ATV

[Gunny]

Anyone familiar with ATV's? I have only had a few nibbles on my motorcycle and thought about just trading for one of these. Anyone have one?

 

[Cammalu]

I have a little old Yamaha I use to putt putt around my property on. I don't know much about it but it keeps going. I bought it about ten years ago well used. What brand is that?

 

[masterplumber]

I guess my question would be, do you have a use for it? I know HDR has one, and uses it a lot. For me I could justify it, but do I really "need" it? The older I get the less things I want that I need to take care of. I used to have one - used it to plow snow out of ours and my mother in law's driveway, and took it hunting so I didn't have to drive my truck up the fire roads. Sold it a few years ago as we have a snow blower and I now hunt in a wilderness area pretty much exclusively.

 

[akrvbob]

If you get one that's street legal that opens up their usefulness tremendously. Places like Quartzsite are full of folks riding their ATVs right into town.
Bob

 

[Gunny]

It's a Suzuki 750 but it's not street legal. Hadn't thought of that. I mainly want it to get into the places an RV won't go. Physically my biking days are over so I thought this might be an alternative.

 

[masterplumber]

Only a few states allow you to put a plate on an ATV. But AZ is definitely one of them. I've also seen them on Catalina Island, registered as a golf cart LOL. There was a company that was trying to convert them to be street legal in all states - dot tires, blinkers, mirrors, etc... but I think they went under.I know you can't plate them in CO as they don't meet the 2 or 3 wheel requirement of a motorcycle, and they don't meet the dot requirements of a 4 wheel vehicle. I agree with Bob though, if you are someplace you could make it street legal that would make them much more useful.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I have a 02 Polaris Sportsman 400 I bought after I became disabled, I too had to call it quits on my motorcycle days. I personally love it, I use it to zip around my homestead, shoot over to the neighbors, etc. Once on the road, I want to bring it with me if I go the converted cargo trailer route......make my own toy hauler so to speak.

 

[justbreathe]

I've got a 420 Honda. Great fun. Was thinking like you, Gunny. Would be fun to ride around checking out the areas in AZ. Mine isn't street legal either. On the other hand...might be a pain to pull around with me. Haven't decided. Might leave it here at the cabin when/if I ever get out there.

Still working full time, in a house. Until then....I dream.

 

[Canine]

A company called Elion is gearing up to produce a 3 wheeled car to sell for $6800.Very sleek looking rig.I can see them selling a shitload of them.

 

[Gunny]

The ATV in the picture did not work out, the dealers finance office and I got crossways. Just gives me the chance to see what Quartsize regulations are for licensing. Still have the BMW, will lower the price to 6500. Has about 20 more miles on it now , I took it to the dealer and they had it in detail when I came from finance and drove it out.


May look at a UTE Life's too short to deal with idiots like Freedom Powersports.

 

[justbreathe]

Well that's too bad. Wasn't meant to be. good luck with the BMW.

 

[highdesertranger]

well this is right up my alley. in the pic it's a Suzuki King Quad. I own 2 of them, older ones exactly the same year and model(98 300's). mine are manual transmissions and part time 4x4(you can run 2wd or 4wd). in Arizona you can register any motorbike, quad, 4 wheeler, 3 wheeler, street legal. there are no requirements just pay the fee(very reasonable) and they give you a plate. in the rural areas of Nevada, Oregon, and Alaska you don't need to be street legal, they let you(in fact they almost encourage that you to ride into town) on your 4 wheeler. this makes perfect sense. my 4 wheelers get 45 mpg. my truck nowhere close to that. plus I use mine to prospect areas. in the old days I would drive my truck this makes no sense if you break your primary vehicle you are struck with the 4 wheeler it's no biggie. so in summary a 4 wheeler makes perfect sense if you want to explore large areas, need to run to town for a loaf of bread, you are in the rural west, want to save a boat load of gas. a warning not all 4 wheelers get 45 mpg a lot of the newer go fast ones get terrible mpg. highdesertranger

 

[justbreathe]

Awesome! Thanks HDR, and Hello!

 

[BobOso]

I've had several enduro's over the years 1 3 wheeler, 2 polaris sportsman 500's (still have 1) and an Artic Cat prowler. I find the prowler the most useful for my needs, but it is harder to maneuver around my property, the older you get, the more your wants and needs change.

 

[Gunny]

I went yesterday and looked at a few Polaris models.  The salesman worked up the prices on a 570 and a 900. I am debating if the 900 is worth the 2 grand difference in price.  Either way, I am going with a Polaris, very impressed by the way it rode.

 

[highdesertranger]

Gunny I am going to give you my opinion even though you didn't ask for it, lol. I own 2 Suzuki King Quads 1998 300 4x4's. the engines are actually 280cc. they have plenty of power, will go anywhere, top out at 55mph, are fairly small and agile, and average 45 mpg. the gearing is far more important then the engine size. that 900 probably gets around 12mpg and the 570 is probably under 20 mpg. don't know if mpg's is important to you but for me it is. also the more doo dads they put on the newer 4wheelers the more problems you will have, kiss is your friend. I would try to get a standard transmission, no power steering or brakes, and a carburetor not fuel injected. again this is just my opinion. I bought my 4wheeler brand new in 98 the only thing I have done to it besides regular maintenance is a clutch. good luck, hope to ride with you one day. highdesertranger

 

[Gunny]

Thanks HDR, I value your opinion. Here are the two I am considering. If you get a chance look over the specs please and let me know what you think.  I'm not rushing into anything (noone's bought the bike yet, just tire kickers)and I can't buy until I get that debt paid.

http://www.polaris.com/en-us/rzr-side-by-side/rzr-s-900-white-lightning

http://www.polaris.com/en-us/rzr-side-by-side/rzr-570-eps-white-lightning-trail-le

 

[highdesertranger]

ah I see you are looking at side by side's and not 4wheelers. while I am not familiar with side by side's, they have become super popular. my buddy has a Yamaha I have driven and rode in. the are more comfortable, can handle a higher payload, and are basically safer than a 4wheeler. that's about as far as my knowledge goes. I just talked with a guy with a Polaris side by side, he said he loved it. but this must be taken with a gain of salt, as people with new Yugo's back in the day said the same thing. I think my advice about keep it simple still applies. highdesertranger

 

[Gunny]

So true, if I spent that much money I wouldn't admit it sucked....Thanks for the advice.. I'll run into you out there someday. Rob

 

[masterplumber]

Side by sides are nice, but I think a mid size quad is more practical, and also takes up less room in a trailer. Besides HDRs Suzikis, the original 400cc Honda Foremans were also very good, and uber reliable. And as Jay Leno once said "friends don't let fiends drive Yugos"