So I am finally in the market for a quad. Being the ever cautious doomtard that I am, I am not happy with all the fancy electronics found on the newer quads, not to mention the price. What I am looking for is a carbeurated,non EFI, bare bones basic quad, with a pull start for a backup just in case the electric start tanks for whatever reason.(pulse, breakdown,etc.). I like Yamahas, Hondas, and Suzukis.
What I have been to this point is mostly a bike guy. So what I am looking for is any advice on a quad type (year, model) that would suit my above needs. 5k or less would be ideal. Any pointers?
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I know what you mean, but unfortunately, I can't be much help.
The last time I was on one of those things, they only had 3 wheels!
I have one of the earliest quads. An '84 Suzuki LT125. 125cc I guess. I bought it about 10 years ago for around $400. Runs forever on a tank of gas. Light enough to lift easily so you never worry about getting stuck.
I would look for something with suspension though and maybe consider if you want room for a passenger or not. This one just has a solid axle and turf tires and gets pretty squirrely at speed.
I tow a small trailer or brush around the garden with ease, it works pretty hard towing any real weight like logs.
I have a 98 honda foreman 450.. has electric shift but also has foot shift. It has electric start but also a pull cord. Its tough as nails fast enough.. pulls like a mule..
Working in the ATV industry since '86 I must say I like your thinking, I'd personally lean toward something like the YFM350/400 class semi auto shift, air cooled (Yamaha Big Bear and Kodiak) which although crude are basic and tough. Glycol's are fine until you need to repair a waterpump, rad, or other part of the cooling system.
You want simple here's a few air cooled models to keep in mind with the glycol cooled ones.
Dealerships I've worked at with rental fleets had these critter's and they are as tough as anything and with some routine maintenance work well. I still get 1988 and newer Big Bear's and Kodiak's, 98-00 Grizzly 600's at the shop that just need the usual TLC. (one rancher customer of ours had over 80,000km on his mid '90's Kodiak when his odometer died and stills uses it daily and just brings it in for routine items!).
I'm sure other manufactures have models that after a decade have proven to be good as gold air cooled or glycol cooled such as, Honda Foreman, Suzuki King Quad, Kawasaki KLF300 (air cooled), Polaris Sportsman 400, etc.
Some very good carbureted models are still in production so that is always something to add in the equation for if they've been in production for a decade or more they are around and parts are still in circulation that is only because they remained popular.
Beware of those rare and obscure manufacturers that seemed to land here the last 10 years or so as when they come to get worked on parts availability and manufacturer support can often be a challenge and that's before SHTF situations, as some have come and gone but they're products are out in the market struggling to stay together.
As iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens his friend