ATV 4-Wheel Action ”open class” shootout (Jan 2003) puts the Sportsman in the middle of the pack:

1. Prairie 650 - great engine and sporty feel but lacks smooth ride of IRS
2. Honda Rincon - good handling characteristics
3. Sportsman 700 - smooth power and strong work ethics
4. Grizzly 660 - just ok

For 4-5 years Polaris had a monopoly on this class of quad, but it seems now the competition has caught up.

What does Polaris have to do get back on top?

 

4-wheel action said the Prairie lacks a smooth ride? They must have filled their shorts with rocks. That's ridiculous.

 

ebel,

Believe it or not, the people over on the Honda forum are P.O.ed because the Rincon lost to the Prairie. They are so righteously indignant about taking second place in a shootout to another brand, that they are besides themselves. What they need is a little dose in what Polaris is going through. I do admit that they've been busting on Honda regularly, as they've been busting on the American makes since their first model, but they really have nothing to complain about. Hey, it took second place.

 

Even though I've never owned one myself, I thank the good Lord for Polaris coming along or else we would all still be riding Honda Trx 300's. I think alot of time what the test riders for these magazines is purely affected by advertising dollars. Don't make the mistake of purchasing a quad just because the magazine says its better. I made that mistake about a year ago, I had a deal wrapped up with a local Polaris shop on a new 500 h.o. and on the way to get it stopped and picked up a issue of dirtwheels. The way they praised the Rubicon I was stupid and went and bought one instead. I was totally miserable with it and took a $2000 hit to trade it in on the Prairie650. I mostly work with mine and ride high speed dirt trails with it,if there was more mud around here I would have definetly looked into the Polaris 700.
Have a great ride!

 

I happen to own a Grizzly and it's way more than "just ok." The magazine testers keep picking the Prairie because it has the most sporty feel, which is BECAUSE of the solid axle. These folks have no concept for what a 4x4 utility quad can really do.

The Rincon has some major shortcomings... it has virtually no engine braking and no low gear, so it's pretty screwed as far as really being able to keep up with any of the other three when the going gets tough.

To this day I do not like the Polaris 4wd system and I won't consider owning one of their utility quads until they do something about it (which they probably never will). It's missing a "3-wheel-drive" (e.g. limited slip 4x4) mode that should be selectable by the user, rather than being in 2wd all the time and then going into full locked 4wd when the rear wheels slip enough. Try rock crawling with a system like that and see how well it works.

As for the righteous Honda people, you oughta hear the Raptor owners being indignant and beside themselves about a Predator kicking their butt. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Rob

 

Each one has good and bad, when compared to the rest. Just get the one with the best performances in the categories you find most important to you. Hard to go wrong with any of them.
snarfblat, just curious,
how is 4X4 bad on the rocks? On the Polaris once its engaged all 4 tires are locked up to the motor and you can crawl over anything.
With a 3X4 as soon as one of the front wheels leaves the ground, like on a rock, then the 3X4 becomes a 2X4 with power only geting to the back wheels. Seams to me on the rocks you want 4X4, not 3X4.
But mabe I'm not understanding your comment.
By the way, congratulations on the Predator.

 

last time i checked polaris has the best 4wd shift on the fly system on the market. took yammie and kawsuki years to get the the current systems they now use.
cause on my 700 when the switch is on and when the wheel slips 1/5 of a turn (yes 1/5) the frt end engages and stays engaged till traction is gained. that would be 2 frt wheels pulling at the same time.while the 2 rear wheels push at the same time (thus being TRUE 4 WD) not a 3x4. never had trouble crawling over rocks , railroads, people on slow quads,and trees standing or laying, all very simple just gas and go.
thats why most people buy polaris because the 4wd system has been around for a long time. its proved itself time and time again. sure there are snags along the way , but don't all machines have snafu's.
i can see where a selectable differintal would be useful,just don't think it fits my particular riding needs.
what ever you ride makes you happy. just like what i ride makes me happy
[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] and that my atv neighbor is what it is all about.




RIDING THE
(OSR)
POLARIS SPORTSMAN 700 #33

Victor Cooper

 

"people on slow quads"

GOOD ONE OldSouthRacing!!

you're funny!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Snarfblat does have a point. The 4x4 mode should be user selectable. However if it was, you would have a whole lot of people complaining that the quad is impossible to steer. True four wheel drive would do this as none of the wheels would slip during a turn unless it lost traction. Just as the Yamaha has a rev limiter on the differential lock mode, Kawasaki has a lever which must be pulled, the Polaris has a system that senses when the wheels slip. You really wouldn't want to ride a quad that was locked in true 4x4 mode all day. After the first ten turns your arms would be worn out and pumped. It wouldn't be an enjoyable experience.