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Hi Gang,

I know this is a KDX forum, but the question relates to the KDX.

Which ATV (if any) is the KDX of the ATV world?

Cheap, reliable, fun etc!

Thanks for any input,

David

I have a honda fourtrax (rancher) 350 it's an 03.
It has 6000kms on it. I have done rear brake shoes and front wheel bearings on it. I got it for 2000.
I used to use it for trails but now with the kdx I don't do that anymore.
I mounted a swisher bucket on the front with a champion 4500lb winch and use it as a utilitarian machine hauling gravel or dirt or moving snow.

I am very happy with this unit. It hasn't given me a lick of a problem that isn't minor. I've seen other quads with more power etc but my honda can do most anything I want it to. Just stay away from the electric shift models as there have been issues with a sensor on them.

My timing chain is making a bit of noise now but for 6k kms that's not too bad!!!
Ps. it uses no oil and is very fuel efficient.

Yamaha Blaster. 200cc 2t, very cheap and durable, a ton of them out there. They have their own class for racing.

If you need a bigger machine I am partial to the Yamaha Warrior.

By far, the Honda TRX400! The motor originated in the XR400 so that gives you an idea of how completely bombproof and easy to maintain it is.

A vote for the Polaris Trailblazer here. We have a 250 and a 400, both two strokers. Love em. They are definitely cheap, reliable, and fun. Sporty-ish, trailworthy machines. Very capable and reliable except starters like to go out if you ride in very deep water. They are plentiful and can be picked up cheap.

More recent models have gone 4T (Trailblazer 330cc and Scrambler 500cc). The last 2Ts were somewhere around 2006. The Scrambler is the same basic machine in 4WD. I have friends with Scrambler 500s and they are the same: fun, capable, reliable.

I would go with the following: TRX250R, Blaster 200, Warrior 350, 250x/300ex, Tri-Z 250, 200x/350x, 83-86 ATC250R, and that's about it. I have owned/ridden every one of these and they're great for trail riding plus what ever you throw at them. I have also owned/ridden a 400ex(Meh), trx450r, polaris predator 500(Decent quad), Banshee 350(:mrgreen:), and they're all decent but lack a certain off idle power that is very much needed for trail riding. I would never buy a 4x4 as they're a death trap waiting to happen. Go onto you tube and type quad wreck and what do you see? A bunch of idiots on sports quads, and 4x4's wrecking..

I would also like to point out that the trx250r was the quad of choice for mx and enduro events for nearly 15 years, and is only dying now due to less R&D, and old age, lol.

The Yamaha Big Bear 400 is a good one. It has a standard transmission (no belts to wear out), IRS (rides good), and is air cooled. I had one for a few years. Liked it just fine. Never had any problems with it. Would still have it if I hadn't wanted one of the new Kawasaki 750 Brute Force with power steering (I now have two BF 750s).

gsa102 wrote:Yamaha Blaster. 200cc 2t, very cheap and durable, a ton of them out there. They have their own class for racing.

+1, the Blaster, like the KDX is a simple, low maintence, light, compact, out of production trail machine. They are tops in the dollar to fun ratio.

gsa102 wrote:Yamaha Blaster. 200cc 2t, very cheap and durable, a ton of them out there. They have their own class for racing.

If you need a bigger machine I am partial to the Yamaha Warrior.

The Blasters are great! Probably the biggest problem with them is the brakes. I haven't rode a newer one with hydraulic brakes but they were supposed to be much better.

For some stupid reason the Warriors are cheaper around here so that would probably be my choice for no other reason than price. They are a little bigger, 4T, electric start, and have reverse.

turtle wrote:A vote for the Polaris Trailblazer here. We have a 250 and a 400, both two strokers. Love em. They are definitely cheap, reliable, and fun. Sporty-ish, trailworthy machines. Very capable and reliable except starters like to go out if you ride in very deep water. They are plentiful and can be picked up cheap.

More recent models have gone 4T (Trailblazer 330cc and Scrambler 500cc). The last 2Ts were somewhere around 2006. The Scrambler is the same basic machine in 4WD. I have friends with Scrambler 500s and they are the same: fun, capable, reliable.

I have to agree with any of the polaris line.
I have a 2001 scrambler 500 4x4 bought it new, plowed snow every winter,
sunk it in 5 ft of water right when it was new and it still runs great and have never had the engine open. The belts and a new primary clutch were the major expenses of the last 10 years.
Not a powerhouse balls out quad by any means but reliable fun!

maybe you should have asked "what should I stay away from"?
I've heard that most quads are good these days.

Yes and no. Each ATV have their own set of problems. Whats funny is that some of the older atv's have better reliability than newer quads. If your looking for a great all around bike I would go with either a Warrior/raptor 350(same quad different plastics), trx250x/300ex(Same bike slight displacement differences and the 300ex has e-start), or a blaster. 4x4's are great but you can't get to extreme due to it being unstable, and this is because most trails are limited up to 5 inches wide and the manufactures build there machines within this limit. Whats even funnier is that most of these machines weigh upwards of 700lbs and more(AKA Jeeps with handlebars), can you imagine yourself man handling these around? That being said, most of the Polaris two stroke 4x4/2x4 utility/sport quads from the 90's and up are great due low weight and easy maintenance so that wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Do any of you guys have a Blaster?
200CC two stroke, air cooled, correct?

I've got a couple of available rolling chassis and am thinking about another hybrid. I really don't know if that motor would be mountable. Has it got the typical motorcycle style mounting arrangement with the swingarm bolt going through the cases and so on........

Yeah, it is a hijack. It looks like the OP's question has been covered

Have to go with the Honda 400EX. Great low end power. Air cooled. Bullit proof.

KarlP wrote:Do any of you guys have a Blaster?
200CC two stroke, air cooled, correct?

I've got a couple of available rolling chassis and am thinking about another hybrid. I really don't know if that motor would be mountable. Has it got the typical motorcycle style mounting arrangement with the swingarm bolt going through the cases and so on........

Yeah, it is a hijack. It looks like the OP's question has been covered

Just got rid of one and bought a Banshee instead. 200CC air cooled oil injected 2 stroke. VERY basic design. They do have a typical mounting set up for the engine and people put all kinds of engines in the chassis.

Thanks for all the great input everyone!

I am trading my XR250 for a 2006 Raptor 350.

I pick it up on Saturday.

Love my XR, but I never ride it. I kept it as my "friend" bike, but have never had a friend come and ride it.

I will post a picture this weekend.

Thanks again!

David

That was a decent trade.

Here she is!

I traded this..............



for this.................





The boy was not part of the deal. I already had him!!

Thanks for the help everyone.

David

Good deal. Good quads.