Thread: Can Am quads.

Anyone have/had one. Looking at '11 400. Like the look of the independent rear suspension and reliable rotax. Not sure what parts/servicing is like pricewise in NZ. Be mainly used around maniatoto and central.

Shit

If you are after independent have a look at a suzuki 500. A lot cheaper to service and very reliable

Cheers, got one of those down south on the watchlist too. Always liked the suzukis.

I have a suzuki king quad 750. They are awsome, not the most powerful engine for for a big quad but by far has the best transmission. Modifications are easy to do ie I have machined the primary clutch sheeve, gives 20% increase in torque, added a fuel injector from a suzuki road bike, vdi ecu, epi secondary clutch spring. Its never given any problem and its a great machine.

The can am is ok, the 750-1000cc rotax engine rips hard but pricey to repair if it shits its pants. The transmissions are crap and are known as belt slammers as they don't have a wet clutch like most of the jap quads.

Best to pick from say the suzuki king quad or yamaha grizzly.

I went through two Kingquad swaybars this last year. I got a solid one made at an engineering firm if anyone wants one. If the only thing you break is swaybars, it is a good bike.

Got a photo somewhere of a 750 Kingquad with 50,000 extremely hard Ks on it towing a 1.8t excavator on a huge tandem trailer.

I don't think in all my years of mischief I have encountered a tougher or more serviceable machine.

Can Ams, buy new, trade in regularly. According to the local engineering firm, they are constantly welding and straightening Can Am chassis.

My neighbor has one, they wear out rear drive universals quite regularly but go like shit. The belt wear issue I beleve they fixed by reducing the engine breaking.

I had a canam 650 for 4 years, depending on your use I guess,I had no problem whatsoever with mine in all the time I had it. Would have another without any reservation.

My 3rd one
Was going to trade into a New Ute this May (2 years old) but changed my mind when I heard the price now 15K+
Retail is crap on these and the Canam - so bugger paying 10K to change
Best downhill engine braking of the lot
tip tray is awesome and you not need to secure small loose items in it
Apparently a Honda is +20K now
Madness

Very noisy mechanically. Issues with belts as mentioned. Got 2 mates with them, they have love / hate affairs with them. I'd go Jap.

Originally Posted by Tussock

I went through two Kingquad swaybars this last year. I got a solid one made at an engineering firm if anyone wants one. If the only thing you break is swaybars, it is a good bike.

Got a photo somewhere of a 750 Kingquad with 50,000 extremely hard Ks on it towing a 1.8t excavator on a huge tandem trailer.

I don't think in all my years of mischief I have encountered a tougher or more serviceable machine.

Can Ams, buy new, trade in regularly. According to the local engineering firm, they are constantly welding and straightening Can Am chassis.

I haven't broken a swaybar yet but I'd be interested in where you get them from.

Originally Posted by Magnus

I haven't broken a swaybar yet but I'd be interested in where you get them from.

I had it custom made at a local engineering firm. Not sure what it cost precisely as I put it on the bosses account but talking to them it was about the same as a factory bar. My latest factory one broke the first time I rode the bike. Instead of snapping, the alloy bush that is crimped on slipped and the swaybar moved away off to one side. Just a faulty bar but it is not much fun when they snap, so I got a sold one (factory ones are hollow) with steel bushes welded on.

If you want them to make you one I can drop my old bar in and they can copy it again.

^thank for that. It's all good I don't need one was out of interest really. I've put my quad under some impressive stresses and haven't broken it yet. You must be doing some next level stuff to Break it haha.

We've had 3 at home over the last 8 years or so. Great bikes. Full time towing dog trailer all day every Day on rolling to steep county. Only real trouble that we've had with them is a few belts going and have had the dash replaced on the latest one plus a couple of other small things. Haven't had any trouble with transmissions. Lots of grunt and has the power when needed on the steep stuff, bogs etc. Great engine breaking, alot more stable then a Honda which we had before on the hills and is also alot more comfortable to ride. Unsure how it compares to the new Hondas. Also the ones we have had have come standard with a winch which comes in handy quite often

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Cheers for the replies fellas. Looking at a 500 Vinson manual down south. Is solid axle but looks tidy and within my price bracket. Reliability is a big thing and they seem to have a good rep.