johnsonc22
knoxville, tn
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Okay, who makes the best ATV and why?
Who makes the worst and why?
And what does the AtV industry need to improve, fix, or adjust?
The best: Arctic Cat
I ride Arctic Cat and so does all of my family. I have owned 2 and the Cats have been reliable in every situation. They are big bikes with explosive power and have industry leading clearance. They have a ATV for everyone. Utv prowler, 366, and 700 crusier, and the crazy v-twin 1000 thundercat. They have the speedrack system that has many applications.
In addition to MADE IN THE USA!
The worst:
This would be a toss up in my mind. I think Polaris has some bad traits that I dont like, but I also dont like suzuki or honda. I guess the worst would have to be honda. I understand they are rugged but they have yet to help the rider not to completely beat to death. Most AtV makers have gone to Independent Suspension and big boar motors, but I havent seen honda go away from the rancher and gather some size and strength.
what does the AtV industry need to improve, fix, or adjust?
Electric Power steering not just locking the diff and it kicks in, but when your in 4wd. I get into some deep stuff and it would be nice. It would be nice for rocky and difficult terrain as well.
(this is just my opinion please no attacks on anyones comments or ideals)
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comrad
California, Sacramento
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Joined: 08/02/2005
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No such at thing at "the best", all-around best? It would be to hard to choose, for example, lets take the 3 most popular 250 class utility quads:
Recon
Ozark 250
Big Bear 250
Now, which is the best? Who the hell knows, it would all rely on user preference (dealer location, service quality received in the past, comfort, etc) to decide on which is the best.
Now look at mid-size utilities:
Grizzly 450
Kingquad 450
Sportsman 500
Rubicon 500
Outty 500
Which is the best? You can't choose a clear winner, the best all-around would probably be the Grizzly and Kingquad but even then, some people may value the comfort the Polaris offers more than anything so it might be a clear winner despite any other setbacks it might have.
So what I am saying here is, asking who makes the best ATV is pointless because it all depends on the experience/bias the person has with the companies. I like Honda the most because of the build quality, service, mod-ability, price, and I love their Rincon.
The least is Arctic Cat, I like to ride fast in tight trails 
* This post was
edited 05/14/08 11:24pm by comrad *
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twin turbo pervert
Yuma, Arizona
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Joined: 12/20/2004
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Honda makes the best atv's, the rest are all equally the worst.
YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATES ARE JUST AN APOLOGY LETTER FROM THE CONDOM FACTORY!
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cchagros
New Hampshire
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Joined: 02/23/2005
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johnsonc22 wrote:Okay, who makes the best ATV and why?
Who makes the worst and why?
And what does the AtV industry need to improve, fix, or adjust?
The best: Arctic Cat
I ride Arctic Cat and so does all of my family. I have owned 2 and the Cats have been reliable in every situation. They are big bikes with explosive power and have industry leading clearance. They have a ATV for everyone. Utv prowler, 366, and 700 crusier, and the crazy v-twin 1000 thundercat. They have the speedrack system that has many applications.
In addition to MADE IN THE USA!
The worst:
This would be a toss up in my mind. I think Polaris has some bad traits that I dont like, but I also dont like suzuki or honda. I guess the worst would have to be honda. I understand they are rugged but they have yet to help the rider not to completely beat to death. Most AtV makers have gone to Independent Suspension and big boar motors, but I havent seen honda go away from the rancher and gather some size and strength.
what does the AtV industry need to improve, fix, or adjust?
Electric Power steering not just locking the diff and it kicks in, but when your in 4wd. I get into some deep stuff and it would be nice. It would be nice for rocky and difficult terrain as well.
(this is just my opinion please no attacks on anyones comments or ideals)
Dare to be different. I understand you not caring for the ride offered by the Hondas with a solid rear axle, but their Rincon has a better ride than anything Cat has ever built, and is far more agile. Cats are great mudders, and probably great rock crawlers, but high speed trail riding is definitely not their forte, as their handling attributes are far from setting any new benchmarks. They do seem like good reliable quads, and i do like the rack systems. Would I buy a Cat? No, but thats because it doesn't fit my riding style. This is a question that has no answer, by the way, as all the manufacturers are making great products today, and each individual will have a favorite based on their own riding criteria.
Case in point...agressive trail riding, particularly in the woods. With all its power, a Thundercat would get absolutely crushed in the woods by an Outlander 800. Although sporting much less power, a Rincon would do the same. A King Quad 750 or Grizz 700 would also give it all it could handle.
