostly drum brakes, and I had some issues with it, there are disk brake kits available for the older honda's, friend of mine found some at SUPERATV,... had a 2001 rubicon 500, ( would not get anything lighter than that) took it to hell and back, and sold it to a friend ,...... we still friends (lol) .. reliable and still going strong, cant go wrong and can handle a swamp or 2 more than anything else on the market (imo).

lloydguy · Sep 21, 2014

I have seen several Honda's for sale that say they need brake work,do their shoe's wear quickly
or stick? Is that the most common problem? High HP and top speed is in NO WAY what we are looking for.
Unit's will be used 99% on old logging roads and homesteader bush trail's.
A 4wd w/winch is prob. the safest way to go,but not sure if it's a must for our application.Were most or all
of the 90-2000 honda's full time 4wd?I don't like the idea of a front dif. and driveshaft spinning all of the time,
even when not in use.(like my stupid dodge set up)
Not a deal breaker,but just seems cheep and silly to me.
Thank's for the input so far guy's.

Bigblack · Sep 22, 2014

2 1986 Honda Four Trax Trx 250 | ATVs | Red Deer | Kijiji

Bogger · Sep 22, 2014

the front disk brake conversion on the Hondas is quite easy.....BUT make sure the machine has 12" rims, the stock 11" rims will not fit with the disk conversion.

Only work I ever had to do to my 2001 foreman 400 was after 7 years the front diff needed to be replaced, was a big job @ $2100 but at the same time it was my own fault for not checking/changing the fluids. I ran that thing over 4000km in 4 years without a diff fluid change before she cratered.

Yamaha moto-4 is another awesome trail machine, only 2wd but light enough that it was never an issue, I could go where everyone else went....sometimes further

Bnorth · Sep 22, 2014

The Honda drum brakes collect and hold a lot of mud/water. Pretty much need to do the rear brakes yearly. Had a 99 with over 8000km, no major issues except the stupid electric shift motor. Rode like a buckboard and was slow as molasses but with 27's it went some pretty impressive places. Was full time 4x4.

lloydguy · Sep 22, 2014

Bigblack said:
2 1986 Honda Four Trax Trx 250 | ATVs | Red Deer | Kijiji

Ya, I seen that add. last night.I would rather have a semi auto than a standard,but those would
still work fine.Nice old machines for sure,but he is asking a pretty high price as well. IMO

Just curious,what would those have been worth new? anyone have a clue? 22-2400?

X-it · Sep 22, 2014

Mostly garbage quads in kijiji sask. Lots of 3 wheelers though. A bit of a learning curve but those things are awesome to ride.

j335 · Sep 22, 2014

Buy a honda, don't worry about the full time 4WD (really 3WD), reliable, minimal maintenance. Don't even think about a Polaris... I have a friend with 13,000 km's on their foreman 450 with a lot of bush muskeg riding. Lots of wheel bearings, other than that nothing major.

lloydguy · Sep 23, 2014

Question to any of you guy's that know your stuff.
Is a quad runner a mid sized machine like a bayou or a recon 250. I found a 99 trx 250,I thought
it was a full size like the fourtrax or trx 300 (late 90's) except it's only 2wd. I think I was wrong.
What is the smallest full size honda (mid 90's) both in 2wd and 4 wd?
I found a 93 fourtrax 250 2wd and a 99 recon 250 2wd.
Is the fourtrax a full size and the recon a mid size?

lloydguy · Sep 28, 2014

Anyone........................Anyone.........................

Absledder · Sep 29, 2014

Yeah the recon is definitely a mid size machine, I wouldn't buy one if your a bigger guy. Not sure about the 93 though. Personally I'd say go with any older foreman/rancher 350 or 450 4x4. If you end up not liking the full time 4x4 I'm fairly sure warn makes a kit so you can switch it between 2x and 4x. But for me personally the 4x4 has never been a problem

Cheep used quad advice?

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