Can Am vs Honda

[JockCroft]

Can onyone tll me why Quads have got so big.

Had a look at 3 different makes at Summer shows. I was really interested in an electric one. Christ it was high, wide and would be as clumsy as hell. Yamaha 500ish was probably tidiest, but size to me was ridiculous. Honda about same.
I may be spoilt with an old Suzi 185, but it tows light feed trailer or 2 ewe trailer ok. If I ground it, can easily lift front end over usualy drive away once I pull my boots out of the mud. Its nimble driving or gathering sheep. Had it 15 years not heavily used but repairs so far are brake shoes and a carb needle.

Is there anything 200 to 250 size on the market ?

 

[Boso]

Can onyone tll me why Quads have got so big.

Had a look at 3 different makes at Summer shows. I was really interested in an electric one. Christ it was high, wide and would be as clumsy as hell. Yamaha 500ish was probably tidiest, but size to me was ridiculous. Honda about same.
I may be spoilt with an old Suzi 185, but it tows light feed trailer or 2 ewe trailer ok. If I ground it, can easily lift front end over usualy drive away once I pull my boots out of the mud. Its nimble driving or gathering sheep. Had it 15 years not heavily used but repairs so far are brake shoes and a carb needle.

Is there anything 200 to 250 size on the market ?

I've got a 300cc kawasaki. Almost 30 years old. Enough life left in it.
However after investing in a 6 wire rappa winder (wolf fencing) I think it's quite small.
Have a hard time understanding why these quads are all so thirsty. I'd rather have it consume half the fuel than have twice the power.

 

[M-J-G]

Can onyone tll me why Quads have got so big.

Had a look at 3 different makes at Summer shows. I was really interested in an electric one. Christ it was high, wide and would be as clumsy as hell. Yamaha 500ish was probably tidiest, but size to me was ridiculous. Honda about same.
I may be spoilt with an old Suzi 185, but it tows light feed trailer or 2 ewe trailer ok. If I ground it, can easily lift front end over usualy drive away once I pull my boots out of the mud. Its nimble driving or gathering sheep. Had it 15 years not heavily used but repairs so far are brake shoes and a carb needle.

Is there anything 200 to 250 size on the market ?

I think it's because the American market is so important, a couple of years ago the rep for Honda UK told me that there are some dealerships in the US that sell more of their bikes than are sold in the whole of the UK.

 

[Nithsdale]

I think it's because the American market is so important, a couple of years ago the rep for Honda UK told me that there are some dealerships in the US that sell more of their bikes than are sold in the whole of the UK.

There's 1 state in the USA sells more bikes in a year than the whole of Europe manages...

The transportation and Import tax on these bikes is a fixed cost - it is a larger % of the retail price on a smaller bike brining it closer to the price of the bigger bike... people see the price difference and go for the bigger bike. Demand drops off for small bikes so manufacturers stop offering them to this market...

 

[Bob the beef]

Spoke to our Honda guy last week. Our quad was due to change 2 years ago and put it off. Last year had a bit of a moment and got a lot of work done on insurance. This year it needs changed.
Dealer has 110 bikes on order. They been told they might get 30 by April, and I’m not in the top half of the list. No decent 2nd hand bikes going about due to lack of new models.

 

[Hilly]

Spoke to our Honda guy last week. Our quad was due to change 2 years ago and put it off. Last year had a bit of a moment and got a lot of work done on insurance. This year it needs changed.
Dealer has 110 bikes on order. They been told they might get 30 by April, and I’m not in the top half of the list. No decent 2nd hand bikes going about due to lack of new models.

The way sheep are heading you might get a cancelation , failing that come down to st boswells and get a new cf moto .

 

[copse]

Have just purchased a new yam 450 as my old 1998 yam 400 has just died. Eventually found one in wales which was their last one and won’t be getting anymore until next year.hope it’s as good as the old bike which has had 5 sets of tyres and 4 batteries and nothing else.

 

[David.]

Anyone care to recommend somebody within a few miles of Banbury who would look at a Honda 350 which I can't get to start?

 

[Nithsdale]

Anyone care to recommend somebody within a few miles of Banbury who would look at a Honda 350 which I can't get to start?

What's it doing/not doing? - is it turning over but failing to fire, or is the starter solenoid ticking but the starter not turning?

 

[David.]

Turns over normally but not firing.
Big 4X if that's significant.
Have checked fuses but not dug deeper yet.
A service would be no bad thing, it drinks fuel like a 700cc.

 

[Nithsdale]

Those bikes were still on carbs IIRC.
When it's turning over does it start to smell of petrol? (meaning it is getting plenty fuel)

First off I'd put a new spark plug on her - it could be as simple as that.

It could be a blocked fuel line - or the filter.





If it is on a fuel injection system, there's a chance the fuel pump is on its way out (had it happen on our 420's)

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Ring KiK at Clitheroe. Last time mine did it he diagnosed it over the phone, sent me the part. I fitted it and away we went!

 

[peewit]

Anyone care to recommend somebody within a few miles of Banbury who would look at a Honda 350 which I can't get to start?

Collins Engineering, agricultural engineers Croughton.

 

[aangus]

The way sheep are heading you might get a cancelation , failing that come down to st boswells and get a new cf moto .

Have you traded the can am in for a cf?

 

[Wood field]

Hardly use our quad these days , Honda foreman 500, as we use buggy most days, but wouldn’t be without one.
Went to buy some tups from a guy who had just got a cf moto, so far he really rated it , again I was talking to a local chap who has one and again he liked it .
Just wonder with the poor availability of the “ mainstream “ quads will the cf get a bigger following.
Personally I think I will freshen up our old Honda even though we have just hat to weld the frame ( cross tube near battery) but for a 61 plate which was used daily until the buggy came last year it’s been a good bike

 

[Hilly]

Have you traded the can am in for a cf?

Not, yet but once i have finished shed building and re couped the cost inwill be getting a cf . Orobably keep can am as well.

 

[aangus]

Not, yet but once i have finished shed building and re couped the cost inwill be getting a cf . Orobably keep can am as well.

Hilly you either need or you got big fat fingers

 

[Hilly]

Hilly you either need or you got big fat fingers

Sausage tumbs

 

[andybk]

Anyone care to recommend somebody within a few miles of Banbury who would look at a Honda 350 which I can't get to start?

does it spark ? our 350 was the box of tricks under the front cover , never liked that bike with its fuel pump and tank under the seat , the 300s were simple bikes easy to maintain.

 

[oskerb]

Hey up

Right, as some of you may be aware hoggs are making a nice touch this time. Got a bit spare too invest in a fresh quad

Always been Honda men, tried Yamaha, too thirsty. Tried Suzuki, broke too easily. Tried Polaris, the less said about that the better.

Salesman is trying too sell me a CanAm 450. Power steering etc. Reckons they are just as good as the Honda bikes. I’m currently on a Honda TRX 420 manual and she’s getting VERY tired.

I don’t listen much too salesmen can am x3 accessories. Has anyone swapped to a CanAm and is willing too share their thoughts on performance, fuel economy, handling etc??

Cheers

I would have a can am in a heartbeat, my buddy has a 2012 800xt on the new g2 chassis. It rides great, lots of power, great looks a d sound, but it eats axels with stock tires. He just spent 2grand on gorilla axels, something they should come stock with.