Most reliable/ strongest quad bike for farm use.
- Thread starter Pilatus
- Start date
- Location
- West Wales
Had a lot of Hondas and never had any engine problems, but have had gearboxes problems and the odd driveshaft, they arn’t made like they were 10 years ago!
got a Yamaha which is having engine work done at 3 years but doesn’t have it easy, gone through brakes quicker than I’d like to but is an incredible bike comfort wise. This is bikes that are always overloaded, ie carrying 100kg of dogs on the back everyday doing 6,000+ mile a year.
The older Polaris UTV’s had poor engines (Koehler engine?) Mine with a Kubota engine hasn’t missed a beat in 12 months, I’ve heard of a lot of JD Gators having major problems within a few years.
got a Yamaha which is having engine work done at 3 years but doesn’t have it easy, gone through brakes quicker than I’d like to but is an incredible bike comfort wise. This is bikes that are always overloaded, ie carrying 100kg of dogs on the back everyday doing 6,000+ mile a year.
The older Polaris UTV’s had poor engines (Koehler engine?) Mine with a Kubota engine hasn’t missed a beat in 12 months, I’ve heard of a lot of JD Gators having major problems within a few years.
Thanks for your honest/hands on opinion/ experience.
- Location
- West Wales
A lot depends on what your looking at though, certain models are good/bad with all makes.
Had a few I wouldn’t touch again but they might be fine on most farms but when doing a lot of work the problems show far quicker.
Had a hire Yamaha Grizzly 450 a few years ago that drank petrol for fun, over double the fuel use of my kodiak 450 which was only 2 years newer. Had I had the Grizzly on demo I wouldn’t have ever looked at another Yam again but the ‘18 onwards kodiak’s are brilliant and excellent on fuel
Holsteinfriesian90
Member
- Location
- Cornwall
Watching with interest because nearly every quad we have had has had issues one way or another.
- Location
- northumberland
Same with anything, it depends how they are treated and looked after
hintonroadhero
Member
- Location
- Waikato, NZ
Interesting discussion......probably summed up by post number 2..."this is bikes that are always overloaded".....over here its no uncommon to hear of side by sides/UTV's towing 1.5 to 2.0 tonnes of palm kernel meal in feed trailers out to the cows in the paddock..usually rated at about 800kg max......they can do it..... but guess what?... they will eat drive belts for a pastime... I tell all my mates "if you want to pull that sort of weight in the paddocks, go and by a Ford 4000.. they will only cost a quarter of the price and will be bombproof.. but you might need to buy a duffel coat too."
Yes, my poor little ATV was on palm kernel trailer duty for a couple of seasons, the only thing that stopped it from destroying itself was the bald tyres. As soon as I replaced the tyres, the belt started slipping under heavy load. I've since bought a cheap 4wd 50hp tractor and haven't looked back, it just potters along without a care in the world and it's far cheaper to run (and replace) than a quad bike. Going up against the cost of running a side by side, it would be a no brainer.
Regarding the original question, I love my Yamaha Grizzly. But our small Yamaha Grizzlys and Kodiaks are still carb'd, UK bikes are fuel injected and from what I've heard they're a bit rubbish. Honda with a manual box would be my next pick.
Last edited:
Pistonbroke
Member
One dealer covering our area sells Honda Yamaha and Can am. Ours spends most of the winter towing a snacker or trailer,sometimes both, one hooked on to the other and no flat ground on the place. When the salesman heard that he said "stick with a manual Honda,the others won't stick that".
- Location
- Yorkshire
Nearly
Member
- Location
- North of York
- Location
- Yorkshire
Nearly
Member
- Location
- North of York
Now you're getting silly.
That won't go through a 10ft gate and the trailer jack will need lengthening.
Manual transmission every time for towing duties was my experience.
- Location
- Yorkshire
Cause it will might not still be 10ft when it's been through
Fragonard
Member
We got new Suzuki 500 4 year ago.
Had numerous Honda and a Yamaha. Suzuki never missed a beat yet.
Hondas and the Yamaha gave lots of trouble.
It's a lazy starter, bit annoying, but it always starts. Put new battery in it this year.
Its thirsty, but probably all 500s are, irrespective of make.
paul&mandy
Member
- Location
- surrey/west sussex
Dont buy a Gator, 4 wheel drive packed up which involved me having anger management issues when I got stuck this morning. 8 months old and I'm waiting for the next thing for it to let us down just when its needed....
Holsteinfriesian90
Member
- Location
- Cornwall
What have you got 865?
paul&mandy
Member
- Location
- surrey/west sussex