I here you on that sticker shock. !!!!
the price on the outlander and the price on the parts are at the top of the list and you have to ask how much will the market take when it comes to these 10k plus 4 wheelers. If you take care of your machine and do not beat the s**t out of it no matter what brand that is what is the most important thing. Rapidrobert137

 

Interesting - I went into buying a Can-Am expecting huge sticker shock and found the opposite. My brother (Uncle in this thread) got his AC TRV last fall - very impressive bike. I had been leaning heavily towards a Can-Am 650XT Outlander, but went ahead and took a closer look at the AC and Kawi big bores. Comparing MSRP to MSRP the price difference was only a hundred or two, especially when factoring in the XT options - all of which I wanted. Now maybe the AC dealers will deal more than Can-Am but I'm trying to compare apples to apples here. In short, while I expected the Can-Am to cost lots more than any other bike, that just didn't hold up so I made plans to save up for that 650 Outlander.

And to clarify: Anyone looking as my sig can see an 800 Outlander XT there. I lucked into this bike that had 74 miles and had never been ridden on trails, just a field. It even had skids on it. Paid $7,500 for a slightly used bike that lists at over $10K.

Jaybee

 

Usually the ones that say the CanAM is so much more expensive did not take the time to compare apples with apples, ie; the XT options, warranty, etc. The Can Am is the king of the hill and buying anything else is settleing for second best. Not that that is all bad, there are Corvettes and there are Hyundia's. To each his own by preference.

 

I have had Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, and rite now I own a can am 400 outlander max xt and a arctic cat 650 H1 TRV .
I have never had a major failure, knock on wood with any of my wheelers.
I have always changed the oil and cleaned the air filter etc. and kept it maintained to manufacture recommendations.
It really does not matter how much money you spend on a wheeler, but how you take care of the one you get. Simple as that. rapidrobert137

 

The Outlander 500 and AC 650 both have 39 hp but one must think the extra 150cc would allow the AC to have a ft lb torque advantage and require less rpm to achieve its 39 hp rating.


Bomb (2007)

400 = 28.9 hp
500 = 39 hp
650 = 55.3 hp
800 = 61.6 hp

AC (2007)

400 = 24.8
400 DVX = 36.6
500 = 32.0
650 H1 = 39.3
700 EFI = 41.4

Even in this 500 shootout they state the small displacement 500 twin in not real happy with slow high torque situations on technical trails. 500 Utility shootout.
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Though it dominated the engine category, the Can-Am's gearing and power are difficult to mesh in tight, technical terrain. It lacked overall finesse and maneuverability when space was tight; power was stabby when it needed to be graceful. </end quote></div>

I would think bottom end torgue would be even more important on a large 2 up ATV.