1998 Yamaha big bear 350 4x4 test drive

[@jdcalame6714]

I have the same exact one same year and everything. It fires up everytime you want it to even in the winter. First fourwheeler I ever had and I’ve never wanted another one. Always been a fan of the way the 90s models big bears and kodiaks look.

[@rockspowersports]

Great reliable machines.

[@RK-nr8qf]

I have a 1998 2wheel drive i bought brand new. Still looks and runs good.

[@absolutesadlad6332]

Absolute beast of a wheeler. I have a '96 one of these with the high/low tranny and I've always been a fan of it being a wheeler that'll get you just about anywhere you need. Only thing that'd make it better is if it had a diff lock

[@rockspowersports]

They really are! Your 96 with the low range I bet would pull anything you needed it to.

[@eckteckteckk171]

we owned the same big bear when i was a teen.i was in the mud with that machine to the waist and still running

[@rockspowersports]

Pretty hard to kill these old things!

[@EZNowTrucker]

These things are just about as tough as they get. I owned a 1993 with the high low sub tranny, a 1997 identical to this one but the tranny blew (probably towed too much and wasn't equipped with low range) and currently a 1989 with high low range that is almost too nice to work so I just trail ride with it occasionally. Awesome machines

[@rockspowersports]

Great machines! Glad to hear someone else is still getting some use out of these older atvs.

[@kuntrekuzzin]

One of the best bikes ever built in my opinion it's up there with the fourtrax 300

[@vasmajority45]

I have the same kind but a 99. It's a beast of a work horse. Amazing machine

[@antman13_theking59]

Aye nice video thanks for explaining more, should do another video on when is good time for shifting, I'm also haven a yamaha big bear 350 fixed up, n at most u will do if u hit is 50 mph but bout 45 is where they would reach, but where I go around I just need one to get thru mud and sand so speed don't matter to me but nice video man hope u do more

[@marclebrun641]

Love it, I have a Kodiak 400 from the same Era. What a great machine

[@rockspowersports]

@Marc Lebrun Is your kodiak the standard foot shift version? I’ve never had one of those. I’ve had plenty of the 2000 and newer kodiak 400 automatics.

[@marclebrun641]

@@rockspowersports 1994 400 5 speed foot shift, what a little tank, got it from 1rst owner last year with 3000 km of hunting, no mudding or crazy crap. It's mint

[@rockspowersports]

@@marclebrun641 Nice! I bet that thing is a little tank. Even this little 350 big bear is a good little worker.

[@marclebrun641]

@@rockspowersports ya it is

[@yourboyhunter142]

I've got a 1999 big bear 350 4x4, my 4wd is broken but I've never had a problem getting through some deep mud, I've only ever gotten it stuck once and that's it

[@trucks_n_tractors_6335]

Same exact thing with mine mine is a 98 with the 4x4 broken I get mine stuck a lot but it’s usually because I’m in places I shouldn’t be😅

[@yourboyhunter142]

@@trucks_n_tractors_6335 yeah mine was in an area where it was extremely swampy and it was up hill so it dug a hole😅

[@fischersgadgets4936]

Very informative video. I have a short video on my channel with a bigbear 350 that my grandfather bought new in 99. Great machines!

[@michaelshea5622]

These things climb like a goat. I have a 2004 Big Bear 400 and not a lot of difference in them with some exceptions. My four wheel drive is selective and a couple other things. I also have a 2003 Bear Tracker 250 in two wheel drive. I recently bought a 2022 CForce600 but I'm keeping my Yamahas. Too nice to get rid of.

[@rockspowersports]

How do you like the new Cforce? I’ve been possibly thinking about getting one.

[@FlawleZ31]

Love this video. I have the exact same year and color 98 Big Bear 4x4. (Have a video on my channel showing it and my Timberwolf). Love the machine but wish it had just a little more grunt. I bought a 10:1 piston to install soon I'm hoping it makes a noticeable difference. Great channel sub'd!

[@rockspowersports]

I’m sure that higher compression should give you a nice little increase in power.

[@mackandsteeze]

Came for the review, stayed for the true VT accent.

[@arielacostaa]

Great Video. I just picked up an 02’ Bear Tracker 250 and it’s been great. Quick question though, would you know where i could find a replacement front rack? Thanks Bud

[@rockspowersports]

@Ariel Acosta I’ve had a Beartracker 250 before, they are very tough wheelers! I do not have any parts for them at the moment. If I was looking to purchase a used rack I would check out EBay.

[@arielacostaa]

@@rockspowersports Thanks bro

[@jabroski69]

Got the exact same one and i wont cruise over 30mph but i keep it around 25 unless a car us behind me

[@Techprep23]

Great machine. 45 is about all you need really out of a utility focused ATV. I have a bear tracker 250 and it goes the same. It's a good happy medium speed between work and play.

[@rockspowersports]

@G K I’ve had a bear tracker 250 those are tough little machines! There’s not to much difference between the two.

[@BOOTYSLAYER_-le3di]

I had one of these as my first quad with a visco lock front diff. Wish I’d never sold it…

[@markbuck9299]

I would love to find one in good condition for plowing some snow !! They are a work horse quad for work

[@kylewagenaar5786]

I've done 50mph on my big bear a few times and I think it messed some things up because of it but it still runs and I keep it closer to 40mph now

[@rockspowersports]

Ya 40mph is a Much better speed for these things.

[@devonblaine]

I have an option to buy one of these or a 2020 Polaris sportsman 450. Plowing snow and hitting Alaskan trails for some hunting. Which would you choose?

[@rockspowersports]

@Devon Edwards It all depends on your price range im sure the big bear is quite a bit cheaper. The weight of the sportsman will plow better and ride better. The big bear is tough as nails but the sportsman will outperform it in most cases.

