Better prepare a design to accommodate a roll bar, @hotbarrels. I was in the local dealer today, they reckon the legislation is coming... like it or not.
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Better prepare a design to accommodate a roll bar, @hotbarrels. I was in the local dealer today, they reckon the legislation is coming... like it or not.
Personally a quad for hunting. Done both into the same area. Quad is way better. On farm bike is better for stock work, sucks for carrying gear. That’s where the quad comes into its own.
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Its clean because I only take it out on sunny days when the tracks are dry so I don't get my posh gumboots dirty and my wife doesn't have to wash the bike when I get home.Quote:
Originally Posted by mimms2
Reality - it just came back from its service by the local Polaris dealer and it was all bright and shiny again. I guess if you were a bike mechanic you would want to work on a clean bike too!
Experience won't save you if you let yourself get distracted or frustrated.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
Buster Gonad and his unfeasibly large testicles from the comic Viz for those who are wonderingQuote:
Originally Posted by Flyblown
I know its second nature to change the way you ride the bike as the weight distribution changes for a lot of people. Just consider what happens when an inexperienced rider rides in somewhere, gets an animal, loads up that very high rear rack that is a long way back over the rear axles, then gives it a bit of throttle up a bank.Quote:
Originally Posted by hotbarrels
I personally think of quadbikes like helicopters. If you don't have your hours up and you can't concentrate the entire time you are operating one, steer clear of them.
I can see the argument for both, but I wouldn't want to go back to balancing loads like this on a 2 wheeler on a muddy track or in hill country. Not only do you knock yourself around its damned exhausting (especially after a big carry).
As far as safety goes, I think you make your own safety through your riding behaviours. No matter how many wheels are under you.
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Agreed. That's why no one pilots my machine but me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tussock
I have also taken it out in a controlled environment and tested it for stability so I know it's capability ahead of getting into a situation. That's how I know when it's time to get off and walk, rather than saying in retrospect "I should have got off and walked ...."
It's also why I went with the Polaris Ute - it has a longer swing arm than normal and is actually rated for 180kg. The frame is build so that the bins when used have this bums at the top of the tray height keeping COG as low as possible. Boned out meat goes into the rear tray, so it is usually just gear you want to keep dry that goes into the bins.
4 wheels verse 2. Carried a 221 lb boar and a mate out of the bush couple of months ago.on a quad no problems.
Have carried whole deer and the odd big pig on my Tx 400 on the flats no problems, buuuuuuuuut try coming down a steep hill with no weight on your front wheels is just stupid as I have found out the hard way.
All good fellas. Worth remembering there ain't gonna be any big loads! When I'm on my own, I struggle to get a red deer onto the rack of a quad, thanks to multiple surgeries. I'm all about boning it out in the bush now, hanging it up in meat bags overnight if necessary.
This is pretty much the best I can do now, on my own... I can get it onto the rack if I really try, but twice now, that's just resulted in another hernia and my intestines trying to escape.
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I'm not saying you have a bad set up. For my bike I have a set of boxes that attach with ratchet strops that are attached to the boxes, so I can just swap the boxes for different tasks. Some of them are horrendously awkward.Quote:
Originally Posted by hotbarrels
My point was more that if someone reads some of these comments and is not aware that loaded vs unloaded is like two separate machines, then they can get into trouble.
As far as stable goes, try the new model Kingquad in hill country. It actually feels like you can't tip it over.
Hence why I said you need to understand the limitations of quads.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
The reason why so meany experienced riders crash them is due to getting complacent and taking for granted what they can and cannot do.
The thing with a 2 wheeler is a novice or inexperienced rider can easily make a hash of things, and when you are tired wet and muddy in the middle of the bush shit inexperience multiplies rapidly. I've ridden some nasty trails on my 2 wheeler that you would never dream of taking 4 wheeler on, but it could have gotten nasty real quick.
For a general farm hack I'd personally have a 2 wheeler, but for a hunting bike that is going to be loaded up with gear and going down known bad trails I'd go for a quad.
It doesnt even take being complacent, genuine accidents do happen and when they do, they can be fatal very easily. My buddy that died on a quad was riding up a track in the fading light, realised the track was washed out so he did a three point turn to turn around and head back down the track, as he reversed and turned at the same time one of the front wheels rode up over a large rock and it was enough to unsettle the bike a bit, it shunted backwards in a straight line instead of turning a bit which was enought to drop the opposite rear wheel off the side of the track and over it went, he had no chance to bail on the uphill side of the bike and it seemed he had tried to bail on the downside and jump forward of the bike, but it came over as he performed that maneuver, got his leg stuck between the front wheel and the guard and then rolled about 40 times down the bank with him attached to it. Freak accident. Closed casket funeral.
Its a very good example to describe. Its really not that hard to get all tangled up with the things in those circumstances and you can't see your wheels.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
Thats a horrific story.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
A friend of mines father fell of his 2 wheeler and somehow his hamd ended up in the chain and rear spoket, cut his pinky finger clean off.
While there is definitely a higher degree of crushing risk with a quad, they still have their place, freak accidents can occur with anything unfortunately.
Hey great thread - I've ridden horses all my life but the current one isn't making it easy . . . . seems to find stuff under the saddle blanket regular, the bastard hasn't killed or lost me yet but its a close contest!
Anyhoo - what is the minimum CC/power or lightest quad that would be useful for hunting etc - bear in mind I'm happy and like going slow and won't be going near any steep stuff?
Most of the 4x4 quads start of at 400cc and around the same weight, it just comes back to how much money you want to speed,
suzuki 400 solid rear diff and basic.
I like having reliable machines i hate been miles from no where and breaking down with shit gear. also spending a bit more when buying a bike should save you money in the long run.
