why did you get the Rubicon over the Sp500? I am in the market for a new quad and i have to decide wich one to buy. My choices are the sportsman 500 h.o or the rubicon. Thanks for any info on either one?
Recipient's name edited from the title in order to maintain the true nature of a forum.
atvbbs

 

There is no doubt the 500HO is gonna be a great machine. I don't have any personal experience with any brands but Honda. I have been dealing with my local Honda dealer for over twenty years. They have never tried to sell me anything I don't want or need. They will pickup and deliver your motorcycle, ATV or watercraft for service. There are really only two honest dealers here. One of the other major brands was caught taking good parts off one bike and putting them on another in for that part and taking the parts needed for your bike off the other bike! Not good. No matter what machine you have, one day, it will most likely go back thru the dealer's service department. So, you better have faith in them, to do what is right and to be able to do it correctly. My dealer called me about the need to check for a weld on one of the a-arms.
I bought a 300 4x4 in 1997. It has never failed to start or broken down or stranded me. I have no complaints toward it. I bought the Rubicon because it was a larger displacement engine and could turn a larger tire. All of the people I ride with have migrated from a 26 to 27 to 28 inch tire. When you ride with 10-30 people, the ruts get deep and you need to have the larger tires. I was going to buy a Foreman 450es about a year and a half ago and heard the 500 may be coming. It was worth the wait for me. The engine's power and transmission is better than what I expected. The start in gear feature, the LCD, and the ride are very nice.
So, for me it was several things-dealer reputation, Honda's research+design+production+service quality, looks of the bike, the "feel" of it and my past experience with Honda's cars, motorcycles, generators, etc., just no complaints with any of their products. And, it was what best suited MY needs and wants. So, it was not just a single-faceted decsion for me. The other bikes available are great, too. It just depends on what you want and expect of the bike and the dealer and where and how you ride.

 

Thanks for the reply, Your Rubicon is awsome!!! Did you do all the work on it yourself, if not who did?

 

4man2K
I would back-up every thing that DOC says only diff is I'm happy 500SP owner but have the same experience as DOC.He pretty well said it all with,it fits "MY" needs and wants,when you come down to it thats all that counts.CM

 

Don't believe anything that old Cob says. "His" needs aren't that demanding. He just takes his yellow "Chicken quad" out to MOAB and other places and crawls it over the nastiest rocks and hellholes that he can find. Your personal needs may not include such things of course. As for DOC, he has so many toys around his house, he has something different to drive for each day of the week.

Just laying in a little smack here. These guys are great at giving you good information about their quads. They will shoot you straight too. TxDoc is very specific, and Cob has a lot of experience in the rough country. If you have any questions as to the benefits of IRS in rocky terrain, then you have come to the right place.

 

I have NO experience with the Ruby yet,except for what I've read.I simple cant wait to ride one though.Right now,there are a few factors that would keep me from buying the Ruby instead of the Sportsman,which include,
1.Sportsman has IRS,the Ruby does not[this would not keep me from purchasing a Ruby though]
2.Sportsman has switchable 2wd-4wd,the Ruby dont
3.Sportsman has disk style brakes,Ruby has drum brakes.

To some,the above mean very little,to me,they mean alot.Differant strokes for differant folks,thats what keeps the world interesting.====Bill

 

4man2K-As far as the work on my machine: The welding was performed by a local metal fabricator, and Highlifter installed the lift kit and floorboard support/mudflap kit. I installed the winches and rear lights and control box for the winches to use one hand controller. I can weld, but people look at the weld and say, "well, it looks strong." The small welder I have cannot weld the thicker metals, not enough heat generated. Sometimes I know what I want to be the result, but someone who specializes in a field can make something that is much better than what I envisioned. The guy who built the hinges for the front basket did that easily and I had no clue.

Sounds like you are getting some good advice here and in the Polaris forum. Let us know how it turns out for you. Good luck.

 

I just looked at a Sportsman 500 and i like it alot. I did not get a chance to take a test drive because i just caught them when they were closing and they put the quads away. I only could see the ones in the show room. I like it so far, but since i did not get the chance to ride them i am undecided. If that 700 twin comes out this year, that will most likley make up my mind. Thanks for all the info.

 

Bill, hit the nail on the head. The Rubicon doesn't fit everyone needs nor does the SP500. Its what fits your needs the best.

It has been said before & I will say it again. Its whatever fits your needs & thank good ness not everyones needs are the same.

 

4man2k

TxDoc hit the nail on the head, they are both great machines. Buy the one from the dealer that gives the best service. Both dealers in this area sell both the Honda's and Polaris's and both stink for service. Don't just talk to the salesman, go talk to the parts and service people. See if they seem knowledgable and friendly. No matter what you buy, if the dealer support is not there, you will not be happy.