Any recommendations for a newbie? I've decided to stop riding my Honda 250X on California trails (soft & hard dirt, lots of rocks, sometimes all rocks, sometimes steep). I'd like to keep riding with friends but ride an ATV. I've been looking at a Sportsman 850, thinking of power for steeper climbs and speed to help me not fall too far behind the bikes. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

 

I assume you're wanting a 4x4 cvt auto machine. The Scrambler 850 has the same engine but sheds a few lbs over the Sportsman because of smaller racks and less plastic. The Can-Am Renegade 800 and Outlander 800(both now 850 for 2016) is about equal in power as well. Both have 1000cc versions to give you even more power if you want it.

 

X2

I find the Renegade pretty light handling. 800 has crazy power. I'm sure the 1000 is pretty nuts too.

 

Yes, 4x4 cvt auto. It sounds like lighter is better for trails. Is 850 enough power? I don't think I'll care about more power unless the machine starts losing power on a long slope. I'm hoping for a machine that will keep turning at speed despite the grade of the slope. I should also add that I'm fairly light, 185 lbs with gear.

 

I think the Renegade 800 or Scrambler 850 would be plenty of power. Both of them top out at around 80 mph, sounds plenty fast to me. The 1000cc versions have about the same top speed but just get there a little faster.

 

Ugh, you want to keep up with dirtbikes on a utility? I hope they all ride crf 150s.

 

No ATV can keep up with dirt bikes on most trails but a sport like a 450 would be the closest to keeping up.

 

It depends on how tight the trails are. If they're a bit more open, then just having something quick and powerful will keep up. If they're tight trails, nothing can beat a dirt bike except another dirt bike. Dirt bikes have the advantage of being a lot lighter than even sport quads and having incredible power to weight ratio. And also it depends on how aggressively your dirt bike riding buddies ride.

 

Heck if all your buds have dirt bikes and you have a nice 4x4 quad then just run them over at the start or run them into the mud bog, then you won't have to worry about keeping up with them. In fact you can laugh at them sunk in the mud bog.

 

Dirtbikes actually go thru mud pretty good with momentum as long as there aren't any invisible obstacles in the way lol
I don't think he will have too much mud to deal with in Cali though