Most farmers get rid of there bikes when they start costing to much money to service
The suzuki 300 king quad is a good little machine, high/low/super low-diff lock. Only 300cc but our one has taken a real thrashing over the years towing overloaded trailers through the mud and brash and it’s still going strong.
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A key consideration for someone deciding this should be their skill level on a 2 wheeler. It’s one thing to competently ride one on flat terrain and a completely different thing to ride in hill country. Especially if it gets technical. Then add the backpack and hunting gear and that’s another level, then add the weight of an animal and your on another level again. Easily done if you are an experienced rider but for someone who isn’t the practise and skill level required to get there isn’t an overnight thing.
On the contrary a quad offers a system to the beginner that is easier to operate and much more user friendly with loads etc. A level of skill is obviously still required and that changes depending on where you go and how much load etc etc but taking those steps would be easier i’d say. As mentioned the key thing is safety. Stay within your limits and your good.
Along with the other pros and cons already mentioned.
A lot of variation in 2 wheelers too. Farm bikes, enduro bikes, cross country bikes and motorcross bikes etc are all different. Personally if I was going to use one for hunting then I would probably set up an enduro bike with heavier spring in the rear to handle the extra weight. Maybe make up a rack for the back too like a farm bike. Good power, gearing and suspension and romp on around those hills.
None the less, I’ve been riding 2 wheelers my whole life and would prefer to take a quad if it was for hunting.
After the last trip, the reality hit hard... as per comments made already, no way would you use a bike in the wet. But in the summer, it could work really well as the surface is rock hard.
The next question is quad vs s-x-s. Have been using a CanAm Defender and absolutely love it. The rough tracks it just attacks with glee, point it roughly in the right direction and up it goes. Whereas you'd be worried big time about the quad tipping. Was also amazed at how fuel efficient it is compared to a Honda 500.
Sounds like you've already found a winner.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyblown
Yup the LTF300 is just what I have in mind . . . . what sort of Km's/hours would one of these typically remain reliable up to (presuming a reasonably well looked after example)Quote:
Originally Posted by MSL
The only issue with side x sides are the extra size so need a bigger trailer (not that big of an issue) and the cost to purchase /service.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyblown
Have heard of some ridiculous prices for a basic service on Yamaha s x s, if you do it yourself then not an issue
Can't kill those with a big stick. Rubbish suspension but the low ratio and locking front diff is hard to beat.Quote:
Originally Posted by MSL
Generally, the one's you see still running around are roughly 20 years old. It all depends on maintenance and the terrain it's used in. Dairy farms and beaches reduce all ATVs to rust in a few short years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tentman
Yep the Big Reds are a pretty awesome machine alright. Then they bought out the 350s ....gutless pieces of shit. The George Forman 400 are pretty good too.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
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And you wont get a quad through this without a winchQuote:
Originally Posted by Tentman
Attachment 123541
Yeah, and service them you must. For the Yamaha Viking I was using before (not mine) was last seen looking very sorry for itself in a paddock high up the hill - seized engine. Simple matter of being owned and run by someone who doesn't tend to think of things like oil.Quote:
Originally Posted by Beetroot
Another issue with sxs is because of their width they neither fit the ruts of 4x4's or quads so are always tipping over with one side in the rut all the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Beetroot
All our farm bikes get serviced every 100hrs at the shop. In between if we rip a cv boot etc we get them fixed. Because we run later model bikes and also same rider on machines we don't seem to have big service cost.
We run honda sxs and we still run suzuki quads. The sxs cost a little more to service but not much. We don't tow dog trailers on the farm.
But for the average hunter hes not going to be clocking thousands of km a year and if you can afford a sxs just for hunting you will be able to service it.
First quad i owned for hunting 2wd and that was a waste of time. 2ND quad spent about $3500 and that was ok no rust etc just maintenance,breaks,bearings cdi unit 3rd bike i spent $6000 and that was a very good bike.
Now am lucky i use the work sxs and have my own crf230
Yeah but you can say exactly the same of a quad being used on a property dominated by wider tracked side-by-side machines.Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidGunn
That's the issue on the one property that I go to, probably 75% of ATV use is side-by-sides. And yep you guessed it the ruts are primarily the width of a typical side-by-side, and can't be a bloody nightmare on a quad.
Bottom line is that on private hill country properties a good land owner will do their track maintenance. You see the difference clear as day, the cockies that have a good operator and a decent machine on the books somewhere, who puts the effort in year after year. It's also got a lot to do with careful planning of stock movement and how to travel around the seasons. I can think of two adjacent properties in steep papa country where quite simply you're banned from using the shorter steeper routes during the big wets because of the inevitable track damage. You go the long way round, end of story.
Hahaha nice. Might need more than a winch too! Best thing of all is they basically self clean after being in a mudhole (maybe sometimes ya have to scrape a patch for the saddle!)Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidGunn
Just a few thoughts, Mahindra sxs are almost the same size as a Suzuki Samari as are most of the sxs's, for me a small 4x4 would be better than an ATV as I can travel long distances with it also.
I set up a 2 wheeler for coyote/bird/rabbit hunting, it works great for running the desert two tracks and I can run it on the highway and county roads which are off limits to a quad. I did two hunts this week and filled the tank and it cost $2.89 to fill it.
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Attachment 124660
A lot of places I go a farm bike is the best for getting around and A to B. especially if there are slips across the track or something similar.....BUT..when you shoot 2 red stags and then you have to get them back plus your gear you are buggered!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyblown
Haha...That must change soon, from all that I hear Southland has more deer than people!!!...:D
How about one of these bad boys
Honda z50 knock offhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...397794cdf4.jpg
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