The Best Used ATV for Sale?Find Out Which Used ATVs are Best in Class.Folks looking for a good used ATV for sale are always asking which one is the best in a certain category. We thought it was about time to answer that question. Thousands of owner surveys were researched, forums were consulted, tests and reviews were read, and dealers were questioned. After all that, we believe we have a great list of winners. So here they are - the winners of the best used ATV for sale awards for each four wheeler class. YouthHonda TRX 90 - A major update in 2006 models added electric starting (highly recommended!). Good power and performance with Honda reliability. Great choice in a used ATV for sale. 2nd Choice - Yamaha Raptor 80 - Reputation for toughness. Simple and easy to maintain means more time riding and less time working on it. Beginner SportHonda TRX 250EX - starting in 2006 it came with the Honda Sport Clutch to prevent stalling, making it even easier for beginners to ride. That puts it right at the top of our best used ATV for sale list. This sport quad had one of the highest owner satisfaction ratings of any ATV on the market. We think when the folks that spent their hard earned cash recommend a used ATV for sale that highly - it speaks volumes about the real value of this great little sport quad. Honda keeps it easy to keep running with a solid air cooled engine, manual shifting transmission with the easy to operate Sport Clutch, and shaft drive. That all adds up to a lot more time riding them than working on them. Which is exactly what makes this used Honda ATV such a great choice for a beginner. 2nd Choice - Suzuki QuadSport LT-Z250 - This was a close one, with the Honda just edging ahead with a slightly broader appeal. As a used ATV for sale - still a lot of bang for the buck. Like the Honda, the Suzuki is a favorite among owners. It echoes the themes of simplicity and functionality that make it and the Honda great for beginning or smaller riders. It shares a lot of the same running gear with the Ozark 250 but with pure sport quad styling. So you're really getting the strong utility mechanical parts with the style of a sport machine. Air cooled engine, 5 speed manual shifting transmission with automatic clutch, and shaft drive keep the maintenance simple and easy. Exactly what you want with used ATVs for sale. Beginner UtilityHonda Recon 250 - Proof that less can be more. The simplicity of an air cooled engine and the easy maintenance of sealed brakes and shaft drive make this a great beginner's ATV. The Recon has good power at lower speeds and nimble handling on trails. That, combined with lighter weight and a smaller size make it easy to handle for new riders. And, according to owner surveys, the legendary Honda reliability is once again confirmed with the Recon 250. Basic maintenance keeps it running for years with very little trouble. Combine all that with a bargain level price - and you have our top choice for the best used ATV for sale in this class. 2nd Choice - Suzuki Ozark 250 - Another great example of a simple, reliable, easy to maintain four wheeler for the new rider. We think the Ozark is a little sportier than the Honda with a slight performance edge. Simple functionality is the theme again with an air cooled engine, manual shift transmission with an automatic clutch, and shaft drive. You won't find a bunch of gimmicky electronics or foo-foo equipment on these ATVs. You will find everything you need for basic chores and trail riding with a big dose of fun. Much like the Honda, the Ozark is highly rated by it's owners. Good performance and reliability will tend to do that. Another great choice for a beginning rider or just someone that needs a solid used ATV for sale at a value price. Small 4x4Yamaha Bruin 350 4x4 - The Bruin may be smaller in size but not in it's ability to do everything most ATV riders would ever want.Actually, the Yamaha is big enough for most adults while still small enough not to be intimidating. The engine has good power with a strong mid-range. Suspension and handling are good. The 4x4 Bruin has the good Yamaha CVT transmission with on demand front differential lock. This is one of the best working drive lines in the real world on any used 4 wheelers out there. Chances are if you're looking at 4x4 ATVs, you want to know how the utility side of things stacks up. Well, the Bruin comes with front and rear racks, along with a 2 inch receiver type hitch. So it will handle most chores, and when you're through working, it makes a great play and trail ATV with great response and maneuverability. Reliability ratings were excellent so there's not much to worry about. A best buy used ATV for sale if you like Yamahas. 2nd Choice - Honda Rancher 4x4 TRX 350 - The Rancher came in several versions, but as a used ATV for sale, we think the manual shift (TRX 350 FM) is the best bet. The slick Honda automatic transmission with the electric shifting is fine, but they are prone to some problems and are breathtakingly expensive to fix. That's a chance we don't recommend you take. The 5 speed Rancher 350 is a better choice as a used ATV. Performance is really better without the power loss from the automatic tranny. Since we're control freaks - we like to shift ourselves anyway! You still get the ultra reliable Honda engine and the good 4x4 driveline. Suspension and handling are stable and predictable at any sane speed. But if you're into high performance riding - well, this ain't it. What it is though - is one of the most popular models Honda has built, with thousands being sold. Which means it should be easy to find a good used one. Mid-Size 4x4Honda Foreman TRX 450 FE - When it comes to a good used ATV for sale - simpler is better. That's exactly why we chose the Honda Foreman with 5 speed transmission as our mid-size winner.The air cooled engine continues the theme of simplicity and the well proved Honda 4x4 drive system is pretty bullet proof too. Don't feel deprived though - the electric shifting tranny is entertaining and less prone to problems than the automatics. Power and handling are good but with the emphasis on utility. But don't think the Foreman can't get it done on the trails either. There's not any terrain it can't handle - just don't expect to go fast doing it. Hondas are popular in wet areas since they don't use a belt system. The extra torque of the bigger engine can turn the larger tires used in muddy terrain, which makes the Foreman a good choice