I'm thinking it may be time to sell the motorcycles. IF that happens, I'm toying (see what I did there?) with the idea of replacing them with a 2 seater SXS.

Doesn't have to be an off-road beast or a speed demon, just a decent utility vehicle for a couple of old farts to dub around in. Grandson works for a dealer and will keep an eye out for a good used one, if such a thing exists. Most used ATV's have had the crap beat out of them.

Recommendations regarding, Experience/Brands/Models/suspected price range appreciated.

I’ve had a 2018 Polaris RZR a 2023 Polaris General. Both great machines, but really like the cab layout in the General. It also has a dump box if that is important to you.

My dad is on his 3rd Mule.
First was the standard single row utility model

Second, he wanted the 2 row seating & at the peak of the world's craziness, all he could find was a Mule Pro Ranch Edition. Was really nice, but way more than he needed. And, the bed wasn't nearly as useful as the full metal bed on the standard Mule.
The Pro also uses a 3cyl engine, with a timing belt. He preferred the timing chain 2cyl model.

Traded that in on a Mule Trans 2-row & is quite happy with it.

You are going to spend a ton more than you expect. Forget used.
I agree on Kawasaki. Also look at Honda.
You may find yourself buying a full size single bench seat model. Good luck

2015 Polaris Ranger 900 XP here. Bought it slightly used. Great utility vehicle. Has a hard cab with a heater, and stereo. Put a quality plow on with some weight in the back and chains on the rear and it will plow snow like a beast. It's only limited by how high you can pile the snow because the blade will only lift so high.

A friend gave me an offer I couldn't refuse and sold it to me for 14 grand in 2016. It will do trail riding as well as a work horse around the lake property. The dump box is a must have for me. Mine will seat three if you need to as it has a bench seat.

I second the 2015 Ranger XP900 , I have one that is essential for working around the place or playing on the trails.......

I have a 2018 Kawasaki Mule Pro FXR. It's been nothing but a reliable workhorse. I use the dump bed more that I thought I would. I'm well pleased with it.

I bought it used (only a few months old) from a guy that got it to run with his buddies' Razors. It ain't that kind of machine.

I would say whatever make you buy, power steering is nice to have. If it doesn't come with LED headlights, they are cheap and easy to add.

Rethinking my options, a SXS doesn't make much sense.

Found out there's no way to make them road legal in Maine. The main use I envisioned was cruising the local roads and picking up returnables which we currently do while walking.

I only have 4 acres with plenty of tractors and stuff for jobs around the place.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Rethinking my options, a SXS doesn't make much sense.

Found out there's no way to make them road legal in Maine. The main use I envisioned was cruising the local roads and picking up returnables which we currently do while walking.

I only have 4 acres with plenty of tractors and stuff for jobs around the place.

Interesting, we [TX] have a 'low speed legal' or something like that.
My dad has a motorcycle-sized plate on his Mule & can drive on roads up to 35mph, IIRC, and can cross roads with hight speed limits.

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
2015 Polaris Ranger 900 XP here. Bought it slightly used. Great utility vehicle. Has a hard cab with a heater, and stereo. Put a quality plow on with some weight in the back and chains on the rear and it will plow snow like a beast. It's only limited by how high you can pile the snow because the blade will only lift so high.

A friend gave me an offer I couldn't refuse and sold it to me for 14 grand in 2016. It will do trail riding as well as a work horse around the lake property. The dump box is a must have for me. Mine will seat three if you need to as it has a bench seat.

That’s what I have and it’s a great all around UTV.

The Ranger can be used for just about anything and has a very useful albeit small bet for doing chores. It’s nice that it’s a dump bed. You can load it up with yard waste and drive to the woods or other property if available and dump your bed instead of having to bag everything up.

They can be bought very basic or loaded up with AC/Heat, full cab, big light bars, etc. It can be set up pretty much like a small pickup truck with the price tag to match.

Mine has a big light bar and a windshield and that’s it. Works great.

If you’re not going to be ripping around you don’t need a Razer type of unit I would get one with a little more utility.

I also have a Polaris... a 2011 model 900EF. Haven't found anything it can't do yet. We use it mostly for moving trailers and boats around at the lake, or simply getting around. It will just about drive up a wall, will run 45 on the street, and will hold 6 adults comfortably. Only thing I'd like to add is a split-windshield.



My in-laws have a Mule and it is a nice machine but doesn't feel as heavy duty as the Polaris. All it does is carry people and coolers from the house down to the water.

I had a 2020 Honda Pioneer Deluxe and loved it. It was just too big to navigate the wooded areas of my property. I was recently at a Kubota dealership looking at tractors and got to ride in one of their Utility vehicles. It had the cabin with heat and air. It was nice.

https://www.kubotausa.com/utility-vehicles

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Rethinking my options, a SXS doesn't make much sense.

Found out there's no way to make them road legal in Maine. The main use I envisioned was cruising the local roads and picking up returnables which we currently do while walking.

I only have 4 acres with plenty of tractors and stuff for jobs around the place.

Looks like you might be ok on roads up to 35MPH, by these regs.
Tough part may be the safety glass windshield, wipers & blinkers. Don't think many SxS have those.

https://legislature.maine.gov/...itle29-Asec2089.html

quote:

§2089. Operation of low-speed vehicles
A person operating a low-speed vehicle on a public way shall comply with the provisions of this chapter as they apply to the operator of an automobile and with this section. [PL 2003, c. 397, §10 (NEW).]
1. License required. A person operating a low-speed vehicle must possess a valid Class A, Class B or Class C driver's license pursuant to section 1252.
[PL 2003, c. 397, §10 (NEW).]
2. Road restrictions. A low-speed vehicle may be operated only on a road or street where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. A low-speed vehicle may cross, at an intersection, a road or street with a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour. The department may prohibit the operation of a low-speed vehicle on any highway or segment of highway under its jurisdiction if it determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of public safety. A municipality may prohibit the operation of a low-speed vehicle on any road under its jurisdiction if it determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of public safety.
[PL 2003, c. 397, §10 (NEW).]

