I was in the same situation but I decided I had to have the power so I bought the 850 and I love it! It's crazy strong and plenty fast, and I'm still breaking it in!
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Polaris 850xp
2500 lb winch
Glacier plow

 

850 MORE POWER UH UH UH Do they make a Benford 2000 ATV ?

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DODGE57HEMI

The Grizz 550 hp is 36.9 but in a much lighter chassis than the Sportsman and if I am not mistaken the Sportsman 850 comes with 4 wheel disk brakes the 550 is still has 3 caliper system like the old Sportsmans did!</end quote></div>

Both the Grizzly 550 and XP550 are exactly the sames as there big bore counterparts except for motor size.

I find both 550s rather pricy (M.S.R.P. $7,499) for a mid size ATV!(Motor wise) , they almost cost as much as a 50hp 750 Suzuki King Quad with a
M.S.R.P. $7,699. LINK

 

the new 800 h.o sportsman is 55hp!!

 

I'd probably get a 550 XP, simply because I don't think I need all that insane power. I guess I've mellowed out from my "need more power" days.

 

hey new to site lots of great info thanks i live in ontario canada and i wanted the 850 but the insurance was 3 times as much i am in my 40's and it cost me 240 full coverage on the 550 they wanted 720 for the 850 as well my son is 15 and abit of a nut and would just get hurt, to much power for him, i had a 03 kodiak 450 and loved it but someone decided they wanted more and it was gone one morning anyway only one ride on the machine so far and this is so much smoother and faster than the kodiak 450 and a much better deal i got demo for 7000, since you get the bigger tires and rims and all the other features, going out with my buddy tommorrow (550 grizzly) will put about 200 miles on the machine and i will then let you all know the difference between the xp 550 and the grizzly 550 but having driven the 550 grizzly and raced it against my 450 kodiak i think the polaris will take it we will see thanks