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Post by Gambi80 on Jul 14, 2011 21:24:59 GMT -5
Well, I want one anyway. I used to have a 500HO sportsman Polaris but got rid of it due to the new kid. What kind should I look for nowadays...? Used, $5,000 budget. I liked the Polaris and there's a really good dealer 5 minutes away but wonder if there's a better wheeler..
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Post by MoJeeper™ on Jul 14, 2011 21:41:26 GMT -5
I thought if I ever got something different it would be a polaris. But so far my Yamerhamer hasn't let me down. Worse part about it is that it eats brakes if you spend to much time in the creek. To me honda's aren't what they used to be.
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Post by jd9600guru on Jul 14, 2011 22:46:08 GMT -5
Does peetybilt make a 4 wee-wer? ;D
I say go shopping and ride a bunch and see what you like. Just be sure to show up at ACK's with it.
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Post by milkmann on Jul 15, 2011 7:47:57 GMT -5
Last time I checked, a $5K budget would get you a new 500 Polaris, or awful close.
Then you get a warranty, and you can be pretty sure that the PO ddin't take it swimming in mud.
Otherwise look on Craigslist. Lots and lots of 4w's get sold after a couple years and very little use.
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Post by John SD on Jul 15, 2011 8:17:39 GMT -5
I hate to say it but I'm a Polaris guy and sometimes I get tired of wrenching.  IMO, it takes a lot to beat Polaris ride and performance. For day in and day out reliability it's still hard to beat a Honda. Just depends on what your priorities are. Right now my Polaris is sitting out in the corral. At least I got the cull cows in to go to the sale barn before the drive sprocket completely stripped out.  I do have a chain/sprocket set on hand.  |
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Post by Dave-ECIA on Jul 15, 2011 8:27:51 GMT -5
John, how old is that thing??
I thought Polaris went to shaft drives many moons ago.
I'm also a fan of Polaris. Mine ran like a top until the kids ran it out of oil and Dad forgot to check it regularly. Doh!
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Post by acfarmer on Jul 15, 2011 8:46:14 GMT -5
I think a polaris is a pretty good machine. Dad has one with a butt load of miles on it. I think all he has done is replace the belt and the starter in it. All wheeleres have some good things and bad things. For me I look at price and Clearance under the machine. You cant go through deep water with a low sitting fourwheeler.  |
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Post by Rich© on Jul 15, 2011 9:28:35 GMT -5
Currently own Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, Chinese p.o.s. and Polaris.
Gambi... I'm really likeing the girls new polaris and i'm thinking about after harvest going with an 800 model. The honda I have is the rincon and I am not pleased with it. It's not a piece by no means but not for farm work. Alotta guys brag on thier ranchers but I am pretty sure a 500 polaris will smoke them on top end and still pull anything you hook up to it... for the most part.. within reason.
Nicest thing about those polaris'.. They are easy to work on. I hear so many people talk so bad about them for so long I really was scared to try one. Talked to a handful that had them and were knuckle busters and didn't trade every 2 years and decided to take a chance and so far.. so good. I really like the girls 500. They are comfy and ride nice. Good power. Good braking. Parts arn't any more out of line then any others.
Your going to get my vote for a Polaris too. I will have my honda for a long time and thats mainly because of the hauler I made to fit the tractors dozer frame and the other atv's won't work on it. Right now though... My votes on a Polaris for the next one. I sure as hell am done with Kawasaki. I anticipated a brute force but I just can't see from all I've watched and people I've talked to where it will outperform a polaris. Done with Yamaha.... hate the design and feel of the drive.... Done with Honda. I am just plain done with Honda.... at least till they are intelligent enough to put a hi/lo on the biggest hp atv they got. Then i'm going to consider a test drive.
Go Po.
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Post by John SD on Jul 16, 2011 9:33:21 GMT -5
John, how old is that thing?? I thought Polaris went to shaft drives many moons ago. I'm also a fan of Polaris. Mine ran like a top until the kids ran it out of oil and Dad forgot to check it regularly. Doh! Dave it's a '99 Xpress 300. I OH'd the thing myself. The air-cooled 2-stroke engine itself is plumb simple to work on. Just a crankshaft, rod and piston. Crankshaft uses 3 ball bearings. Rich, I don't know anything about the new ones but I have a lot of respect for the original Honda Ranchers. Seems they are every bit as tough and reliable as the original Fourtrax 300s. No, they are not the fastest or smoothest riding, but they are tough and dependable. Neighbor just put new rubber all around on his '03 Rancher. Look like tractor tires, manufacture in PRC. (People's Republic of China) BTW, nice to "see" ya again on here big guy! Here's a brief description of the major wrenching I've done on my Polaris. Getting the engine in and out of the chassis to work on it is the tough part. Took the cyl to the auto parts store to get measured. Cylinder was fine and within standard specs. I put a new standard size piston and rings in it. I ran it too long with loose ball bearings and the stator magnets and flywheel chewed each other up. Now they are weak and the thing doesn't run right. I have good new used parts on hand to install. Just have to tear it all down again to fix it. |
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Bristol Hillbilly
Hired Hand
Sentinel aka "Bouncer"....Sitting by the door....
