2nd hand Quadbike for an arable farm

[Shutesy]

One machine we don't have on the farm but often keep thinking would be quite useful at times is a quadbike. I can't justify a new one but it would be a useful tool to have about the place so thinking of a 2nd hand one. Where would be the best place to have a look at a selection of 2nd hand machines (possibly online?) and what sort of things should I be looking out for, Transmissions? Hours? Brand? 4wd? Fuel? Not to sure on budget, will see whats out there first at different prices. Jobs would include slug pelleting, spot spraying and general quad work on an arable farm. I am aware they are quite well known for 'disappearing' in the night (or day) but I'm sure I can fabricate something to lock it up somewhere secure and make it very difficult to steal.
All opinions welcome please.

 

[JohnDeere8530]

Honda for reliability without a doubt. The older ones seem to be built even better than the new ones. I have seen a few 10 to 15yr old ones up for sale for small money with very low hours <200. To me they would make a great dependable buy. Make sure it has had oil changes and it is not stolen though. The only weak Honda was the one with the full hydrostatic box in

 

[Shutesy]

Honda for reliability without a doubt. The older ones seem to be built even better than the new ones. I have seen a few 10 to 15yr old ones up for sale for small money with very low hours <200. To me they would make a great dependable buy. Make sure it has had oil changes and it is not stolen though. The only weak Honda was the one with the full hydrostatic box in

Looking to buy from a well known dealer ideally, not gumtree or ebay to avoid the risk of it being a stolen machine.
RC Boreham have a Honda TRX 300 with 240 hrs, would that sort of thing do what I need it to?

 

[JP1]

One machine we don't have on the farm but often keep thinking would be quite useful at times is a quadbike. I can't justify a new one but it would be a useful tool to have about the place so thinking of a 2nd hand one. Where would be the best place to have a look at a selection of 2nd hand machines (possibly online?) and what sort of things should I be looking out for, Transmissions? Hours? Brand? 4wd? Fuel? Not to sure on budget, will see whats out there first at different prices. Jobs would include slug pelleting, spot spraying and general quad work on an arable farm. I am aware they are quite well known for 'disappearing' in the night (or day) but I'm sure I can fabricate something to lock it up somewhere secure and make it very difficult to steal.
All opinions welcome please.

Call MKM, one dealership Marston Moretain, one Ixworth Thorpe . Suzuki / Yam at Bedford, Honda at IT but they are bound to have a trade in that would fit the bill. PM if you need phone numbers

 

[Shutesy]

Call MKM, one dealership Marston Moretain, one Ixworth Thorpe . Suzuki / Yam at Bedford, Honda at IT but they are bound to have a trade in that would fit the bill. PM if you need phone numbers

Just found there website

 

[Wellytrack]

Looking to buy from a well known dealer ideally, not gumtree or ebay to avoid the risk of it being a stolen machine.
RC Boreham have a Honda TRX 300 with 240 hrs, would that sort of thing do what I need it to?

Sounds perfect

 

[Robt]

Matt will do you a deal on that!!

 

[Tony1989]

Suzuki or Honda in that order ?

 

[Bill Turtle]

Knights/Searings motorcycles in Braintree sell mainly Honda quads. Very helpful and knowledgable about the product and good for spare parts.

 

[bobk]

One machine we don't have on the farm but often keep thinking would be quite useful at times is a quadbike. I can't justify a new one but it would be a useful tool to have about the place so thinking of a 2nd hand one. Where would be the best place to have a look at a selection of 2nd hand machines (possibly online?) and what sort of things should I be looking out for, Transmissions? Hours? Brand? 4wd? Fuel? Not to sure on budget, will see whats out there first at different prices. Jobs would include slug pelleting, spot spraying and general quad work on an arable farm. I am aware they are quite well known for 'disappearing' in the night (or day) but I'm sure I can fabricate something to lock it up somewhere secure and make it very difficult to steal.
All opinions welcome please.

Buy a quad today and you'll have 50 riding round tomorrow .

