ATV’s

 I just moved and have shoveled more snow in the past two weeks than I have in the past ten years. Snow plows seem to miss my road and I have a longish driveway. So I bit the bullet and am seriously considering  a ATV and plow. I think it will also be fun in the summer to fish with and ride mtn roads. I hate seeing ATV's when I'm hunting, at least those that think they can make their own roads. If they are responsible, thats fine because then I don't see them where I hunt. I've half avoided them just because of some of the idiots I see tearing up the Mtn's.

 But I must say what a freaking blast! I'm looking at the Kawasaki 700 twin and it flat hauls ass I grew up riding moto X bikes and had a few street bikes in my twentys. I couldn't believe how much raw power this thing has. I can't believe I went this long between having a motor toy. Actually I can, I couldn't afford one with the wife attending a private catholic college and then grad school. But I think I'll have a blast with this thing. I just hope I can get a good seven or eight years out of it should I get it and I think I will.

You'll get more than THAT out of it, that is, if you maintain it. My mighty KZ 750 E has 68,000 miles on it and I run it hard (that is, when it ain't in the back of the van being hauled to a good road). It's 22 or 23 years old and it'll still stuff squids into the weeds.

Point is, motor toys have been reliable for a long time just so long as they are maintained. It's not like back in the 1970s when leaks, breaks, metal fatigue and all that was part of the deal.

Keep it lubed, pay attention to the noises it makes, and it'll go forever.

Say "I will ALWAYS ride responsible" three times.  Then get it. 

Please don't try that "I need a snow plow" shit on us, that stuff is reserved for wives.  And with your wife having a grad degree I wouldn't try it.  better to say you won it in a raffle or say you are keeping it for a buddy (who later dies). Except for Chickee we are all guys and know exactly why you want it.

My dirt bike is a Kaw and it runs for ever.  The 700 is WAY more than you need.  Have you looked at the Polaris?

BEAR

Fella's;

Here we go again with the internet rumors & fabrications.  An excellent example of which exists above.  Sorta quote:  "My (unbelievable adjective) KZ 750 E has 68,000 miles on it and I run it hard".  I do believe he runs it hard, after all, you oughta hear what his girl friends say about him.  But ----- mighty ------ as applied to a two-valve 750?  Puh-leeze!

Of course, my Honda isn't running at all at the moment, so I'm not gonna call it mighty either.  And since my last girl friend turned into my wife, 33 years ago, and the term mighty applied to me would cause her to laugh herself to death, I won't do that.  Besides, I'd have to take up racing again to find another pit tootsie.  That could be a chore at my age.  And I'm getting lazy.  And the present day pit tootsies would also laugh.

Maybe I'll go buy an ATV too. 

900F

 It actually really did all start with the snow. But of course there is more to it than that And my wife is way to smart to fall for that if I used it as reasoning. I feel lucky, my wife and I don't haggle over $$. But then we spend it carefully and discuss major purchases and don't spend what we can't afford. She went with me to look  at them, I commented maybe I should get a smaller machine, she said "get what you want, no sense not being happy a year or two down the road"

 I did look carefully at all of them and narrowed it down to Polaris and the Kawasaki. It is a tough choice, the polaris is a good 140#'s heavier. It's probably a better untility vehicle, the Kawasaki being a better sport. It has a lower center of gravity and handles better. I won't be doing any serious off road rock climbing so I won't miss the extra two inches of clearance. Mostly sticking to existing mtn roads. I also looked at various boards and consumer reports and the Polaris seemed to have a higher incidence of breakdowns. And did I say the Kawasaki really hauls butt I've always been a horsepower guy and appearently my hiatis hasn't changed that. I need to look into warranty issues. They all seem to come with a six month warranty which sucks IMO. I found on the Kawasaki site they offer a extended warranty up to four years. I need to find out the cost and ask the dealer why he didn't tell me that as I asked several questions about warranty issues.

CB

 I'm speaking of the Helena dealer. I'm not familiar with any of the Great Falls people.

I have a Honda Four Trax 250, 1985. This was the first year of the 4-wheeler after all the law suits from the 3-wheeler era. Mine runs perfect except for being very cold blooded. I have to kick start it in the winter the first start of the day then I can use the electric start. It uses no oil and it plows my driveway which is about 250 yards long. I have a tractor  that I use if we get a foot or more but anything less and the atv is so much easier and faster. The thing is only 2-wheel drive and I don't use tire chains just alot of ballast on the rear rack. As for the Kaw my buddy has a 2002 650 Prairie and as you say "it's a freaking blast". The thing I like the most is the solid rear axle. It launches and slides the rear end so much better than the independant rears, they just can't keep up in the tight turns and accelerating out of them. The independants have a better ride but are not in the same class if you ride aggressively. A note on the maint. the Kaw needs a new drive belt at least once a year and they are $75-80. The Polaris doesn't go through belts like that but it doesn't perform like the Kaw either.

DD