have a bead on a 1987 Yamaha Moto 4 200cc (non 4×4) for under 1k. anyone have any thoughts one way or another about this machine? Mainly interested in it for ice fishing/pulling a portable around the lake.
Just me but I’ve had my Grizzly 660 4×4 stuck enough that I would stay away from a 2 wheel drive machine. With good tires or chains you might be OK if you know your limits but you might be surprised how much harder it can be to get through deep snow pulling a shack vs driving empty. My advice would be to keep looking if you can.
My grandpa has a 350 moto4 2×4 from the same timeframe. It has been a great machine. He also ran it real easy.
I agree with curley tail,and you may not be able to find parts for something that old,put the money towards something in 4 x 4,and a lot newer
Keeping in mind the limitations…. that entire stretch of Yamaha ATV’s were pretty darn bullet proof.
hmmm. sounds like some mixed reviews. I realize a non 4×4 isn’t ideal for ice fishing. unfortunately for under 1k the options are somewhat limited. I figured at least with a machine that small it would be light enough to where when (not if) I get stuck it wouldbt be too much of a pain to get out. im sort of on the fence about it myself
have a bead on a 1987 Yamaha Moto 4 200cc (non 4×4) for under 1k. anyone have any thoughts one way or another about this machine? Mainly interested in it for ice fishing/pulling a portable around the lake.
crappie both of my cousins bought those same machines new in 87 like others have stated pretty puller proof nice little machines just have to know the limitations. Kinda like a two wheeled truck vs 4whd
Anything is possible but some not likely. My opinion if it were me it would be to save more money and do it right with a little newer, heavier, 4×4 and more CC’s for pulling a shed around. I have two Yamaha’s that have served my purpose. Good luck but I know what your decision will be.
Everyone would vote 4X4 but budgets do not always allow it. Get a set of chains better than walking.
now remember they never get stuck or brake down till they are at the farthest point from the truck, cant tell you about that bike but I have a older Honda 250 2 wheel drive it was good on the ice 50% of the time
If you do buy it, get a pair of chains.
Save up and find a 2000 or so 4X4 in the 400cc range.
I found a 1993 Honda 400cc 4×4 for 1500$. dude is a mechanic and gets old ones with problems and fixes them. Maybe that would be a better machine to look at.
Yep
Well crappie66369 that sounds like a good move. Already comes with a mechanic that can help you out if you have issues.
Well crappie66369 that sounds like a good move. Already comes with a mechanic that can help you out if you have issues.
he told me over the phone that the engine threw a piston and Honda will not fix them without Honda parts, which are apparently hard to get or expensive, one of the two. So what he plans on doing is just putting in a hot rod piston and he assured me it would run just fine. He said he goes through the whole machine to make sure its in good order. All of this sort of sounds both good and bad – on the one hand you have a “mechanic” looking over the ATV to make sure its in good working order, and on the other hand you have a “mechanic” selling a machine found in the wanted ads adding non OEM parts to a 23 year old machine to get it working again. Oh well, guess it comes down to sorting out who you trust and who you don’t. I may go take a look at that machine and test her out. Price of doing business when you buy used…
The guy sounds honest and upfront… and the 2 wheel drive would work find on hard pack or plowed ice roads, but you can’t venture off them very far. I do know chains are a must… I have taken mine out and not put in 4×4 and it works most times, but when it doesn’t, man it’s nice to be able to hit a switch and have 4×4 
Have fun shopping and help me pray for more ice ! 
I understand why Honda or anyone does that when it comes to warranty issues if they are the ones to do the repairs.
however,there are many reliable aftermarket parts suppliers out there,Wiesco for example has made pistons for about every brand of engine on the market,and has done so for many years.
if it starts and idles easy,doesnt sputter and blows smoke,give it a test drive,run it like you stole it,if it sounds good and everything works properly,I wouldnt be afraid of it,ask for at least a ninety day warranty.
check the suspension over well,does it track straight? check out the over all ride quality,I know its used,but,
like they say,you pays your money,and yous takes your chances.
