Quad bikes—ATVs—were everywhere in South Africa through the late ’90s and early 2000s. Weekend toys, farm workhorses, even racing machines. Our rugged terrain made them a natural fit, whether for adventure, tourism, or getting real work done.
Today, the landscape has shifted. Racing has faded, and ATVs now live mostly in the agricultural, tourism, and luxury spaces. That shift is reflected in pricing too—you can spend as little as R7,000 on a kid’s starter quad, or north of R460,000 on something like a Can-Am Outlander MAX. Yamaha still caters for thrill-seekers with the Raptor 700 and YFZ450R, but the real demand right now? Tough, practical 4×4 machines that can tow, carry, and handle proper farm duty—this is where the Chinese manufacturers have stepped up big time.
Build quality has improved dramatically, feature lists are generous, and pricing is aggressive. It’s a combination that’s putting serious pressure on traditional players. Enter the new contender: Big Boy’s Tracker 300 4×4.
This might just be the most complete—and compelling—machine Big Boy has ever produced.
At around R80,000, the Tracker 300 punches well above its weight. It straddles two worlds: the no-nonsense farm quad and the more comfort-focused utility machine. You get the ruggedness you need, with just enough refinement to make long days in the saddle easier—all at less than half the price of many non-Chinese rivals.
What’s surprising is how little feels “budget”. Big Boy has always leaned toward affordability, but here it’s hard to spot the compromises. The switchgear is on par with established competitors, and the spec sheet is stacked: crash bars, tow hitch, handguards, lockable front diff, low range, full LED lighting, LCD display, USB port, 12V socket, multiple storage areas, and a comfortable seat with a sissy bar. The only real omission? A winch—but it’s prepped for one. Strip away the badge, and you’d easily peg this as a machine costing twice as much.
So how does it perform where it matters—on the farm? Power comes from a simple, water-cooled 287 cc single-cylinder engine producing 23 hp (17 kW) and 28 Nm of torque. It’s not about outright speed (though it will nudge past 80 km/h), but about usable power. Throttle response is crisp, and there’s enough low-end grunt for towing, hauling, and crawling through mud or sand.
Speaking of work: the Tracker offers a combined rack capacity of 200 kg and a towing capacity of around 200 kg. It’s not class-leading, but it’s more than enough for tools, supplies, or hauling game—just expect to make a second trip for heavier jobs.
User-friendliness is another strong point. The drive selector is simple and intuitive—Neutral, Reverse, High, and Low—while you can switch between 2WD and 4WD on the fly, with optional diff-lock. The LCD display clearly shows your drivetrain setup, along with all the essentials: fuel level, temperature, RPM, trip data, and more.
Out on the trail, the Tracker impresses! With 270 mm of ground clearance and adjustable preload (50 mm), it handles rough terrain with ease. The suspension is basic—coil spring shocks—but it’s firm, durable, and well-suited to load-carrying. Comfort isn’t its strongest suit, but the trade-off is simplicity, reliability, and low maintenance.
At 315 kg, it’s no lightweight, but it carries its weight well. It feels stable, turns in confidently, and only starts to feel heavy when diff-lock is engaged. In most conditions, you won’t even need it—the Tracker just keeps moving forward. When you do engage diff-lock, it’ll climb just about anything in its path.
The CVT transmission is smooth in operation, with a slight clunk when selecting gears—typical for this setup—but easily softened with gentle throttle input. Fuel range is solid too, thanks to a 14-litre tank, which is decent for a sub 400 cc quad.
Ownership looks reasonable: a 1-year / 10,000 km warranty and service intervals every 20 tanks or three months.
If you’re after a capable, good-looking 4×4 quad that blends workhorse practicality with surprising refinement, the Tracker 300 deserves serious attention. It’s easily the most premium machine Big Boy has produced—and one that comfortably punches above its price tag.
However, if having a 4×4 quad bike is overkill for the kind of work or use you have in mind, Big Boy does offer a simpler alternative in the form of a 4×2 Tracker. The 4×2 is a 250 cc machine that retains many of the same core features but adopts a more utilitarian, single-rider-focused setup with smaller wheels. It’s aimed at riders who want power, practicality, and simplicity without stepping into full 4×4 territory. Light, comfortable, and easy to handle, the Tracker 250 is ideally suited to farm use, yard work, quick trips across the property, and light adventure riding. Oh, and it will also save you 30k over the 300 Tracker, with the ‘250’ 4×2 coming in at an attractively low R49,999.
Don’t just take our word for it—go see one at your local dealer.
Big Boy Tracker 4×2 & 4×4
For more information on the quads that we tested in this article, click on the link below…