 

[Greythundercloudys]

I got a suzuki king quad 400, full auto, 14reg, its a great bike, got it of a guy on e day, this cousin is a main dealer in the north west and he gets the trade ins, freshens them up and sells them on, never saw the bike till he delivered it, good guy to deal with and nice bike and price.

 

[Finn farmer]

I'd prefer Yamaha based on my experince, much nicer to drive than Honda or Suzuki, which would be my second and third option.

Stay away from Polaris.

 

[Shutesy]

Buy a quad today and you'll have 50 riding round tomorrow .

Is that townies thinking they can all do it? For the few jobs I would do with it I doubt they would hardly see it, we only have 2 fields next to a housing estate the rest are out in the country as such.

 

[Frodo2]

I got a suzuki king quad 400, full auto, 14reg, its a great bike, got it of a guy on e day, this cousin is a main dealer in the north west and he gets the trade ins, freshens them up and sells them on, never saw the bike till he delivered it, good guy to deal with and nice bike and price.

Sounds like a true pikey story (hopefully not)

 

[solo]

Honda TRX 300 will do all you have suggested. I’ve had one since 1991 and done the following with it although less now.

Front linkage and 4’ scraper to clean out pigs.
Towing trailer with weaned pigs,/ ewes and lambs.
Rappa electric fencing.
Spraying with 100l onboard sprayer.
Sowing grass seed, osr, turnips and pellets with slug pelleter.

Had two dealer services in its life,with one gearbox issue caused by an abusive teenager. All other routine servicing done by me. It reliably starts and goes when I want it.
Unless you need 4wd I would certainly not discount it even if it’s an older machine. It would all depend on how it’s loooked after.

 

[Chae1]

Sounds like a true pikey story (hopefully not)

Thats exactly what I thought.

 

[Shutesy]

Honda TRX 300 will do all you have suggested. I’ve had one since 1991 and done the following with it although less now.

Front linkage and 4’ scraper to clean out pigs.
Towing trailer with weaned pigs,/ ewes and lambs.
Rappa electric fencing.
Spraying with 100l onboard sprayer.
Sowing grass seed, osr, turnips and pellets with slug pelleter.

Had two dealer services in its life,with one gearbox issue caused by an abusive teenager. All other routine servicing done by me. It reliably starts and goes when I want it.
Unless you need 4wd I would certainly not discount it even if it’s an older machine. It would all depend on how it’s loooked after.

The one at RC Borehams only has 240 hours and is in very good condition, doesn't seem to have had much use. Have enquired further about it, the ad says TRX 300 and so do the stickers on the side of the bike but it also says Fourtrak on it so does that mean its 4x4?

 

[Rob Holmes]

I'd prefer Yamaha based on my experince, much nicer to drive than Honda or Suzuki, which would be my second and third option.

Stay away from Polaris.

Yamaha, we have a Grizzly 550 with power steering and much nicer to ride than the gamekeepers Suzuki and Honda

 

[GeorgeK]

The one at RC Borehams only has 240 hours and is in very good condition, doesn't seem to have had much use. Have enquired further about it, the ad says TRX 300 and so do the stickers on the side of the bike but it also says Fourtrak on it so does that mean its 4x4?

Yes fourtrax is 4x4, although for arable unless you have something heavy to tow you probably don't need it. We have a 2007 Honda TRX 300 which has been faultless despite running on tractor engine oil and extended oil filter intervals. It's a 2v pushrod air cooled engine and is 2wd with solid rear axle and no power steering, it's extremely simple, light and not much to go wrong, I really like ours

 

[forblue]

Honda, i look after one for friend, problems, starter motor, cheap ones not worth buying,rear brake cable seized, tick-over problem possibly timing chain wear, and yes it did get light fingered usual ign switch broken but after a few weeks local plod got it back, no doubt the P's got let off, [lack of evidence]. it's over 10yr old but reliable, don't get one older as they wore permanent 4 w/d [am breaking one at moment] this one is switchable...