I plan to buy an ATV within the next month. I can't decide which to get though. It will see mainly dirt, and mud, and sometimes it will tow a small trailer. Which one should I get? Any suggestions are helpful.
Thanks;

 

Before Sportsman owners say "get the Sportsman" and Grizzly owners say "get a Grizzly"... go to the dealers and try out both for feel. It is the way the quad feels as you ride it that counts the most.

As for suspension it goes to the IRS on the SP.

Speed must be about equal now with the High Output motor on the SP.

4x4 system is superior on the SP.

I better stop now because I am leaning too much towards the Polaris. Sorry. Good luck choosing.

Brian

 

I have never really ridden an SP500. So I can't say if its better or worse. It does have the ability to drive all 4 wheels, which is an asset. However its not a true 4x4 in the sense that it only drives the rear wheels untill they slip, a liability. Once the rear wheels slip it will engage both front wheels. Because of this set up, it does not provide engine braking to all wheels when decending a hill in 4WD, only the rear. Becuase the 4WD system is dependant on electricity to operate, electrical glitches can cause the 4WD to not operate correctly or at all. While I have never heard any of the guys on the forum having this problem, I've read magazine reviews where this has been a problem. The Grizzly has a limited slip front differential, thats a liability. However the Grizzly does provide engine braking to all 4 wheels when in 4WD. The Grizzly is an air/oil cooled engine. The SP500 is water cooled. Which is better? Thats a matter of personal choice. There are benefits to both. The SP500 has independant rear suspension. The Grizzly has a straight axle. The straight axle is a more dependable, low maintainence set up. The IRS has more ground clearence, and rides better. However the more weight you have on an IRS the less ground clearence you get. Plus its heavy and high maintainence. The Grizzly has a tighter turn radius than the SP, and is about 100lbs lighter.
I have never ridden with the SP500 HO, but its supposed to be as fast as a Grizzly. A standard SP500 is not. Both quads are automatics, a liability. But a guy can learn to live with it. . I know you can ride a Grizzly in hi range all day, in and out of the mud, and the belt will hold up. I've heard some of the Polaris riders have had some bad luck with that on the SP. But only a SP owner can give you the details, because I have never experienced it myself.
Thats mostly what I know about the two. I bought a Grizzly for the power. As well as the quality of construction and dependability. I can ride the hell out of my Grizzly all day, and it just keeps asking for more! My experience with Yamaha's has been outstanding in that area. You have to go out and ride both of them and see for yourself which is better. Different things are important to different people.
Riding quads is a blast! So no matter which one you get, you'll have a ton of fun!

Rick

 

best way to decide is go and test drive both quads..look at all the options both offer.then take time and decide for yourself which is better for you..they both have good and bad points, so it all depends on what you want out of the quad..either quad would be able to do what your looking for, either way you wont go wrong..maybe go on both forums and ask owners of their opinions of their quads to get an idea of what they do with theirs..good luck

 

01 Grizzly,
and I have shared some nice,interesting posts before,however,I find a few of his statments regarding the Sportsmans AWD system's to be less than correct,You mentioned something in regards to Polaris AWD systems needing rear wheel slippage to activate,this is true,but it is NOT a liablilty as you say.I'll match Polaris AWD system to ANY manufactures 4x4 system,anytime.You also state that the AWD needs electricity,thats true to.But I have owned 2 Polaris 4x4 quads in 3 yrs and have NEVER had a 4x4 related problem on either quad.I ride often with other Polais 4x4 owners to,no one has ever had a 4x4 problem to my knowledge.I beleive the AWD system on Ploaris AWD is second to none.You cant even tell the rear wheels even slip before the front wheels start to activate.Forget all about the electricity thing to.That is something the OTHER dealers use to slam the Polaris AWD system.Another words,dont buy into that kind of trash talk,theres simply no truth to it.


You also mentioned that having an auto trans is a liablity.Can you please clearify that for me?I see no liabilty in owning an auto trans myself.

Taco,
Im very partial to the Sportsman myself,however,extensivly ride BOTH 4x4 quads and make your decision,
Bill

 

Bill,
You took the statement about slipping the rear wheels out of context. Sorry, maybe I should have been alittle clearer. By only driving the rear wheels you don't have 4 wheel engine braking. Which in my opinion is a liability.
Read the Dirt wheels 500cc shoot out. They did have problems with the 4WD not working correctly all the time. They seemed to think it was something electrical. I don't know.
Autos are not water tight, and do not tranfer power in as positive a manner as a manual, or semi-auto. That much is indisputable. So I believe that constitutes a liability.
I was not trying to slam Polaris. In fact I envy some of their assets. I was just sharing an honest opinion based on what I know, have read, and heard from others.

Rick

 

Rick,
Sorry,I did indeed mis-understand your earlier post on the AWD.I now see where you are coming from.I thought you were using the rear wheel slipping as a ''liability'' for the correct engagement of Polaris front wheels.

Dirt Wheels?I dont even read them anymore.They are very biased.Some call them Dumb Wheels because of it.

Auto's?
True,they are not as water tight as a mechanicly linked system,however,if there power transfer is not as efficent for putting the power to the ground,why do the concensus of 4x4 ATV pulls wind up with belt driven quads as winning most all pulls?Im just not sure about this one yet,
Bill

 

Bill,
I don't think the fact that Polaris is cleaning house with the ATV pulls has anything to do with the fact that they are autos. But rather the ability to drive all 4 wheels when needed, and their added weight. My guess is that you left all things alone except for the auto, they would probably do even better.
Just out of curiosity, how many semi-auto, or manual trannys does Polaris make?

Rick

 

Rick,
With the exception of the 425cc Expedition,all Polaris quads are belt driven.I did'nt say that the reason Polaris 4x4 quads are winning most ATV pulls are because of its auto trans,I said it has something to do with their belt drive.Now of course,that does also make them an auto trans to.

Weight,and the ability to turn all 4 wheels under power does indeed make a differance in these pulls,however,you very rarly see a locked quad out pull a belt driven Polaris 4x4.So if the power to ground ratio is that far off on mechanically linked 4x4s vs belt driven quads,why do the belts win so often?

Come to think of it?I dont ever remember a fully mechanically linked 4x4 Polaris Expedition ever winning a ATV pull over belt drives.Im not so sure of this power to ground ratio differance that the mechanically linked 4x4s are suppose to have over the belts,
Bill

 

Wait for the Kawasaki 65o Twin in Jan 0r Feb. Awsome.