Posts: 215
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Post by Bristol Hillbilly on Jul 17, 2011 17:04:12 GMT -5
John What are the main uses of the machine? I bought a Honda Recon in 04 and have pulled the heck out of it with a 120gal 4 wheeler sprayer. I have been very happy with it and I installed a part time 4 wheel drive kit on it as soon as I got it home because it was full time 4x4. For pleasure riding I am sure there are many more comfy machines out there. just my opinion.
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angus1
Hired Hand
Medical doctor, cotton farmer and angus rancher
Posts: 177
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Post by angus1 on Jul 17, 2011 19:12:01 GMT -5
I have an 84 honda 300 and 99rancher 4 wheel drive. Ust the daily and run like tops. Only problem is the tires. must be chinese
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Post by John SD on Jul 17, 2011 19:14:59 GMT -5
John What are the main uses of the machine? I bought a Honda Recon in 04 and have pulled the heck out of it with a 120gal 4 wheeler sprayer. I have been very happy with it and I installed a part time 4 wheel drive kit on it as soon as I got it home because it was full time 4x4. For pleasure riding I am sure there are many more comfy machines out there. just my opinion. My 4 wheeler is my saddlehorse, it doesn't need to be a draft horse. I have pulled a small homemade trailer with a calf table on it in close quarters into a corral. I pretty much use my 4 wheeler exclusively for working cattle, checking fence, and general running around. With the price of gas nowdays, sometimes on nice days I go to the PO and get my mail which is a 26 mile round trip. I do have a 20 gal weed sprayer that straps down on the rear rack. 4wd would be nice at times but the majority of the time 2wd gets me where I need to go. |
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Bristol Hillbilly
Hired Hand
Sentinel aka "Bouncer"....Sitting by the door....
Posts: 215
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Post by Bristol Hillbilly on Jul 17, 2011 19:47:28 GMT -5
For those types of uses would a side by side do as well for you. Kaw mule, Polaris Ranger Yamaha ? Just spitballing . We also have a Kaw mule and although slower than the 4 wheeler it fills a niche that the 4 wheeler can't
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Post by John SD on Jul 17, 2011 21:18:15 GMT -5
For those types of uses would a side by side do as well for you. Kaw mule, Polaris Ranger Yamaha ? Just spitballing . We also have a Kaw mule and although slower than the 4 wheeler it fills a niche that the 4 wheeler can't I figure most jobs that a Mule/Ranger could do I can do almost as easily with the pickup. And with the pickup I don't have near as much money tied up in it as a UTV, except a UTV should be cheaper to operate and maintain. Also, it seems like a UTV would be very heavy and clumsy for herding cattle, especially in rough country. Met a elderly neighbor on the road today headed to check cattle and put salt out with his Mule. Older guys like the fact that the UTV seat is more like riding in a pickup. |
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Post by Rich© on Jul 18, 2011 4:04:31 GMT -5
Hey John,, Thanks for the shoutout! Good to be visiting with you again Sir. Thing about atv's is your going to have as many varying opinions on them as you do about any other breed/color choice availble to us. I think it's safe to say everyone agrees on one thing. Those chinese made ones are absolute Junk and stay the hell away from them. Otherwise.. If your in the market for a chinese one and your the size of a sawed off cowboy.. I got one with less then 20 riding hours time on it. Needs a battery and put back together. Its For sale for half the price of a new one. Unless someone raises thier hand and bumps up the opening bid. Gov't regulations on safety are never going to allow the type of atv I'd like to see. Speed and Pullability. When I get one that does 75 mph. Has no damn reverse limiter (overrideable or not) and can be put in a low enough gear to drag 8000 lbs of rolling weight around without dogging. Then I'm going to praise the ultimate atv....... .... and someone else will cuss it with a list of 12 different reasons why its a heap. LOL. |
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IMO, it takes a lot to beat Polaris ride and performance. For day in and day out reliability it's still hard to beat a Honda. Just depends on what your priorities are.
I do have a chain/sprocket set on hand. 
