Hi guys I am new to the site and was hoping I could get some advice on which new ATV to buy. I have ridden ATVs, ATCs, dirt bikes, etc most of my childhood and through my teens but then I just got out of the hobby. Now I’m in my early 30s and looking to start back up again. As I started shopping around I realized that a lot has changed since then and I don’t really know what to buy.

I plan to have this machine for at least the next 8-10 years and if I am dropping 10-13k on an ATV with plow and winch I want it to last with as few problems as possible. I am looking for something with a mix of work and play but will lean more towards the work side. I have a few acres of land and with that comes a lot of jobs around the property. I will use this ATV for towing a small trailer, yard work like aerating and rolling, and plowing snow. Then maybe 6 times a year I would go to Wayne National Forest here in Ohio and hit the trails, not into mud bogging as much, more of just straight trail riding through the woods etc.

My must haves are 4x4, EPS and the ability to tow about 1,000lbs which all of the models I am looking at can do. I have read a lot online and have spoken to a few mechanics working at the dealerships. I have also tested all of these and at the moment I am leaning towards the Honda or Can Am just from what I liked when riding them. Everyone I talk to keeps telling me Honda is the way to go. Some have even said that Can Ams are hard to work on because you need a laptop with proprietary software to fix most problems. Since I plan to do most of the work myself once it is out of warranty I don’t really like to hear that.

Here are the models I am looking at, which one would be the best to buy?

Honda Rubicon DCT EPS Deluxe
Can Am Outlander XT 850
Polaris Sportsman XP 1000
Kawasaki Brute Force 750

Thanks,
Matt

 

That can just about apply to any of the newer efi machines regardless of brand.Only so much you can do at home with a multi meter and a test light if problems arise.Manuals do allow certain tests that a owner can perform on problems,but on hard to track down problems,software is needed and most of the time it involves a dealer or some pricey diagnostic hardware and software.Pricing - Scan World System

 

Any of them would be a good choice. The Honda is a bit down on power compared to the rest but being not a cvt auto, there is less driveline loss so it doesn't feel like as much. I'd throw one more out there, an option that would cost less but would do everything you want. A Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS model would cost a lot less than any of the others mentioned but would be a good choice for work and trail riding. I wouldn't overlook the Can-Am Outlander 650 XT either. The 850 definitely has more power but the 650 would surprise you with the power it has.

 

Both the Can-Am and Polaris have spectacular power. If you want excitement, these would be on the top of the list. As OPT said, you need a diagnostic computer for just about any fuel injected machine.

One thing that I noticed immediately on the bigger quads like the Can-Am 800 and 1000, and the Polaris 850 and 1000's is they really pick up the front end when you stab the throttle. Great for clearing low obstacles and maintaining speed. Just have to watch them in corners and be a little careful about how much throttle you apply. Both will kick out the rear end quickly as long as you move your weight around properly. If you get lazy with the big beasts and hit that go trigger too hard in a corner it's easy to have no pressure on the front end.

A single cylinder machine like the Kodiak tends to have more low end torque than a twin of a similar size. Good for work, but not quite as fun for play.

The Outlander 650 is a great all around machine. I've used mine for plowing snow, towing fresh cut hardwood up and down hills in VT, and lots of play on the rough trails in New England.

Been on both Polaris and Can-Ams. Polaris has a nicer ride if you don't want to get beat up. Also has more on-board storage, and a quieter CVT than Can-Am.

I rode the Brute Force for a day when they first came out with power steering and new suspension. My thoughts are here: Kawasaki Rolls out the Red Carpet - ATVConnection.com I still don't like the yellow lever you have to pull to fully lock the front end but I've heard there is a way to lock it with an aftermarket part. Other than that it's a fun machine.

 

Thanks guys for the input. I still think Im between the Honda and the Can Am. Honda uses the DCT and Can Am has the CVT, what are some pros and cons of each of these?

 

The advantage of the dct is that there are no belts to ever wear out. And you can put it in manual electric shift mode and run it in 1st gear for really slow work duties. The cvt feels more seemless as you're riding. It always feels like its exactly in the perfect rpm range. The dct will upshift and downshift in auto mode and you will feel it, much like an automotive transmission. Yes with a cvt there is a belt and it will eventually wear out but they last for quite a long time, 3000 miles is about the minimum and some even more. You have only high and low range as opposed to 5 gears in the Honda so less versatility for slow speed riding and work. The Can-Am has so much more power though. Even the Outlander 450L has more power than the Rubicon. There's just no comparison to the performance of each machine, its such a dramatic difference. The Honda will most likely be a little more reliable but all new quads have a pretty good reputation for reliability.

 

My cousin bought a new Rubicon 2015 last year with EPS, and finally Honda offers diff lock *Clap*.
It still has the 28hp 475cc ohv motor which is half the power and less then the other ATV you listed. Even my 15 year old 500 H,O smokes him on acceration and top end.

He is not happy with it , his riding buddy has a new 570 Sportsman with EBS which cost the same but the 570 which has 16 more HP and can just make a fool of him on the long gravel road runs and in thick mud holes.

 

I think that is the biggest issue with new Hondas, they are overpriced compared to the competition. They do have a great reputation for reliability but when a quad with half the power costs the same as another quad, its hard to pick the quad with a lot less power. If you're going to spend $8000-$9000 or more, you would hate to be disappointed with the performance of such an expensive machine. I think the Rubicon is a great platform for a more powerful engine such as a revised version of the 1000cc twin thats in the new Pioneer 1000. But until Honda builds that, the Rubicon still has that 28 hp 475cc engine that will leave you wanting compared to everything else. Some of these other 1000cc quad have 80 hp or more. The Outlander 650 has 62 hp, that's still a lot. The Brute Force 750 has slightly less but the extra displacement makes it pretty much equal in performance. Even the 700cc single machines like the Arctic Cat and Grizzly(and even the less expensive Kymco 700i) will blow away the Rubicon on performance.

 

Even Hondas Flagship 680 Rincon(38hp) only puts out the power of most new 550s.

 

The only things that will really effect the CVT are: 1) Water can cause the belt to slip. I've never had a belt slip in over 8,000 miles of riding different machines. And this was riding in New Hampshire and Maine where headlight deep water/mudholes are fairly common. Even if water does manage to get in it's pretty easy to dry a belt. Get pulled out of the waterhole, take the drain plug off, and rev the machine up in neutral to dry it out. I ride with about 10 others on average. In all my years I've only seen one belt get wet. It was on a quad that was 14 years old at the time. 2) If you ride the machine in Hi gear when you should be in Low. Deep snow or mud, slow rocky trails, or any time you're going to be below 10-15 mph for a long period of time. If it's not in low you can burn a belt because it cools the belt better in low. Again, I've seen that one time in all my years.