Alright folks, buckle up because today’s ride is about that Yamaha quad bike I finally got my hands on. Honestly don’t know why folks buy anything else after this.
The Old Pain First
See, I used to ride this beat-up old quad, some no-name thing. Looked tough, but man, riding it? Total headache. Constantly fiddling with carburetors, felt like riding a shaky washing machine, broke down more often than I got coffee. Barely made it through my usual trails without wanting to chuck the thing off a cliff. Needed a change. Desperately.
Dragging My Feet to the Dealer
Heard folks raving about Yamaha. Honestly doubted it – thought “Yeah yeah, brand hype.” But my buddy practically shoved me into his truck, drove me to the Yamaha dealer one Saturday. Stood there looking at a bunch, ended up eyeballing this Grizzly 700. Sales guy didn’t push, just said “Fire it up, feel it.” So I did.
First Fire-Up & That Test Ride
Turned the key, pressed the button. Bam! Thing roared to life instantly. No coughing, no sputtering, just smooth. Jumped on, found the seat surprisingly comfy right away. Drove it around the lot – smooth steering, felt planted. Then took it onto their little practice dirt track. Got a little crazy, hit some bumps intentionally. Shockingly stable! Wasn’t bouncing around like a ping-pong ball.
Got brave, hammered the throttle climbing a steep mound. This beast of a motor just dug in and pulled without hesitation. Didn’t bog down, didn’t sound strained. Felt effortless. Right then, knew this junker life was over.
Taking the Plunge & Months of Riding
Bit the bullet, handed over the cash (oof, my wallet cried), thought I overpaid. Boy was I wrong. Took it home, immediately loaded it into my trailer the next weekend. Went to my favorite spot – muddy hill climb that always murdered my old quad.
Didn’t even think twice, pointed the nose up, squeezed the throttle. It walked right up like it was flat ground. Jaw literally dropped. Mud flying everywhere, soaking wet, grinning like an idiot. That ride told me everything.
Been beating on it for months now:
- Hard trails? Handles like it’s on rails.
- Deep mud pit? Threw it in 4WD and plowed through.
- Just hauling firewood? Felt smooth on the farm road.
- Maintenance? Open the hood, stuff is laid out simple. Oil changes are a breeze, no wrestling.
Not one hiccup. Not one “Why won’t it start?” morning. It just works.
Why it Eats the Competition?
Four things hammered home for me:
- The Engine Ain’t Playing: That motor pulls hard from a standstill and keeps pulling. Doesn’t feel gutless anywhere. Torque for days when you need it hauling or climbing.
- Built Like a Tank, Lasts Like One: I’m not gentle. Rocks? Bounced off. Tree limbs? Scraped it. Creek crossings? Did it cold. Thing shrugs it off. Materials feel solid, welds look clean, nothing feels flimsy or cheap.
- Rides Like a Couch (Almost): Seriously, compared to anything else I’ve bounced on? Glide over the bumps is way smoother. Back isn’t screaming after an hour. It soaks up the trail trash.
- No Headaches Required: Biggest relief? Just get on and go. No fiddling, no mystery problems. Reliable as my morning coffee. Doesn’t leak, doesn’t complain in the cold.
Stopped thinking about it months ago. It’s just my quad now. Always there, always ready. Ain’t buying anything else. Period. Yamaha figured this stuff out years ago, and my busted knuckles and sore back are thanking them.
Go try one. Seriously. Feel it yourself. You won’t look back.