Thread: Quad Advice

Just about all modern quads are OK. The earlier versions with automatic transmissions in, say the Kawasaki 400, were dangerous in steep terrain as they let go if revs dropped too low. But all that's sorted these days.

The more cc's you buy the heavier the quad gets. Its a whole lot easier to crawl out from underneath a 210kg trx 300 than it is a 330 kg honda trx500. The same for when you get stuck.

Flash Harry's have electric winches on their quads. A fence strainer will do the same job but will just involve a bit more sweat.

Independent suspension is much more comfortable and capable unladen than solid rear ends. The negative is that you lose ground clearance once you chuck a couple of deer on board. The solid rear ends come into their own when the quad gets loaded up.

Try and resist putting bull bars all around your quad. It adds unnecessary weight and the skinny steel bars are excellent at snapping bones if you roll her over and get a leg left behind. The plastic mudguards are designed to fold or give way if you end up doing that.

Overall, quads and side x sides take most of the drama out of heading bush in what used to be a rule of diminishing returns. I.e. Heading off in the Landy for a long weekend: better take a ground anchor for the 45 kg electric winch...Oh its going to be raining, so will take two sets of chains...Since we are taking the truck, lets take a fridge freezer and some solar panels to keep all the meat cool....and on its goes. Now you are stuck in a knee deep bog hole with the two to one snatch block having pulled the deadman out of the ground, everyone is covered in mud from digging for the past hour....And a mate comes along on a quad and putt putts across the bog and waves goodbye on his way to your favourite haunting possie !

300 King Quad. Great workhorse.
This load on hill country, plus Brian, not unusual. Just keeps going.
Be careful out there if you are using these things.

Rode dirt bikes for years and always kept away from quads for their tendency to roll over when ya doing stupid things. Now I have a actual job for one I'm in the market or at least dipping my toe in ha

Having been sheep and beef farming on my own account for the past 20 ish years,

I've had the following machines,

Honda TRX 500 manual...reliable, solid rear axle, pretty solid, was quite often doing rear brakes. Ok on fuel. Traded after 23,000km

Honda TRX 420 manual...small, nimble, good on fuel. First one replaced under warranty within the first month due to transmission noise. 2nd one, rear diff shit itself just out of warranty like most of the others in the district. Was a common fault at the time. Traded after 14,000km.

Honda TRX 400FA...similar size as the 420 but no fuel injection so a bit heavier on fuel. No issues with this model was quite low geared. Used as a spare bike for the casual worker. Traded after 20,000km.

Yamaha Grizzly 550EPS...Very comfortable due to independent rear suspension and power steering. A lot better turning circle than the Honda's. Noisier than the Honda's. Seating position was a lot higher than the Honda's and a short wheelbase felt a bit "Tippy" on the hills but was ok once got used to it. A bit thirsty but reliable. No issues with it and never did a drive belt. Traded after 25000km.

Yamaha Kodiak 700EPS...Similar to the Grizzly 550 but thirstier. Felt more like a Honda to ride with a lower seating position. All good until it starting burning oil at about 15,000km. Top end rebuilt under warranty but started burning oil soon after so traded at 17,000. Turns out that the 708cc was a dog of motor and was only used for a couple of years before Yamaha reverted back to the older 686cc motor.

Yamaha Kodiak 700EPS (686cc motor)...Good run with this one traded at about 18,000km for another Kodiak 700 (current quad on 12000km with no problems) before they took the big price increase.

Yamaha Kodiak 450EPS...currently my casual workers ride. No issues. OK on fuel. Quite low geared.

All the Yamaha's have had a selectable front diff lock with the exception of the 450.

All quads serviced on time and used but not abused. The Yamaha's have generally been cheaper to service than the Honda's.

Have test ridden Can-Am's but found them to be a big bikes.

Originally Posted by Roadtripper

Rode dirt bikes for years and always kept away from quads for their tendency to roll over when ya doing stupid things. Now I have a actual job for one I'm in the market or at least dipping my toe in ha

Yeah same as few others here ive spent a fair chunk of my life on a quad..we still have a trx500 but its like the ugly cousin compared to the sxs.
Just be aware for your 3k budget your going to have to shop very carefully to not find something that will cost twice that to maintain
Theres about 10 quads on tm under 3k that suit what you need and half of them are shagged.

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Thankyou guys, this is why I asked you lot, wealth of knowledge!

Originally Posted by Roadtripper

Rode dirt bikes for years and always kept away from quads for their tendency to roll over when ya doing stupid things. Now I have a actual job for one I'm in the market or at least dipping my toe in ha

Had these on the last farm we managed. If you want to lose sleep get a few of these and let a bunch of Filipino blokes loose on them..

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Had these on the last farm we managed. If you want to lose sleep get a few of these and let a bunch of Filipino blokes loose on them..
Attachment 278718

Post that picture of the string around the 2 wheeler tyre

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Only listed this tonight. Might be what you’re looking for?

https://www.trademe.co.nz/trade-me-m...5402053191.htm

Originally Posted by Shootm

Only listed this tonight. Might be what you’re looking for?

https://www.trademe.co.nz/trade-me-m...5402053191.htm

Thanks Shootm,

It's already on the watch list!

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Had these on the last farm we managed. If you want to lose sleep get a few of these and let a bunch of Filipino blokes loose on them..
Attachment 278718

Ha!!
Yes, I have a mate with two of those and ye gods they have got some get up and go. You can really launch yourself at difficult terrain and climb seemingly impossible obstacles with all that power and suspension. But when it all goes wrong, it goes wrong in the blink of an eye and the $$ of damage mount up surprisingly quickly.

Don't ask me how I know

Originally Posted by Roadtripper

I knew you lot would be the ones to ask! So my initial thoughts were a Honda or Suzuki good to hear feedback on both. Anyone got anything to say about Yammys? Make a good outboard.. Also what is the go with the power steering? Needed or just another thing to crap out?

I have a Yamaha 450 grizzly it's been an awesome bike, smaller than the Suzuki so gets into a lot of places the big bikes don't easily fit.
They are usually cheaper than the Honda I paid $3000 a few years back and it's probably still worth that.
An awesome little bike.

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Originally Posted by Roadtripper

When you say little Hondas? What model? Full gas and give it a push ha, who needs a winch

Compared to a 500 the 300 or 350 are small

Originally Posted by XR500

Ha!!
Yes, I have a mate with two of those and ye gods they have got some get up and go. You can really launch yourself at difficult terrain and climb seemingly impossible obstacles with all that power and suspension. But when it all goes wrong, it goes wrong in the blink of an eye and the $$ of damage mount up surprisingly quickly.

Don't ask me how I know

So, brush and shovel, box full of blue plastic bits?

I've got an old ex doc 300 king quad. No rust but raced rallied and rolled by the state of it, has no rust and would have been serviced. Early blue one with manual box, no power steering. Has the super low and front diff lock. Would almost climb over it's self when engaged. You get used to the steering, ok on fuel, light enough to move around by hand when you need too. Manual let's you crash start if needed(very handy in middle of no where) carries enough. Fits on the deck of my wellside hilux. They do have their faults. Fuel petcock valve is a know fault , but parts to fix are cheap and available. Transmission linkages need maintenance as can wear causing engagement issues, but takes an awful lot of use for that to happen. Motors go for ever.
Like you it only gets used a couple of times a year if it's lucky. Start it every few months like all motors need. Payed less than a 1k for it deliverd. Don't spend too much if you're not going to use it. And don't go too big. They need trailers, more fuel and can't be maneuvered around the same. Power steering is nice though.

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