Hello,
i am looking at purchases one of these machines but do not have any 'seat time' in either one. Unfortunately, I can't get a test drive on the Can Am. Most of my riding will be work around the yard and some trails - don't plan on much mudding. Wondering if anyone here has any thoughts on either of these machines? It seems the Polaris is a little more of a work machine. Any help would be appreciated.

 

I read a very extensive thread on another forum on canam viscolok vs polaris awd. The testing of these two systems against each other was in large boulders, where the polaris 4wd system worked better than the canam viscolok. I think everybody who owns both of them knew that anyway. OK, that is where the polaris does a better job than the canam. Large boulders are a little bit like canam's kryptonite is to Superman. The Outy 800 they were riding would get through the boulders all right, would go anyplace the Polaris would go, just was more of a job, being a good rider helps a lot.

That said, what you wanted is something for work and trails. The Polaris will pull loads a little better because it is heavy, tires get better traction due to weight. If you get good traction tires for the Outy, it will pull more cause it has more power.

For any other area, the Outy has it over the Polaris. It will outperform the Polaris on the trail for handling, reliability, safety, power, turns and overall fun factor. The polaris' are downright dangerous going down a steep hill, cause the awd only uses the 2 rear wheels to hold it back. The Outy uses all 4 to hold itself back, the best engine braking system going.

Polaris has tried to address this problem by going to ACT engine braking, $1000 more, and almost as good as the Outy going slow, less than 15 mph. Where Outy has it over the ACT, is that its EBS is active all the time. If you're going down a trail too fast for a turn in the trail, get off the throttle even in high gear, and you'll start slowing down. That feature alone has kept me from going off the mountain a couple of times.

If you're going to use it 50-50 work-trail, or more, <u>the outy would be your clear choice.</u> If you're going to use the quad for mostly work, you'll probably be better off with the tank, the Polaris.

 

Hi there Winmad,

Here is my 2 cents worth--my wife and I bought a 2007 Outlander 650 Max XT last fall. It is our first ATV. Although we only have 10 hours on it so far (mostly because of the trailer being buried in snow this winter) we still managed to get out several times on our 264 acres of woods, logging roads, stone quarry roads and old pastures. It is VERY comfortable. We both have bad backs and riding for 3-4 hours was like nothing at all. That is very important to US. We have not gone above 15 mph on it yet--no need for the type of riding we do. We enjoy trail riding at our age (mid 40's). It has met every challenge we have given it so far. I will be taking it in for its first scheduled service soon so it is ready for the spring.

Click on the camera icon to see photos of our ride.

Hope this helps in some way.

 

Thanks for the first hand info, I really appreciate it.

Another question...
Can you shift into 4 wheel drive on the Can Am 'on the fly'??? My local dealer says yes as long as the wheels are rotating at about the same rate but the owners manual I downloaded from the Can-Am website states you have to stop to shift into 4X4 mode. Any experience with this???

Thanks

 

You can shift on the fly if you want, but make sure all the wheels are the same rpm, no force on the driveline.......that right there is impossible, cause you cannot hold the throttle so steady that the machine isn't either speeding up or slowing down.

My advice to you is look ahead, stop your quad for 4wd engagement. If you don't like to continue stopping, taking it in and out, just leave it in until you're off the hill. The Outy handles and runs just fine in 4wd, you don't even know it's engaged.

I stop to shift mine in and out, a small price to pay for not hearing that clunk!

Also, some guys say they run the 650/800 in hi 99% of the time. Hard on the belt, not good if you suddenly come onto a steep descent. I run in lo when the trail doesn't allow and average speed of 15 mph or more, or if you're riding in rocks. Takes a lot of engine to lift you guys and the quad up and over each of those rocks, hundreds on times in one ride.

 

The outlander 650 and polaris 800 have relativly the same power. withing 1 or 2 hp.i dont know where u live but in ontario they cost about the same. people make fun of polaris for being heavy. but u dont notice it. if u jump it(not recomended only for retards) then yea the weight is an issue. u said u wont be into much mudding so either 4x4 system would be good. u are talking about the two person ones correct? if so then weight really wont be a problem since u are not looking for the most sporty bike ever. polaris has been around a long time and they fend very well for them selves as can am/bombardier has only been around a few years (for what its worth). really besides the quad bashing that any one can come up with just pick the one u think looks best and feels best to you. same as how u like to ride certain ways and ur buddy may like to take it a bit different. i bet if you raced both bikes down some trails mud, hills etc niether bike would be far from the other.

 

You know I've been looking at this forum for 2-3 years now and if you pay a little attention to the forums you can kinda see a trend.Being a unforunate owner of a 2006 sportsman 800 and former owner of a 2005 sportsman 700 carb,I realize I should have paid closer attention cuz polaris has great ideas for their bike but they made it as cheap as possible-plastic parts in the front end for the 4wd, I know the 700 had on go out from racing on the ice in 2wd mode as for shift on the fly FOOLISH!The mechanic hinted to just leave it in 4wd all the time to help prevent this. Top speed? hows 58mph by GPS! 700 same thing(2mph slower) any one telling you differrent is smoking something or they have a sportsman that was made prior to 2005.Which also has a different front end. The heat coming off is unbearable for the right leg.Dont get me wrong they have alot of good features too, but to me it's too much.Also just plain tired of getting blowin away by smaller machines.These are made to work on a farm not for trail riding.Sorry for venting, mines forsale-next it's a 500 or 650xt. Hopefully I'll no longer be disappointed!

 

I agree, the Polaris is more of a workhorse, but that is about it. The Max XT can excel in every in everything else

 

Well I just picked up a used 2007 Can-Am 800 MAX XT for mainly trail riding (dont intend on mudding unless I really have to). The one thing I can say is that the engine brake takes some getting used to as as soon as I let go of the throttle, my wife has to hang on or she'll bash her helmet against mine. That's prolly just the novice rider in me but it does kick back to slow down(maybe it's just me?). That being stated, I rarely need to use the actual brakes lol. So far my neighbours (3 of them) have a Can Am 650 XT, Polaris 500 sportman and a 600 sportsman so we can do some serious comparing between the bunch. Not really in the racing mode as I don't expect the polaris's to keep up in a straight road race but that's not why we got this atv. Also I will note taht the heat coming off the rotax engine can get very hot and if I have my son in front of me when riding, his leg will get warm. For me in the normal position, I don't notice the heat, I think it's just his location in front of me.