for mud riding. The big Foreman may not be a technology leader - but it will probably still be running long after all of them are forgotten. Remember - simple is the way to go when it comes to buying used ATVs. The Honda Foreman is one of the best. 2nd Choice - Polaris Sportsman 500 HO - The Sportsman is the big tank of an ATV in this class - it's also a big favorite. It reflects traditional American attributes as the biggest and heaviest used ATV for sale in the mid-size class. Owners liked the plush ride, extra storage capacity, and wide array of accessories available. And like a fat guy that can dance - the Polaris is deceivingly agile on the trail with good handling, brakes, and steering. The Sportsman 500 HO is by far the highest rated of any used Polaris ATV model in owner surveys. We gave the Honda the nod in this class because there were fewer reported problems that required repairs. If you need a larger ATV and prefer a softer ride, the Sportsman 500 is a great choice. Reliability was reported as very good overall, but look to do more maintenance than on a Honda. Large 4x4Suzuki King Quad 700 - The big King Quad received more owner survey responses than any other Suzuki used ATV for sale. Not surprising to anyone that has ridden one - they were overwhelmingly positive.The big Suzuki has a lot of power with a liquid cooled and fuel injected single cylinder engine. At the same time it's easy to ride and not intimidating to new riders. We think that's one reason for the broad appeal of this model. The King Quad 700 can handle just about any utility chore you can dream up, and then keep up with most sporty quads on the trails. Handling, suspension, and brakes work well enough for all but the lunatic fringe. With decent tires there aren't many places you can't go. As used ATVs, these are a little trickier because of all the sophisticated technology. Reliability ratings were very good so if you put the effort into finding a good used one, you should be fine. But one that has not been well maintained could be trouble. 2nd Choice - Yamaha Grizzly 660/700 - This one was close and there is not much difference between these two as far as a good used ATV for sale goes. The Yamaha just didn't have as many owner responses and they rated the Grizzly 660 a tad lower than the King Quad. Like most big bore 4x4 ATVs, the Grizzly has more than enough power to do anything most of us would ever want. The Yamaha has good enough handling, suspension, and brakes to keep things entertaining. The older Grizzlies have carburetors so they may be a little more finicky about starting than the Suzuki. But carbs are easier and cheaper to repair if you do have problems. The only other problem mentioned frequently were various axle problems so make sure to check that on any Grizzly you're considering. Overall reliability was good other than those areas and riding style and maintenance may have more to do with the axle problem than any fundamental deficiency. You really can't go wrong with either of these 4x4 ATVs. SportHonda TRX 400 - The highest rated and most popular sport quad Honda makes. They have been around for several years, but we like the models from 2005 and up since they came with reverse gear. One of the best used quads for sale you can get.The Honda 400 keeps things simple with a bullet proof air cooled engine, manual clutch and 5 speed transmission. Electric start, front and rear disc brakes, and chain drive top the list of features. It's not a racer (wouldn't be bad at cross country though) but it is a great all around sport, trail, and play quad. Easy to ride with a wide powerband, good handling, and good brakes. Not as intimidating as the 450 class race quads. The Honda TRX models are a great choice for people with dirt bike experience. The overall riding experience is much more similar to dirt bikes than a utility style ATV. A lot of these were sold so keep looking until you find one in really good shape. 2nd Choice - Suzuki QuadSport Z400 - This is another popular sport quad choice. It's a little sportier than the Honda with a liquid cooled engine and lighter weight. Still very rider friendly and easier to go fast on than you might think. Earlier models (2003-2004) seemed to suffer more problems so a later model Z400 may be the best bet. The water cooled engine will require more maintenance than the Honda, but it's not really that bad. I would say this is a higher performance quad than the Honda but may also be somewhat less reliable. Both are excellent entry level sport quads for adults and both are great trail ATVs. The Suzuki just does everything a little faster! You could probably even dabble in some racing with the Quad Sport without embarrassing yourself. It could possibly be competitive in some of the cross country classes. Not so much for motocross. They tend to get ridden hard by younger riders so keep looking for a good one. Some frame and swingarm cracking were common on Z400s that were abused so be sure to check for that. A great all around used ATV for sale for sport riders. RacingYamaha YFZ 450 - We're not gonna lie - buying any used racing ATV is risky business. But if that's what you're determined to do we think the Yamaha is the best bet for a racing used ATV for sale.It can be fairly competitive at both motocross and cross country out of the box. That was the main reason it got the nod over the Suzuki. Find one with upgraded rear suspension and you shouldn't have to spend much more. If you don't want to race but want a sport quad with more performance, the YFZ 450 is a great all around play bike too. This again gave it a slight edge over the Suzook. 2nd Choice - Suzuki QuadRacer R450 - If this came down to just the best motocross racer - the Suzuki would win. And that narrower focus is why we thought the Yamaha was a better choice overall as a used ATV for sale. That's not to say it wasn't close. The QuadRacer is a terrific sport quad, especially for the price. The width and low center of gravity that make it a great motocrosser limit it's abilities on tight trails and cross country races. But if you like to play in wide open spaces or wider trails - you can't go wrong with the Suzuki. Come to think of it - you can't really go wrong with either one of these! More top used quads are listed in this article. Related links: Used ATVs - How To Find the Best Buys from used ATV for sale. World of ATVs Home from used ATV for sale.
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