> You don't want a BF 750 for fast trails. They steer/handle poor. The
> 650i actually handles better.
> My choice would be the 700 Grizzly.
>
> "Robbo" usadatanet.net> wrote in message
> news:bfudnSsGf8-zcTbYnZ2dnUVZ_riknZ2d@usadatanet.net...

>> Good reply! I mostly would be doing some fast trail-riding, limited
>> mudding,
>> no doubt a lot of varmint hunting, and the occasional poker/dice run. I
>> have
>> been caught on very steep/muddy hills on some poker runs and was telling
>> the
>> dealer about that and asked if the Brute would be too "tipsy" when power
>> was
>> applied. He said it's fine a long as you don't whack it too hard but then
>> he
>> went on about how the machine can pull wheels just blasting on flat
>> ground.
>> I do like power, like most people, and have ridden several Polaris 500s
>> which were pretty decent on take off. The Polaris did have a really
>> comfortable ride too. The only other 4x4 I have ridden was a Honda
>> Foreman
>> but that thing pounded the piss outta me within a few miles so I gave it
>> back to the owner and got back on my EX. This was several years ago so I
>> wonder if Honda has improved the ride a little on their newer models. I
>> like
>> their sport machines a lot so that's why I was leaning more towards a
>> Rincon
>> 680 but if what you say about the Honda 4x4 is true then I will probably
>> not
>> bother going that route as some of those poker runs have some pretty
>> rough
>> stuff to get through, but it's nothing a winch couldn't handle I guess,
>> should one be needed. Oh well, it's gonna be awhile before I figure out
>> what
>> I'm gonna get, but the deal I got offered on the Brute was pretty good so
>> maybe I'll have to test drive one before I dive into another new quad
>> payment again. Maybe I will look into a Polaris, they're numbers always
>> dominate on every poker run I've ever been on so they must be doing
>> something right. Maybe I'll hit the lotto and just by everything out
>> there,
>> problem solved!
>>
>> "zerowick" adelphia.net> wrote in message
>> news:45abdc9d$0$18842$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...

>>> I am full of pointers! and other things according to some...
>>>
>>> very, very rarely does a machine come out of the box with too much
>>> power.
>>> IMO, there is no such thing as too much power. the dealer made that

>> comment

>>> in an attemp to sell the machine on its strong engine. he wasn't
>>> thinking
>>> about steep ascending rocky trails and the potential for disaster all
>>> that
>>> power can create on those types of trails. as said over and over,

>> different

>>> strokes for different folks. if you are more of a "Honda type" don't

>> forget

>>> that NO HONDA ATV COMES WITH 4WD, so if you are into hairy terrain where
>>> momentum cannot be generated, such as rock crawling, you don't want to
>>> be
>>> the "Honda type". to date, Honda "4WD" ATV's come with a

>> "torque-sensitive"

>>> front differential. this means you CANNOT lock in all four wheels for
>>> CONSTANT power at all four corners, what you do get is the POTENTIAL for
>>> power at all four, otherwise you get 3WD. in slow going rough terrain
>>> it

>> is

>>> not uncommon to see a Honda with one front tire with footing and the
>>> other
>>> in the air, guess which one is spinning... this is not a Honda bashing,
>>> I
>>> can only speculate, but Honda is probably still feeling the sting of its
>>> many legal battles associated with the early 3 Wheelers and may be
>>> worried
>>> about more of the same by offering a 4 Wheeler with a locking front
>>> diff,

>> a

>>> locking front diff does create steering difficulties. I ride a Polaris
>>> SP600 and the hardcore "crawlers" don't like them either because the AWD
>>> cannot be locked in. the rear tires of an AWD Polaris machine must slip

>> 1/5

>>> of a turn for the fronts to engage, but the fronts ALWAYS spin together
>>> once engaged. myself, I have never noticed the fraction of a second it
>>> takes to have AWD, but I can see where the ability to lock in all four
>>> wheels yourself would be desirable. I don't want this to turn into a
>>> 4WD
>>> debate, that topic has been beat to death.
>>>
>>> moving on, you need to determine the type of terrain you will be riding
>>> on
>>> and what you will mostly be using the machine for, play, work, etc.

>> figure

>>> out how much power you want then buy something with even more power!
>>> look
>>> at the features of the machine, instrumentation, different brake
>>> configurations, transmission types, suspension travel, clearance. you
>>> can
>>> get all the specs online so once you prioritise your riding style and
>>> requirements you can usually narrow it down to a few machines. back in

>> '04

>>> when I was facing your dilemna I widdled it down to the SP600 and the
>>> Prairie 700. I knew I wasn't gonna be tearing up any difficult trails,

>> just

>>> playing around the yard, ranch, and blasting through fields. the Kawi
>>> seemed the better choice, faster and sportier, but the Polaris had much

>> more

>>> suspension and clearance, way more comfortable too. maintenance wise,
>>> the
>>> Kawi had two carbs to worry about and the transmission had more
>>> components
>>> including electronic intervention for engine braking which went in the

>> cons

>>> list for me. then I got the chance to sit on them side by side, done

>> deal.

>>> the Polaris was an F-250 and the Prairie an S-10 or Ranger, so to speak.

>> I

>>> liked the heft of the Polaris, the simple transmission and single brake
>>> lever.
>>>
>>> IMO, the Kawasaki trans with the servo motor for engine braking is the
>>> weakest of the Auto transmissions, the Suzuki set up with the "wet
>>> clutch"
>>> is a very durable design and the belt is always tight, the Yamaha set up

>> is

>>> similar and also praised. the Polaris design is basically a snowmobile
>>> trans with mechanical clutching to maintain belt tension for engine

>> braking,

>>> I have never had any trouble with mine and have put many hours on the
>>> machine towing very heavy loads of well over 1000 lbs. have only
>>> smelled
>>> the belt a few times when trying to pull something that wouldn't budge
>>> and
>>> trying not to slip the tires. the Honda torque converter trans is a
>>> great
>>> idea, I have only heard complaints about the lack of crawling gearing,

>> maybe

>>> a reduction system would help in the future. liquid or air cooled?

>> that's

>>> easy, liquid. carb or EFI? not so easy, don't know if the bugs are out
>>> yet, if they are then it's EFI! suspension? tough one. SRA has few

>> moving

>>> parts but also much less ground clearance and articulation for rough
>>> terrain. brakes? discs all around for sure, the Japanese use the

>> motocycle

>>> configuration I think and Cat and Polaris have the one lever on the
>>> right
>>> that controls all four. appearance, seat of the pants feel, handlebar
>>> relation to seat, chassis size for transport purposes in a truck bed or
>>> trailer, stock tires, underbelly protection, lighting set up and
>>> quality,
>>> storage compartments, load/towing capacity, just so much to think about.
>>>
>>> lots to think about and consider, plenty of opinions and pointers to
>>> weed
>>> through also. whatever you do, DON'T LISTEN TO ANYTHING THE DEALER HAS
>>> TO
>>> SAY! sure, you have to put up with them in order to go check the
>>> machines
>>> out in person, just don't take any of their advise. you are best off to

>> do

>>> your homework and go in smarter than they are, it's not hard, believe
>>> me,
>>> then you can ask them questions that they can't answer and it doesn't
>>> take
>>> too many for them to leave you alone.
>>>
>>> good luck!
>>>
>>>

>>
>>

>
>