The best four wheeler ever made!

[yamaha225dr]

The Honda Fourtrax 300! I bought this 91 Model and have been enjoying the four wheel drive and just cruising around. Honda really hit a home run with these machines and there legacy still lives on today.


http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t294/Dale06_photo/CAM00319_zps81ae45e8.jpg

[taiterator]

Yeah, these are great quads. I have a 91 also. Still going strong after 22 years:beer

[swampthang]

There pretty good 4wheelers. Only thing I didn't like about mine was the difference in gear ratio from front to back. If you run the same size tires front and back on hard surfaces it will bind up bad. It also made for poor steering in mud as the front end tends to push rather then bit and turn. Keep an eye on the timing chain. Mine let loose and jumped time when I shut it off once. I have sense up graded to an even more bullet proof atv the old trx 350 foreman. Only atv with a solid front axle and a 350x engine stuffed in it.

[yamaha225dr]

Here is a pic of it and my 250r together.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t294/Dale06_photo/CAM00322_zpsb63db653.jpg

[6speedthumper]

I have 3 of those bikes! Dad bought his 300 new in 99. Mine is an 88, and I've done a mild build on it. And, my mother uses another 88 around the farm. They are the best quad ever made. Fun, tough, fairly nimble, and easy to maintain. I've figured my dad's to have over 30k miles on her, and I've never been into the engine. Only things not original are the rear brakes, tires, and air filter. Hell, the 14 year old factory battery still works!

[yamaha225dr]

The worst thing about them are the drum brakes. This one has the high lifter disc brake conversion but the rears are gone. It's not mint but still runs strong!

[C.J]

Lmao I don't think you even need brakes for a 300 though! Just drop gears to first, slow slipping on the clutch. If you REALLY need to kill speed drop first to super low and hold on! LOL

We've got 2 300's currently and have had A LOT more of them. All my buddies started off with them and I've done so much up keep on their bikes,,,, I mean shoot, I had to change the plugs one time! LOL

Th only problem we've had with them other than them being heavy and not floating is the rear end bearings going out. But that's a given when riding the river

[Buck Snort]

I have had seven quads. I am not saying this particular model is the best quad ever, but I loved my 2006 Kawi Brute Force 650 sra. Wished I never sold it!

[6speedthumper]

I've never had any issues with the drums on ours. The key is to run EBC "G" series shoes front and back, and replace EVERY brake seal/o-ring. Also, most people don't know how to reseal the rear drum cover to the barking plate properly, and water easily gets in. I ride through mud and water (not mud bogging, that's just asking to kill a bike) and I never get water in my brakes.

[coolpool]

I agree that these were THE best quads ever made. Not the fastest, smoothest or quickest to stop but they are very capable and easy to maintain. And they might be the only quad with a kicker as a back up. I've got two 1998's and run them in the unforgiving muskeg up here. My boy added a snorkel to get a little deeper on one of them. Just have to maintain them more.

[yamaha225dr]

I agree that these were THE best quads ever made. Not the fastest, smoothest or quickest to stop but they are very capable and easy to maintain. And they might be the only quad with a kicker as a back up. I've got two 1998's and run them in the unforgiving muskeg up here. My boy added a snorkel to get a little deeper on one of them. Just have to maintain them more.

That is what I am saying. All of the new quads are more powerful but I bet they aren't close in reliability.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Best quad ever you say???

'88 TRX250r! Nuff said! :beer

[Mr. Clean]

Best quad ever you say???

'88 TRX250r! Nuff said! :beer

Ha!

Best quad ever made 89 TRX250R!!!!

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Ha!

Best quad ever made 89 TRX250R!!!!

I just love the red color scheme of the '88 ;) It's dead sexy! :D

[6speedthumper]

Yeah man! They aren't huge, bulky, top heavy, or maintence hogs. Just a great quad. You can work on the farm or job site all day, and still hit the trails with it afterwords. I love mine. Don't ride it much anymore, other then farm work. But, she'll never go anywhere.

