I really like both of these beasts, what do u guys prefer?!
i'll be trail riding and looking for mud and water.
i'll also be buying a 2012 model, brand new if that helps. as for the polaris it can be the 400 or 500 since the prices are so close.

 

Popo 500 HO is a really nice bike, for utility ATV's the polaris' are bullet proof, but heavy machines. Just my two cents worth.

 

Big Bear has a 386cc engine, has a midsized frame, IRS, 5 speed semi-automatic transmission, and Mudlite tires. Good mud machine and with the 5 speed probably has a good top speed. $6599.

Polaris 400, in reality, is a 455cc which might be faster than the Big Bear but am not sure. Also has IRS and good all around tires from the factory. Polaris has a very comfortable ride. Known to be the Cadillac of rides comfort-wise. Automatic transmission with a CVT belt. Don't have to shift. Both have 4 gallon gas tanks so you'd probably be able to go at least 80 miles before needing fuel. Sportsman has great on board storage with the under-front rack bin. I fit a ton of stuff in mine. Polaris is $5699 which is $900 less.

Another thought is the Polaris Sportsman 500 HO. For $6199 you get a bullet proof engine (not saying Yamaha's isn't) and the Polaris riding comfort. The 500 will have a lot more power than Yamaha's 386cc and better towing and payload capacity. The only thing the Polaris HO lacks is engine braking. The Big Bear has rear wheel EBS.

 

OK moose, but what would be your choice between these machines? I personally would stay with the popo 500. You?

 

I'd go with the 500cc for just a few hundred more. It's kind of like when I bought the Sportsman X2. Polaris came out with the 700cc version a few months later. It was only $500 more at the time. I would have gotten the 700. I believe both machines (400 and 500) are the same frame so it would be a better choice to go with the 500 to me. More HP per lb. of weight. I'd also get the rear EBS you can buy as an accessory if it is not too much.

 

I had the 350 (348cc) BigBear the 400 (386cc) Big Bear is the same motor with a increased stroke of 71.5mm vs the 350s 64.5mm. Both have the same 83mm bore and Mikuni 33 mm BSR carb.

The trouble with the Big Bear is it tranny is geared for "bull work", it will scream in top gear as you barely hit 45 mph, its geared that low. I loved my Big bear it was tuff and reliable but it was to slow on fast logging roads and needed alot of down shifting to get up long inclines as well. The Yamaha air cooled motor is really old school and does not compare with the Sportsman 400 or 500 in power.

Sportsman 500 HO______34.5hp
Honda Rubicon_________33.9hp
Arctic Cat 500________32.0hp
Sportsman 400_________29.7hp
Can-Am Outlander 400__28.9hp
Honda Foreman 4x4_____26.9hp
Honda Rancher 420_____26.1hp
Yamaha Grizzly 450____26.0 hp
Yamaha Grizzly 400____26.0 hp (401cc, Liquid Cooled )
Yamaha Big Bear 400___22.9 hp (386cc Air Cooled)

Also the Sportsman have much more suspension travel. Here are there specs. 2011 Yamaha Big Bear 400 IRS 4x4 ATVs

Hard to believe the Big Bear cost more then the 400 Sportsman.

The 400/500 Sportsman is closer related to the Yamaha 550 Grizzly than the 400 BigBear in ride and performance.

Now I cruise down a long straight section at 50mph all day long and can push it over 55 if need be and the long inclines I use to down shift to just get up at 30mph on my Big Bear I can now fly up at 50mph on my Sportsman. Its night and day.More power and better gearing.

In the "bull work" department the Sportsman has a low range and has the same low end grunt as the lower geared Big Bear as well.

The new BigBear,s chassis and suspension has vastly improved over my Big Bear but that tranny and motor is the same old same old, don,t kid yourself.

The Only differance between the 400 and 500 Sportsman is the there displacement and carb. (once again just a bore or stroke change,there also the same motor) The 500 has a 40mm carb and the 455 has a smaller 34mm carb.

 

wow, thanks for all the help, this site is crazy helpful. The dealer next to my house has both yamaha and polaris. stupid question here but i really like the blue color but it only comes in the 400. Wonder if polaris can give me a 500 in the blue and black color that i like?

 

From what I've seen on their website the 500 HO only comes in yellow, red, olive drab, and camo. The 450 comes in red, blue, and olive drab. A good dealer might be willing to switch plastics for you if they are interchangeable.

 

I've been riding a Sportsman 500 for 14 years. Everytime I want a new quad I compare it to the competition and end up getting another Sp500. One year when I was seriously considering a Yamaha it cost $1000 more than a similar Polaris. That may have been when I was looking at 400s but I bought another Sp500 anyway. IMO the Big Bear is no competition.

 

Yea, as much as it hurts to say this, in this comparison, the 400 Polaris is probably a better deal, and stepping up to the 500 is even smarter. I think long term, the Yamaha would probably hold up better, but the Polaris just has to many advantages over the Big Bear. Now, if we were talking Grizzly... that would be a different story.