And

https://legislature.maine.gov/...itle29-Asec1925.html

quote:

§1925. Equipment requirements for low-speed vehicles
1. Equipment required. A low-speed vehicle registered pursuant to section 501, subsection 11 must be equipped with:
A. Brakes for each wheel; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
B. Headlights that comply with section 1904; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
C. An odometer; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
D. One exterior rearview mirror; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
E. One interior rearview mirror; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
F. A parking brake; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
G. Rear reflectors; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
H. A safety glass windshield; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
I. A speedometer; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
J. Stop lamps; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
K. Rear lights that comply with section 1905; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
L. Seat belts and child restraint systems that comply with section 2081; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
M. Turn signal lamps; [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
N. Windshield wipers; and [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
O. A vehicle identification number. [PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
[PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]
2. Working condition. Equipment required in subsection 1 must be in good working condition.
[PL 2003, c. 397, §9 (NEW).]

Doesn't specify the top speed or anything like that for the 'vehicle'
I know my dad had his Mule Pro registered under TX's version, and it would do much higher speeds than his curennt ultility Mule.

I sold my ranger xp1000, which I had about $30 grand in. Recovered $25, so I can't complain. They can retain value. I was able to get mine road legal, but most incorporated communities in Alaska outlaw them anyway. The three place bench seat was never very comfortable. If you don't need offroad capability, this type of sxs doesn't make much sense. I was intending to replace it with a general, mostly for the seating position and stronger parts.

Instead I picked up an old YJ, and I can completely overhaul 2 or 3 jeeps for the same cost I had into the ranger.

The sxs struggle is strength vs weight. It's not difficult to end up over 2,000 lbs, and then adding payload you're into breaking parts territory. The engine is excellent. Most everything else is thin walled square tubes, and plastic. Fitment is rough, especially if a dealer puts it together. I had to fix a lot of stripped screws and poor installation errors. Parts are expensive but cheaply made and poorly engineered.

Aftermarket upgrades of better quality parts helps, but adds up.

Maybe an old jeep would fit your needs better?

quote:

Originally posted by AKSuperDually:

Maybe an old jeep would fit your needs better?

A project Jeep is on my radar. Basically I want something with a clutch that's fun to drive and affordable enough to just be a sunny day toy.

I sold my two motorcycles last year because my wife and I are getting older and beginning to realize that were not immortal or indestructible anymore. Replaced with a used Mazda Miata.
With the top down, it's the next best thing to a motorcycle, except is has a heater and air conditioner and roof (more or less??)! I've been pleased with it.It's only slightly more practical than a motorcycle. I put it away in the winter ...(just like I did with my motorcycles).
So far, I don't miss my bikes.....

Could probably get into a XJ for semi-reasonable.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:<snipped> Basically I want something with a clutch that's fun to drive and affordable enough to just be a sunny day toy.

I can't wipe the smile off my face driving my old YJ. Of course...it wouldn't start yesterday, and leaks oil from everywhere oil is present. Still, repairs are relatively cheap and easy...even fun. I can't say the same about working on my polaris. Instead the parts were expensive, never in stock locally, and poor quality...and more difficult to perform (though not difficult compared to other things). I didn't love how much of the polaris was controlled by computers. My YJ has a couple crude "computers" which are slowly getting eliminated. I certainly drove my polaris to places I'll never get my YJ to, but only maybe 10% of the ranger destinations are out of my reach in the YJ...and I can potentially drive there instead of having to trailer the Polaris. I didn't go to a lot of places because I didn't want to leave my pickup and trailer to be stolen or vandalized.

The jeep is cheap and a lot of fun. They come with all the problems of old stuff though. I keep reminding myself that I can have 2 really well built jeeps for the cost of a single polaris. The polaris is not more reliable than an old jeep.

Hate to see you sell of your motorcycle. I always said if/when I do I'll pick up a Miata but I read a post somewhere that got me rethinking that. This person owned a motorcycle and motor scooter and due to age and health reasons was having some difficulty getting his leg up over the seat to ride the motorcycle so he ended up selling it. He bought a Miata to replace the bike and while he enjoyed driving the car it just wasn't the same as 2 wheels plus it was pretty awkward to get down into and back up out of. After a couple years he'd had enough of the difficult ingress/egress and sold the Miata. He still enjoyed the scooter and was riding it more than ever running errands and the occasional day rides.

I've owned a few sports cars including a Miata and found myself avoiding them for short drives, errands, etc simply because it was just uncomfortable getting in and out of them all the time. Plus they rode rough on anything other than smooth roads and those are few and far between around here.
My current "fun car" is a Corolla hatchback 6-speed and what it lacks in ultimate road handling of a sports car it more than makes up for with higher seats for much easier ingress/egress, taller tires and more compliant suspension for a much nicer ride, taller top gearing for more relaxed highway travel, and more room to carry stuff.

A Jeep Wrangler gives you the option to explore dirt roads and trails plus being useful in winter, but they ride pretty choppy on anything other than smooth highways. I bought two of them new, a 1997 and 2015, plus picked up a mint 2014 last year, but never ended up keeping them long mostly due to the bouncy ride. Also taking the convertible top off and putting it back up was an awkward, time consuming process so I ended up not even using it and leaving the hard top on. The newest Wranglers are easier but if you want top down driving a Miata does that in 15 seconds.