Anyone ridden both? Between these two (and only these two), which do you prefer and why?

I feel they are both very good machines but I would like to hear others opinions in case I'm missing something....

Thanks!

 

i think i would take the polaris before the honda. honda hasn't caught up with the competition. they don't have diff lock, not enoungh power, and no low range.

 

For a 680 it has a hard time with some 500s. The 680 we ride with tops out at 62mph thats just abit faster than my 500 Sportsman let alone go against a 700 or 800 Sportsman.

 

From what I've heard and read, if you want performance, go with the sportsman. If you want reliability, go with the Honda. If you want a combination of both, look elsewhere.

 

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

From what I've heard and read, if you want performance, go with the sportsman. If you want reliability, go with the Honda. If you want a combination of both, look elsewhere.</end quote></div>


Thats right ,its a choice of 5 years with a grin on your face or 10 years of yawning .

 

The Polaris without a doubt. It rides better, has more power and most importantly has a locking front differential.

I've ridden the Rincon. It's ok but just ok. It rides pretty good but I found it lacking everywhere else. The engine was uninspiring and it vibrated a lot. The brakes were marginal. The transmission while a worthy concept just wasn't executed very well. It doesn't have a low range and it never seemed to be able to find the right gear. The one I rode has been in the shop several times once they replaced the entire tranny. The suspension was ok. It handled quite good and was pretty comfortable. Not as comfortable as the Polaris though. It is lighter steering than Polaris. Again the lack of a locker crippled it for me and the owner is always complaining about the lack of it. The legendary durability of Honda was not evident and this particular machine has been in the shop far too often and seems to always have something broken of malfunctioning. The owner doesn't like it but is stuck with it due to him owing so much money on it.

Honda is losing market share around here and this particular Rincon shows why. People who traded their old late 80s and early 90s fourtrax and foremans for new ones found that Honda isn't quite what they use to be. Other manufacturers have stepped up and moved on with better machines and Honda appears to be struggling. Around here they've gone from market dominance in the late 80s and early 90s to being at the bottom of popularity right down with arctic cats. Around here they've lost out to Yamaha, Polaris, Suzuki and even Can-Am. Fewer and fewer guys around here go out and buy new hondas now.

 

Do your research, I own a 2005 Rincon and have had absolutely no problems. I was swayed away from Polaris by many Polaris owners and previous owners who stated they would never own another one.
People can rag Honda's lack of power all they want, but it handles everything I've ever thrown at it. I believe in riding the crap out of my atvs and I want them to last.
Ask around, Hondas are dependable and can take an absolute beating.
If you're gonna be in water alot, get a Honda.

 

you can also check out rinconriders.com to see what the thousands of owners have to say about their rides there.
I'm not sure if there's a sportsman forum or not?

 

I just think a big bore should have the power of a big bore. I guess if everyone made large dispacement motor that put out low Horses than all motors would last forever.

680 owner review.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>From what I've heard and read, if you want performance, go with the sportsman. If you want reliability, go with the Honda. If you want a combination of both, look elsewhere. </end quote></div>

I suppose I'd agree with that. My Rincon has adequate power to play with, but no one could say it would blow your socks off. Mainly I feel it's biggest weakness is that it needs more engine braking for super-steep and technical downhills.

As far as Polaris goes, I've talked to folks who have owned several and put thousands of rough miles with no problems and wouldn't buy anything else, and I've talked to people who were in and out of the shop from the start and would never own another.

If I were to be looking for a quad with more features and power than than the Rincon but in it's class, I think it would be the Griz 700. Locker, low range, decent power and handling, power steering, and from what I'm hearing they are pretty trouble free...

Just my .02.


P.S. There are rumors that Honda might be about to release word about something IRS with power and gearing to turn huge tires, and light steering effort...

If that were a 750 bumped up in performance with low range, locker, and power steering with Honda reliability I think I'd be getting one.

On the other hand, if you have been holding your breath waiting for rumored competitive Honda to show up on the showroom, you would have been dead a logn time ago...