ATV Florida Forum

What would you guys recommend; Honda Rancher ES, Yamaha Big Bear, or Suzuki Vinson 500. Give me some pros and cons? Personal opions/facts?

My personal opinion after seeing the quads run are the Vinson and the Rancher.  Stay away from the Rincon.  I know you don't have it listed but everyone I know that has one has radiator issues. They clog up easily and aren't easy to clean out so they over heat.  If you were going to consider a yamaha I'd be more apt to go w/ a grizzly than a big bear.

I have a Vinson and love it. I think its a matter of going to the dealerships and seeing which one fits you the best. I didnt like the feel of any of them except the Vinson.

The new foremans are awfull nice, been making them for years.

if you go with yamha i would get a 400 kodiak.  my dad has last years model and it has just the perfect balance of weight and power. the grizzlies are too heavy.

get a rancher i hang with the big dogs (400's-700,s only if they dont got 29s ) and when i get stuck wich os not very often i can get my self out but they have to get sum 1 to winch them out .

What are you going to be doing with it? Trail riding,muding,hauling tail,work.
heck maybe all the above. I like polaris rides good power and comfortable check the specks on all you interested in and go to the dealership sit and test ride.

Then chewem down on the price.

Good Luck

Id Say the Vinson,I love Mine

btw its for sale  ;)

Vinson all the way...go to ARS...they will hook you up.  I love my Vinson!! ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

FLMEDIC911

I ride down in south Florida mud.......which technically is "muck", a highly sticky, pervasive, and downright nasty form of mud.  If you're going to get stuck, it is there that the stickin' will occur.  I notice that Hondas by far outperform every other quad that I see there.  The quad that I see most often is the Rancher 4x4.  By the way, if you are going for a Ute (utility quad) then no matter what you buy make sure it has 4 wheel drive.

My pick
Honda Rancher 4x4 ES

My .02
1. Honda Foreman. My 99 just won't quit. I'm not sold on the Hydomatic...

2. Any unit with IRS should be the best ride on the trail.

3. Rancher 4wd.

3. Smaller 2wd? Suzuki Ozark. A great little machine if your not a mud puppy.

The Big Bear (400 4wd) is out classed by the newer bigger quads but has proven to be a very reliable unit. Good yard dog for low $$$.

I like the new foreman, up to 500cc now, and they added a second oil cooler, up higher to avoid mud better. And the ride is supposed to be better, hope so.

get the rancher es

Arctic Cat 500 has the same engine has the Suzuki Vinson but just in a Cat body. the Cat comes with FIS(Fully Independant Suspension) and the Vinson is a SRA(Single Rear Axle) Both are great bikes but I would go with the Cat over the Vinson

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/477/0/home.aspx

 ;)

try this site it's a atv tv show i watch and he hads all specs
on atvs on some models of them which is better.
http://www.atvtv.com

I rather you chose a honda rancher es 4x4 with gps in it,
and kodkia irs system ver for 2005  and go with vinsion with front lock diff.
If get one with front lock diff and some nice itp tires the best one go with atr holeshots or xtr's or mudlites.And that front  lock diff will cut you through mud and snow better.  :)

thanks,
amhighlander  8)

I have a manual shift Vinson and love it, that thing is bullet proof. It has 2300 hard miles and no problems what so ever. But like some of the others say you need to test drive all of the machines you are considering and see what fits you the best. They are all good.

Check out the Prairie 360. All the good stuff a big bike has with very contollable power - lots of torque. Disc brakes, locker etc... Its been out a few years so all the bugs are worked out. Had mine three years and it's been great.