Which Quad would you buy

[hendrebc]

Is the klf the old light green one with the blue or maybe purple 4x4 sticker on the plastic above the engine under the seat? They were a great bike but anything newer than those by kawasaki werent very good. I cant help thinking that a 2004 model might be too new to be the bike im thinking of i think our 400cc one was a 1998 model. Its still too expensive if thats what it is.

 

[Benr]

Is the klf the old light green one with the blue or maybe purple 4x4 sticker on the plastic above the engine under the seat? They were a great bike but anything newer than those by kawasaki werent very good. I cant help thinking that a 2004 model might be too new to be the bike im thinking of i think our 400cc one was a 1998 model. Its still too expensive if thats what it is.

Not sure, planning on having a look tomorrow, hence the research this evening. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Grassman247]

We have 3 250’s and a 500, the 500 isn’t used very much so we have kept it, the 3 250’s are swapped every 2 years as we put 8000k’s on them every year, the staff tend to drive them fairly hard and to be fair to Honda they stand up pretty well to it, only real problem we had was some dodgy batteries at one point. We actually find it cheaper to swap them than put new tires and brakes and any repairs as they get older

Dealer pulls a face when he takes them back after 2 years [emoji23] although he did put us forward to test new bikes for Honda

 

[AFM]

New Honda 250 not that much more than the others and will come with warranty. Also you won’t be having someone else’s problems/ misuse

 

[hendrebc]

This is like the one we had. It was a really good quad you couldnt kill it! It was heavy and slow by modern standards though. We stupidly traded it in for a more modern one that was a heap of
A quick look while finding this picture and the 2004 klf you have as an option would be the newer not as good ones i think. Im sure the dealer told me after they are re badged chinese quads just so that kawasaki still had a finger in the work quad pie. The newer ones are im not sure how far back that goes.
Not much help with the other ones im afraid but im very happy with my suzuki 400 if thats any use to you.

 

[ollieN4]

Apologies to go slightly off topic but I’m looking for something similar at the moment for occasional use with a hi/low Auto box rather than manual. So probably a Grizzly or Kodiak however there’s one or two Polaris Sportmans about - has anyone any experience of them or are parts expensive/difficult to get hold of?

 

[Kiwi Pete]

@Benr nothing wrong with the Ozark, great bike for what you want, I would think?

You could ride one all day and not feel it

 

[Woolless]

We only ever ran honda, till we bought a Kubota RTV. Always the same model (TRX 350D) and barring theft, we'd probably be only on our second now. They did an unbelievable amount of work, feeding about a ton of pig feed every day towing a half ton hopper trailer, plus bedding up, plus moving stock.

Our last one was retired about 8 yrs ago, but turns 30 this yr (I think). It's still in the shed and it still goes. Turning, stopping and changing gear are more difficult, but the engine just will not give up. Truly phenomenal bit of gear.

They don't make em like that any more and they never will again.

On that basis, I'd say the oldest honda hou can get is the best option. But not ours. I'm keeping it.

I would agree with that. I bought my Honda 350 2wd second hand 12 years ago and it's been very good, other than a blip a couple of years ago due to my slapdash maintenance. I'll be buying Honda next time (not this year!). The 250 wouldn't want to be doing much towing though?

 

[TripleSix]

Looking for a bike for light use seeing and moving stock. Probably do around an hour a day on it.

Honda 250 2008 20,000 km £1800
Honda 250 2014 11,000 km £2400
New Honda 250 £3750

Kawasaki KLF 300 2004, 8000 miles £1950
Suzuki Ozark, no speedo. Looks like new on original tyres which hardly worn £2200.

All from main dealers, serviced etc.

Get the Ozark.

No computers or sensors to play up, lovely light little bike.

 

[Stw88]

Ozark gets my vote. Had 1 14 years only had a set of tyres and an exhaust. Pulls a 2 ewe lambing trailer and great for tootling about shepherding. Runs on fresh air too. Good job it hasnt got a clock on as it would be on its 2nd lap round now.

 

[P.O.T]

Guy wants a light use bike for checking and moving stock. 250 honda would do grand. Got a 250 and a 420. 250 is 9 years old never had any major issues. If you can afford the new 250 would be the best option.

 

[devonshire farmer]

Apologies to go slightly off topic but I’m looking for something similar at the moment for occasional use with a hi/low Auto box rather than manual. So probably a Grizzly or Kodiak however there’s one or two Polaris Sportmans about - has anyone any experience of them or are parts expensive/difficult to get hold of?

I would suggest you consider Suzuki before you make your mind up, they stopped making a 450 so it’s a 400 or 500 now, good bikes

 

[Bones]

Would you try a can am

 

[Nithsdale]

Is the klf the old light green one with the blue or maybe purple 4x4 sticker on the plastic above the engine under the seat? They were a great bike but anything newer than those by kawasaki werent very good. I cant help thinking that a 2004 model might be too new to be the bike im thinking of i think our 400cc one was a 1998 model. Its still too expensive if thats what it is.

'04 you're onto the last of the KLF's - dark green and grey.

We had a red Bayou 300 and a KLF300 through the 90's, I don't give a toss what's been said - they were good bikes. Not much guts to them for their size though (Suzuki King Quad 250 would whip them for towing), but reliable.


KLF400 was a barsteward bike though, in comparison water cooled lump which was heavy and it had a real drink problem! The Gamekeeper here, and a neighbour both had one (both were the light green era) and said they were the worst bikes they ever used. I drove them a few times and can't say I liked them much.

 

[Nithsdale]

Back to the OP.

I'd personally look at 400 ish sized bikes over a 250. Doing the same running about and light work, the bigger bike won't use any more fuel but the bike will physically be larger giving (usually) a better seat/driving position and a more comfortable ride.

I don't like recommending them much, but an old shape Honda 420 would do you fine (what you want in a bike is all they are good for). But as with all Honda's - make sure the rear axle isn't shagged.

 

[Benr]

Seen a Honda 350 4wd 2007 1000hours 9500k for £2,400.
Anyone heard of Castle Quads, Whitland Carmarthen?

 

[JP1]

Back to the OP.

I'd personally look at 400 ish sized bikes over a 250. Doing the same running about and light work, the bigger bike won't use any more fuel but the bike will physically be larger giving (usually) a better seat/driving position and a more comfortable ride.

I don't like recommending them much, but an old shape Honda 420 would do you fine (what you want in a bike is all they are good for). But as with all Honda's - make sure the rear axle isn't shagged.

I was convinced I wanted an Ozark r Honda 250 but my local dealer (who knew how much busy road work I had to do) was adamant I should go bigger to have "presence" on the road. I've a TRX420 now and glad I took his advice (I'd still like to know if a 250 would have been more economical though)

 

[Northeastfarmer]

'04 you're onto the last of the KLF's - dark green and grey.

We had a red Bayou 300 and a KLF300 through the 90's, I don't give a toss what's been said - they were good bikes.

Same as ours....Ours was diabolical

 

[MOG]

I actually bought a KLF300 new in 04 and ran it for 12 years with nothing more than service items, a CV boot, and some wishbone bushes (and a constant battle to keep any sort of working rear brake on it). Other than that it did 4000 miles (in low box towing) without issue and was still on the original tyres and brake pads when I sold it almost 3 years ago. The issue I have with the one suggested by the OP is that it is now 3 years older than mine was, has twice the miles on it, and is almost twice the price I sold mine for (which I thought was a good price 3 years ago). At the end of the day that KLF is 15 years old and only cost 4K new.

 

[reverand]

Is a new quad out of the question?
0 percent interest on borrowing on Honda and can am that I know