My ride right now is a '09 Rancher. It's been a great bike, but I'm looking to update. I was set on getting a Rubicon, but after doing a little research I realize they are a bit behind the times. I've done a lot of internet research and now have it narrowed down to the 700 Grizzly and the 500 Outty. At first I was set on the 550 Grizzly, but found out that the 700 had a few improvements over the 550. Wider stance, which I read was a concern on the older models, and they also improved the fuel mileage. Since the 500 Outtys hp is equal to that of the 700 Grizzly I see no reason, including the $1000 higher cost, to go bigger.

My main concern with the Outty is reliability, and maintaince. With the Honda it's never left me stranded no have I had to do much to it other than change the oil. I feel like the Grizzly would be the same, but because the Outty has a few more bells and whistles upkeep may be a little more.

I've talked to a couple dealers and right now the Outty has the price edge by $200, but that also includes a winch, as well as the other additions of the XT trim.

What say you?

 

500 cc Rotax is a great engine. By far, the most fun I've had on a quad was my son's Renegade 500. Plenty of power and smooth with the V-twin. Grizzly 700 is a great quad too, but a little more thumping from the single cylinder. Either would be a great quad and very reliable. The XT package is hard to beat. If you were to add all the options in the XT package to most makers' quads you'd find it to be very competitive price-wise.

If you think you're going to have a passenger the Outlander Max is very hard to beat. More rack room than the Polaris Touring quad.