Thread: Quad Bikes What to look for

I'm in the process of buying a Quad bike for hunting but know very little about these bikes.

I've found what appears to be a very good 300cc 1999 Suzuki King Quad that fits my needs and my budget.

Apart from the obivious like Noisy and or Smokey engine/transmission, Clicking CV's, Rusty frames/rims and Poor Brakes

What other serious defects should I be looking for?

Cheers
Pete

Brakes are the atv's nemisis if they dont work as they are spost to look into how much it is going to cost to fix. Can be very expensive.

Thanks VC

Yeah good brakes are essential.

I'll check them out carefully.

Not too worried if they are defective as I can fix them myself..... just dont like any surprises.

Running hours and service history.

Suzuki's have some good features for their price but also tend to rattle themselves apart, Polaris would be my pick if the budget stretched that far or even a Can Am, depends on how much and where you want to go

The rear drum(if its not disk) can get full of shit and grind itself out to the point where even brand new shoes will only last a week before they "cam over" and stick on. A good brake place can put over thick linings on the shoes to get a bit more life out of it but the only real fix is new drum or if your capable bore and sleeve the drum.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

The rear drum(if its not disk) can get full of shit and grind itself out to the point where even brand new shoes will only last a week before they "cam over" and stick on. A good brake place can put over thick linings on the shoes to get a bit more life out of it but the only real fix is new drum or if your capable bore and sleeve the drum.

Thanks I'll check the drum for excessive wear.

Can easily bore and sleeve the drum but if it's that far gone I'd probally remove the drum and replace it with a disk brake.

Avoid can ams they are belt driven and will let you downat the worst moment. If you go and look at a bike dont be afraid to turn the gas off and flip it on its side and have a real good look at the chassis. If its an older kawasaki spring for a new universal joint they like to seize and if you going fast when they seize you can do major damage to you and the bike, normaly break gearboxs ect. The older carby fed hondas are bulletproof tanks and are easy to work on and would be my pick of the bunch if looking at cheaper second hand.

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Oh yea cheak all bushs bearings especially the swing arm. And normally heaos cheaper to get after market replacments parts instead of factory ones.

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[QUOTE=Cod Squad;47440 Polaris would be my pick [/QUOTE]

My Polaris is still going strong after 14 years

I have a 2001 Bombardier/Can Am - Traxter 500
Ugliest quad in the world being a step through, but the BEST hunting quad
Huge, heaps of grunt, heaps of storage, easy to hop on an off
Just done bushes and sleeves for the front end A arms - made the shock ones myself, tyres, battery, brake pads, oil and filter... easy to spend $1k just on maintenance on a $2500 machine..

Killed the brain when jumpstarting it - has taken 18 months to find one under $1k us

Dont be put off by belt drives.. Polaris had an issue 15 yrs ago when you got them wet, but MOST quads are now belt.
I'd look to a Yam Kodiak around 2000/01 over the Kingquad

Originally Posted by Spanners

I have a 2001 Bombardier/Can Am - Traxter 500
Ugliest quad in the world being a step through, but the BEST hunting quad
Huge, heaps of grunt, heaps of storage, easy to hop on an off
Just done bushes and sleeves for the front end A arms - made the shock ones myself, tyres, battery, brake pads, oil and filter... easy to spend $1k just on maintenance on a $2500 machine..

Killed the brain when jumpstarting it - has taken 18 months to find one under $1k us

Dont be put off by belt drives.. Polaris had an issue 15 yrs ago when you got them wet, but MOST quads are now belt.
I'd look to a Yam Kodiak around 2000/01 over the King quad

Why a Kodiac over the King Quad?

I like the Kodiak's too but haven't seen one within my budget.

This King Quad ticks all the boxes for me but like I said I dont know much about Quads and don't like surprises.

Also knowledge is power ..... especially when it comes to fixing the final price

That said, bar a major melt down, I can fix most things myself.

Cheers
Pete

Had both before. The Kodak is a better bike in every aspect. Can't fault it really

My old bosses best mate was the mechanic for can am in tauranga it was him who said to stay away from them. Ive never had an issue with them like you say heaps of grunt. But the belts are ment to wear flat spots if you leave them i gear while stationary.

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Originally Posted by Spanners

Had both before. The Kodak is a better bike in every aspect. Can't fault it really

Spanners
What was some of things you didn't like about the King Quad?

cheers
Pete