So I'm in a similar boat. Been looking for a while. I was curious about the carb vs fuel injection argument. Should I worry at all about buying a wheeler with a carb? Cold morning starts etc... Was just looking for some opinions since my experience with 4 wheelers had been very limited.

Hondas are all that I will own. I have a 99 foreman and don't have a bit a problem with cold morning starts. Not saying I don't have to choke it

FI is nice but I dont mind a carb. Simple and easy to work on if something goes wrong. I actually ordered a complete brand new carb for my TRX for $75 online last year.


If you find a smoking deal on a carbed unit I wouldnt hesitate to buy it. A couple minutes on choke when its cold and shes ready to go.

exactly what TC said. There is nothing wrong with EFI at all. Climbing serious hills and stuff, itll never bog, its easier to start, change in temp or altitude wont affect it as much, etc. But, for me, i like the carbs for the simplicity and ease to work on.
You can rebuild most carbs for under $50 with new jets, needle, float, and orings. Starting is normally no issue. choke it, let it idle a minute and go. Need to let anything idle for a minute before you take of anyway so thats no biggy.

Carb was one of the main reasons i bought the Polaris, but that is not to say i wouldnt buy something with EFI. I like efi, great invention, great purpose, just hasnt sold on me yet with some of the issues ive seen.

As far as everyone elses opinions on the Hondas, theyre exactly right. A guy we hunt with has a late 90s 300 that is still kicking. Its had a rough life, to say the least, but its still scooting right along, disking fields and dragging deer. Its ALOT easier maneuvering his through the woods vs my big polaris.
Ive owned a 02 foreman 450 4x4 that has been super reliable. Its lifted on 27s, exhaust, winch, etc. It has seen its share of mud, and its share of deer. Itll crawl up trees and never fails to start or get me from point A to point B, no matter what is in the way.

You cant go wrong with Honda. They may not be the best looking, but IMO theyre probably the most simply built, well made, durable fourwheelers out there.

Honestly, I'm not savvy enough to be able to troubleshoot EFI or a Carb of I run into a problem in the woods, so I wouldn't say that one is better than the other when it comes to breakdowns, in my case.

I just love auto trans and EFI...so simple. Just get on and go!

I have a 99 Polaris Sportman (4x4) that has never given me problems except the aftermarket warn winch I put on it would pull battery down when it was in storage. I now disconnect the winch from the battery and only hook it up if I get stuck.

I also have a 2002 Kawasaki 2 wheel drive that I like better than the Polaris. Being only 2 wheel drive if it gets stuck (usually in a truck tire rut) I can pick up rear end and set it out of the rut and get out.

Several guys I hunt with have bought Hondas from Lakeside Motors. Almost every one of them has had a problem with the automatic transmissions not downshifting. Honda even has a tool that it includes in the tool\manual storage area that allows you to manually downshift. Thats crazy. If they know it is enough of a problem to include a tool, they should re-engineer the problem so it is not a problem.

Just my .02

rickyp i can have you rebuilding carbs in 30 minutes! lol

if you want to see what my polaris feels like, more than welcome to go ride for a hour or two with us one day. I see youre in jefferson/st clair so we should be close

Yamaha Grizzly 700 4x4 with power steering. Smooth ride, tons of power, will go anywhere you need it to go. I had a 400 and thought that it would be great for mudding because it was small. Then I rode a 700 and routinely put my front bumper on the back bumper of Honda's and Polaris's and could push both 4wheelers out in really bad stuff. I traded it for a Bass Tracker a few years ago and I miss that thing, it was a beast!

I've got an 01 sportsman 500 4x4 that I bought used in 04 for $3,500.00. I keep it serviced and garaged when it's not being used and it has been and continues to be a fine machine. The only major work that I have had to have done is replace all the front and rear bushings this past fall. I bought the parts on line and had a local ATV shop do the labor and it costed me around $700.00.

The only reason they needed replacing is because of me. This past summer we had plowed about 10 acres for a dove field. The weekend before the season opened me and my buddy threw out some wheat and when we went to hook up the 10' steel cultipacker on the 90 hp tractor we had a flat tire. So I hooked it up to my Polaris and pulled that heavy thing around that dove field until I got all the wheat covered up. It took all that machine had to pull it but I took it slow and easy and when it got hot I would shut it down and let it rest and cool off.

Now I know Honda's are good machines and I'm a big fan of their products but I don't think one can do what that Polaris did that day. To me a Polaris is much more than your everyday ordinary hunting ATV. It's also a working machine.

I'm in Leeds. Where are you?

Here's exactly what it sounds like you're looking for....

http://www.tndeer.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=302772

I'll throw another vote for Honda. Owned several. Last one I bought was 4x4 with s manual shift. Those ES go out too much plus I like to have a free hand if needed instead of using to shift.

I say honda also. I had a rubicon that I bought in 04. It was a good four wheeler. The two things I didn't like about it were 1 all time 4wd, I put the warn 4wd select on it to fix that. #2 that I didn't realize until I've been using the rincon was the rubicon doesn't have independent suspension. It's a lot smoother ride to have independent suspension. I think you can get that in about all of the Hondas 400cc and up now.

I don't like to to putt putt around... Our ridding styles are 100% different... I ride a Can Am Xmr 800r... 71 hp 14.5'' of ground clearance and 30'' silverbacks... A Honda can not go where I go or do what I want it too. Not to bash just Honda, a Yamaha or a Kawasaki (most) cant either.

I would suggest that you find a Honda that has not been abused and is 4x4. Look it over check the oil see how must mud/gunk is caked on the engine and then if its in your range buy it and have yourself a good time.

If you ever want to step up and ride something that will go just about anywhere you want I'll let you take the Xmr for a spin. And then I will introduce you to the manager at the Can Am dealership and we'll get you one!!!!