[@LuisDiaz-fc6ti]

I have one that’s been sitting for 20 years just got a new carburetor and started right up i want to sell it how much do they go for

[@jeremystrauss2516]

What brand exhaust? I like that and want one for mine

[@olimon12345]

What is a good price for this now in good clean shape?

[@SeannieBoy1417]

I paid $2800 for the same one last year from a one owner who also got the yamaha winch and snow plow from the dealership. It also came with a Kolpin "trunk" or whatchamacallit. I love it, easy and cheap to maintain. I'm not sure how depreciation effects the resale value, but I think 2-2500 is a fair price for a fair big bear. I do know they can be surprising difficult to find in solid good shape like such without being totally beaten or made from donor parts.

[@buzzbee6488]

thank you fir video

[@MrTJohnston]

Doesn’t seem like there was too much difference between these and the Wolverine 350

[@rockspowersports]

Very similar machines.

[@MidNebraskaMotorsports]

Loving the test drive video: Check out our big bear service videos!!

[@knownbarkert6153]

Where did you get your extension for the high low reverse selector? Looking for one for my Big Bear

[@rockspowersports]

This big bear does not have high and low only the 5 speed. The lever you see is to lift a snow plow

[@knownbarkert6153]

@@rockspowersports Ohhh, ok. I gotcha, thank you!

[@wildriderz_bw]

What’s the lever on the left mine doesn’t have that. Assuming it’s a high/low range lever

[@rockspowersports]

It was just the manual plow lever on this one.

[@TheNostalgicFuture]

I have a '97 i just bought and it has the high/low, im new on it so i didnt push her too hard, but it hit 40 in 4th no problem, seems like it would run 50 no problem. Steering is pretty good, but i lift my front end climbing all the time lol

[@rockspowersports]

Sounds like it would run at least 50 then. Those machines like yours with high and low are great work machines. With the low range and the 5 speed you can really lower the gear ratio to anything you need.

[@trucks_n_tractors_6335]

The original 350 with the high low could hit way higher speeds the one with just the standard 5 speed no high low will hit 40 maximum I’ve tested it 40 is pegged full throttle 5th gear

[@schnitzelsamy]

Cool

[@trucks_n_tractors_6335]

Big bear 350 was the answer to the Honda fourtrax 300 it was the second 4x4 atv ever the Honda was the first

[@rockspowersports]

Both good machine!

[@curtishankins2523]

How well do they hold up to a fourtrax?

[@Billster1955]

What 350cc to 500cc ATV's have differential lock? I need one to pull my firewood trailer up and down steep lakefront yards.

[@rockspowersports]

@Billster1955. Therea quite a few machines that have a differential lock in the cc range. If you taking about Yamaha though, you would want a Yamaha kodiak or grizzly 450 those came with a locking front differential. Also the Yamaha grizzly 660 has a locking front diff but that sounds like a little bit bigger than what you want.

[@Billster1955]

@@rockspowersports thanks

[@rockspowersports]

@@Billster1955 another one I forgot about is the 2007 and newer Yamaha big bear 400 had a locking front differential and independent rear suspension.

[@Billster1955]

@@rockspowersports Thanks a bunch. I saw a review that ranked Honda ATV's #1 for reliability. Have had a lot of Honda motorcycles and they were very reliable. I have a 2004 VTX 1100S and I have 24K miles on it with out a single failure.

[@rockspowersports]

@@Billster1955 Honda atvs are certainly tough machines.

[@BobbyJones-tv6im]

Vallllves bro you can hear it slapping 😂

[@Dopeisfireoggaming]

It’s 26 yrs old leave it alone

[@travharrell1713]

what is that lever with the yellow handle?

[@rockspowersports]

@Trav Harrell That is a aftermarket plow lift.

[@travharrell1713]

@@rockspowersports Yeah, I don't think I'll need that here in Mississippi. 😁

[@rockspowersports]

@Trav Harrell Probably not then haha!

[@shannonstiles9838]

Where is this filmed? PA?

[@rockspowersports]

@Shannon Stiles This is Northern Vermont

[@conley_v5848]

What is the blue thing on the handlebars and fuel cap?

[@rockspowersports]

It’s just a gas vent line usually they are black

[@colinthepanamerican]

This video was just uploaded two years ago today!

[@rockspowersports]

Been two years since I had a big bear!

[@colinthepanamerican]

You still have it or did you sell it?

[@rockspowersports]

That one’s gone. I have a 2000 Yamaha big bear 400 right now but it needs the engine rebuilt.

[@colinthepanamerican]

Yeah, I think I saw it on when you did a tour of your whole four-wheeler junkyard.

[@rockspowersports]

@@colinthepanamerican Yeah I think I had it at the time.

[@raymusick2940]

Is it for sale

[@rockspowersports]

No it’s already sold

[@raymusick2940]

Do u want to sell it and how much

[@rockspowersports]

It’s already gone.

[@tommygunss4576]

strange. mine has a HIGH/Low/Reverse shifter on the side. my Big Bear is a 1989 and my Kodiac is a 1995.

[@rockspowersports]

Yes the older one had a high and low the newer ones did not.

[@EZNowTrucker]

@@rockspowersports my brother in-law had a 1998 big bear with high/low range. They originally came as one model from 1987-1995 model years and 1996-1999 you could get either the "recreational" model (no low range) or the more work oriented model with the high and low range. How I know this there was a screw up when ordering parts for the transmission and they gave him the whole run down. Haha

[@leehuffstetler9600]

and the kw bayou 300

[@roberthance5342]

I have a 1991

[@rockspowersports]

Yours probably has the high and low range?

[@roberthance5342]

Yeah

[@roberthance5342]

It high low and reverse

[@rockspowersports]

@@roberthance5342 Nice! That low range is great for towing heavy trailers.