I have an 88 Honda 200 2×4. It’s basically like the “Big Red”3 wheelers. Big fat wide tires in the back help it get around. The only down side is it has small skinny tires up front. I’m thinking about rigging up some skis for the front. But I’ve had good lulu just with it so far, but I haven’t ventured to far off any kind of path where there isn’t any deep snow
Could be fairly maintenance free or be a big headache. Hard to know. But you should have some decent mechanical skills if buying anything that old. I’ve been running a 1984 Honda three wheeler that my dad bought about 15 years ago. Can’t even count the number of times the thing wouldn’t start or quit on me. I think the carbs are currently plugged up, haven’t had it running since August.
I see the old Polaris 2-stroke Trail Boss machines, both 4×4 and 4×2 for sale quiet often for the 800-1200 range. I don’t know how good these machines are overall, but the people I know who have had 2 of them for 10+ years have had good luck with them. Might be an option if they are overall good machines.
I’ve never been a fan of buying machines that were rebuilt after bigtime engine failures.
Grouse
I’ve got a ’95 Sportsman 400 4×4 2-stroke I picked up a couple years ago for $1,500. That machine is bullet-proof. Sits out all night in sub zero temps and always fires right up in the morning. Simultaneously, my and my buddies’ 4-strokes from the late 2000’s have dead batteries from trying to start them. Love that machine.
Similar findings, I have a two-stroke carbed 98 Polaris Explorer, started up after sitting out on the ice this weekend. Drove up into the resort and found two unlucky guys trying to start their 4 stroke EFI after hauling it up with them to the lake.
I’ve got a ’95 Sportsman 400 4×4 2-stroke I picked up a couple years ago for $1,500. That machine is bullet-proof. Sits out all night in sub zero temps and always fires right up in the morning. Simultaneously, my and my buddies’ 4-strokes from the late 2000’s have dead batteries from trying to start them. Love that machine.
Run it. If the snow or slush gets too deep, you might have to park it.bring a shovel and look at skis for the front wheels.
I bought a big bore Polaris, that is yet to be tested, this year but grew up with a 1996 Polaris sportsman 400 2 stroke and that thing is great. My parents still have the 400 and the only problem it has ever had other than minor routine maintenance is replacing the battery every 5 years or so. Even with a dead battery it is easy to pull start. It doesn’t have a lot of miles but has plowed every snow since bought new in 1996. The 400’s are light enough to lift and move around if you get stuck where my big bore is way to heavy for that. I agree with the 2 other posts above.
I used an 84 honda 3 wheeler for years on the ice. The old ones (honda’s and yamaha’s) are easy to work on. They are light enough that if you do get stuck you just get off and move the wheeler.
If you do look at the older ones, make sure you run it long enough to get it good and hot. The rings wear out and you wont know it until it warms up. Another way to tell is by looking for a fouled plug if it is a four stroke.
I HAVE A 95 POLARIS 300 2X4 AND WORKS REALLY GOOD. THERE AGAIN HOW MUCH SNOW YOU HAVE WILL DETERMINE HOW USEFUL IT WILL BE I USE CHAINS ON MINE AND POWER NEVER HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH A PORTABLE. USE A WINCH AND SOMETHING TO PUT IN AN ICE HOLE TO ANCHOR THE CABLE TO AND PULL YOURSELF OUT. LITE ENOUGH TO MANHANDLE A BIT. FUN LITTLE MACHINE AND CAN PLOW QUITE A BIT OF SNOW WITH IT.
Get a set of tracks for the rear and skis for the front. I know…those additions easily blow the budget, ya got any rich uncles?
I have a Yamaha warrior that I fished with for years. The worst I ever got into was 10 or 12 inches of slush and I had to walk along side it when driving. The chains worked like paddles moving it.
Dave Koonce had and may still have a Honda three wheeler, heck a few years ago he put skis on the front of it. Any way he got along just fine with it.
Two wheel drive works fine with chains but like some said know your limits.
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