Need help in either choosing a Kodiek 450 or Polaris Sportsman 500, I need it for riding trail, and hauling and working around my land,
I could buy a 2001 Polaris 500ho for 3,800, with 400 mile on it a plow front and back bumper and extended racks, and mint condition, or should I look around for a kodiek
-which one is more reliable
-which has more trail capabilities
-all around which one can I ride harder

 

I would go for the Sportsman, I'm very happy with both of mine. A good friend has a Kodiak and he likes it OK but the body panels already fit loose and it doesn't have IRS. The power is comparable between the two but I can out pull him every time. We both use the atv's primarly for ranch work so it's a fair comparison. I think they are both good but I like the IRS ride.

 

Well I also am leaning towards the Sportsman but reading through the forums its seems like more people have trouble with the polaris than the Yamaha

 

That seems like a pretty good deal, but personally i would wait for the kodiak/they are both great machines, but the kodiak is definately more reliable and comfortable, but the IRS (independent rear suspension) is a little tippy, but not enough to make me buy a sportsman

 

Anyone else please, I know there are many posts alreadyt about this subject, how about some people writing how mile before problems

 

the price on the 500HO seems fair with the accessories and has very little miles....of course I have seen people with 400 miles on theirs that are totally trashed....

I had a 2000 500, not the HO model, before I bought my '05 700 EFI....absolutely no problems with it, great running machine....you would be very happy with it....just as long as its not Yellow...lol

 

unfortunatley it is yellow, any way which of the two is more reliable which can handle more abuse sportsman kodiek?

 

I owned the 500 Sportsman, but haven't owned a Kodiak. I know Polaris's can handle the abuse, they are built to haul and pull, they are heavier than other machines and do better for certain things. I winched and elk up into a tree with my 500 and a snatchblock. Both the elk and the machine started to lift into the tree, so we unhooked and didn't use the snatchblock so that there was some resistance on the cable where it went over the tree branch, so got the elk in the air and not the machine....luckily the machine was alittle heavier than the elk.

If you got a deal on the Polaris with low miles, I would go for it, you'll be happy with it. As with any machine, make sure you take it for a ride, inquire if there has been any maintenance done and when, if they have had any problems with it....