•••Yamaha BIG BEAR atv•••?

Picked up an older 350 model real cheap. Anything I need to keep an eye on? Will these handle about 175 pounds of gear?

I have a 400 that has been used in a salt water environment for 12 years, still running well, just stay on top of wheel bearing maintenance. Very dependable machines.

Batteries and it's connections

Should handle that very good, my father inlaw had one years ago. He could pack a half a elk out very easy. It was a very good machine. His had the hi - low range. And could go anywhere.

Thanks for the replies!

Funny story. Years ago when that model machine was new , I was up in Maine at a hunting camp. The guide had a Yamaha Big Bear he used to run bait up to bait sites for bear hunters. He left the machine in the woods as he used it to re bait sets. In that area , small town , nobody messed with your machine.

One morning as he arrived at the machine , he noticed right away the seat was ripped. During the night a bear had climbed onto the machine attracted by the remains of spilled bait . It left a near perfect paw print by slashing through the seat to get a grip. Very big paw , definitely a ' Big Bear '

I told the guide he should contact Yamaha as I thought they would be interested or at least be amused by the torn up seat. Heck , they might even give him a new seat just for the heck out of it.

Had quite a few atvs over the years and the Big Bear was the best out of all of them - not one problem at all , a bullet proof tank.

mine is a 2003. still ticking!

I got a 05 runs great and pretty much bullet proof as long as you don't abuse it.

Put a new air filter on it.

Thanks for all the advice! Its an older 95 or 96. Those bad years?

I bought an "88" big bear, 350 cc new and I am still driving it. I have rebuilt the racks and bumper on it though.

Thats about what ours is because our old one was stolen in 93 or 94.

One of the things I love about it is how simple it is... some of these other things Ive been given to use on properties by the landowner are overly complicated.

Only bad thing about the early 350 cc big bears is you had to have the shoulders of a rhino to steer them in the mountains. Good dependable rigs.

my 400 has been bullet proof. wish they still made them

As close to a honda as your gonna get, almost bullet proof machines.

Ive got an '89 big bear 350 ..yanked a 2 year old bull moose up a not so great cutline in 2011 she struggled a bit but made it just fine ..then sat for 6 years when i decided to use it for trapping .through some new gas and some seafoam in her with a new battery and she fired right up

Yamaha makes some great machines. One of my hunting buddies has an old Big Bear and swears by it. I've had an '03 Kodiak 400 since new and it's a tank - just routine maintenance, no issues. As far as payload, if I could stack it on it would carry it.

Thanks for all the cool pics!

A Big Bear 400 at work.
Just bought a used 350 with plow and aluminum trailer I'm using for plowing my driveway. Pushes way more than I thought it would.

Nice Rally! Thats what @270 lbs of beavers?

Not sure Black Spot, but that big tail on the left center was a brute. I don't weigh many anymore.

You need a trailer for the bike Rally.I had to change the shock and big spring on the back of my little 300 honda 4-trax after a few years of loading it up like that,lol.