Well

[markc]

You are gonna get a bunch of suggestions on this.  Here are my top pics,  Kawasaki Brute Force 650,  not the 750.  Artic Cat has two new 650's one a twin and the other a single cylinder.  Go for the H1.   Suzuki's new big bore is getting alot of good reviews and is a Suzuki, so it is gonna be a good one.  Also, the new Yamaha Kodiak 450.     Good luck.

[wolfie6929]

i also have a 2002 Polaris Sportsman 700,i am curious as to yours not going fast,mine will do over 60mph and on the stock goodyear rawhides that is to fast.
my wife likes the Magnum 330 2x4 she pefers the lighter front end for turning.

[Old Syko]

If you own a 700 that won't show 60mph on your gps it ain't right and needs attention.  

I'm not a fan of IRS as they don't handle to my style, which explains why I ride a Prairie.  Straight axle in the rear and with the locker up front it is true 4 wheel drive.

[dougk]

Honda Foreman 400cc 4x4 manual shift.

Its a work horse and moves upto 45 mph on the speedometer.  

Doug

[markc]

The Honda does not have true 4WD.  Their front diff is not a true locking differential.  Even their new one is not a true locking front diff.  While it is said to be better then a limited slip differential, it will not lock up both front wheels together if you are at an angle to an obstacle and only one front tire is in contact.  It will then work as a limited slip.  Both front wheels/tires must be incontact with the obstacle before it will act as alocked front end.  He wants a true 4WD, so that leaves out all of the Hondas, as bomb proof as they may be.

[markc]

The Big Bear is a manual 5 speed tranny, but it doesn't appear that it has a locking front diff.  Click the link to compare it to the Kodiak 450 auto 4X4 that does have a locking front diff, but not a manual tranny.   Doesn't look like it will be easy to get exactly what you wanted, but all of the listed atv's on this thread are good ones.



http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outdoor/products/modelspeccompare/50/1144/compare.aspx

The only manual tranny in the Kawasaki lineup I see is the 2WD bayou 250cc.   Its a nice small atv, but only 2WD.


http://arcticcat.com/atvs/lineups/specs.asp?y=41&c=95&s=102&m=633

Artic Cat has 4WD models from 250cc to 300cc and on up.  I think you have to go with the 400cc or larger to get a locking front Diff, but the smaller ones do appear to have a manual tranny, 5 spd with a Hi/Lo and super lo sub transmissions.

[dougk]

Marck,
thanks for the info.  Here on the ranch the Honda's are work horses and we have never had an issue with 4 wheel drive.  I can only say based on my experience with 4x4, which is I dont want to get stuck and when I go around corners I want the front wheels to pull me out, works for me.

The same is true for the trucks, which are Chevy 2500 Silverado's 4x4.

Doug

[1911crazy]

I've owned two polaris's so far and is there anything else??  I love the auto's its about having your hands and feet free to just ride but mainly you can focus on picking lines even in tight trails and the auto does the rest.  I'm inbetween quads right now but another auto polaris is surely in my future!!!  Nothing can touch this auto quad in the tight woods nothing your just too busy shifting on the others.  I won't even talk about what it does on the the steep hill climbs!!!!!                     BigBill

I have had two 400L polaris quads which i thought were the cats meow with the clutches done and pipes like the snowmobiles they screamed but they didn't have the bottom end grunt of the 500 polaris 4 strokes the off idle low end grunt is what i'm talking about.

Another thing is safety with eveyone in the family can ride and handle it too. The polaris with the auto trans is so user friendly and easy to ride for them.
In my very first year of quading i put 2,500 miles on my polaris and i found out that 50% of it was in the air!!!!  I'm 54YO and i found myself chasing these young wipper snappers thru the woods so it doesn't matter how old you are you can do it too!!!!  Its just those trips I have made over the bars is when I really feel my age the next day OUCH!!!!  But its so much fun and your never too old!!!!!

[dougk]

Doug,

talk to me about the power of your Foreman.  

I have a 2002 Foreman 400 the one with the analog speedometer, the one made for ranch work.  1st gear is really a tow gear I don't have the specs but it has a ton of torque.  

I have never been stuck but I have not taken it through 24 inches of mud.  We do use it to drag the riding ring and it pulls a drag harrow threw 12 inches of sandy mud with out any issues.  We have also pulled 18 inch tree stups and well as carts with over 1,000 lbs in them with out issue.  

I doubt this model with the towing gear will get stuck.

Good luck with your choice

[MT4XFore]

I suspect I will really get the prod with my answer, but here goes.  I have a Bombardier Outlander 400 HO Max, two up machine for my wife and I.  It is awesome!!Plenty of low end torque and 50+ mph is all I need and more.  It has high and low range, CVT clutch system, and a switchable visco-lok front end.  For the purists who think you HAVE to have a front end that completely locks up with the flip of a switch, I'm sure this wont do.  But it WILL lock up both front wheels under the most severe of conditions.  It just doesn't get stuck, at least here in Montana anyway.  A Suzuki Eiger cant touch it and neither can most 500 cc machines.  The Rotax engine is a tried and true performer.  I am thrilled with my Outlander Max , and they make a one up version as well.  don't confuse this with their Traxster, which has that funky walk through design, they are the pits.  Another thing with the Outlander, it has trailing A arm independent rear suspension with adjustable shocks and it rides like a Cadillac.  Oh well, that's my two cents worth.  Kinda like Chevys and Fords, huh?  :wink:

[markc]

I've read alot of good things about that Bombardier model.  I just don't know anyone around here with one.  I wish i did, I would love to try it out at the local hunting lease.

[Joelb]

I bought a Honda foreman used. 400 engine 2000 year.

I only bought it because it was a deal.

I liked it so well I sold my Arctic cat 500 and kept the Honda.

I've owned two Suzukis, one Acat, and one Honda.

I don't think I'd feel the need to go anywhere but the Honda store from now on.

The thing just works.

Joel

[dougk]

The Hinda Foreman 400 (analog speedometer) might be the best work horse ATV ever made.  I am lucky that I went on a recommendation and purchased one.

Doug