Originally Posted by Dragginbutt

As owner of this thread let me jump back in. Engine size was the question, and I just answered it myself. I used to advocate that 500 CC's was enough. I have had a change in heart. I am now the proud owner of two, yes TWO new can-ams. And Mrs DB ALSO has a new machine in the shed. Reasons are many. And although I could have gone the maxed out 1000 CC's route, I didn't. I settled for two 850 Can-Ams. One a Renegade 850 X XC. And a 850 Commander X MR. And Mrs DB got a new Commander X MR 570. I bought the 850 X MR for me because I use the crap out of my old Honda Rubicon around the house. And on occasion, I skid 30 ft logs with it and have gotten stuck with it. Well, I really like the monster mud tires for traction in leafy hillsides. Places where the honda would have trouble, I can blow through it no problem. I got the renegade as a replacement for my Yamaha Raptor, and it will be my trail ride machine. Not that the mud machine would not handle trail riding, but well, it was there, and I had my checkbook out.... and it was all pretty and all, and it sort of called my name in a low soothing voice.... or maybe that was MRS DB wanting me to look at the 570 X MR. While listening to her go on about the 570, I kept staring at the Renegade, and well let's just say, I got a package deal along with a ton of accessories. (I also had to order a new trailer to haul them) Sneaky SOB ain't I? Oh and I found out that Keystone makes a really nice new toyhauler that has a 16 ft garage in it with a king bed too... but I'll have to wait on that for a while if I truly intend to retire at some point. So right now I am waiting for the accessories to come in. I sprung for the tracks too. As I intend to push snow with it this Winter up at the cabin. Which just might be our full time home if things work out.... (Wisconsin) Anywho... my wallet needs a rest, and I am stuck working for at least another couple years while I figure out a way to pay for a new truck and toy hauler to haul them around the country on a more or less full time basis. And no, I kept the Rubicon, and Mrs DB's Grizzly. Just in case our kids want to tag along once in a while. So although I am a hypocrite now and broke my own rules. Yeah, I have drank the kool aide of bigger is better. But know this, I resisted the urge to go all the way to 1000 CC's. I am too old to use all that HP anyway. Anyway, that power steering is SWEET. Still breaking them in. Sure hope Mrs DB is OK on hers. It is way more machine than her 450 Griz. If any of you recall, when she bought HER 450 Griz, she had a serious heart attack two days later and wasn't able to ride for nearly 6 months. Her first ride was her CPSC training class, which I highly recommend to anyone starting out. These machines ARE heavy though. probably 250 lbs more than the old ones. But once rolling they more than give me a very pleasant ride. We both like the radiators mounted up high on the front racks too on the X MR's. I have winches on all 3 of them too. The Renegade is just a dream. A little lighter than the X MR. Handles very well. AND NO, none of the kids are going to ride my new toys. These are daddy's and Moms. They can buy their own.

Originally Posted by beergut

looks like typical new england trails that all the big atv's and sxs's ride- which I'd consider 100% atv'ing

Originally Posted by TLC

The trail the connects that road to that river is what I would be interested in. Where people stopped they could get hid by a logging truck or a taxis cab.

Originally Posted by beergut

one of my favorite rides was when I'm winding through semi-tight trails on my renegade 800- coming around a tree or tight corner, placing my weight on the inside well and flicking the throttle- all tires instantly break loose and the rene drifts around the corner like it's on ice

congrats of the big-bore purchase! NOW GO GIT'EM DIRTY!!!

Originally Posted by greg74

There are room for both kinds of trails. I like negotiating tight trails but faster, more wide open trails that would be considered easy can be fun too. Side by sides will eventually outnumber atvs so many ride parks have already widened their trails to accomodate. I recently have debated buying a side by side myself. My local dealer has dramatically discounted many of their used units. Just yesterday I test rode a 2014 Wildcat Trail with 1053 miles on it that they were selling for $5999. Very impressed with the power of the machine. I spun the tires on the asphalt taking off in the parking lot, very touchy throttle. Especially in reverse. I was going to park it exactly where it was but I stopped a few feet short as I though I would crash into the building. But very quick, I would guess its just as quick as my Brute Force, power to weight is very similar. No power steering on the unit. It wasn't unmanageable but it definitely took some effort to turn at slow speeds. I also test rode a 2015 Pioneer 500 as well, it was the same price, still quite a bargain for an almost new machine. Well after about 30 seconds, I could see I would never want one of those. Such an underpowered and slow machine, what a slug. You had to be in at least 3rd gear to go more than about 12 mph or rev the machine so high that it sounded like the engine would explode. Even then, it still wouldn't even do 20 mph in 3rd gear. I think its geared way too low. I liked the paddle shifters but just wish there was more performance to go along with such a cool feature. If it had about 50 hp instead of 28, it could be a fun machine. Like for instance put something with about the power of the Grizzly 700 or Suzuki KQ 750 single in there instead of the Foreman 500 engine and you'd have something. The Foreman 500 engine is adequate in a quad but just felt very overworked in the Pioneer 500. It was like riding one of the older Gators or Mules. The Pioneer 500 would be fine for work I suppose but I feel it doesn't have enough speed or power to be a fun machine to trail ride.