Been thinking of exchanging either the Sportsman 500 or the Foreman 450ES for the new 660 Grizzly... How much better is the Grizz over either? Or is it worth looking at? What would be the first choice to exchange over the Grizz?

 

I don't want to get into a long thing on the grizz, but I can tell you about it compared to the others. In my opinion, what it has on the Polaris is more speed and the ability to have 4wd downhill. Other than that, nothing else is really significant. Over the 450, it has a ton of things.

If I wasn't getting the Grizzly and I was looking from a performance point of view rather than long term reliability, I would get the sportsman. Its more fun to ride and will do things the 450 cannot. If I was going to get one quad and I wanted it to last me 15 years, It would say honda on the side regardless.

 

The 660 Grizz has a real power advantage. But the Sportsman handles better. Sportsman is wider with a lower center of gravity. Even after widening the Grizz, it still felt top heavy, and my friend rolled it *** over tin cups when the front brake grabbed while in a 4-wheel brake slide going too fast around a corner. Now he was riding too fast, and he is that kind of rider. Even with a helmet he still got a concussion and fractured rib. I sold the Grizz to a very large friend who will use it primarily for hunting. That was the second roll for the Grizz.
......The Honda has the worst suspension, and handling, but I haven't ridden one of the new ones with selectable 2wd/4wd. I'm sure that's an improvement over the full-time 4wd.

 

The Sportsman is a 2000, and I like the way it handles, and the engine braking, but the kids seem to prefer the older '98 450ES for some reason (even though they have their own TRX200D and TRX300 4X4). If they jump on one to go feed the horses, take out the trash, run down the road to Grandma's, or get firewood - it's the 450ES they jump on.
I haven't had to do anything but basic maintenance and brakes on the Sportsman - yet, but on the 450ES I've put a lift kit, 28" Mudzilla's, K&N Power Kit, recently a new top end, replaced the front knuckle bearings a couple of times, and a new rear axle - so I can't really see the lasting 15 years thing
I guess the one to get rid of would be the 450ES, but I still wonder if the Grizz is what I am looking for.

 

What about a 2001 grizzly,,, is there that much power difference???