A Challenge: Help Me Search For A Chinese UTV 4X4

[jeffdeq]

Well every project starts out with an objective and the title of this thread pretty much sums up my feelings on the subject. So let's begin with what I found.

First of all I decided that I wanted to do all my comparison shopping on the internet first. Narrow the field down to a couple choices and then go do a hands-on inspection. It is not difficult to find the big 5 japanese utvs online; Kawasaki, Yamaha, Polaris, John Deere, and Artic Cat. In order to save a lot of time and not go into great detail, I decided to look at the chinese made utility vehicles due to lower pricing. Botom line, the starting prices on japanese utvs are nearly double that of many of the chinese utvs. This level of pricing difference is enough for me to give the chinese manufacturers a shot at my business.

With that said, I started doing my internet searches using Google. If anyone has had better luck with another search engine please let me know. I used all the jargon of the day in my searches but I found that to bring up the chinese vehicles I had to use a motor size with "ATV" or "UTV". Most of the internet returns for the chinese products were from the chinese import companies trying to attract dealers and distributers. The good thing about these sites is that they have lots of pictures and detailed specifications for the utvs.

650cc vs 800cc

It quickly became apparent that I needed to decide on what size engine I wanted in the utv. I am a big guy and so are my 3 brothers. If any one of them were to ride with me I think that it would really tax any engine under 500cc. Also most of those machines only come in 2 wheel drive (4X2). Some utvs with 500cc have 4 wheel drive (4X4) but the 650cc and 800cc are all pretty much 4X4s. Therefore I narrowed my choices to 650cc and 800cc utility vehicles.

Kazuma vs Roketa

The one utv that initially attracted my attention was the Kazuma Mammoth 800 4X4 with the 796cc Suzuki F8B 3 cylinder and CVT transmission. The little engine has a long history of being strong and dependable. Kazuma is putting it in their Mammoth 800 4X4 and providing some very good warranty support located at the Kazuma Mammoth 800 Information Board and Forum. http://members7.boardhost.com/Kazuma...tml?1199119618 It appears to be drawing a very loyal group of owners participating in those forums. The Kazuma Support organization also has the complete listing of all replacement parts online with a photo of each item!

Rear Suspensions: Trailing Axle vs Independent A-Arms

Upon closer scrutiny of the Mammoth, it did not have an independent rear suspension (IRS). The Kazuma Mammoth does have a rear locking differential. However it is fairly spartan with black steel wheels, no winch and very few available options. Most of the owners state that it is quite similar to a Polaris Ranger in style and dimension so there may be some cross-over parts. Also some of the Mammoth dealers are stocking wheels, tires and other goodies to dress up the machines. The best pricing I have found thus far for the machine is $4995 or $4999 plus shipping. One owner said that his shipping was only $240. A visit to their forums will confirm that the majority of the owners are enjoying their machines.

I have plans to take my utv out on trails when it is not being used as a farm vehicle. So I started looking some more at the other manufacturers to see if they have IRS. The two most commonly advertised utility vehicles on the net are the Roketa and Sunl lines. Both appear to be of comparable specifications only they have a 2 cylinder Yamaha type engine with a clutch type 4 speed. They also have IRS. I have narrowed my decision to a Roketa model UV07B-650. http://www.roketa.com/product/64/0/36303.shtml Another similar Roketa model I found on the net is the UV07 (650B). http://www.roketa.com/product/64/0/14637.shtml The chassis and drivetrain on these two models appear to be similar. The differences are in the hoods and some body parts. Both have an automotive type dash, a front winch, a cd radio, 4 aluminum wheels, and 4 wheel fully independent suspension. The Mammoth does not have these goodies in its price. However, I have found one dealer on the net that is asking $5999 and free shipping for the UV07B-650 model. The next best deal is $5799 plus shipping for the UV07 (650B) model. After that, the pricing is $6200 and up, with and without shipping. As a side note, keep an eye on the shipping costs. Not all companies can deliver to a residence a steel crate this large or they will charge extra!

That leads into my next discovery. As far as I can tell, a machine will most likely be sent to you not fully assembled and in a steel cage. It probably was last inspected only when it was put into the big shipping container in China. Some dealers selling these utvs are simply "drop shippers". You need to be mechanically inclined and expect to do more than just jump in it and start riding when it arrives. For a greater sense of security, many Kazuma owners are replacing ALL original fluids and putting Loctite on every bolts that they can.

This brings the next area to consider - WARRANTY. Almost no one can offer parts and labor unless you are buying from a dealer that has a showroom and service center. The "drop shipper" dealers can only offer "parts only warranties" and for usually just 90 days. (Some are even offering extended warranties for additional fees.) Remember, you have to convince them that the part is defective and before you ship it to them for a replacement. Some times the replacement has to come from China because there is not always an inventory of parts being held in the US. "Drop Shipper" dealers usually work out of a small office so they offer little in the way of customer support. I am not trying to put down certain dealers but you need to make sure that you understand every aspect of the purchase before you make the commitment to pay. This is the reason the big name utvs charge so much more. There is a price on convenience and service.

I really like this setup

Well I can go on more but I would rather get some conversations going on this topic. I really would like to hear from some of the owners that have made a purchase and are using these UTVs. If you are developing interest like me, join with me and lets start looking for the best deals. Your responses will help me in my decision. I am getting closer to making a decision to purchase one.

[wayne]

i was wondering where the ground clearance they give (10.34") was measured from? is it the underside of the cab?or the bottom of the arms that attach to the axle spindle?
i have been looking at the 500cc model and a salesman i talked to on that model assured me that measurement was the lower bottom of the "a" arms, that the bottom of the cab was 10. someting high. is this adequate enough for rocky, hilly terrain? that model was bmx lin hai yamaha engine mobel.
have you any reports on that model? i too am interested in finding out about these chinese utv's, but, again i don't want to buy something that is going to get high centered on some rock or stump.
thanks... wayne

[jeffdeq]

I am posting this as an update to my original thread. After a series of trips out of state, I test drove as many UTVs I could find at dealers...I bought the Kazuma Mammoth 800, camo model. It has been 2 weeks now and I am happy with it. The motor is very smooth and quiet. The original tires are perfect as turf tires for the yard but not great for the trail. So far the machine is meeting all my expectations. I will be updating my posts in the future with pictures showing any mods I make.