[yamaha225dr]

Guess I should have mentioned the best utility quad! LOL

[yamaha225dr]

What tires do you all recommend? I have a set of stock sized tires on 12" stock wheels for hunting due to the rules on tire height and lug depth, so I am thinking about getting some pretty aggressive tires for the wheels above but staying in the 25" tire size.

[6speedthumper]

Stock sizes are 24x9-11 rear, 23x8-11 front. 12" rims are needed up front to use the HightLifter disc brake kit. I personally like to stick with stock size on these bikes. Because you cannot re-gear the diff, the taller the tire, the taller the over gearing= more power needed to get things going. HOWEVER, Web makes a bolt in cam that is a great all around power improvement. I have it in mine, and it is a torquey fun cam. I also have a SUPERTRAPP IDS2 tunable exhaust, hotshots cdi, and Wiseco 10.25:1 in it as well. It's fairly mild, but, damn is it a great package. If taller tires are what you want, the cam and exhaust will really wake the ole girl. But, this bike does have a SUPER low 1st gear, so it's not like it won't get the job done. Also, I like to run a more "all terrian" tread design on mine. My dd has the Charlisle AT489 and they go anywhere. They roll smoothly, don't wear you out, and he has never gotten stuck. These bikes aren't prone to getting stuck, unless you flat out submerge it in the nastiest stuff that even animals steer clear of! lol.

[yamaha225dr]

The extra set of wheels are stock sized but use stock 12" wheels rather then 11. Look around the Internet, there are kits for changing the gear ratios on these and most other quads now. They have an 18% and 54% percent gear reduction for the 300 Hondas.I am running the 489's right now and like them but they are worn bad.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Guess I should have mentioned the best utility quad! LOL

No, I got the jist of this thread... I just couldn't resist. ;) :beer

[6speedthumper]

Well damn... I had no idea they made re-gearing kits for them. I don't go into mud with mine, or run rediculasly huge tires, so I've never had the need to look into it. Pretty cool though.

[spentar]

Wow. I have a red 99' 300 sitting in my garage that's in mint condition. Original tires still in great condition and not a spec or rust or dents anywhere. Plastics still mint! My dad rode it around our yard ha ha then bought other things.

[Dirtweed]

Spentar everything your Dad has is mint! Of course I'm working on that as well. Check out the pics of Connor's YZ125 in the Bike forum.
We should have it together by the next time we head out your way.


Darrin

[tri-shee]

Yamaha 350

[yamaha225dr]

The only thing better about the Yamaha is the dual range transmission. It's just as reliable but the ergonomics on those things are awkward, I don't know why Yamaha made the handle bars so high and the seat low.

[C.J]

Here's a Fourtrax like what y'all never seen.

http://youtu.be/Rx7-6wykPdI

http://youtu.be/uoD7FJiabm8

A family friend of ours found this floating out in the middle of a swamp and they heli-lifted it out. Brought it to my family's shop and they re-enforced the frame (completely rotted through and through) and put a carb and new CDI + regulator on it. It doesn't have the drum/paddle wheels on it in the second video just for ease of moving it around lmao
It was found in about 1997 or 98

[6speedthumper]

I'd have liked to have seen what it looked like when they first found it!

[C.J]

I'd have liked to have seen what it looked like when they first found it!

The exact same way but the frame was rusted through and through all over so they welded in support against all the frame tubes. Lots of angle iron added in there

[6speedthumper]

I ment the spot where they found it. Pretty cool to be in the woods and stumble across a forgotten wheeler...

[C.J]

Oh!!!!!! It was floating in the middle of a swamp. Our family friend saw it as they were flying over, just a big shiny thing in the middle of a bunch of trees lol

[6speedthumper]

Damn, that must have been freakin cool!

