Thread: Farm bike vs quad

After the last trip, the reality hit hard... as per comments made already, no way would you use a bike in the wet. But in the summer, it could work really well as the surface is rock hard.

The next question is quad vs s-x-s. Have been using a CanAm Defender and absolutely love it. The rough tracks it just attacks with glee, point it roughly in the right direction and up it goes. Whereas you'd be worried big time about the quad tipping. Was also amazed at how fuel efficient it is compared to a Honda 500.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Have been using a CanAm Defender and absolutely love it. The rough tracks it just attacks with glee, point it roughly in the right direction and up it goes. Whereas you'd be worried big time about the quad tipping. Was also amazed at how fuel efficient it is compared to a Honda 500.

Sounds like you've already found a winner.

Originally Posted by MSL

The suzuki 300 king quad is a good little machine, high/low/super low-diff lock. Only 300cc but our one has taken a real thrashing over the years towing overloaded trailers through the mud and brash and it’s still going strong.


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Yup the LTF300 is just what I have in mind . . . . what sort of Km's/hours would one of these typically remain reliable up to (presuming a reasonably well looked after example)

Originally Posted by Flyblown

After the last trip, the reality hit hard... as per comments made already, no way would you use a bike in the wet. But in the summer, it could work really well as the surface is rock hard.

The next question is quad vs s-x-s. Have been using a CanAm Defender and absolutely love it. The rough tracks it just attacks with glee, point it roughly in the right direction and up it goes. Whereas you'd be worried big time about the quad tipping. Was also amazed at how fuel efficient it is compared to a Honda 500.

The only issue with side x sides are the extra size so need a bigger trailer (not that big of an issue) and the cost to purchase /service.

Have heard of some ridiculous prices for a basic service on Yamaha s x s, if you do it yourself then not an issue

Originally Posted by MSL

The suzuki 300 king quad is a good little machine, high/low/super low-diff lock. Only 300cc but our one has taken a real thrashing over the years towing overloaded trailers through the mud and brash and it’s still going strong.


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Can't kill those with a big stick. Rubbish suspension but the low ratio and locking front diff is hard to beat.

Originally Posted by Tentman

Yup the LTF300 is just what I have in mind . . . . what sort of Km's/hours would one of these typically remain reliable up to (presuming a reasonably well looked after example)

Generally, the one's you see still running around are roughly 20 years old. It all depends on maintenance and the terrain it's used in. Dairy farms and beaches reduce all ATVs to rust in a few short years.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

Horse meat is very nice. There are enough horses in New Zealand that you don't have to put up with a shitty one.
As for four wheelers. A Honda tin tank 300 is the best bike ever made. If you can find a reasonable condition one you wont go wrong. Don't try beating them down on the price, because someone else will swoop it up.

Yep the Big Reds are a pretty awesome machine alright. Then they bought out the 350s ....gutless pieces of shit. The George Forman 400 are pretty good too.


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Originally Posted by Tentman

Hey great thread - I've ridden horses all my life but the current one isn't making it easy . . . . seems to find stuff under the saddle blanket regular, the bastard hasn't killed or lost me yet but its a close contest!

Anyhoo - what is the minimum CC/power or lightest quad that would be useful for hunting etc - bear in mind I'm happy and like going slow and won't be going near any steep stuff?

And you wont get a quad through this without a winch

Originally Posted by Beetroot

The only issue with side x sides are the extra size so need a bigger trailer (not that big of an issue) and the cost to purchase /service.

Have heard of some ridiculous prices for a basic service on Yamaha s x s, if you do it yourself then not an issue

Yeah, and service them you must. For the Yamaha Viking I was using before (not mine) was last seen looking very sorry for itself in a paddock high up the hill - seized engine. Simple matter of being owned and run by someone who doesn't tend to think of things like oil.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

The only issue with side x sides are the extra size so need a bigger trailer (not that big of an issue) and the cost to purchase /service.

Have heard of some ridiculous prices for a basic service on Yamaha s x s, if you do it yourself then not an issue

Another issue with sxs is because of their width they neither fit the ruts of 4x4's or quads so are always tipping over with one side in the rut all the time.

All our farm bikes get serviced every 100hrs at the shop. In between if we rip a cv boot etc we get them fixed. Because we run later model bikes and also same rider on machines we don't seem to have big service cost.
We run honda sxs and we still run suzuki quads. The sxs cost a little more to service but not much. We don't tow dog trailers on the farm.
But for the average hunter hes not going to be clocking thousands of km a year and if you can afford a sxs just for hunting you will be able to service it.
First quad i owned for hunting 2wd and that was a waste of time. 2ND quad spent about $3500 and that was ok no rust etc just maintenance,breaks,bearings cdi unit 3rd bike i spent $6000 and that was a very good bike.
Now am lucky i use the work sxs and have my own crf230

Originally Posted by DavidGunn

Another issue with sxs is because of their width they neither fit the ruts of 4x4's or quads so are always tipping over with one side in the rut all the time.

Yeah but you can say exactly the same of a quad being used on a property dominated by wider tracked side-by-side machines.

That's the issue on the one property that I go to, probably 75% of ATV use is side-by-sides. And yep you guessed it the ruts are primarily the width of a typical side-by-side, and can't be a bloody nightmare on a quad.

Bottom line is that on private hill country properties a good land owner will do their track maintenance. You see the difference clear as day, the cockies that have a good operator and a decent machine on the books somewhere, who puts the effort in year after year. It's also got a lot to do with careful planning of stock movement and how to travel around the seasons. I can think of two adjacent properties in steep papa country where quite simply you're banned from using the shorter steeper routes during the big wets because of the inevitable track damage. You go the long way round, end of story.

Originally Posted by DavidGunn

And you wont get a quad through this without a winch

Attachment 123541

Hahaha nice. Might need more than a winch too! Best thing of all is they basically self clean after being in a mudhole (maybe sometimes ya have to scrape a patch for the saddle!)

Just a few thoughts, Mahindra sxs are almost the same size as a Suzuki Samari as are most of the sxs's, for me a small 4x4 would be better than an ATV as I can travel long distances with it also.

I set up a 2 wheeler for coyote/bird/rabbit hunting, it works great for running the desert two tracks and I can run it on the highway and county roads which are off limits to a quad. I did two hunts this week and filled the tank and it cost $2.89 to fill it.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Fellas

Who here is running a farm bike instead of a quad? I'm looking at a 2 wheeler for getting in and out of hunting areas, instead of the normal quad.

Looking for reasons why / why not, and specifics about how you're mounting your rifle and kit.

Thanks

A lot of places I go a farm bike is the best for getting around and A to B. especially if there are slips across the track or something similar.....BUT..when you shoot 2 red stags and then you have to get them back plus your gear you are buggered!!!