Does AC 500 Rule? In a shoot out say with polaris sportsman , suzuki Quadmaster , Grizzly , 500 magnum. Would any one shine over the other? Say if you dident own a AC would you still choose it over the others? I know you guys do alot of riding and most likely with a bunch of different machines, Im still trying to decide which one to buy, You guys are the pro's Please let me here your pro's and con's. Thanks , It's a pleasure to read your forum.
SLY

 

I would like to see a shoot out between all the big bikes but have not seen it yet.The Sportsman seem to win in one on one shoot outs usually because of it independent rear suspension which give it the best ride and alot more ground clearance than any other bike out there.The polaris is a true 4wd not like some limited-slip differential quads out there that turn into 3wd when the going gets tough.The ride is the most important thing to me all the bikes get you from A to B but the sportsman does it with the most comfort.

 

Tim was right when he said Polaris has the most comfortable ride. And by far! The Grizz is going to be the fastest of the group but it has a problem with overheating. I wouldn't say AC is the best bike of all time because it isn't. The Suzuki has the same size engine as the AC, but is not built as well a the Cat. The Polaris Sportsman and magnum have the true 4wd, but a winch on any bike is going to scratch that. Unless you are in a case where you don't have anything to winch onto. If you got in that position then you better hope the true 4wd gets you out. They are all fairly fast bikes. Especially the Grizzly and the Polaris's. I'm not sure so nobody rag me on this, but I think the AC has more torque than any other of the bikes. That is not something that sways me one way or another. The AC's come with very nice stock tires. The Titans are nice tires and rarely get punctured. The Polaris's are going to be better hill climbers, but are going to have more of a tendancy of flipping than the AC. The Polaris's are a lot heavier and that was not a selling point for me seeing as I can't bench press nearly 700lbs. Polaris also has a big issue of reliability. Alot of people have had trouble with getting lemons. Then again some Polaris owners have no trouble whatsoever out of them. Just a few things I can think of off the top of my head that I would consider before buying any of these bikes.

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I think it would be between the Arctic Cat 500 and the Sportsman.

All I know is that my next quad is almost certainly going to be a Sportsman 500. I'm not going to sell my cat thought. Reasons:
1.Ground Clearance
2.True 4wd
3.Automatic transmission
4.I am good freinds with the local Polaris dealership owner
4.The polaris dealership can be reached on my quad
5.Awsome ride
6.Bunch of aftermarket stuff
7.The trailer hitch will make the rear quat(giving you better traction to pull others out of the mud)
8. abunduance of aftermarket parts
9.etc.



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Arctic Cat 500, Don't worry I'll pull you out.

 

I never knew the Grizzly had an over heating proplem but it would come to reason its big paint can should have the help of a rad. and waterjacket,of all the bikes that should not be a free air that's the one.

 

I have heard people on the forum complain of the heat on their leg being annoying, but I can't exactly remember anyone ever having a problem with the machine overheating. It can happen, but until I see a bunch of Griz owners saying that theirs did it, I'm not going to consider it a problem with the machine. The first week I got my 500 too hot and it started dying. I waited a few minutes and never had any trouble. It is liquid cooled so is that any great thing to have? I never once overheated any of my other air cooled bikes ever! They weren't 600's, but hondas 450's are air cooled and I doubt honda would make them that way if they thought that overheating would be a problem. The griz is hot on your legs after a while, but so are all quads. I wouldn't worry much about it. Its mainly just a point for people who don't own Grizzlys to complain about in a "mine's better" contest.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

Let me rephrase that *******. It has a problem with getting too hot. Are you happy now?

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Its past your bedtime Sonny Boy! Get off the **** site and go to sleep!

 

Polaris, true four wheel drive? To my understanding in order to get four wheel drive on a polaris you have to have some excess amount of wheel spin (ie 17%) of the rear wheels before the front engage. This is of course after pushing the button.

Now on a true four wheel drive like the King Quad, just move the shift lever (like the push button on polaris) to differential lock and it is there, no wheel spin required.

So which one is better? I do know I would love a bigger engine in the King but at least it is true four wheel drive.

 

HERE we go again where does this 17% figure come from?Can you see this or feel this 17%,as much as I have used 4wheel in my 500sp I've yet to see anytime that this 17% has affected me.Look at your rear tire and figure how much 17% is then think how fast them wheels are turning to engage 4 wheel then figure how much that has to do with anything.I'm not up on the king but I know the stick shift ones are nice.Had gal tell me how well she liked it ,all (30) gears were right where she could get to them I was really impressed.