[yamaha225dr]

I got a good deal on a set of tires and wheels Wednesday, they are 25x9.5-12 Outlaws on a set of STI wheels. It's way more tire then I wanted but after going through a little mud with them that almost got me stuck before, I am hesitant on getting rid of them now. They pull really good. I also got rid of the worn out stock shocks and installed a set from a Rancher 350,they firmed up the ride and gave me a two inch lift.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t294/Dale06_photo/CAM00331_zps775dea91.jpg

[rg97]

Yamaha 350
The only yamaha 350 i would buy has two cylinders, BIG expansion chambers, and a powerband that leaves you on the ground while it rolls away!

[ditchmud]

I like my 350 wolverine!

Plenty of power, reliable, pull start back up, and it's a sportier utility quad!
I've been abusing mine since I bought it new in 2000. I've buried it, submerged it, rolled it, flipped it, and it just keeps going!
I've replaced bearing in the axles and u joints but that's all. I have oversized dirt devil tires because the stock dunlaps loved to get punctured.

Most of my quad friends have sport quads and I can run through the trails just as fast for the most part. It is a little more work being 4x4 to maneuver but I manage.

I have had many other quads and this by far is my favorite followed by a 400ex with reverse.

[6speedthumper]

The 1st gen Wolverine was another great quad, and imo, was the closet machine to the TRX300fw. I feel the TRX was more comfortable and certainly had more forgiving suspension. But, that Wolverine is just bulletproof. I have an '88 Warrior I built, and it has no trouble keeping up with a 450.

When people get onto the topic of "best quads" I always state the older bikes. In my mind, a "best quad" is one that is strong, reliable, atleast fairly comfortable, is loads of fun, and has two means of starting it. Who wants to get stranded in the woods with a dead battery or bad starter and not be able to pull that rope or kick that lever? Sure, there are LOTS of really awesome quads on the market now that squash a Warrior, TRX300fw, Wolverine, LT230e, etc... But I know all those will start, run, and not leave me stranded. And, I'll still have fun!

[King Trikester]

I grew up on a 1989 300 fortrax, mud bugs all around, the thing is bullet proof, goes any where. I beat the piss out if that Thing, rode it almost every day after school, endless anounts of hard hours on it, zero problems with it, it will fire up first or second kick right now and still runs like brand new, doesn't use a drop of oil. Best 4 wheeled machine ever built if your talking about reliability

[slashfan7964]

I personally prefer older quads and trikes as far as everything but I can't deny that my grandpa's '04 Bombardier V-twin 400 is a nice quad. Haven't seen it get stuck, it's pulled a few trucks out of the mud, and it has a pullstart backup. The battery only went bad once, but overall it's great and is really smooth. Can't feel any bumps on it.

[6speedthumper]

I remember years ago when my dad had to pull a guy up a rutted out hill about 300' tall, steep at the bottom, and "wavy" at the top. Guy was on a 200sx Honda, weighed a solid 250, my dad weighed at least the same and that ole 300 4x4 of his hauled it's weight, dad's weight, the other guy and his bike's weight, up that freakin hell. That Honda of dad's sounded like a banshee when he reached the top in 1st gear! Been a superb bike...

[atc500x]

Trx300 all the way,here is my setup for the front brake,I hate drum!!
250r disc and caliper fit easy!181239181240181241181242181243

[09RappySE]

The best four wheeler ever made!

My Raptor...:D

[sanchez]

Any one (of yours) u will let me drive

[6speedthumper]

Trx300 all the way,here is my setup for the front brake,I hate drum!!
250r disc and caliper fit easy!181239181240181241181242181243


Dude! Just how does that all go together?

[Blown 331]

Best in my opinion is a 400EX. Ive had 2 and bought one of those new but I dont currently own one.

[yamaha225dr]

I bought an 07 400ex a few years ago and it was a nice quad, it just didn't impress me as much as my 06 KFX 400. I have sold the 300 I posted about. My friend offered to buy it and gave me my asking price.

[Blown 331]

All opinion obviously and I know the KFX has a bit more power than the Honda, it is 20 years newer technology after all. But the thing about the Honda is, it is a 30 year old engine design. Very proven, very reliable, great aftermarket support, plenty of them out there and the handling is among the best.