Mud/Rock Crawling: Hard to beat a Cat, but A Sportsman or Brute 750 would give the T-Cat a good run for its money.
Reliability/Durability: Everyone has their story to tell.
Lets also not forget that most Cats have been constructed of parts supplied by Kawasaki and Suzuki over the years, particularly the drivelines.
25" ITP Mudlite XTRs
Uni Air Filter
93 Octane Irving Gas
Dielectric grease
Fresh air in tires monthly
4.6 psi in tires instead of reccommended 4.5
Totalled Red King to get prettier Yellow King
Amsoil synthetics
Anodized aluminum valve stem caps
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cchagros
New Hampshire
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twin turbo pervert wrote:Honda makes the best atv's, the rest are all equally the worst.
Don't hold back. Tell him what you really think.
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pwillie
alabama
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Joined: 02/21/2005
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Artic Cats were concieved from the best parts of the best bikes.The only thing that is true cat is the frame and electrcal wiring(which I think is less than good)Suzuki built the first Quad,and the 300 KQ was the best ever built(in quads)I had a Suzuki 700 KQ ,and it was good as a big bike,but the Honda foreman was a real work horse.All bikes have their plusses,but if I had to pick one it would be the Honda forman for its toughness,that said I don't race,so thats my picks.Re sale value means something to me,and Polaris has none in my area.I do like the KQ 700 for power a efi,which is hard to beat.
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johnsonc22
knoxville, tn
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I love riding tight trails as well and I have never had a problem on my Arctic Cat. I also have rode very fast. 57 mph on a trail and i have a trv a longer bike. I have seen the thundercat and 800 outlander on the trail and sorry but my eyes saw the T cat destroy the outlander. Speed, agility, and confort due to the seat being down more in the bike. I believe alot of people have never rode an Arctic Cat and go by world of mouth of others. I went on a ride with 5 other polaris atvs. one 800, 2 500 and 2 smaller size and my AC and my cousins AC and my Uncles AC 650 h1 trV outperformed the polaris atvs. each polaris had to be winched out none of the AC did and my cousin and I went harder and deeper than any other. I rode a polaris and could not tell a difference in ride quality maybe a little? And Gas mileage. I went in with a full tank came out with only one bar down. I went harder the whole time deeper holes, faster straights, and riding hard. The polaris had to use a 2 gallon re fill and still came out they all were on fumes. I like the suzuki brute force 750 I wanted one but fell in love with AC. It is just my opinion, but I rode on a grizzly 600 and 660 and a Polaris 500 and a Can Am and I still think AC is better in the deep mud, the speedrack is amazing, and the gas mileage is right up their with the grizzly.
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wrczx3
Reading,Massachusetts
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Joined: 11/21/2005
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Why even ask what the best atv is? It is obvious that no matter what people tell you, you are going to tell them that the AC is better. I know you must be right about how awesome the AC's are because you also say that you like the "Suzuki Brute Force 750". Those things are kick azz.
2006 Polaris Trailblazer 250,RCR stage 1 kit,Pro-taper bars,Verde graphics,Douglas wheels.
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cchagros
New Hampshire
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johnsonc22 wrote: I have seen the thundercat and 800 outlander on the trail and sorry but my eyes saw the T cat destroy the outlander. Speed, agility, and confort due to the seat being down more in the bike.
Excuse me while I put my boots on. I dare say the Cat had a better skilled rider, cuz with equal riders, this just aint happenin. Even in a straight drag, the T-Cat might beat the Outty 800, but it will by no means "destroy" it. I suppose you have also seen the big Cat beat up on Renegades as well?
Jerry, you're right....why even ask the question?
Where can I get me one of those Suzuki Brute Forces? Sounds like a badazz machine!
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njnybowhunter
New Jersey & New York
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Well I can say that I own two brands and will own no other brands ever unless someone gives me one.
The first ATV I ever purchased was a 1988 Honda 300 4 X 4 great quad the second I purchased was another 300 Honda 4 X 4 in 1999, the third I purchased was a 2007 Arctic Cat 400 Auto Awesome quad as well and in the next week or two I will be purchaseing another Arctic Cat either a 400 or 500.
I made the switch from Honda not because they are bad machines but because they do not serve me as well in big rock country where I currently do all of my riding. Who can compete with the 12 in ground clearance or the Cats and their locker, they are awesome.
I have ridden every brand except the Can Ams, and I can tell you that there are many good quads being built but in my opinion the Arctic Cats are NOW the best and are at the top of the list on innovation, performance and quality.
O by the way I am 100% Pure Polaris for my Snow Machines and I have 4 of them.
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