I am in the market for an ATV and wanted some expert advice without causing a heated debate. I would appreciate your honest comments to assist with my decision. I am only considering a Sportsman 500 HO or a Honda Rubicon. I have done considerable research and they both appear to be excellent machines. I know that the 4WD is superior on the Polaris and I know the tranny is silky smooth on the Rubicon. Both companies have excellent reputations and both local dealers are great so I am looking for some additional (unbiased ) opinions. Has anybody gone through this evaluation. If you could share your thoughts, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

 

I made the mistake of buying a full time 4 wheel drive atv once. I'll never do it again.

 

I have a SP500 and had the oppurtunity to ride a Rubicon for the first time a few weeks back. I would take either of these machines as I found each no better than the other. If you don't mind sitting up higher, buy the Polaris. If it's a plush ride you want, buy a Polaris. True 4x4, again, buy the Polaris.

If you want time tested reliability, buy the Honda. If you want a machine with a low center of gravity, buy the Honda. If you want the silky smooth tranny and ease of getting it into gear, buy the Honda. If you want some of the best ergonomics on the market today, buy the Honda.

As I said, I would take either of these machines no questions asked. The Honda ride is rougher, but I feel more confident on the Honda going on off-cambers or hillsides. I like the Polaris because it has taken me through some areas that the Honda simply couldn't go because it sits so much lower (DEEP water) and the true 4x4. I've had my SP over the fenders and the belt didn't slip. I do feel that my '00 SP500 has far more power than the Rubicon also. Just my opinion.

Go find a dealer that will allow you to try each machine and pick the one which fits you and your needs the best. If you don't feel comfortable on it, don't buy it.

 

I have a SP 500. I've never ridden a rubi, so I don't know how it rides... but I can, however, tell you everything you want to know about the sp. The ride is awesome. It is fast and has very good pickup. Endless amounts of power, REAL 4wd. As for realiability, I crank mine every 3 months in the off season (stored outside) and I've never had a problem getting it to start right off the bat. From my experience, the SP is, by far, the best ATV I've ever had and I trust to get me around. I hunt in swamps and I trust it so much, I don't even have a winch. The ground clearence allows me to go over stumps that would bottom out anything else. I've never bottomed out in mud, never had the engine go out in water, never had it die on me for no good reason (never had it die on me period) never had it stuck and I've been through some serious $hit. I agree with what LEP7MM had to say, you buy what your comfortable with. Test ride them both, but just keep in mind, that a polaris has gotten many people that I know out of some pretty tough situations and that in MY opinion, the sp beats the rubi hands down.

Madman

 

rdarins,
as a former honda owner through-out the '80ties and now a polaris owner, i keep an open mind. i was really interested in the new rubicon when it came out. the magazines couldn't stop ranting and raving about that tranny and 4X4. my cousin bought the rubi, and i bought the sp500ho. we go riding together. we also swap machines when we ride to. lemme-tell you the fact: the rubicon has three wheel drive, not true 4X4, and that really pissed-off my cousin 'cause whenever a group of us went riding in the new england snow, he was constantly getting stuck and slowing the entire group down. he was told by his dealer and had read everywhere that he had this really great 4X4, now he knows different. visit the honda forum: one post is on this 4X4 issue and 16 rubicon owners complain about the same thing! i printed it for my cousin and told him to put in a front locker if someone makes one. the only one problem he has had was when he first took delivery, it was difficult to get in and out of reverse.
my sp500ho has been great. it outshines my '99 sp500 with more power, better brakes, and better steering. to be able to select 4X4 OR 2 wheel drive makes the rides a lot more fun! reliability has been 'polaris perfect.' this summer i can't wait to hit the mud! if my cousin comes, i just hope he's found a front locker by then or it's gonna be one long day!
buy the polaris and you'll NEVER have to look back and wonder if you made the right choice!

P.S. by the way, honda doesn't make a convienient place to mount a winch on the rubi. the dealer has to cut and customize just to make a 2000lb warn winch fit.


'01 sp500h.o red
2000lb warn winch-(free with promotion)
just bought: 26' outlaws on high polished rims
the rest is stock and i'm lov'in it!

 

rdarins,
I now feel obligated to add to the post above about the 3-wheel drive. The only time this should be a problem is if one of the front wheels is in the air. This may sound somewhat redundant, but I've heard that you just need to tap the front brake to load up the wheel on the ground and it should grab. Not sure, I never had this problem while riding the Rubi.

As far as the mods required to add a winch, I was not aware of this machine requiring any mods to add something that is almost a necessity in many cases. The buddy of mine who has the Rubi never mentioned this either.

In closing, just remember that I ride a '00 SP500 and love this machine to death. One thing that many people dont mention about the SP line is that the '00 model has more low-end torque than the HO. This helps in the low range when you need the x-tra UUMMPPHH to pull something. I hooked up to my neighbors 3000 lb camper and pulled it up hill into his drive way.

My dream machine would have IRS, full shaft drive-no chains, the Rubi tranny and the so-called 700 c.c. twin that Polaris is coming out with.

 

If I had to pick one, it would most definately be the Polaris for 3 main reasons:
1. True 4 wheel drive (switchable on/off)
2. Independent Suspension
3. I confide in and like my Polaris dealer more than my Honda dealer.

There's alot more reasons. I can go on and on. BUT, It's just MY opinion.

 

I got to thinking about it and I forgot something. Warranty. Polaris's have great warrantys (I can't spell). My fly wheel had a problem, the dealer said I needed a new fly wheel. $1000, right? NOPE I paid $200 in labor. and this thing was four years old at the time. So another plus for polaris. But once again, I say, go ride the both and buy the one YOU feel most comfortable with, don't buy one just cause we say so, go experience it for yourself.