Need some advice on a 2up machine

Trying to decide between the Arctic cat trv 650 and Polaris sportsman 500 x2.


Very close in price at my local dealers. I ride mostly easy trails and will use it for snow plowing, hunting, and casual rides w/the wife.

AC has a carb, popo is efi

Currently have an 05 500 ho

Any recommendations??

 

I looked at both.

Have to admit that I was partial to the Cat, as I've owned a 500i for five years, and it has been extremely reliable and a real rough ground machine.

What struck me right off the bat was how uncomfortable the Polaris rear seat was. Clever idea with the folding seat, but for me, the Cat's seat was a lot more comfortable, and the ability to swap the seat out for a proper rack was a more practical solution.

The 08 TRV can be had with the 700 EFI H1 engine. The Polaris was about $500 cheaper than the LE.

 

arctic cat is known for their soft suspension that will give you a much better ride than the polaris. also the 650 engine is an awesome engine, smooth and crisp and very powerful. definately AC.

 

I have a 500TRV or should I say I paid for my wife's TRV. We both love it and my daughter does too. I have ridden with a polaris 2-up and a bomb 2-up. The AC beat them hands down on the trails especially when things got a little dicy. Steep hills, trees, mud and such. The extra ground clearance helped a bunch.

My 500 could not come close to the power of the polaris and Bomb but they had stock tires and my TRV has 26 inch mudlites and HD springs. The springs added about 2 inches of GC by themselves.

I would think that a 650 or a 700 AC with EFI would be the way to go. But, I am partial to AC. I am wondering if the new 900 AC has will be put to use in the TRV next year?

Swampy

 

The 950 Thundercat engine in a TRV? That's a thought. Shouldn't be that hard to do - the T-Cat already has a stretched wheelbase. Have to be careful you don't blow the passenger off the back.

Swampyjunior - so how does the TRV compare to a regular Cat? I'm getting ready to move to a TRV from my faithful go-anywhere, last forever 500i. Just curious as to what I will notice. Getting the locker alone will be a big bonus - there are a few places on my farm where I'm towing a trailer load of firewood uphill, and it lifts a front wheel.

 

I've driven both.( i've got a couple of friends who have them) Although I'm partial to AC in most everything, I have to give the nod to the Polaris. It just seems that Polaris got the details down a little better then AC. Don't get me wrong, the AC is very nice but IMO the Polaris is just a little nicer.